RoadVitals

1993 Mazda 626 Transmission Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the transmission system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Transmission reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
40
Latest Oct 1, 2009
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
33%
of 122 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
1
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
1

What this page shows

Reports naming the automatic or manual transmission, including shifting behaviour, shudder, slipping and transmission control modules. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1993 Mazda 626 submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 40 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming transmission

The 25 most recent of 40, in the owner's own words

Transmission
Filed Oct 1, 2009

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
Transmission
Filed Aug 31, 2006

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
Transmission
Filed Feb 27, 2006

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

NHTSA ID
10151361
Incident
Feb 10, 2006
Transmission
Filed Nov 17, 2005

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
Transmission
Filed Apr 8, 2005

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
Transmission
Filed Apr 2, 2005

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

NHTSA ID
10116269
Incident
Apr 2, 2004
Transmission
Filed Mar 26, 2005

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
Filed Mar 17, 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
Transmission
Filed Aug 18, 2004

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILURE. *JB

NHTSA ID
10088148
Incident
Aug 7, 2004
Mileage
120,000 mi
Other / unspecifiedTransmission
Filed Jun 29, 2004

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
Other / unspecifiedTransmission
Filed Jun 9, 2004

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
Transmission
Filed Jun 22, 2003

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
Transmission
Filed Jun 17, 2003

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
Transmission
Filed Apr 18, 2003

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
Transmission
Filed Apr 17, 2003

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
Filed Apr 4, 2003

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
Transmission
Filed Dec 30, 2002

I OWN A 1993 MAZDA 626 ES (6 CYLINDER) AUTOMOBILE WITH MAJOR PROBLEMS IN THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. I HAD THE TRANSMISSION REBUILT IN 1999. IN MARCH 2002, IT BEGAN TO FAIL AGAIN, WAS REBUILT AGAIN, FAILED LESS THAN ONE MONTH LATER, REBUILT AGAIN, FAILED AGAIN AND HAS BEEN SITTING IN A SHOP FOR 4 MONTHS AWAITING A NEW TRANMSSION BY MAZDA. MAZDA HAS BEEN NON-COOPERATIVE TO BOTH THE DEALERSHIP PARTS DEPARTMENT AND TO THE TRANSMISSION REPAIRMAN. THERE ARE TWO POSSIBLE TRANSMISSIONS HOWEVER MAZDA REFUSES TO MANUFACTURE THE ONE RECOMMENDED BY THE DEALER SAYING "IF WE MAKE IT AND IT DOES NOT WORK, YOU WILL KEEP IT!" PLEASE HELP!

NHTSA ID
10000647
Incident
Jun 30, 1999
Mileage
100,000 mi
Transmission
Filed Dec 12, 2002

QUICK VERSION: TRANSMISSION DIED IN CAR TWICE. FIRST TIME IT DIED AROUND 112500 MILES. SECOND TIME IT DIED 11500 MILES LATER. STILL RUNNING ON SECOND REPAIR JOB AS OF 12/12/2002. AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SHIFTED ROUGH (WHICH I WAS TOLD WAS "STANDARD" BEHAVIOR) FOR THE ENTIRE TIME I OWNED THE CAR. THE TRANSMISSION DIED A YEAR AGO AND THE LOCAL MAZDA DEALERSHIP SAID THAT IT WOULD COST ME ABOUT $4000 TO REPLACE IT. I WENT TO A PRIVATE TRANSMISSION SHOP INSTEAD AND CUT THAT COST IN HALF. REPAIR JOB DIDN'T LAST VERY LONG, HOWEVER AND I WOUND UP GOING TO A DIFFERENT SHOP THE SECOND TIME. STILL RUNNING FOR THE MOMENT. I FULLY BELIEVE THAT I SHOULD NOT HAVE EXPERIENCED SUCH PROBLEMS WITH MY CAR IN THE FIRST PLACE. GIVEN THE AMOUNT OF ANECDOTAL EVIDENCE REGARDING THE 626'S TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS, MY OPINION IS SHARED BY MANY.

NHTSA ID
10000079
Incident
Apr 16, 2001
Mileage
112,500 mi
Transmission
Filed Aug 29, 2002

THE TRANSMISSION ON MY 626 IS FAILING AND ALL REPAIR GARAGES QUOTE ME AT AROUND 2500 DOLLARS TO REPLACE. THEY SAY THAT THEY WON'T REPLACE IT. SHOULDN'T MAZDA BE REPLACING THESE SINCE THEY SEEM TO FAIL IN SO MANY CASES?*AK

NHTSA ID
766428
Transmission
Filed Aug 11, 2002

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID
765483
Incident
Aug 2, 2002
Transmission
Filed Jul 14, 2002

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID
764209
Incident
Jul 1, 2002
Transmission
Filed Apr 1, 2002

'HOLD' LIGHT FLASHING. CAR WONT MOVE IN DRIVE/SECOND/FIRST OR REVERSE UNTIL RPM INCREASED TO APPROX 4000, THAT TOO VERY SLOWLY. ENGINE SPEED REMAINS ABNORMALY UNPROPORTIONATE TO VEHICLE SPEED AFTER THE VEHICLE STARTS MOVING OR WHEN ACCELERATING EVEN AT VERY LOW SPEEDS.*AK

NHTSA ID
760060
Incident
Mar 31, 2002
AirbagsSteeringTransmission+1 more
Filed Dec 29, 2001

I RECENTLY VISITED A COMPLAINT.COM SITE AND SAW MANY OF THE SAME PROBLEMS WITH 93 MAZDA 626'S. I COUNTED 14 IDENTICAL COMPLAINTS WITH OTHERS ONLY EXPERIENCING SOME OF THE SAME PROBLEMS THAT I HAVE EXPERIENCED. I AM HOPING THAT THERE IS A CLASS ACTION LAW-SUIT AGAINST MAZDA FOR THESE ISSUES - AND WOULD APPRECIATE ANY ASSISTANCE OR GUIDANCE THAT YOU MAY BE ABLE TO OFFER TO GAIN REIMBURSEMENT FOR DEFICIENCIES THAT I HAVE LISTED. IN TOTAL, I AND OTHERS ARE SPENDING THOUSANDS TO MAKE A CAR SAFE WELL BEFORE THE LIFE EXPECTANCY OF THE AUTOMOBILE. THANK YOU IN ADVANCE. NO SAFETY DEFEC TMENTIONED. *AK

NHTSA ID
756185
Incident
Sep 1, 2001
Transmission
Filed Aug 20, 2001

TRANSMISSION LIGHT KEPT COMING ON. TRANSMISSION STARTED SLIPPING AND VEHICLE WASN'T RUNNING PROPERLY. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER STATED NEEDED NEW TRANSMISSION.*AK

NHTSA ID
894760
Incident
Jul 25, 2001
Transmission
Filed Aug 18, 2001

I'VE READ A LOT OF COMPLAINTS FILED FOR THE MAZDA 626. I HAD NO IDEA HOW BAD IT WAS. IT IS UNBELIEVABLE THAT NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE ABOUT THESE TRANSMISSIONS.THE TRANI SHOP THAT CURRENTLY HAS MY CAR ALSO HAS 4 OTHER MAZDA 626'S ON THE LOT FOR TRANI REPLACEMENTS. THAT IS RIDICULOUS.*AK

NHTSA ID
750727
Incident
Jul 15, 2001

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

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Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .