1997 Mazda 626

THERE IS A FAULT WITH THE 1997 MAZDA'S 626 TRANSMISSION THAT THE COMPANY IS AWARE ABOUT. PER PHONE CONVERSATION WITH TRANSMISSION REPAIR SHOP SPECIALIST THEY FOUND A PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSIOM AND ARE ONLY FIXING PROBLEM IF REPAIRS TO THE TRANSMISSION ARE NEEDED. COULD CAUSE POTENTIAL HAZARD TO DRIVERS OF 97 MAZDA 626 OWNERS IF TRANSMISSION BREAKS IN DRIVE WHILE TRAVELING.

1997 MAZDA 626 LX 2.0 AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION IS SLIPPING. THE CAR HESITATES EXCELERATING AT DIFFERENT SPEEDS, MOSTLY AROUND 40 TO 60 MPH. I AM NOW AT 82500 MILES AND HAVE FOUND NUMEROUS POSTS ON THE INTERNET ABOUT TRANSMISSION ISSUES. ALONG WITH THIS MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAS BEEN ON FOR THE LAST 3 YRS WITH NOT ONE MAZDA DEALERSHIP OR MECHANIC BEING ABLE TO KEEP IT OFF FOR LONGER THAN 30 MILES. I HAVE REPLACED TIMING BELT TENSIONERS, MASS AIR FLOWS, O2 SENSORS, FUEL FILTERS PCV VALVE, AND NUMEROUS MORE. I GUESS THE PROBLEMS NEVER END AND I AM TIRED OF IT BEING "MY" PROBLEMS AND NOT MAZDA'S!

THE HEADLIGHTS DO NOT WORK WHEN I TURN THE SWITCH BUT, IF I SHIFT THE HANDLE TO ACTIVATE THE TURN SIGNALS, THEN THE HEADLIGHTS TURN ON. MORE DETAILS REGARDING THIS CONDITION ARE THAT THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS DO NOT WORK AS WELL. IN ADDITION, I NOTICED THAT THE ENGINE ACCELERATES A BIT WHEN THE HEADLIGHTS GO ON THIS WAY. COINCIDENTLY, WHILE SEARCHING ONLINE FOR RECALLS FOR MY VEHICLE I RAN INTO AN ARTICLE POSTED AT THIS WEBSITE HTTP://WWW.MAZDAVICTORIA.COM/RECALLS/RECALLS_626.HTM WHERE, THERE IS A RECALL FOR A 1994 MAZDA 626 FOR THE SAME CONDITION I AM EXPERIENCING WITH MY CAR. PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF THERE IS SOMETHING I CAN DO TO HAVE MAZDA ISSUE ANOTHER RECALL AND REPAIR MY CAR. THIS APPEARS TO BE A CLEAR REPEAT OF THE DEFECT. THANKS A LOT. ORLANDO AYALA - GARFIELD, NJ. *AK

MY WIFE STRUCK A CURB WITH THE RIGHT-FRONT TIRE AT ABOUT 25-30 MPH. THE DRIVERS SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED, THOUGH NOT THE PASSENGER SIDE. WHEN I LOOKED ON THE DOT WEBSITE I FOUND THAT 97 626 DRIVERS-SIDE AIRBAGS HAD BEEN RECALLED FOR DEPLOYING TOO EASILY. WHEN I SPOKE WITH THE DEALER THEY SAID THAT MY VIN WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THAT RECALL. MY INSURANCE COMPANY PAID FOR THE REPAIR, LESS OUR $300 DEDUCTIBLE, AND PUT IN A COMPLAINT ON THE AIRBAG. BECAUSE THEY WERE PAYING AROUND $1800, I THOUGHT THE INSURANCE COMPANY WOULD INVESTIGATE THE AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT. MY QUESTION IS, IF THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH MY CAR, WHY DID THE AIRBAG DEPLOY WHEN THERE WAS NO BODY DAMAGE, AND WHY DIDN'T THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOY WHEN THE PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL WAS STRUCK? EITHER THE DRIVER'S SIDE DEPLOYS TOO EASILY, OR THE PASSENGER SIDE DOESN'T DEPLOY WHEN IT SHOULD.

IN ADDITION TO SMELLING GAS - THE RADIO AND ANTENNA DOESN'T WORK. NOW THE SUNROOF WON'T CLOSE ALL THE WAY. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON MORE OFTEN THAN NOT SINCE I HAD THE CAR. THE KEY SOMETIMES WON'T FIT INTO DOOR LOCK AND EVEN THOUGH THE CAR LOOKS BRAND NEW AND HAS BEEN WELL TAKEN CARE OFF - IT JUST SEEMS TO FALL APART. THE GLOVE COMPARTMENT LOCK FELL APART BUT THE BIGGEST THING IS THE SUNROOF WON'T CLOSE ALL THE WAY. THIS IS MY 3RD MAZDA AND I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER ONE.