RoadVitals

1999 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.
224
Latest Jul 22, 2011
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.
70%
of 318 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.
0

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 1999 Mazda 626 submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 224 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 224, in the owner's own words

Transmission
Filed Jul 22, 2011

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS *TT

NHTSA ID
10414771
Incident
Jun 1, 2011
Mileage
130,000 mi
Transmission
Filed Apr 28, 2011

I HAD THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED AT ABOUT 65,000 MILES. THE REPLACEMENT TRANSMISSION IS VERY JERKY AND SHIFTS VERY HARD, AND I WOULD NOT BE SURPRISED IF IT FAILED AGAIN AT SOME POINT IN THE FUTURE. APPARENTLY, THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FOR THIS MODEL HAS A HIGH RATE OF FAILURE. TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS CAN BE POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS AND VERY COSTLY TO REPAIR; MAZDA SHOULD ISSUE A RECALL. *TR

NHTSA ID
10398081
Incident
May 3, 2003
Mileage
65,000 mi
Transmission
Filed Apr 27, 2011

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 MAZDA 626. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 65 MPH WHEN THE GEARS BECAME STUCK, THE VEHICLE DECELERATED AND THE RPMS INCREASE GREATLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS DEFECTIVE AND WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED WHO DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN ANY RECALLS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 113,000.

NHTSA ID
10398061
Incident
Apr 22, 2011
Mileage
113,000 mi
EngineTransmission
Filed Aug 28, 2010

THE MAZDA 626 TRANSMISSION IS NOT KNOWN FOR ITS RELIABILITY. IT FACT, THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ABOUT PROBLEMS ENCOUNTERED WITH THE MAZDA 626 TRANSMISSION. A COMMON PROBLEM ON THE VEHICLE IS THE FAILURE OF THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. WHEN THIS FAILS, THIS MAY CAUSE THE OVERDRIVE LIGHT TO FLASH. OTHER PROBLEMS INCLUDE SLIPPING AND VIBRATION. NOT UNDERSTANDING WHY THERE ARE NO RECALLS ON THIS PRODUCT BEING THAT THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR YEARS WHY IS MAZDA NOT LIABLE FOR THIS ISSUE....... *TR

NHTSA ID
10352506
Incident
Jan 1, 2009
Mileage
150,000 mi
Transmission
Filed Apr 14, 2010

ROUGH SHIFTING, SLIPPING ,ROUGH IDLE, OVERHEATING TRANSMISSION. *TR

NHTSA ID
10325739
Incident
Jan 1, 1999
Mileage
50,000 mi
Transmission
Filed Apr 13, 2010

I PURCHASED A 1999 MAZDA 626 AUTOMATIC 4 CYLINDER VEHICLE. AFTER DRIVING THE CAR FOR APPROXIMATELY 10 MINUTES THE VEHICLE STARTS TO JERK AND THE TACHOMETER GETS VERY ERRATIC AS IS THE SHIFTING. THE VEHICLE NOW USES EXCESSIVE GAS AND THE JERKING MOTION HAS CONTINUED. IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING (AFTER GOING ONLINE TO CHECK THIS PROBLEM) THAT MAZDA IS AWARE THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THIS TRANSMISSION BUT WON'T ISSUE A RECALL OR PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE FOR THE PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ID
10325397
Incident
Apr 5, 2010
Mileage
164,000 mi
Transmission
Filed Feb 20, 2010

GEAR SLIPPING & RPM "REVING" TRANSMISSION FALIURE, NEED TO REPLACE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10312355
Incident
Feb 19, 2010
Mileage
170,000 mi
Transmission
Filed Aug 11, 2009

1999 MAZDA 626: THE DRIVE CHAIN INSIDE THE TRANSMISSION WAS SLIPPING. WHEN YOU PUT IT IN GEAR, AND TRIED TO GO, YOU COULD HERE IT JUMPING OVER THE TEETH ON THE SPROCKET. THE TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REBUILT. *TR

NHTSA ID
10280070
Incident
Aug 15, 2008
Transmission
Filed Mar 13, 2009

THIS IS THE 3RD TRANSMISSION FAILURE OF 1999 MAZDA 626. CAR ONLY HAS 136K MILES. *TR

NHTSA ID
10261764
Incident
Mar 10, 2009
Mileage
136,000 mi
Transmission
Filed Feb 14, 2009

