Owner-reported complaints naming the transmission system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
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 1995 Mazda 626 submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 330 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.
The 25 most recent of 330, in the owner's own words
OVERDRIVE LIGHT INTERMITTENTLY GOES ON AND OFF CAUSING CAR TO BUCK, JERK AND HESITATE. DURING THAT TIME THE RPM SOARS IN THE RANGE OF 8-10. THIS OCCURS WHEN DRIVING ANY AMOUNT OF TIME. TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN REPLACED SEVERAL TIMES WITH THE SAME RESULT. *TR
95 MAZDA 626 TRANSMISSION SUCKS. *TR
I BOUGHT MY 1995 MAZDA 626 AUTOMATIC NEW AT ABOUT 57000 MILES(JUST OUT OF WARRANTY) THE O/D LIGHT BEGAN BLINKING AND THE TRANSMISSION RAN ROUGH ESP. BETWEEN FIRST AND SECOND GEAR. MAZDA WANTED ME TO PUT A NEW TRANSMISSION IN AT A COST OF $1700,WHICH I DECLINED. NOW WITH 140000 MILES,I HAVE HAD NO CHOICE BUT TO HAVE THE TRANSMISSION RE-BUILT AT A COST OF $2100. I SEE ON THE INTERNET THAT THIS HAS BEEN A WIDE-SPREAD PROBLEM WITH MAZDA'S AND I THINK THEY SHOULD COVER THEIR PARTS AND STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCTS! *TR
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WOULD FAIL TO GO INTO REVERSE. DIAGNOSIS OF TRANSMISSION SHOP SAID PROBLEM WAS COMMON FOR THIS MODEL AND INDICATING TRANSMISSION WAS FAILING AND NEEDED REBUILD. TRANSMISSION REBUILD FIXED THE PROBLEM. *TR
CAR DEMONSTRATES KNOWN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION ISSUES FOR THIS MAKE/MODEL/YEAR - O/D LIGHT FLASHING ON AND OFF, ERRATIC GEAR SHIFTING RESULTING IN DANGEROUS OPERATION ON THE ROAD. *TR
CAR DEMONSTRATES KNOWN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION ISSUES FOR THIS MAKE/MODEL/YEAR - O/D LIGHT FLASHING ON AND OFF, ERRATIC GEAR SHIFTING RESULTING IN DANGEROUS OPERATION ON THE ROAD. *TR
THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH MY 1995 MAZDA 626'S TRANSMISSION. IT IS ONLY AT 93,000 MILES, AND I THINK THE TRANSMISSION IS SHOT. IT SHIFTS VERY HARD INTO GEAR. WHEN IT IS IN DRIVE, SOMETIMES IT SHIFTS INTO NEUTRAL IF I AM IDLING. I USUALLY HAVE TO SHIFT IT INTO NEUTRAL AND THEN BACK INTO DRIVE FOR IT TO GET BACK IN GEAR. I AM TAKING IT TO GET CHECKED OUT TONIGHT. *TR
I OWN A 1995 MAZDA 626 AND WAS MADE AWARE THAT IT HAS DOCUMENTED TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. I WAS NOT AWARE OF THE PROBLEM WHEN I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE. THE O/D LIGHTS CONSTANTLY BLINKS ON AND THE CAR JERKS AND SHAKES AT STOPS. I WAS TOLD THE TRANSMISSION HAS TO BE REPLACED AND DID SOME RESEARCH AS A RESULT. MANY OTHER OWNERS OF THIS MODEL AND YEAR VEHICLE HAVE CHANGED THE TRANSMISSION AT LEAST TWICE. IT TURNS OUT THE TRANSMISSION BUILT BY FORD WAS KNOWN TO HAVE PROBLEMS, AND MAZDA SHOULD TAKE SOME RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 MAZDA 626. WHILE AT A BANK DRIVE-THRU WINDOW, THE TRANSMISSION SUDDENLY STOPPED WORKING. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO DEPRESS THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, WHICH CAUSED THE ENGINE TO REV; HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE DID NOT ACCELERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO HER RESIDENCE AND THEN TO A REPAIR SHOP. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO THE TRANSMISSION. SHE WANTED A SECOND OPINION SO THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DIFFERENT MECHANIC. THE FAILURE WAS CONFIRMED TO BE THE TRANSMISSION. THROUGH RESEARCH, THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT NUMEROUS PEOPLE WITH THE SAME TYPE OF VEHICLE EXPERIENCED TRANSMISSION FAILURE. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY AT A REPAIR SHOP, BUT HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 177,000.
I HAVE ONLY HAD MY CAR SINCE SEPT. 2007. IT IS A 1995 MAZDA 626 WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. I STARTED TO HAVE TROUBLE WITH THE TRANSMISSION SOON AFTER BUYING THE CAR. IT WOULD HAVE A LOT OF TROUBLE SHIFTING INTO REVERSE, ESPECIALLY IF I WAS PARKED ON A HILL. THE TRANSMISSION FINALLY WENT OUT COMPLETELY LAST SUNDAY WHEN I WAS PARKED ON AN INCLINE AND TRIED TO REVERSE OUT OF THE SPACE. I'M VERY DISAPPOINTED WITH THIS CAR, ESPECIALLY BECAUSE I HAD THE CAR CHECKED OUT AT A GARAGE BEFORE PURCHASING AND THEY TOLD ME IT WAS IN GOOD CONDITION. *TR
1995 MAZDA 626 LX. PURCHASED IN 1/2007 WITH 148,000 MILES. IN 5/2007 THE TRANS WENT OUT. THE O/D LIGHT STARTED FLASHING AND IT WOULDN'T GO INTO OVERDRIVE. THE FLUID SMELLED BURNED. HAD A USED ONE PUT IN. THEN I WAS TOLD THAT THE CD4E TRANSMISSIONS WERE NOTORIOUS FOR FAILURE JUST WASN'T TOLD WHY. 4/2008 TRANS WENT OUT AGAIN. HAD A REBUILD TRANS PUT IN. DROVE IT FOR 1-1/2 HOURS THEN DIDN'T WANT TO GO INTO REV AND WOULDN'T GO OUT OF 2ND GEAR. JUST FOUND OUT IT IS IN NEED OF AN AFTERMARKET COOLER AND AN EPC SOLENOID. AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH ONLINE I HAVE FOUND OUT THIS IS VERY COMMON PROBLEM. THIS IS MAZDA FAULT FOR USING A FORD TRANS. MAZDA SHOULD BE HELD RESPONSIBLE. THEY SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE. I WOULD NEVER OWN ANOTHER MAZDA OR FORD PRODUCT! *TR
TRANSMISSION SHUTTERING THROUGH SHIFTING, O/D LIGHT FLASHES CHECK ENGINE LIGHT GOES ON WHEN SHIFTING TO HIGHER RPMS. TRANSMISSION IS ABOUT TO CRAP OUT I'VE HEARD OF THESE PROBLEMS LEADING UP TO APROX $2,000 IN EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THESE VEHICLES. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 MAZDA 626. WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION BEGAN TO MAKE A LOUD BANGING NOISE. THE RPM'S WOULD RISE AND THEN DROP, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SURGE FORWARD. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 78,000.
MY DAUGHTER IS USING THE MAZDA 626, 1995 YEAR WHILE GOING TO COLLEGE. SHE CALLED ME AND TOLD ME THE CAR O/D LIGHT WAS FLASHING. THE NEXT DAY SHE GOT INTO THE CAR AND PUT IT IN R. THE CAR WOULD NOT GO IN REVERSE. SHE PUT IT IN D AND THE CAR WOULD NOT GO FORWARD. THE TRANSMISSION SHOP IS LOOKING AT IT RIGHT NOW AND TOLD ME THAT IT MIGHT HAVE TO BE REBUILT. I LOOK UP ON THE INTERNET AND SAW HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE THE SAME COMPLAINT. I WAS TOLD THAT THE MAZDA USED A FORD TRANSMISSION AND IT WAS ALWAYS BREAKING DOWN. I JUST PURCHASED THE CAR 8 MONTHS AGO AS A USED CAR AND AM SPENDING TO HAVE THE TRANSMISSION REBUILT. VERY UNHAPPY WITH MAZDA. *TR
I BOUGHT THIS 1995 MAZDA 626 4 CYL VEHICLE USED AT 79K MILES. I RECENTLY HAD THE TRANSMISSION ROUTINELY SERVICED AGAIN AT A LOCAL GARAGE, INCLUDING YEARLY FLUID CHANGE, AND WITHIN JUST A FEW WEEKS THE TRANSMISSION LOST 2ND RANGE AND OVERDRIVE. ENGINE OVERSPEEDS BEFORE SHIFTING FROM 1ST INTO 3RD. I HAD TAKEN THIS CAR TO A PARR FORD/MAZDA DEALER SEVERAL TIMES FOR SAFETY CHECK AND OIL CHANGE, BUT THEY NEVER ONCE MENTIONED THE NEED FOR AN AFTERMARKET OIL COOLER. BUT WHEN I TOOK THE CAR BACK WITH THE TRANNY PROBLEM A FEW DAYS AGO, THEY TRIED TO SELL ME A REBUILT TRANNY FOR $3500 INSTALLED AND EMPHASIZED THAT THEY WOULD NOT INSTALL A REBUILT TRANNY WITHOUT ADDING AN AFTERMARKET OIL COOLER. NEVER ONCE DID PARR FORD/MAZDA MENTION INSTALLING AN AFTERMARKET TRANSMISSION OIL COOLER UNTIL AFTER THE TRANSMISSION HAD FAILED. I CONSIDER THIS AN ACT OF GROSS NEGLIGENCE ON THEIR PART AND FEEL THEY OWE ME A NEW TRANSMISSION. *TR
VEHICLE TRANSMISSION ISSUES. SHAKES VIOLENTLY WHILE IDLING IN DRIVE. O/D OFF LIGHT FLASHING WILL NOT GO OFF. GEAR SLIPS. *TR
1995 MAZDA 626 4 CYLINDER AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WITH OVERDRIVE (CD4E/LA4A-EL) HAS CATASTROPHICALLY FAILED WITH NO ABUSE ON THE PART OF THE OWNER/DRIVER. RESEARCH SINCE THEN SHOWS THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM AND MAZDA WILL NOT REPAIR OR ADMIT THE PROBLEM EXISTS. *TR
MY 1995 MAZDA 626 HAS GONE THROUGH AT LEAST 5 TRANSMISSIONS, NOW NEEDS #6. I AM NOT GOING TO PUT ANOTHER $3,300 INTO THE CAR. A BANK TELLER SUGGESTED I TRY TO REPORT THE VEHICLE AS A "LEMON" SINCE NO VEHICLE SHOULD NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION EVERY OTHER YEAR! *TR
1995 MAZDA 626 AT 97,000 MILES: THE TRANSMISSION BEGAN TO SLIP BACK AND FORTH BETWEEN UPPER GEARS. AFTER PULLING OFF AND VERIFYING FLUID LEVELS, THE CAR DROVE WELL FOR 4 MILES, BEGAN SLIPPING AGAIN AND FINALLY DROPPED OUT OF ALL GEARS. THEN IT SEEMED TO BE IN NEUTRAL NO MATTER WHAT GEAR WAS SELECTED. AFTER A TOW TO A TRASMISSION SHOP, I WAS TOLD THAT A TRANSMISSION REBUILD WAS REQUIRED @ $2,000. THERE SHOULD BE MANY MORE MILES LEFT IN THIS CAR WITHOUT REQUIRING A $2,000 INVESTMENT! AFTER READING MANY SIMILAR SLORIES, I BELIEVE MAZDA SHOULD TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS DEFECT! *TR
I HAVE A '95 MAZDA 626 2.0L AUTOTRANS, IT DRIVES FINE IN TOWN AND FOR SHORT PERIODS BUT SINCE I LIVE IN A RURAL AREA MOST SHOPPING IS DONE AND HOUR FROM HOME. ON SUCH TRIPS, MY CAR WILL BEGIN TO SHIFT HARD AND THE O/D OFF LIGHT WILL START FLASHING. I'VE TALKED TO THE MAZDA DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID ITS A TYPICAL MAZDA PROBLEM AND TO UNHOOK THE NEG BATTERY CABLE, WAIT 3 MINUTES THEN RECONNECT AND THE LIGHT WILL BE OFF. THIS WORKS BUT I SHOULDN'T HAVE TO RESET THE COMPUTER EVERY TIME I DRIVE MY CAR FOR AN HOUR. I'VE ALSO DONE LOTS OF INTERNET RESEARCH AND IT APPEARS THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM CAUSED BY THE TRANSMISSION OVERHEATING AND EVENTUALLY BURNING UP. I'VE FOUND MAZDA TSB #0500502 PUBLISHED MAY 21, 2002 THAT SHOWS MAZDA IS AWARE OF THE SAID PROBLEM AND ALSO KNOWS HOW TO CORRECT THIS ISSUE, SO WHY IS IT THE CONSUMERS RESPONSIBILITY TO INSTALL THE ATF COOLER KIT WHEN MADZA ADMITS THE TRANSMISSION NEEDS THIS PART TO RUN EFFECTIVELY FOR LONG TERM VEHICLE USE?? MAZDA SHOULD BE PICKING UP THE TAB BY EITHER REPLACING THE TRANNY WITH ONE THAT WORKS PROPERLY OR INSTALL THE COOLER KIT THEMSELVES!!
MY 1995 MAZDA 626 HAS GONE THOUGH TWO TRANSMISSIONS DESPITE BEEING WELL CARED FOR. THE VEHICLE HAD ONLY 130,000 MILES ON IT. MY GIRLFREINDS 1996 MAZDA 626 HAS GONE THOUGH TWO AS WELL AND HAS 101,000 MILES. MY BROTHERS MAZDA 626 HAD SIMULAR ISSUES BEFORE SELLING IT TO SOME OTHER NON SUSPECTING CONSUMER. CONSUMER REPORTS HAS SHOWN THEM TO BE TROUBLED IN THIS AREA, TO SAY THE LEAST. MAZDA HAS MADE NO EFFORTS TO RESOLVE THIS ISSUE. FOR SOME MAZDA OWNERS AN UNEXPECTED $2,000-$2,500 BILL COULD BE A LIFE ALTERING EXPENSE. WHEN WILL WE SEE A GOVERNMENT FORCED RECALL? MAZDA SHOULD BE HELD RESPONSIBLE. I WILL NEVER PURCHASE A MAZDA VEHICLE AGAIN. THANK YOU FOR PROVIDING A FORUM FOR SUCH COMPLAINTS.*AK
THE TRANSMISSION IS CRAP!! AND HAVE READ VARIOUS REPORTS OF THE SAME ISSUE ON THE SAME MODEL OF CAR. *NM
TRANSMISSION IN 1995 MAZDA 626, JUST BOUGHT THIS CAR AND TRANSMISSION IS BAD ALREADY. CAR HAS 121,000 MILES ON IT..... IT HAS THE CD4E TRANSMISSION IN IT... WE WENT ON THE WEB AND DID SOME RESEARCH AND FOUND THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM..... TRANNY IS ABOUT TO GO..... *JB
MAZDA 626 TRANSMISSION FAILED TWICE IN 2004 AND 2006. *NM
THE TRANSMISSION ON MY 1995 MAZDA 626 DIED AFTER APPROX 75K MILES. THERE ARE NO REPLACEMENTS ANYWHERE IN THE COUNTRY. I WILL HAVE TO HAVE THE CURRENT TRANSMISSION REBUILT FOR APPROX $3K OR SELL THE VEHICLE FOR PARTS. THAT IS RIDICULOUS FOR SUCH A LOW-MILEAGE VEHICLE TO BE IN SUCH A SITUATION. RESEARCHING THE ISSUE ONLINE I SEE THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM FOR THE 1995 MAZDA 626. I SEE MENTION OF THE TRANSMISSION POSSIBLY REQUIRING A TRANSMISSION COOLER, SUGGESTING THAT THE FAILURE OCCURS BECAUSE THE FLUID OVERHEATS. NOT SURE IF THAT IS THE CASE, BUT CLEARLY SOMETHING IN THE DESIGN HAS RESULTED IN AN UNREASONABLY SHORT LIFESPAN FOR THE TRANNY. IT IS NOT REASONABLE FOR THE CONSUMER TO TAKE THIS ON THE CHIN. MAZDA NEEDS TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE AND BEAR AT LEAST SOME OF THE PAIN THEIR FLAWED DESIGN HAS CAUSED. PLEASE CONTACT ME FOR ADDITIONAL DETAILS AS NEEDED. THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION. *NM
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.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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