RoadVitals

2000 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.
149
Latest May 24, 2010
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.
69%
of 217 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.
2
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
3

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 2000 Mazda 626 submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 149 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 149, in the owner's own words

Transmission
Filed May 24, 2010

PARTS INSIDE THE TRANSMISSION BROKE ON MY 2000 MAZDA 626 2.0L. *TR

NHTSA ID
10331944
Incident
Feb 10, 2007
Mileage
130,000 mi
Transmission
Filed Apr 1, 2010

I HAVE A CONCERN WITH THE TRANSMISSION'S ON THE MAZDA 626 TRANSMISSION STYLE CD4E. THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE (INTERNET SEARCHED) WHO HAVE THESE VEHICLES AND HAVE BEEN PLACED IN DIRE STRAITS AS I AM. I WAS TRAVELING DOWN THE FREEWAY AT 65 MPH AND FROM OUT OF NOWHERE, MY OD STOPPED FUNCTIONING AND LEFT THE CAR'S TRANNY SLIPPING OUT OF 4TH GEAR SEARCHING FOR A LOWER GEAR AS IT THREW THE FLASHING "OD LIGHT OFF" INDICATOR LIGHT. I HAD A WOMAN SWERVE BEHIND ME AS I HAD TOTAL LOSS OF POWER AND TRYING TO GET MY CAR TO GRASP ANY GEAR. ONCE I PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND STOPPED, THE OD LIGHT STOPPED FLASHING AND MY VEHICLE WAS LEFT IN A "LIMP HOME" MODE WHERE I COULD NOT GET OVER 45MPH. I HAD THE TRANNY REBUILT TO THE TUNE OF 1500.00 AND GUESS WHAT? I GOT INTO THE CAR TO DO HIGHWAY TRAVEL ONE WEEK LATER, AND IT HAPPENED AGAIN. I HAVE READ THAT I AM BY FAR THE ONLY PERSON THIS HAS HAPPENED TO. THIS IS A 2000 MODEL. MY BROTHER BOUGHT IT IN 2002. HE HAS MAINTAINED THE VEHICLE FOR THE LAST 7.5 YEARS AND I HAVE HAD IT FOR 6 MONTHS NOW. THE MILES ARE 76K, ONLY! SOMEONE NEEDS TO HAVE MAZDA FIX THIS ISSUE. THIS IS REDICULOUS AND THIE IS BY FAR A MAJOR SAFETY CONCERN. THE SURGING AND SEARCHING THE 4TH GEAR DOES IS VERY HARD, JERKY AND SURGING. ANYONE RIGHT ON YOUR BUTT IN TRAFFIC IS GOING TO SLAM INTO ONE OF THESE VEHICLES. THERE IS ALSO A TSB FOR THIS AS WELL......BUT MAZDA HAS OFFERED NO AMENDS TO THIS SITUAUTION WHEN I CALLED THE CUSTOMER SERVICE LINE. THEY SAID THEY WERE UNAWARE OF THIS SITUATION. THAT IS SIMPLY NOT POSSIBLE.

NHTSA ID
10323333
Incident
Mar 22, 2010
Mileage
77,900 mi
Transmission
Filed Mar 16, 2010

WE HAVE MAZDA 626 4CYL, 2000 YR., AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. THE TRANSMISSION IN OUR MAZDA ALWAYS HESITATES TO SHIFT UP AND REVS UP TO VERY HIGH RPMS EVENTHOUGH THE ACCELERATION IS GRADUAL. THERE IS ALSO QUITE A BIT OF NOISE IN THE CAR COMING FROM ENGINE WHEN I AM MERGING ON A FREEWAY. THE TRANSMISSION SEEMS TO BE STUCK IN A LOWER GEAR. THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED BY THE DEALER IN 2002. HOWEVER, THE SAME PROBLEM REMAINS TO THIS DAY. SOMETIMES, WHEN THE CAR IS COLD, JUST WHEN YOU START IT IN THE MORNING, FOR EXAMPLE, THE CAR ACCELERATES SUDDENLY AND I ALMOST HIT MY OTHER CAR IN A GARAGE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10320160
Incident
Jan 7, 2010
Mileage
40,000 mi
Transmission
Filed Mar 8, 2010

I HAVE A 2000 MAZDA 626 AND THE TRANSMISSION IS HORRIBLE. WELL, WAS BECAUSE I HAD TO REPLACE IT. INSTEAD OF MY CAR GOING IN REVERSE WHEN I PUT IT IN REVERSE IT WENT FORWARD. MY OVERDRIVE LIGHT KEPT COMING ON AND BLINKING AND THE CODE WAS ALWAYS THE TEMPERATURE HIGH DUE TO HIGHWAY DRIVING. IF THIS TRANSMISSION WASN'T MEANT FOR HIGHWAY DRIVING IT SHOULD HAVE NEVER BEEN UTILIZED. LUCKILY I DIDN'T GET INTO AN ACCIDENT WITH THE CARE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10317826
Incident
Jun 3, 2008
Mileage
100,000 mi
Transmission
Filed Mar 2, 2010

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 MAZDA 626. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HESITATED TO START. THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED BY THE MANUFACTURER THAT THE VEHICLE HAD A HISTORY OF PROBLEMS. THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED TO PURCHASE A NEW TRANSMISSION. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 53,296. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 12.

NHTSA ID
10315478
Incident
Apr 16, 2000
Mileage
12 mi
Other / unspecifiedTransmission
Filed Feb 15, 2010

I HAVE A 2000 MAZDA 626 WITH THE CD4E FORD TRANSMISSION AND I HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSION FOR ABOUT 3 YEARS NOW. I HAVE DONE NUMEROUS RESEARCH AND TOOK IT TO MANY SHOPS AND HAVE COME TO THE CONCLUSION THAT THIS TRANSMISSION IS TRASH. THIS TRANSMISSION WAR POORLY BUILT AND THEY NEED TO RECALL THIS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. MAZDA AND FORD SHOULD BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR THE BAD ENGINEERING THAT HAS COST THOUSANDS OF DRIVERS PROBLEMS AND THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS IN REPAIRS. SOMEONE NEEDS TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE AND A RECALL NEEDS TO BE DONE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10310488
Incident
Jan 14, 2007
Mileage
90,000 mi
Transmission
Filed Oct 24, 2009

I BOUGHT A 2000 MAZDA 626 LX FROM A NEIGHBOR, AND WITH ONLY 95K ON THE ODOMETER, THE CAR BEGAN SHIFTING ROUGH. IT DIDN'T SEEM TO CAUSE MUCH OF A PROBLEM AND I CONTINUED TO PROVIDE GENERAL MAINTENANCE FOR THE CAR. HOWEVER, I ALMOST NEVER TRAVELED OUTSIDE OF A 20 MILE RADIUS WITH THE VEHICLE. ONCE I DID TRAVEL ABOUT 40 MILES AWAY, THE TRANSMISSION BROKE DOWN AND REFUSED TO ENTER INTO DRIVE, BUT ONLY THE LOWER GEARS. AS I SEARCHED THE INTERNET FOR SIMILAR PROBLEMS, IT BECAME READILY APPARENT THAT A TRANSMISSION FAILURE WAS COMMON FOR THE MAZDA 626 MODEL. I AM NOW FACED WITH REPLACING THE TRANSMISSION AT A COST OF $2,000 PLUS. *TR

NHTSA ID
10289671
Incident
Oct 24, 2009
Transmission
Filed Oct 9, 2009

TRANSMISSION FAILURE, MAZDA 626, YEAR 2000. THIS IS THE SECOND FAILURE. FOLLOWING COMPUTER CODES LED TO $800 IN UNNECESSARY REPAIRS. CAR DRIVES WELL UNTIL O/D BEGINS TO FLASH, RPM FLUXES BETWEEN 1000 AND 5000 AND TRANNY SLIPS. ON PARKING AND SHUTTING OFF MOTOR THEN RESTARTING AND SHIFTING INTO DRIVE TRANNY SLAMS INTO GEAR WITH A BANG. NEVER KNOW WHEN RPM IS GOING TO GO CRAZY AND THE TRANSMISSION TO SLIP. THIS CAUSES A MAD SCRAMBLE TO GET TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WHICH IS SOMETIMES HARD AS YOU MAY BE IN THE PASSING LANE. COST ESTIMATES RANGE FROM $1800 + 400 600 FOR INSTALL FOR A REBUILT TRANSMISSION FROM A DEALER OF TRANSMISSIONS SPECIFICALLY FOR THIS CAR. THIS MODEL/TRANSMISSION COMBINATION IS USED ON ABOUT THE 10 PRECEDING YEARS. TAKEN TOGETHER THEY PRESENT A GOOD CASE FOR A DEALER RECALL I WOULD THINK. EVEN THOUGH MAZDA ISSUED A TSB IT IS ONLY MEANT TO DELAY THE PROBLEM UNTIL ULTIMATE TRANSMISSION FAILURE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10286882
Incident
Jun 10, 2009
Mileage
170,000 mi
Transmission
Filed Aug 17, 2009