MY 1999 MAZDA 626 TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN ACTING UP A LOT. FROM WHAT I HAVE FOUND WITH RESEARCH MAZDA USED THE FORD PROBE TRANSMISSION IN THE PRODUCTION OF THE 626 UP UNTIL 2002. THE TRANSMISSION THAT COMES WITH THE CAR IS DESIGNED FOR A SMALLER, LIGHTER VEHICLE AND THUS IT IS DOOMED TO FAIL, NO MATTER HOW MANY TIMES YOU REPLACE IT. I CANNOT AFFORD TO PUMP $2,000 INTO A CAR THAT IS GOING TO HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM DOWN THE ROAD. PLUS EVEN IF I COULD AFFORD IT, I CAN'T FIND THE PART IN TAMPA, FL. MAZDA SHOULD BE FORCED TO UPGRADE ALL 626 2.0L I4 TRANSMISSIONS FOR FREE, AS THEY MADE NO ATTEMPT TO CORRECT THE ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10258678
Incident
Feb 6, 2009
Mileage
125,000 mi
Transmission
Filed Feb 10, 2009

1999 MAZDA 626 - REPLACED TRANSMISSION 75-80 K MILES. NOW 110 K MILES AND BEGINNING TO OBSERVE SAME SYMPTOMS PRIOR TO LAST FAILURE. TRANSMISSION DESIGN IS DEFECTIVE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10258172
Incident
Jan 1, 2009
Mileage
80,000 mi
Transmission
Filed Jan 27, 2009

I NOTICED PROBLEMS RIGHT AWAY AFTER I BOUGHT MY CAR FROM MY MOM. SHE RARELY DROVE IT, AND I DRIVE APPROXIMATELY 500 MILES A WEEK. FIRST THE CAR WOULDN'T NOT GO INTO DRIVE, THEN IT WOULD NOT MOVE AT ALL. A FRIEND OF MINE IS A MECHANIC AND FOUND THAT THE TRANS. CABLE HAD COME DETACHED. AFTER TIME CONSUMING REPAIR, THE CAR WAS FINE FOR A WEEK. NOW THE CAR ONLY GOES INTO DRIVE WHEN I FIRST PUT IT INTO SECOND. IT SLIPS IN AND OUT OF OVERDRIVE. THE TRANSMISSION IS OBVIOUSLY FAULTY. *TR

NHTSA ID
10256534
Incident
Dec 15, 2008
Mileage
112,000 mi
Transmission
Filed Dec 31, 2008

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION ON A 1999 MAZDA 626 HAS FAILED FOR A SECOND TIME. CAR'S AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED AROUND 60,000 MILES AND NOW NEEDS REPLACEMENT AGAIN AT 122,000 MILES. *TR

NHTSA ID
10253349
Incident
Dec 15, 2008
Mileage
122,000 mi
Transmission
Filed Nov 21, 2008

I HAVE A 1999 MAZDA 626. AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. 4 CYLINDER LX. THIS CAR HAS 80,000 MILES ON IT, AND THE TRANSMISSION IS SLIPPING! I HAVE READ COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS ALL OVER THE INTERNET AND MAZDA FORUMS. WHY IS THERE NOT A RECALL ON THIS TRANSMISSION?!? IT IS TOO SMALL FOR THIS CAR AND MORE THAN HALF OF 626 OWNERS HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THEIR TRANSMISSIONS, ONLY TO CONTINUE TO REPLACE IT AS IT WILL ALWAYS GO OUT AGAIN! *TR

NHTSA ID
10249471
Incident
Nov 19, 1999
Mileage
86,000 mi
Transmission
Filed Nov 17, 2008

1999 MAZDA 626 , 2.0 L AT STOPPED ON HIGHWAY. GOT IT TOWED WITH THE HELP OF AUTO CLUB.DIAGNOSIS SAYS THE CAR NEED TRANSMISSION WORK. NOW NEED TO SPEND NEARLY $3500.00 TO GET THE CAR RUNNING. THIS IS MORE THAN THE CAR'S VALUE. I COULD FIND FROM THE NET THAT THIS MODEL HAS EXTENSIVE TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. STILL THERE IS NO ACTION FROM THE MANUFACTURER'S SIDE TO CORRECT THESE PROBLEMS. *TR

