1993 Mazda 626 Owner Complaints

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 1993 MAZDA 626. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, A DRIVER IN ANOTHER VEHICLE NOTIFIED THE CONTACT THAT THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE. THE CONTACT STOPPED THE VEHICLE, PULLED OVER, AND EXITED WITHOUT INJURIES. THE VEHICLE BURST INTO FLAMES. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED TO A POLICE LOT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000.

NHTSA ID

10854819

Incident

Jun 13, 2007

Mileage

90,000 mi

I OWN A 1993 MAZDA 626 LX WITH A 2.0 LITER ENGINE AND AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. I PURCHASED IT IN EARLY 1998. I AM THE SECOND OWNER OF THE VEHICLE. IT IS A VERY LOW MILEAGE CAR FOR THE YEAR, WITH JUST MORE THAN 80,000 MILES ON IT. IT HAD JUST OVER 40,000 WHEN I PURCHASED IT USED FROM A LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER. JUST TWO WEEKS AGO, THE TRANSMISSION BROKE AT THE TRANSAXLE AND BECAME COMPLETELY INOPERABLE. I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO MY MECHANIC WHOM I'VE USED FOR ABOUT SIX YEARS NOW. THE TRANSAXLE SPLINES IN THE TRANSMISSION WERE GALLED AND FRACTURED WHEN THE MECHANIC TOOK IT APART. IT WAS BEHAVING FAIRLY WELL UNIT FAILED, BUT IT FAILED VERY QUICKLY, WITHIN A FEW MILES. THIS AUTOMOBILE IS, AND HAS BEEN, VERY WELL CARED FOR AND THE MECHANIC SAID THAT WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE TRANSMISSION, THE CAR IS IN OUTSTANDINGLY GOOD CONDITION. THE TRANSMISSION HAS NEVER BEEN ABUSED AND FREQUENTLY CHECKED SINCE I'VE OWNED IT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10286015

Incident

Sep 16, 2009

Mileage

82,000 mi

MY CAR STARTED BLINKING "HOLD" IN RED ON THE DASH ABOUT 2 MONTHS AGO. IT WOULD CONTINUE BLINKING, EVEN THOUGH I WASN'T USING THE 'HOLD BUTTON' ON THE SHIFTER. LAST MONTH, IT STARTED SPUTTERING AND MAKING ODD NOISES. IT NOW DOES NOT ACCELERATE VERY EASILY AT ALL. I HAVE TO BE VERY CAREFUL WHEN MAKING A RIGHT TURN, BECAUSE WHEN I FIRST DRIVE IT DURING THE DAY (EVERY DAY, WHEN I DRIVE IT FOR THE FIRST TIME) IT WON'T ACCELERATE PAST 25, EVEN WITH MY FOOT FULL ON THE GAS PEDAL. THE PROBLEM HAS GOTTEN INCREASINGLY WORSE AND I FEAR THAT IT WILL CAUSE IN ACCIDENT BY GETTING STUCK ON A TURN OR SOMETHING. ALSO, I'VE NOTICED SOMETIMES WHEN I'M DRIVING, THE RPM'S WILL GO UP AND DOWN RANDOMLY AND MY CAR WILL JERK. *TR

NHTSA ID

10284156

Incident

Jun 1, 2009

SPEEDOMETER QUIT WORKING AND I HAVE A "HOLD" LIGHT BLINKING. FROM THE STATEMENTS ON INTERNET THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM DUE TO DEFECTIVE DESIGN BY MAZDA. *TR

NHTSA ID

10226619

Incident

May 1, 2008

Mileage

80,000 mi

I HAVE A SET OF SIGMA SHADOW TIRES ON MY CAR MADE BY TBC CORPORATION. THE TIRE TREAD SEPARATED FROM THE TIRE WHILE I WAS DRIVING AND DAMAGED MY REAR BUMPER. I HAVE ORDERED AN NEW SET OF TIRES TO REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE SET OF TIRES THAT ARE NOW ON MY CAR. THE PROPER SIZE FOR MY CAR WAS NOT LISTED IN THE CHOICES SO I AM LISTING THE PROPER SIZE HERE. THE TIRE SIZE 195/65 R14 NOT 215/60 R16.

NHTSA ID

10192812

Incident

Jun 8, 2007

Mileage

247,050 mi

THE PROBLEM JUST OCCURRED ALL OF A SUDDEN. FROM A STOP LIGHT WHEN THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTED, IT PUSHED THE CAR FORWARD TO WHICH I ALMOST HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. BROUGHT THE CAR TO A MECHANIC, TRIED TO FIX IT BUT STILL THE PROBLEM IS THERE. *JB

NHTSA ID

10167173

Incident

Aug 1, 2006

Mileage

118,000 mi

MAZDA 626 LX SLIPING GEARS, JURKING, LEAKING TRANSMISSION,TRANSMISSION FAILER HAD TRANSMISSION REBUILT STILL NO GOOD. *NM

NHTSA ID

10151361

Incident

Feb 10, 2006

1993 MAZDA 626-2.0 4CYL AUTO TRANS, 89000 MILES. BOUGHT CAR 9/28/05 FOR $2900.00, ON 11/15/05, ON HIGHWAY, CAR STARTS BUCKING AS THE ENGINE LIGHT FLASHED. I KNOW THAT THIS IS THE BEGINNING OF THE END FOR THE TRANSMISSION. MAZDA, FORD SHOULD BE HELD RESPONSIBLE. USED CAR DEALERS, NO DOUBT, KNOW ABOUT THESE CARS TRANNY PROBLEMS, AND SHOULD BE REQUIRED BY LAW TO INFORM A POTENTIAL BUYER OF THE PAST, PRESENT, AND FOR SURE, FUTURE PROBLEMS REGARDING THE TRANSMISSIONS IN THE MAZDA 626! THEY NEED TO BE HELD RESPONSIBLE! THEY SHOULD BE FORCED TO BUILD A RELIABLE AUTO TRANS AND INSTALL THEM, FREE OF ANY CHARGES TO THE OWNERS OF 626 OWNERS WITH (BY NO FAULT OF THEIR OWN) AUTO TRANS PROBLEMS! *JB

NHTSA ID

10142990

Incident

Nov 14, 2005

Mileage

89,380 mi

MY AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION OF MAZDA 626 1993 GE 2.0 HAS FAILED AND BEEN REPLACED TWICE IN THE LAST 2 MONTHS. *AK

NHTSA ID

10116594

Incident

Mar 15, 2005

Mileage

270,000 mi

(1) NOTHING EXCEPT DRING 2) HOLD LIGHT FLASHING, TRANSMISSION ACTING FUNNY; (3) NOTHING YET. *AK

NHTSA ID

10116269

Incident

Apr 2, 2004

I HAVE HAD A MAZDA 626 MODEL 1993 FOR 1.5 YEARS NOW. THE VEHICLE HAS ONLY 83000 MILES AND WAS VERY WELL AKEN CARE OF BY ONE PREVOIOUS OWNER. I SERVICE THE CAR EVERY 3000 MILES REGULARLY. # WEEKS AGO THE TRANSMISSION DIED ON ME A LL OF A SUDDEN. I WAS LEFT TO COAST ON A MAIN STREET, ALMOST CAUSING A 3 CAR ACCIDENT TILL I COULD ENTER A PARKING SPOT ON THE RIGHT. CONSEQUENTLY I FLUSHED THE TRANSMISSION BUT GOT STUCK AGAIN IN A HEAVY JUNCTION PUSHING MY CAR TO SAFETY AND AGAIN TWICE AFTER FIXING (1837$!) IT COASTING TO SAFETY LUCKILY ON THE HIGHWAY! IT DOES NOT MAKE SENSE TO ME THAT A CARS TRANSMISSION SHOULD FAIL AFTER 83000 MILES AND THERE WERE MANY MORE PEOPLE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM ON THE WEB. IS THERE ANY WAY THE MANUFACTURER CAN BE MADE TO PAY THE TAB.*AK

NHTSA ID

10114785

Incident

Mar 9, 2005

TRANSMISSION STARTED SLIPPING ON O/D. IT HAS PROGRESSED TO THIRD GEAR NOW. A TRANSMISSION OVERHAUL IS NEEDED BUT WILL COST ABOUT $3,000.00. *AK

NHTSA ID

10114252

Incident

Feb 15, 2005

Mileage

183,000 mi

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILURE. *JB

NHTSA ID

10088148

Incident

Aug 7, 2004

Mileage

120,000 mi

I HAVE A 19"93 MAZDA BOUGHT IN '95. THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT WHILE UNDER WARRANTY IN 19'96 AND AGAIN IN 19'97. NOW IT'S LEAKING AGAIN SINCE2003.*AK

NHTSA ID

10079000

Incident

Mar 2, 2003

Mileage

50,000 mi

MY MAZDA 626 TRANSMISSION HAS FAILED SEVERAL TIMES AND I HAD TO REPLACE IT TWICE ALREADY AND ABOUT TO REPLACE ONE AGAIN. THE CONVERTER IS GOING OUT AND JUST PURCHASES ONE ABOUT 6MONTHS AGO IT IS GOING SO FAST. THE OLD PARTS WAS REPLACED BUT THIS STRAGEDY IS OCCURING ONCE MORE. *AK

NHTSA ID

10075102

Incident

Jun 1, 2004

Mileage

139,056 mi

626 MAZDA TRANSMISSION FAILURE. ONCE AGAIN A CAR COMPANY IS COMPLETELY IGNORING MANY THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE EARLY AND PREMATURE PROBLEMS WITH A PRODUCT. AND NHTSA DOES NOTHING. 30 MINUTES SPENT ON THE NET WOULD CLEARLY SHOW ANY ONE RELATED TO THE AUTOMOTIVE INDUSTRY THAT MAZDA HAS BEEN GIVEN A FREE PASS ON ITS RESPONSIBILITY. HOW MANY COMPLAINTS DO YOU NEED? *NLM

NHTSA ID

10023541

Incident

Jun 20, 2003

Mileage

100,000 mi

AFTER OWNING MY 1993 MAZDA 626 LX FOR OVER TWO YEARS I FIND OUT THAT THE CAR IS DESTINED TO BAD TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. I HAD THE TRANSMISSION REPAIRED DUE TO THE ELECTRICAL TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS CAUSING THE CAR TO GET WORSE. I STARTED HAVING THE NOTORIOUS FLASHING HOLD LIGHT THUS CAUSING MY TRANSMISSION TO FAIL. BEING SOMEONE OF AVERAGE INCOME IT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO KEEP REPAIRING MAZDA'S INEVITABLE PROBLEMS. I NOW FEEL INSECURE OF MY LIFE, THE LIFE OF MY WIFE AND OUR NEWBORN BABY. AFTER REPAIRING THE TRANSMISSION THE PROBLEM AROUSED A FEW MONTHS LATER. UNFORTUNATELY, THE WARRANTY ON THE TRANSMISSION REPAIR IS OVER. I WISH AND HOPE TO REPLACE THE MAZDA 626 UNFORTUNATELY I BUDGETED TO HAVE THE MAZDA 626 FOR YEARS TO COME. IT WAS STUPENDOUS WHEN I FIRST PURCHASED THE MAZDA 626. HOWEVER, IF I WOULD HAVE KNOWN ABOUT THE COMMON TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS THE MAZDA 626 LX HAS I WOULD HAVE PASSED ON PURCHASING THE CAR. OWNING THIS CAR HAS EVEN PUT ME IN A FINANCIAL DOWN SPIRAL. I PUT MONEY INTO THIS MAZDA 626 THAT I SHOULDN'T BE PAYING FOR. IF THE MAZDA 626 LX HAS MECHANICAL AND ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WHY THEN ARE THEY SOLD AND PUT OUT ON THE ROAD TO EVENTUALLY SUBJECT MOTORISTS TO ACCIDENTS DUE TO FAULTY CRAFTSMANSHIP OF THE CAR. I HAVE DONE RESEARCH, UNFORTUNATELY TOO LATE, ABOUT THE MAZDA 626'S AND HAVE READ REPORTS AND FORUMS FROM CONSUMERS AND EXPERT MECHANICS AND PASSED MAZDA EMPLOYEES ABOUT THE INEVITABLE DECLINE OF THE MAZDA 626 TRANSMISSION. I TRUSTED THE MAZDA NAME AND WAS HORRIFIED TO FIND OUT THAT THEY ALLOW A AUTOMOBILE AS SUCH TO BE STANDARD DRIVING VEHICLES. PLEASE HELP ME AND FUTURE VICTIMS ON CORRECTING THIS WRONGFUL DECISION. IF MAZDA KNOWS THAT THEY HAVE A FAULTY CAR IN PRODUCTION AND PUT THEM OUT ON THE ROAD, THEN WHY ARE WE PAYING MORE MONEY TO OWN AND KEEP THE MAZDA 626 LX? IT IS A MONEY PIT, AN UNPREDICTABLE FUTURE ROAD HAZARD AND A CONSUMERS WORST NIGHTMARE. ANY HELP WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. RAUL SANCHEZ. *JB

NHTSA ID

10023265

Incident

Jul 1, 2002

Mileage

130,050 mi

I BOUGHT THIS CAR USED AND DIDN'T RESEARCH ON IT FIRST. BIG MISTAKE. HAD PROBLEMS WITH TRANSMISSION NOISE, SLIPPAGE AND/OR GEAR SHIFT HESITATION, AND ENGAGING FROM PARK. MOST MECHANICS WON'T EVEN WORK ON THESE BECAUSE OF FREQUENT PROBLEMS. HAD TO TRACK ON DOWN, SAYS TRANSMISSION MUST BE REBUILT, APPROX. REPAIR COST = $1500.00, WONDERING WHERE I'M GOING TO COME UP WITH THAT KIND OF MONEY. *NLM

NHTSA ID

10016174

Incident

Apr 4, 2003

Mileage

161,000 mi

THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS ARE PRONE TO PREMATURE FAILURE, AND IF REBUILT, IT WILL LAST FOR A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE REPAIRS. MR SCC *JB

NHTSA ID

10014872

TRANSMISSION SLIPPAGE EVENTUAL FAILURE - REPLACED $1500.00 - CORRECTED PROBLEM TRANSMISSION STARTED SLIPPING WHILE ON HIGHWAY IN FRONT OF TWO 18-WHEELERS - I ALMOST CAUSED A FATALITY WITH MY WIFE AND DAUGHTER ON BOARD - THANK GOD FOR MY DRIVING EXPERIENCE - IF MY WIFE WAS DRIVING WE WOULD NOT BE HERE. * TRANSMISSION REPAIR SHOP EXPLAINED HE HAS 3 SHELVES SET ASIDE FOR THESE TRANSMISSIONS (GF4A-EL) WHERE THE OLD ONES SIT UNTIL THE NEW ONES COME IN - THAT SHELVE WAS 1/2 FULL OF NEW AND OLD TRANSMISSIONS. THESE TRANSMISSIONS ARE ALSO USED IN THE FORD PROBE'S. NOW AFTER TWO YEARS THE TRANSMISSION IS SLIPPING AGAIN.*JB

NHTSA ID

10013981

Incident

Jun 1, 2001

Mileage

112,000 mi

THE 626, MX6 AND FORD PROBE (ALL RELATED DESIGNS) APPEAR TO HAVE A DEFECT THAT CAUSED THE REAR CALIPERS AND PARKING BRAKE TO SEIZE. THE PARKING BRAKE ARM THAT THE CABLE PULLS BACK SEIZES ??ON??. THIS MIGHT BE DUE TO POOR DESIGN WHERE THE SPRING CAN NOT PULL THE ARM BACK DUE TO THE MATERIALS USED AND THE RUST. THE ARM AND PIVOT MATERIAL SHOULD BE CHANGED AND THE SPRING SHOULD BE STRONGER. ONCE THE PARKING BRAKE SEIZES THE ROTOR, CALIPERS AND THE WHOLE WHEEL RIM GETS *EXTREMELY* HOT. DRAG, HEAT AND BURNING SMELLS MAY BE NOTICED. IF NOT NOTICED THE ROTOR AND PADS WEAR AWAY UNTIL THE BRAKE DOES NOT FUNCTION. THE DAMAGE TO THE ROTORS AND CALIPERS REQUIRES REPLACEMENT HOWEVER THE ROOT CAUSE APPEARS TO BE THE POOR PARKING BRAKE DESIGN. BEFORE I STARTED TO TRY TO UNDERSTAND THIS MYSELF I HAD 3 DIFFERENT SERVICE CENTERS REPAIR THE PROBLEM ON 3 OCCASIONS. EACH TIME THEY DID NOT DO ANYTHING TO THE PARKING BRAKE AND JUST REPLACED ALL THE CALIPERS, ROTORS, PADS, ETC. THE SERVICE CENTERS DO NOT UNDERSTAND THE ROOT CAUSE AND THEY DO NOT FIX IT. I FOUND OUT A BIT FROM INTERNET SEARCHES AND THE REPAIR MANUAL. (THE REPAIR MANUAL IS COMMON TO THE FORD PROBE WITH MANY OWNERS COMPLAINING ABOUT SEIZED BRAKES.) I TOOK A LOOK AT THE PARKING BRAKE ARM WHEN I NEXT PULLED OVER WITH DRAG, HEAT AND BURNING SMELLS. THE ARM WAS SEIZED AND I FORCED IT FREE WITH MY HAND WHICH TEMPORARILY SOLVED THE PROBLEM. FROM WORKING THE PARKING BRAKE CABLE IT APPEARS THAT THE CABLE IS FINE AND THAT THE PROBLEM IS FROM THE RUSTED ARM & PIVOT. THE MATERIAL OF THE ARM & PIVOT RUSTS AND SEIZES. THESE SHOULD BE REPLACED WITH A MORE SUITABLE MATERIAL. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE FOR MANY REASONS. OWNERS ARE DRIVING AROUND WITH FLAMING HOT ROTORS, DEFECTIVE BRAKES AND STRANGE DRAG AND VIBRATION ON A REGULAR BASIS. MAZDA AND FORD SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO MAKE AVAILABLE PROPERLY DESIGNED REPLACEMENT PARTS AND TO COMPENSATE THE OWNERS FOR THE REPAIR BILLS. *JB

NHTSA ID

10013757

Incident

Mar 31, 2003

Mileage

43,800 mi

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE WAS LEAKED OIL FROM THE ENGINE AND THE VEHICLE SHUT DOWN. *NLM

NHTSA ID

10012341

Incident

Mar 24, 2003

WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKES THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. THE BRAKES HAVE BEEN REPLACED MORE THAN ONCE. *NLM

NHTSA ID

10012340

Incident

Mar 24, 2003

ON A VERY SNOWY DAY AFTER A 20 MINUTE RIDE WE EXPERIENCED TOTAL BRAKE FAILURE. DEALER TOWED CAR. THE NEXT DAY THE DEALER TOLD ME THE REPAIRS WOULD COST ABOUT $2000.00 DOLLARS. THEY SAID BOTH BRAKE LINES BURST DUE TO SEVERE CORROSION. SINCE THIS WAS AN EXTREME EXPENSE. WE PURCHASED A NEW CAR. I FEEL NO BRAKING SYSTEM SHOULD EVER EXPERIENCE TOTAL BRAKE FAILURE, AND FEEL THAT MAZDA SHOULD AT LEAST REPLACE ONE OF THE BRAKE LINES TO MAKE SURE THAT SOMEONE DOESNT GET KILLED. *JB

NHTSA ID

10008464

Incident

Feb 13, 2003

Mileage

120,000 mi

MY DAUGHTER HAS A 1993 MAZDA 626, AND THE ENGINE BLEW FOR NO KNOWN REASON, AND I WONDERED IF YOU HAD HAD OTHER COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS PARTICULAR MAKE AND MODEL MAZDA ENGINE---THANKS.*JB

NHTSA ID

10008311

Incident

Feb 27, 2003

Mileage

92,000 mi