SHIFTING BRACKET CONTINUALLY FALLS OFF. THE TRANSMISSION DOESN'T SHIFT INTO PROPER GEAR ( DRIVE REVERSE ETC) UNTIL TRYING A COUPLE OF TIMES. THE ENGINE REVES ITSELF FROM 2000 TO 4000 WITHOUT PRESSING DOWN MORE ON GAS PEDAL. THE TRANSMISSION WILL NOT SHIFT FROM 2ND TO FIRST UNTIL YOU REACH 50MPH OR RELEASE GAS REPEATEDLY WHILE DRIVING. THIS IS VERY HAZARDOUS ON ANY ROAD. SOMETIMES THE TRANSMISSION DOWNSHIFTS WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY OVER 55MPH. THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. I HAVE HAD CARS ALMOST HIT ME IN THE REAR. THIS HAPPENS ON A DAILY BASIS. I HAVE BEEN LOOKING FOR A TRANSMISSION REPLACEMENT AND THE COST IS OVER $2000. BOOK VALUE IS NOT MUCH MORE THE CAR HAS 117585 MILES. *TR

NHTSA ID
10280727
Incident
Aug 6, 2000
Mileage
117,000 mi
Transmission
Filed Aug 6, 2009

2000 MAZDA 626 2.5L AUTO. COMPLETE TRANSMISSION FAILURE DUE TO LACK OF FLUID COOLING. DESIGN FLAW IS TO BLAME. TRANS FLUID IS IN CONTACT WITH COOLING AGENT(AIR, ANTIFREEZE) FOR A DISTANCE OF FOUR INCHES. *TR

NHTSA ID
10279593
Incident
Mar 1, 2009
Mileage
104,000 mi
Transmission
Filed Aug 6, 2009

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 MAZDA 626. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT SHIFT FROM FIRST INTO SECOND GEAR. THE VEHICLE CAME TO A SUDDEN STOP AND HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 104,000.

NHTSA ID
10279592
Incident
Feb 27, 2009
Mileage
104,000 mi
Transmission
Filed Jul 28, 2009

THE TRANSMISSION IS FAILING ON OUR MAZDA 626 2000. ACCORDING TO THE MECHANIC THE REST OF THE CAR IS IN GREAT CONDITION BESIDES THE FACT THAT WE NEED A TRANSMISSION OVERHALL WHICH WILL RUN US 4,000 - 5,000. A BRIEF INTERNET SEARCH BY THE MECHANIC AND SUBSEQUENTLY BY MYSELF INDICATED THIS IS A COMMON COMPLAINT OF MAZDA. WE ARE EXTREMELY LUCKY THIS DID NOT CAUSE INJURY TO MY HUSBAND WHO WAS DRIVING AT THE TIME OF INITIAL OCCURRENCE OR THE MECHANIC WHO TEST-DROVE IT FOR DIAGNOSTICS. *TR

NHTSA ID
10278560
Incident
Jul 27, 2009
Mileage
140,000 mi
Transmission
Filed Jul 27, 2009

TRANSMISSION ALREADY WENT OUT IN MY 2000 MAZDA 626. AFTER RESEARCHING THE PROBLEM ONLINE, I FOUND OUT THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM IN MAZDA 4CYL ENGINES FROM THIS TIME PERIOD. I THINK IT IS UNACCEPTABLE THAT THE TRANSMISSIONS LIFE IS THIS SHORT. *TR

NHTSA ID
10278459
Incident
Jul 16, 2009
Mileage
100,000 mi
Transmission
Filed Jun 27, 2009

TRANSMISSION IS FAILING IN MY 2000 MAZDA 626. EVERYTHING I READ ABOUT THE ISSUE TELLS ME THAT THE FORD TRANSMISSION IN THE MAZDA WAS NOT MADE TO HANDLE A VEHICLE THAT SIZE. THE GEARS ARE SLIPPING HARD ENOUGH TO MAKE THE CAR JUMP. I CANNOT SAFELY DRIVE THIS CAR ANYWHERE SINCE THERE ARE ALSO CHANGES IN VELOCITY DUE TO THE SLIPPING. *TR

NHTSA ID
10275117
Incident
Jun 23, 2009
Mileage
128,522 mi
AirbagsBrakesElectrical+1 more
Filed Jun 21, 2009
Crash reported1 injury reported

MY 2000 MAZDA 626 BEGAN HAVING PROBLEMS A WEEK AFTER PURCHASING APRIL 10, 2008! THE CAR STARTED HAVING ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WHICH RESULTED IN 3 BATTERIES, 2 ALTERNATORS, NO AC OR DEFROST COULD BE RUN. THEN THE BRAKES WERE REPLACED TWICE WITHIN A 2 MONTH PERIOD! ALL THESE PROBLEMS RESULTED IN ME ALMOST BEING KILLED FROM AN AUTOMOBILE ACCIDENT! THIS HAPPENED JUNE 8, 2009 WHICH WAS A MONDAY APPROX. 4 PM. THE AIRBAGS NEVER DEPLOYED, AND MY HEAD HIT THE STEERING WHEEL. WINDSHIELD SHATTERED ALL OVER MY HAND RESULTING IN SEVERE LACERATIONS! THIS CAR NEEDS LOOKED AT ASAP!!!! PLEASE HELP *TR

NHTSA ID
10274560
Incident
Jun 8, 2009
Mileage
90,000 mi
Transmission
Filed Jun 4, 2009

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 MAZDA 626. THE CONTACT EXPERIENCED ISSUES WITH HER TRANSMISSION. SHE HEARD A CRUNCHING SOUND AND THE VEHICLE FAILED WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A TRANSMISSION SHOP AND A REBUILT TRANSMISSION WAS INSTALLED AT THE COST OF $3,200. IN DECEMBER OF 2008, SHE NOTICED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS MALFUNCTIONING AGAIN. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO ANOTHER REPAIR SHOP AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AGAIN AT THE COST OF $3,500. THE CONTACT SPOKE WITH THE MANUFACTURER YEARS AGO AND RECEIVED NO ASSISTANCE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 125,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 50,000.

NHTSA ID
10272889
Incident
Jul 17, 2006
Mileage
50,000 mi
Transmission
Filed May 14, 2009

THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THAT I HAVE HAD TO PUT MY 2000 MAZDA 626 INTO THE SHOP DUE TO TRANSMISSION FAILURE. I WAS EXPERIENCING HARD SHIFTING AND JERKING WHILE PLACING THE CAR IN GEARAND ACCELERATING. THE FIRST REPAIR COST ME 800 DOLLARS THE SECOND TRANSMISSION REPAIR WAS 1200 AND THE MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT THE TRANSMISSION WASN'T EQUIVALENT FOR THE WEIGHT AND SIZE OF MY CAR. I'M EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS ONCE AGAIN AND IT'S NOT EVEN A YEAR LATER I'M A SOPHOMORE IN COLLEGE AND I CAN'T AFFORD THESE COSTLY REPAIRS. *TR

NHTSA ID
10268704
Incident
Jul 23, 2008
Mileage
117,000 mi
Transmission
Filed Apr 25, 2009

2000 MAZDA 626DX 4CYL. WITH 93,200 MILES AND THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILED. VEHICLE IS MAINTAINED EXCEPTIONALLY WELL AND ALL FILTERS AND FLUIDS CHANGED REGULARLY. TRANSMISSION SLIPS BETWEEN SHIFTING GEARS AND ERRATICALLY SHIFTS FROM HIGH TO LOW WITH DRAMATIC LOSS OF POWER. *TR

NHTSA ID
10266698
Incident
Apr 23, 2009
Mileage
93,200 mi
Transmission
Filed Sep 3, 2008

THE TRANSMISSION GAVE OUT. 112,000 MILES. I GOT THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED, AND RIGHT AFTER THE WARRANTY WAS OVER, THE TRANSMISSION GAVE OUT. THE O/D LIGHT COMES ON, THE CAR OVERHEATS, AND IT DOES NOT SHIFT INTO 4TH GEAR. *TR

NHTSA ID
10240823
Incident
Oct 22, 2006
Transmission
Filed Aug 27, 2008

I HAD THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED ONCE ALREADY. THE TRANSMISSION I HAVE NOW WHEN DRIVING ON A HWY AT 50MPH AND ABOVE WITH START TO JERK IN AND OUT FROM 2000 TO 3000RPM AND THE O/D SWITCH LIGHT WILL BLINK. AFTER THIS HAPPENS, IT DOESN'T MATTER WHAT SPEED THE VEHICLE IS IN, IT RESPONDS THE SAME. *TR

NHTSA ID
10240007
Incident
Aug 22, 2008
Mileage
197,724 mi
Transmission
Filed Jul 23, 2008

FAULTY TRANSMISSION. *TR

NHTSA ID
10235571
Incident
Jun 15, 2008
Mileage
156,500 mi
Transmission
Filed Jun 19, 2008

I BOUGHT MY 2000 MAZDA 626, 2.0L ENGINE, AUTOMATIC, IN 2001, BRAND NEW. I HAVE PUT ~100,000 MILES ON IT, MOSTLY HIGHWAY. THEN ONE DAY, WITH NO WARNING, THE TRANSMISSION JUST FAILED ON THE HIGHWAY. *TR

NHTSA ID
10231605
Incident
Apr 25, 2008
Mileage
100,500 mi
Transmission
Filed Jun 16, 2008

MINE CAR IS AN EIGHT YEARS OLD NICE LITTLE CAR. IT RUNS PRETTY WELL DESPITE THE FACT THAT THE TRANSMISSION FLUID GET VERY DIRTY EVERY 10,000 TO 12,000 MILES DESPITE OLD TWO-YEAR/30,000-MILE INTERVAL THAT USED TO BE CONSIDERED THE NORM FOR TRANSMISSION SERVICE IS GOOD FOR THE 626; I HAVE TO DO A FULL TRANSMISSION FLUSH TO KEEP IT RUNNING. YES, IT'S EXPENSIVE FOR THE TRANNY. RECENTLY, THE REAL PROBLEM HAS APPEARED. MY IDLE RPM IS AROUND 700, WHEN I SHIFT THE GEAR IN TO REVERSE, IT DIDN'T SHIFT PROPERLY. I FEEL NOTHING AT ALL. I MEAN WHEN A CAR SITTING ON A FLAT SURFACE, IT DOESN'T MOVE EVEN A LITTLE BIT. IF I GENTLY STEP ON THE GAS PEDAL TILL THE RPM HIT AROUND 1000, THERE IS A HUGE PUMPING ON MY TRANSMISSION AND THE CAR INCONSISTENTLY MOVE BACKWARD. IF I LET THE PEDAL GO AND HIT AND THEN RELEASE THE BRAKE, IT STAND TILL AGAIN. I BROUGHT IT TO THE SHOP AND HAVE THEM RUN THE DIAGNOSE TEST. THEY SAID THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH IT. THEY HAVE TO LOOK INSIDE. IT'S TOO PROBLEMATIC. THE REPAIR COST IS ESTIMATED AROUND 2,000. WHICH IS MORE THAN THE VALUE OF MY CAR. AND THE TRANSMISSION IS NOT EVEN A NEW ONE, IT'S A REBUILT WHICH IS LIKELY TO BE BROKEN AGAIN. I THINK THERE IS A DEFECTS IN THE TRANNY SYSTEM. *TR

NHTSA ID
10231089
Incident
Jun 5, 2008
Mileage
129,821 mi
Transmission
Filed May 21, 2008

I WAS ON MY WAY TO LAS VEGAS FROM CALIFORNIA AND MY O/D LIGHT STARTED TO BLINK ON AND OFF. MY SPEEDOMETER WENT TO 0 AND I STARTED TO LOSE POWER. MY ENGINE WAS SMOKING SO I PULLED OVER AND WAS STRANDED IN THE DESERT FOR AROUND 45 MIN. COME TO FIND OUT MY TRANSMISSION OVER HEATED AND WENT OUT ON ME. *TR

NHTSA ID
10228531
Incident
May 16, 2008
Mileage
108,000 mi
Transmission
Filed May 21, 2008

I WAS DRIVING FROM CALIFORNIA TO LAS VEGAS AND MY O/D LIGHT STARTED TO BLINK ON AND OFF BUT THERE WERE NO OTHER SIGNS. ALL OF A SUDDEN MY SPEEDOMETER WENT TO 0 AND I WAS LOSING POWER AND THE ENGINE WAS SMOKING. I HAD TO PULL OVER AND STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE. COME TO FIND OUT THE TRANSMISSION OVERHEATED AND WENT OUT ON ME. *TR

NHTSA ID
10228529
Incident
May 16, 2008
Mileage
108,000 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.

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