NHTSA ID
10249051
Incident
Oct 24, 2008
Mileage
111,000 mi
Transmission
Filed Oct 24, 2008

1999 MAZDA 626 AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WENT OUT. THIS IS A CONSTANT ISSUE FOR THIS MODEL CAR. *TR

NHTSA ID
10246642
Incident
Oct 24, 2008
Mileage
133,000 mi
Transmission
Filed Sep 15, 2008

TRANSMISSION ON 1999 MAZDA 626 2.0 AUTOMATIC FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE RE-BUILT. THE ODOMETER READING WAS 114,200 MILES. RE-BUILD OCCURRED IN SEPTEMBER 2007. *TR

NHTSA ID
10242329
Incident
Sep 17, 2007
Mileage
114,200 mi
Transmission
Filed Aug 29, 2008

THE TRANSMISSION ON MY 1999 MAZDA 626 HAD FAILED FOR THE THIRD TIME NOW. THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN REPETITIVE AND REQUIRES CONTINUOUS EXPENSIVE REPAIRS. AFTER EXTENSIVE RESEARCH, I HAVE FOUND THAT THE TRANSMISSION ON THIS SPECIFIC CAR IS COMMON OCCURRENCE WITH VERY HIGH FAILURE RATES. I WANT THE MANUFACTURES TO RECALL THE TRANSMISSIONS OF PROVIDE REIMBURSEMENTS FOR MY PAST REPAIR BILLS. *TR

NHTSA ID
10240223
Incident
Jul 26, 2008
Mileage
99,000 mi
Transmission
Filed Dec 11, 2007

MY MAZDA TRANSMISSION KEEPS ON HAVING PROBLEMS. I AVOID DRIVING ON FREE WAYS AS I NEVER FEEL SAFE TO DRIVE THE CAR WHOSE TRANSMISSION MAY FAIL ANY TIME. I FIXED IT 1.5 YRS BEFORE. COST ALMOST HALF OF THE CAR'S WORTH. IT FAILED AGAIN NOW. THE ESTIMATE IS AGAIN HUGE TO FIX IT. IT IS FAILING EVEN AFTER REBUILDING NEW TRANSMISSION AND CHANGING THE FAULTY PARTS. I BELIEVE THAT THERE IS SOME THING WRONG IN DESIGN ITSELF AND HAVE NO CONFIDENCE THAT FIXING IT WILL RESOLVE THE ISSUE OR MAKE IT SAFE FOR DRIVING. I AM AVOIDING DRIVING IT FOR SAFETY REASONS. I CONTACTED MAZDA EXPLAINING THE PROBLEM. THEY ADVISED THAT "RECALLS ARE MANDATED BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, NOT BY INDIVIDUAL CAR MANUFACTURERS". I AM WRITING THIS LETTER IN A HOPE THAT THE PROBLEM WILL BE PROBED AND MY VEHICLE BE RECALLED. *TR

NHTSA ID
10211459
Incident
Oct 1, 2007
Transmission
Filed Nov 17, 2007

IN LATE JANUARY OF 2007 I PURCHASED A 1999 MAZDA 626 FOR MY DAUGHTER FOR HER TO USE IN THE YEARS SHE WOULD BE IN COLLEGE. THE VEHICLE HAD APPROXIMATELY 79,000 MILES ON IT. SHE HAS DRIVEN THE CAR TO COLLEGE AND BACK AND FORTH TO WORK. ON NOVEMBER 12, 2007 SHE WAS DRIVING SOUTH ON A BUSY HIGHWAY IN TULSA, OKLAHOMA. SUDDENLY THE VEHICLE LOST POWER AND WOULD NOT GO ANY FURTHER OR GO IN REVERSE. WE HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO A TRANSMISSION SHOP THAT WAS RECOMMENDED BY OUR MECHANIC. THE TRANSMISSION SHOP COMPLETELY OVERHAULED THE TRANSMISSION REPLACING FACTORY PARTS THAT THE OWNER SAID WERE DEFICIENT WITH BETTER PARTS. THE PARTS THAT THE SHOP USED WERE AN: OVERHAUL KIT VALVE BODY REPAIR KIT SOLENOID PACK TORQUE CONVERTER REVERSE DRUM FORWARD PISTON I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED IN THE FAILURE OF THIS VEHICLES TRANSMISSION. I HAVE NEVER HAD A CAR THAT HAD A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. I HAVE BEEN MADE AWARE SINCE THE FAILURE OF THIS TRANSMISSION THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT HAS BEEN FREQUENTLY A PROBLEM ON THE MAZDA 626 MODEL. *TR

