1998 Mazda 626 Engine Problems

TAKATA RECALL. THE TRANSMISSION CD4E TRANNY DOESN'T HAVE SWITCH GEARS UNLESS YOU USE EXCESSIVE RPM.

NHTSA ID

10992285

Incident

Jan 29, 2017

Mileage

150,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 MAZDA 626. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V674000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT AND OTHER WARNING LIGHTS WERE ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE ALSO MADE A WARNING SOUND AND EMITTED A BURNING ODOR FROM THE FRONT END. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200,000. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE.

NHTSA ID

10837700

Incident

Feb 23, 2016

Mileage

200,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 MAZDA 626LX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START AND AT TIMES WOULD STALL. APPROXIMATELY ONE YEAR AGO, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY REPLACED THE TIMING BELT. THE PROBLEM CONTINUED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 198,000 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 187,000. THE VEHICLE WAS AT THE DEALER AWAITING REPAIRS.

NHTSA ID

10381062

Incident

May 5, 2010

Mileage

187,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING EXIT THE HIGHWAY, THE ENGINE SHUT DOWN. PUSH TO THE SIDE AND COULD NOT RESTART THE CAR. AFTER TOLL BACK TO HOME, WE CAN START THE CAR NEXT DAY. *TR

NHTSA ID

10346764

Incident

Jul 30, 2010

Mileage

79,000 mi

TL- THE CONTACT HAS 1998 MAZDA 626. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE IS A RECALL AND THE CAMPAIGN NUMBER IS 00V134000 THAT THEIR VEHICLE IS NOT A PART OF. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DEALER STATED THERE IS A RECALL FOR THIS BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INVOLVED. THE CONTACT HAD THE TIMING BELT TENSION SPRING BREAK CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO STALL. THE CONTACT WAS PULLING OUT OF A DRVIE WAY AND TRAVELING 5MPH AT THE TIME. THE VEHICLE HAD 114000 MILES AT THE TIME OF THE FAILURE AND 11400 MILES CURRENTLY. UPDATED 06/25/10. *LJ UPDATED 07/27/10*J

NHTSA ID

10312643

Incident

Feb 3, 2010

Mileage

114,000 mi

TRANSMISSION FAILED IN 98 MAZDA 626 WITH 149K MILES. *TR

NHTSA ID

10293358

Incident

Nov 21, 2009

Mileage

149,000 mi

1998 MAZDA 626, WHILE DRIVING THE HIGHWAY GOING 60 MPH THE ENGINE STALLED AND WE COASTED TO THE BREAK DOWN LANE OF THE HIGHWAY. CAR WOULD NOT START BACK UP. HAD IT TOW. CAR DIAGNOSTICS PENDING. *TR

NHTSA ID

10290527

Incident

Nov 1, 2009

Mileage

85,000 mi

THE EXTERNAL SPRING IN MY TIMING BELT TENSIONER HAS BROKEN, AND THERE IS NO RECALL ON MY SPECIFIC VEHICLE. HOWEVER, THERE IS ONE ON THE MAZDA 626 2.0 LTR ENGINE (4 CYL). *TR

NHTSA ID

10267242

Incident

Apr 26, 2009

Mileage

180,000 mi

1998 MAZDA 626 LX 2.0L 4CYLINDER ENGINE. RETURNING BACK TO THE GUEST HOUSE AFTER DROPPING A FRIEND OFF AT THE AIRPORT THAT EVENING, AFTER GETTING OFF THE INTERSTATE, I HEARD A CRACK (FOLLOWED BY A GRINDING NOISE) FROM THE PASSENGER'S SIDE OF THE ENGINE. WITHIN MOMENTS AS I SLOWED THE CAR TO A SAFE SPOT, I HEARD A WHIPPING NOISE FROM THE SAME REGION. THAT LATER HAPPENED TO BE THE SERPENTINE AND ALTERNATOR BELTS BOTH BROKE JUST AFTER EXITING THE INTERSTATE, THE ENGINE AND BATTERY LIGHTS CAME ON AT ONCE.., AND THEN, IMMEDIATELY AFTER THAT, THE ENGINE STOPPED WORKING. I CALLED MY INSURANCE AND HAD MY CAR TOWED TO THE GUEST HOUSE. THE CAR WAS LOOKED AT AND THE DIAGNOSES WERE THE GEARS IN THE WATER PUMP WERE BROKEN WHICH FROZE THE ALTERNATOR BELT, THE ALTERNATOR BELT-NOW STIFFENED- SHREDDED AND MANGLED THE SERPENTINE BELT. THEN THE SERPENTINE BELT TORE ALONG THE GROOVED LINES. PLUS, THE ENGINE IS NOW LEAKING COOLANT. REPAIRS???? I AM WAITING FOR THE ESTIMATE TO COME IN. I HAVE BEEN WARNED THAT IT WOULD NOT BE CHEAP TO FIX. $500-$700 I ASKED? NOPE! HE SAID, AFTER LETTING OUT A CHUCKLE..., MUCH HIGHER HE REPLIED. AT LEAST $1000 OR MORE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10216999

Incident

Feb 1, 2008

Mileage

138,645 mi

1998 MAZDA 626 WITH SAME PROBLEM AS DESCRIBED IN THE RECALL. CONSUMER STATES THAT HE BELIEVES THE RECALL DOES NOT INCLUDE ALL AFFECTED VEHICLES. HIS HAS THAT PROBLEM AND HIS IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. *KB THE CONSUMER BELIEVED THERE WAS A FAULTY SPRING ON HIS TIMING BELT TENSIONER, WHICH WAS CONFIRMED BY THE REPAIR SHOP. THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD ONLY VEHICLES MANUFACTURED BETWEEN JULY 1997 AND NOVEMBER 1997 WERE AFFECTED BY THE RECALL. THE CONSUMERS VEHICLE WAS MANUFACTURED IN FEBRUARY 1998. THE WINDSHIELD WIPER DIDN'T WORK IN THE INTERMITTENT MODE. (RECALL 00V134000)*JB

NHTSA ID

10213912

Incident

Jan 25, 2007

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 MAZDA 626. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE TENSION SPRING ON THE TIMING BELT FAILED, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO STALL. THE DEALER STATED THAT HIS VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 00V134000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE) AND WOULD NOT REIMBURSE HIM FOR THE REPAIR. THE CONTACT FILED A FORMAL COMPLAINT WITH THE MANUFACTURER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE IS 87,000.

NHTSA ID

10212357

Incident

Jan 25, 2007

Mileage

80,000 mi

OVERFLOW TANK FOR RADIATOR HAS CRACKED AND LOST ALL WATER TO MY CAR AT LEAST 5 TIMES SINCE 2004, I HAVE GONE TO ALHAMBRA MAZDA FOR HELP ALSO TO MAZDA CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS IN IRVINE, ALL REFUSE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE PROBLEM. I WAS TOWED OVER 800 MILES THIS SUMMER DUE TO BREAKAGE, THE SEAM AROUND DTO TANK CRACKS AND LEAKS, CAUSING HEATING PROBLEMS, THEY STATED THAT IT WAS A UNKNOWN PROBLEM AND THAT IT WAS THE WAY I DRIVE, THIS IS NOT POSSIBLE, THE PART IS DEFECTIVE, IT WILL CRACK AT ANY TIME OR PLACE, THEY KEEP TRYING TO DO PRESSURE TEST AND MAKE ME REPLACE SENSORS, THERE IS NO PROBLEM WITH SENSORS. PLEASE HELP ME, I AM SEVENTY AND CANNOT AFFORD A NEW CAR. I AM A GOOD DRIVER AND KEEP MY CAR SERVICED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10206911

Incident

Jul 3, 2007

TL- CALLER OWNS A 1998 MAZDA. CURRENT MILEAGE 140000. CALLER DOES NOT KNOW FAILURE MILEAGE. WHILE DRIVING DOWN STREET AT 3MPH THE CAR SHUT OFF. WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON AFTERWARDS. CAR WOULD NOT START BACK UP. HE PUSHED CAR BACK TO HIS HOME. MECHANIC CAME OVER NEXT DAY AND NOTICED SPRING TENSIONER WAS BROKEN ;THIS WAS REPLACED IN 2000 UNDER RECALL 00V134000 . WEATHER WAS WARM APPROXIMATLEY 82 DEGREES. KTF

NHTSA ID

10189977

Incident

May 5, 2007

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. IT WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC DETERMINED THE TIMING SPRING FRACTURED. THERE WAS A NHTSA RECALL, #00V134000, REGARDING THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN.

NHTSA ID

10172130

Incident

Oct 30, 2006

Mileage

85,724 mi

MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING THE CAR IN HEAVY TRAFFIC WHEN IT STALLED AND LOST ALL POWER. IT WOULD NOT START AND IT WAS TOWED TO A SHOP WHERE IT WAS FOUND THAT THE TIMING BELT HAD BROKEN AND CAUSED MUCH DAMAGE. WE HAD TO HAVE THE FOLLOWING REPLACED: CYLINDER HEAD GASKET, TIMING BELT, TIMING BELT TENSIONER, IDLER, SPARK PLUGS, THERMOSTAT, 2 DRIVE BELTS, AND THE WATER PUMP. IT COST US ALMOST $1,700 TO GET IT REPAIRED. I HAVE OWNED THIS CAR SINCE IT WAS NEW AND HAVE LIVED AT THE SAME ADDRESS AND WAS NEVER NOTIFIED OF ANY RECALL BEFORE THIS HAPPENED. I HAVE HEARD THAT THERE HAVE BEEN MANY OTHER PEOPLE THAT HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEMS BUT THEIR CARS WERE NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL... ONLY ONES WITH CERTAIN VIN NUMBERS. I BELIEVE IT IS A PROBLEM WITH ALL 1998 626 MODELS. *NM

NHTSA ID

10163408

Incident

Feb 19, 2005

Mileage

77,359 mi

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE IS MAKING NOISES IN THE ENGINE. THERE IS A NHTSA RECALL, # 00V134000, REGARDING THE ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING: ENGINE. THE VEHICLE HAS THE SAME PROBLEMS AS INDICATED IN THE RECALL; HOWEVER IT IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN.

NHTSA ID

10148785

Incident

Dec 15, 2005

Mileage

85,000 mi

DT: THE CONTACT HAD THE SPRING FOR THE TIMING BELT REPLACED. LATER, SHE FOUND NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN 00V134000 CONCERNING TIMING BELT. WHEN CONTACTING THE MANUFACTURER SHE WAS TOLD TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO A DEALERSHIP FOR INSPECTION. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED, AND SHE WAS REIMBURSED FOR RECALL REPAIR WORK COMPLETED PREVIOUSLY. THE VEHICLE CURRENTLY WAS NOT WORKING, AND THE MECHANIC FOUND THAT THE RECALL REPAIR WORK HAD NOT ACTUALLY BEEN DONE. HE STATED A KIT SHOULD HAVE BEEN INSTALLED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED, AND THE CONTACT WAS TOLD THAT BECAUSE SHE WAS ALREADY REIMBURSED THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO FOR HER. *AK

NHTSA ID

10145231

Incident

Dec 1, 2003

DT: ON SEPTEMBER 22, 2005, CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS CUT OFF AND IT LOST POWER, THE VEHICLE WAS HARD TO STEER IT AND LOST THE BRAKES. RECALL 00V134OOO WAS ISSUED . IT STATES THE EXTERNAL SPRING IN THE TIMING BELT TENSIONER COULD BREAK AND BE CAUGHT IN THE TIMING BELT, RESULTING IN STALLING; HOWEVER, THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. . THE VEHICLE IS AT THE DEALER, AND THEY ARE SAYING THIS IS WHAT HAPPENED TO VEHICLE. THERE WAS NO FOREWARNING AND NO NOISE. IT WAS RUNNING SO ROUGH THAT THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF WITHIN A FEW SECONDS. *AK

NHTSA ID

10138153

Incident

Sep 22, 2005

Mileage

92,000 mi

TRANSMISSION FAILURE/ENGINE FAILURE. *NM

NHTSA ID

10136957

Incident

Jul 16, 2003

Mileage

80,000 mi

I AM COMPLAINING ABOUT MY 1998 MAZDA 626. THIS CAR HAS BEEN TROUBLE EVER SINCE DAY ONE. I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE TIMING BELT, THE DRIVE AXLES TWICE, AND PUT IN 4 TRANSMISSIONS. I HAVE HAD THE CAR SINCE 2002 AND HAD TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION EVERY YEAR. I COULD HARDY MAKE MY CAR PAYMENTS FOR HAVING TO SPEND EXTRA MONEY TO REPAIR MY CAR.

NHTSA ID

10133479

Incident

Jul 19, 2002

Mileage

63,081 mi

NHTSA RECALL 00V134000 CONCERNING THE TIMING BELT . THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL ALTHOUGH THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED A SIMILAR PROBLEM. THE CONSUMER NOTIFIED THE MANUFACTURER. *AK THE VEHICLE WOULD START BUT NOT ACCELERATE. *SC *JB

NHTSA ID

10105145

Incident

Dec 13, 2004

Mileage

120,059 mi

THE CAR CUT OFF WHILE I WAS DRIVING. THE REPAIRMAN SAID THE PROBLEM WAS DUE TO OIL SLUG BUILD. I HAD ALL MY OIL CHANGES DONE AT THE DEALERSHIP. THE BROWN SAID THEY WILL NOT PAY FOR THE REPAIR, THE EXTENDED WARRANTY COMPANY WILL NOT PAY FOR THE REPAIR OF $5,000 FOR REBUILT OR $7,000 FOR A NEW ENGINE. MY FRIEND WAS TOLD THE PERSON WHO HAD THE CAR BEFORE DID NOT HAVE THE OIL CHANGED REGULARLY. I GUESS I AM LUCKY I WAS NOT ON THE HIGHWAY BECAUSE THE CAR CUT OFF WITH NO WARNING. (SHOULDN'T THE CAR DEALSHIP MAKE SURE EVERYTHING IS OK BEFORE SELLING THE CARS?

NHTSA ID

10116028

Incident

Jan 24, 2005

MY 1998 626 WAS PURCHASED IN 2000. IN SEPTEMBER 2003 MY TRANSMISSION COMPLETELY FAILED ON ME AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. THS CAR HAS BEEN NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS FOR ME, I HAVE HAD THE TIMING BELT TO BREAK ON ME CAUSING MY CAR TO KILL IN TRAFFIC, MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CONSTANTY COMES ON, MY CAR STALLS AND JERKS AND YET NO MECHANIC CAN FIND A REASON FOR THIS.*AK

NHTSA ID

10114331

Incident

Sep 24, 2003

ON DECEMBER 2004, MY CAR DID NOT START, AAA TOWED THE CAR TO BELFI'S AUTO AND TRUCK REPAIR INC. 162 SOUTH MAIN ST. LODI, NJ. 07644 (973-471-5210). AFTER DIAGNOSING THE PROBLEM TO BE THE TIMING BELT SUSPENSION SPRING THE MECHANIC INFORMED ME THAT THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM, UPON CONTACTING MAZDA CORPORATION I WAS TOLD THAT THE RECALL DID NOT INCLUDE MY VIN#. I HAD THE REPAIR DONE BY BELFI'S AUTO SHOP. THE RECALL WAS FOR THE 1998 MAZDA 626, WHY ISN'T MY VEHICLE INCLUDED IN THAT RECALL BEING THAT IT IS THE EXACT SAME MODEL? *JB

NHTSA ID

10108504

Incident

Dec 21, 2004

Mileage

63,671 mi

RECALL 00V134000 CONCERNING TIMING BELT TENSIONER: CONSUMER STATED VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM AS STATED IN THE RECALL . THIS AFFECTED THE ENGINE. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR REPAIRS, AND WAS TOLD THAT VALVES WERE BAD. *AK....ALSO, CAMSHAFT SEALS WERE REPAIRED. *AK

NHTSA ID

10106866

Incident

Dec 4, 2004

Mileage

63,000 mi