NHTSA ID
10209226
Incident
Nov 12, 2007
Mileage
93,819 mi
Transmission
Filed Nov 2, 2007

1999 MAZDA 626 AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS HAS BEEN REBUILT TWO TIMES IN LESS THAN ONE YEAR. NOW IT IS OUT AGAIN I HAVE TOO MUCH MONEY IN IT,TOO QUIT NOW. SOME ONE NEEDS TO DO SOMETHING TO HELP. *TR

NHTSA ID
10207723
Incident
Nov 1, 2007
Mileage
14,500 mi
Transmission
Filed Nov 1, 2007

WHILE DRIVING HOME, AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WOULDN'T SHIFT INTO 2ND OR 4TH. TRANSMISSION WAS REBUILT AT APPROX. 98,000 MILES. AT A COST OF $2,800.00. CAR NOW HAS APPROX. 160,000 MILES AND TRANSMISSION NEEDS REBUILT AGAIN. HAVE HEARD ALOT OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. CAR IS OTHERWISE IN GREAT SHAPE, CAN'T AFFORD A NEW CAR SO I GUESS I'M STUCK AGAIN PAYING TO HAVE A TRANSMISSION REPAIRED THAT MAZDA KNOWS IS A MAJOR PROBLEM AND THEY REFUSE TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. CAN WE ALL GET A LITTLE HELP WITH THIS PROBLEM?? *TR

NHTSA ID
10207637
Incident
Oct 31, 2007
Mileage
160,000 mi
Transmission
Filed Sep 20, 2007

76,000 MILES ON CAR. WHILE DOING HIGHWAY DRIVING, AFTER ABOUT AN HOUR, THE OVERDRIVE LIGHT STARTED TO FLASH. TRANSMISSION FLUID RELEASED INTO ENGINE COMPARTMENT. TOOK IT TO GARAGE AND THEY SAID ERROR CODE INDICATED TRANSMISSION OVERHEATING. THE FLUID WAS BURNT AND TRANSMISSION MAY HAVE BEEN DAMAGED. THE FLUID HAD BEEN GOOD A COUPLE OF WEEKS EARLIER. ACTIONS TAKEN INCLUDE: FLUSHED FLUID. ADDED AN AFTERMARKET COOLER. WAIT AND SEE IF THE TRANSMISSION PERFORMS CORRECTLY AND IF THE FLASHING LIGHT RETURNS. *JB

NHTSA ID
10203549
Incident
Sep 18, 2007
Mileage
76,000 mi
Transmission
Filed Sep 17, 2007

AFTER THERE WERE REPEATED TIMES OF BAD GEAR SHIFTING, DELAYED, NOT AT ALL, ETC. MY AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS FAILED. WILL TURN OVER BUT, NOT SHIFT INTO TO GEAR. *TR

NHTSA ID
10203153
Incident
Sep 13, 2007
Mileage
69,000 mi
Transmission
Filed Aug 21, 2007

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 MAZDA 626. THE CONTACT HAS EXPERIENCED TRANSMISSION FAILURE TWICE. SHE ONLY HAD THE VEHICLE FOR APPROXIMATELY SIX MONTHS WHEN THE FIRST FAILURE OCCURRED. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A REPAIR SHOP AND THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. THE TRANSMISSION WAS REBUILT AND A YEAR AND A HALF LATER, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO REVERSE AND THE CONTACT FELT AS IF THE GEARS WERE JUMPING WHEN DRIVING. SHE RETURNED TO THE REPAIR SHOP AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AGAIN. SHE DOES NOT BELIEVE THAT A VEHICLE SHOULD GO THROUGH TWO TRANSMISSIONS WITHIN TWO YEARS. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY PARKED IN HER DRIVEWAY. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 87,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 76,000.

NHTSA ID
10200243
Incident
Jun 1, 2005
Mileage
76,000 mi

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.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .