2001 Mazda 626 Owner Complaints

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MAZDA 626. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER FUEL WAS ADDED TO THE VEHICLE, THE ENGINE SEIZED AND WOULD NOT ENGAGE. THE ENGINE WOULD OPERATE WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS TAPPED. ALSO, WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE SPORADICALLY STALLED. THE CONTACT WAS UNSURE IF ANY WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO FLOW MAZDA OF GREENSBORO (1205 BRIDFORD PKWY, GREENSBORO, NC 27407, 336-299-1500), BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ID

11230445

Incident

Mar 1, 2018

MY DAUGHTER WAS SITTING IN HER CAR WHEN SHE NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE WIPER SWITCH AREA AND BLINKER AREA. THE SMOKE SMELLED LIKE BURNING PLASTIC. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION BY A MECHANIC, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS BAD, CAUSING THE STARTER TO STAY ENGAGED. THE BURNING SMELL WAS COMING FROM THE IGNITION SWITCH. I CURRENTLY HAVE THE DEFECTIVE PART AS WELL AS THE RECEIPT FOR THE REPLACEMENT PART.

NHTSA ID

10876059

Incident

Jun 10, 2016

Mileage

140,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MAZDA 626. WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH, AND SLOWING DOWN TO MAKE A TURN INTO A PARKING LOT, THE STEERING WHEEL EMITTED SMOKE AND BURST INTO FLAMES. THE POLICE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE, BUT DID NOT FILE A REPORT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC REPLACED THE STEERING WHEEL. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ID

10860056

Incident

Apr 16, 2016

OUR MAZDA 2001 TRIBUTE HAS BEEN LEAKING BRAKE FLUID AND MECHANIC SAID IT MAY BE SOMETHING WITH MASTER CYLINDER. AFTER SEARCHING THE INTERNET I FOUND MAZDA HAD A RECALL (#6712A) THAT COVERED 2001-2002 MODEL YEAR TRIBUTE SUVS FOR A FAULTY BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER RESERVOIR CAP. WE CALLED MAZDA AND SPOKE TO A REP. KATRINA SAID "YOUR CAR DOES NOT QUALIFY BECAUSE YOU DO NOT HAVE ABS BRAKES". WHETHER WE HAVE ABS BRAKES OR NOT WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO HAVE OUR CAR CHECKED IN THIS RECALL FOR OUR SAFETY. WE SHOULD NOT BE EXCLUDED FROM THIS RECALL. PLEASE LET US KNOW WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10683599

Incident

Feb 16, 2015

Mileage

150,000 mi

I HAVE PUT SO MUCH MONEY IN THIS CAR. ALTERNATOR, TRANSMISSION, BRAKES, TIRES AND BALL JOINTS. NOW THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER NEEDS REPLACED, WIPER MOTOR AND QUARTER PANELS ARE ALL RUSTED OUT. I AM DISABLED AND THIS IS MY ONLY TRANSPORTATION. SHOULD ALL OF THIS SHOULD OF GONE WRONG? IT WILL NOT PASS INSPECTION. I HAVE HAD THIS CAR EIGHT YEARS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10670033

Incident

Oct 31, 2014

TRANSMISSION O/D LIGHTS FLASHING AND DOES NOT MOVE IN THE FIRST GEAR OR SHIFT TO SECOND EITHER HAS HAPPENED ON FREE WAY ALSO WHICH IS VERY DANGEROUS. MY WIFE DRIVES WITH KIDS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10662651

Incident

Dec 7, 2014

Mileage

83,201 mi

THIS CAR STARTED HAVING DIFFICULTY WITH GOING INTO REVERSE. FORWARD IS BECOMING DIFFICULT ALSO. TWO DIFFERENT MECHANICS INDICATE THAT IT IS THE TRANSMISSION. THEY NOTE THAT CHANGING THE TRANSMISSION FLUID MAY GIVE TEMPORARY RELIEF BUT THE REAL PROBLEM IS I NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION. I LIVE AND WORK OVERSEAS ON A US ARMY MILITARY BASE SO TO EVEN CONSIDER BRINGING AN SPEC REBUILT TRANSMISSION OVER IS VERY EXPENSIVE. I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT WITH A REPLACEMENT TRANSMISSION I WILL HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. I HAVE HAD ALL PREVENTIVE MAINTENANCE DONE ON THE COVER OVER THE YEARS AND TO HAVE THIS HAPPEN AT 88,000 MILES IS A FINANCIAL HARDSHIP. *TR

NHTSA ID

10476746

Incident

Sep 12, 2012

Mileage

88,000 mi

COLUMBIA HEIGHTS, WASHINGTON DC JUNE 19TH 2012, I WAS WITH MY MOTHER AND PARTNER PARKING IN FRONT OF GIANT SUPERMARKET RETURNING A MOVIE AT LOCAL REDBOX, WHILE WAITING FOR MY PARTNER, I TURNED OFF THE CAR, SITTING INSIDE NOTICED DENSE FUMES CAME FROM THE IGNITION, I REMOVED THE KEY AND FUMES STILL COMING OUT, WE STEP OUTSIDE THE CAR AND WE SAW SEVERAL SPARKS IN THE IGNITION, I CALLED IMMEDIATELY 911, SUDDENLY A BIG FLAME OF FIRE CAME FROM THE STEERING WHEEL, THE CAR WAS ON FIRE, WE WERE CLOSE TO THE ROOMS FROM A LOCAL FIRE DEPARTMENT, A MAN CAME WITH A FIRE EXTINGUISHER AND CALM THE FIRE AND FLAMES; FIRE TRUCK CAME LESS THAN 10 MINUTES LATER, BUT CAR WAS ALREADY DESTROYED. I HAVE PICTURES TO PROVE, PHONE CALLS AND WITNESS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10474281

Incident

Jun 19, 2012

Mileage

125,000 mi

TRAVELING IN CAR ON INTERSTATE IN THE RIGHT HAND LANE USING CRUISE CONTROL SET AT 70MPH. WAS COMING UP ON A CAR AND TAPPED THE BRAKE TO DISENGAGE CRUISE CONTROL AND THE CAR DID NOT DISENGAGE. I TRIED TO USE THE BRAKE AND IT WAS NOT WORKING AND WENT TO THE FLOOR. I COULD NOT SHUT THE CRUISE CONTROL OFF AT THE CONTROLS ON THE STEERING WHEEL EITHER. I QUICKLY SWERVED ONTO THE SHOULDER OF THE FREEWAY TO AVOID HITTING THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. MY HUSBAND TURNED OFF THE IGNITION AND I EASED UP ON THE EMERGENCY BRAKE AND WE CAME TO A SAFE STOP. AFTER INSPECTING THE CAR WE TURNED THE CAR BACK ON AND TESTED THE BRAKES AT SLOW SPEEDS ON THE SHOULDER AND THE BRAKES ENGAGED NORMALLY. MY HUSBAND FEELS THE CRUISE CONTROL STUCK AND THAT IS WHY WE COULD NOT STOP THE CAR WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL BUTTONS OR WITH THE BRAKE PEDAL. *TR

NHTSA ID

10467995

Incident

May 23, 2012

Mileage

53,996 mi

I BOUGHT THIS CAR USED A YEAR AGO THIS MONTH WHEN MY DAUGHTERS CAR ENGINE LOCKED UP. SHE WAS OUT OF STATE SO IT WAS A HURRY UP THING OVER THE PHONE. SHE DIDN'T REALIZE THE TRANSMISSION WAS SLIPPING IN FIRST GEAR, THOUGHT IT WAS CV JOINT. SHOP DIAGNOSED THE TRANSMISSION. THIS REALLY MAKES ME SOOO MAD AS THIS IS A NICE CAR. I THINK FORD SHOULD PAY TO REPLACE ALL THE TRANSMISSIONS IN THESE CARS. NOW I HAVE TO EITHER DUMP IT AT A LOSS OR PAY OUT ALOT TO GET TRANSMISSION REPAIRED . *TR

NHTSA ID

10449529

Incident

Feb 28, 2011

Mileage

158,000 mi

THE TRANSMISSION IN MY 2001 MAZDA 626 I4 HAS FAILED TWICE. THE FIRST TIME IT FAILED AT 118,000 MILES WHILE I WAS ACCELERATING FROM A STOP AT A INTERSECTION ALMOST CAUSING AN SERIOUS ACCIDENT WITH THE CARS BEHIND ME. AFTER HAVING THE TRANSMISSION REBUILT FOR 2K THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AGAIN AT 120,000 MILES WHILE ACCELERATING FROM A STOP AT AN INTERSECTION ON A UPHILL SLANT AND ALMOST CAUSED A MAJOR ACCIDENT WITH THE CARS BEHIND ME AS I BACKED THE CAR DOWN THE HILL TO THE CURBSIDE. FORD NEEDS TO RECALL THESE HORRIBLE CD4E TRANSMISSIONS. I HAVE HAD THE TRANSMISSION REBUILT AGAIN AND THE CERTIFIED TRANSMISSION SHOP TELLS ME FORD HAS REDESIGNED THE DRUM FOR THESE TRANSMISSIONS (THE PART THAT FAILED BOTH TIMES) AND THEY ONLY RELEASE THEM 1 AT A TIME FROM THE FORD FACTORY TO TRANSMISSION SHOPS TO AVOID A RECALL ON THE PREVIOUS DESIGN WHICH FAILED ALL OF THEIR CD4E TRANSMISSIONS PREMATURELY. THIS IS VERY POOR CUSTOMER SERVICE ON FORDS PART AND THEY SHOULD STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT AND NOT HIDE FROM THEIR FAILURES WHILE STICKING IT TO THEIR COSTUMERS. I WILL NOT BUY ANOTHER FORD PRODUCT AGAIN. *TR

NHTSA ID

10395684

Incident

Mar 31, 2011

Mileage

118,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MAZDA 626LX. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH WHEN THE TRANSMISSION BEGAN TO SLIP WITH SEVERE HESITATION. THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED BY TWO DIFFERENT INDEPENDENT MECHANICS WHO ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS DEFECTIVE AND WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 123,000.

NHTSA ID

10376719

Incident

Dec 10, 2010

Mileage

123,000 mi

I OWN A 2001 MAZDA 626. WHILE THE CAR IS 9 YEARS OLD, IT HAS ONLY 72,000 MILES ON IT. THE PROBLEM I'VE HAD WITH IT IS THAT THE SHIFTER CABLE KEEPS FAILING ON IT. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS AND POTENTIALLY FATAL THING THAT KEEPS HAPPENING. IT HAS FAILED 3 TIMES IN THE PAST 4 YEARS (2006-2010) AND SEEMS TO BE HAPPENING EVERY 20K-30K MILES. THE LAST TIME WAS LESS THAN A MONTH AGO AND JUST OVER A YEAR SINCE THE LAST FAILURE. EACH TIME, THE WARRANTY PERIOD HAS EXPIRED, SO I'M HAVING TO PAY HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS OUT OF POCKET TO GET THIS REPLACED. I'VE HAD IT DONE AT 3 DIFFERENT PLACES, INCLUDING A MAZDA DEALERSHIP. THERE IS OBVIOUSLY A SERIOUS DEFECT IN THE SHIFTER CABLE PARTS/DESIGN, BUT, TO MY KNOWLEDGE, MAZDA HAS YET TO ACKNOWLEDGE IT. I'VE CONTACTED THEM TO NO AVAIL. MOST PEOPLE, MYSELF INCLUDED, HAVE CARS FOR YEARS AND YEARS AND WITH A LOT MORE MILEAGE, AND THE SHIFTER CABLE NEVER GOES OUT. MAZDA NEEDS TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THIS DISGRACE. WHAT CAN I DO TO SEE JUSTICE SERVED? *TR

NHTSA ID

10361514

Incident

Sep 28, 2010

Mileage

72,539 mi

2001 MAZDA 626. TRANSMISSION SHIFTING CABLE FALLS OFF SHIFT LEVER ON TRANSMISSION. ONCE OCCURS, CAN NOT SHIFT OUT OF WHATEVER POSITION YOU ARE IN AT THE TIME OF THE FAILURE. MAZDA SELLS A NEW CABLE KIT WITH NEW/ADEQUATE CABLE TO TRANSMISSION CONNECTION DEVICE ($180). YOU CAN NOT JUST BUY THE CONNECTOR. MAZDA PARTS PERSON SAID, "WE SELL A LOT OF THESE" INDICATING NUMEROUS FAILURES FOR SAME CAUSE. BEING A MECHANICAL ENGINEER, I RESOLVED THE ISSUE WITH A AXLE NUT AS USED TO HOLD WHEELS ON A CHILD'S WAGON, ETC. *TR

NHTSA ID

10351442

Incident

Aug 15, 2010

Mileage

108,000 mi

O/D LIGHT BLINKING, WONT STOP, CANNOT ENGAGE OR DISENGAGE O/D FUNCTION. *TR

NHTSA ID

10331998

Incident

May 23, 2010

Mileage

108,000 mi

O/D LIGHT FLASHING, AND GEARS SLIPPING. *TR

NHTSA ID

10312309

Incident

Jan 12, 2010

Mileage

135,000 mi

MY 2001 626 (4 CYLINDER) TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AT UNDER 81,000 MILES!!!! THE ONLY WARNING SIGN WAS IT WOULDN'T SHIFT INTO REVERSE ONE DAY, THEN BOOM, IT BARELY MOVED FORWARD AGAIN. I HAVE NEVER HAD A PROBLEM WITH THIS CAR AND I HAVE MOSTLY OWNED MAZDA'S SO IMAGINE MY SURPRISE AND DISAPPOINTMENT THAT IT HAPPENED JUST AFTER I LOST MY JOB. NOW I HAVE NO JOB, NO TRANSPORTATION AND NO MEANS TO GET A JOB WITHOUT IT. MAZDA APPARENTLY KNEW THERE WERE PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSIONS AND CHOSE TO DO NOTHING ABOUT IT. I WILL NEVER PURCHASE OR RECOMMEND A MAZDA EVER AGAIN! AS A RESULT OF YOUR BLATANT FAILURE TO INFORM YOUR CUSTOMERS YOU HAVE LOST AT LEAST ONE GOOD CUSTOMER FOREVER.

NHTSA ID

10307557

Incident

Nov 1, 2009

Mileage

80,800 mi

THE TRANSMISSION ON MY 01 MAZDA 626 IS BROKEN. IT WON'T SHIFT FROM THIRD TO FOURTH GEAR. I KNOW THIS IS A PROBLEM WITH ALMOST EVERY 626 THAT HAS A CD4E TRANSMISSION. SO THE TRANSMISSION IS OBVIOUSLY DEFECTIVE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10282244

Incident

Jun 15, 2009

Mileage

144,000 mi

I OWN A 2001 MAZDA 626 4 CYL. MY CAR'S TRANSMISSION USUALLY RUNS IN THIRD GEAR ON LONG TRIPS AND DOESN'T SHIFT TO THE OVER DRIVE. ALSO, THERE IS A DELAY WHEN SHIFTING FROM SECOND TO THIRD AND FROM THIRD TO OVERDRIVE. IT WORKS FINE SHIFTING FROM FIRST TO SECOND GEAR. THIS IS A REALLY ANNOYING THING COMING FROM THIS CAR. I ALREADY DID A TRANSMISSION FLUSH TO SOLVE THE ISSUE BUT IT WORKED FINE FOR JUST A COUPLE OF DAYS AND IT IS JUST AS IT WAS AT THE BEGINNING. I HOPE SOMEONE TAKES CARE OF THIS BECAUSE THERE IS A LOT OF DISAPPOINTED CUSTOMERS DUE TO THIS COMMON ISSUE IN THIS VEHICLE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10280932

Incident

Apr 15, 2009

Mileage

94,000 mi

2001 MAZDA 626 4 CYLINDER AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILED. THE CAR WILL NOT DRIVE ANYMORE. AFTER DRIVING IT FOR A DISTANCE OF 60 MILES ONE DAY, I PARKED IT, TRIED TO START DRIVING IT AGAIN AND IT WOULDN'T GO. *TR

NHTSA ID

10279651

Incident

Jun 1, 2001

Mileage

128,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MAZDA 626. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WATER RESERVOIR OFF THE RADIATOR HAS TO BE REPLACED FOR THE FIFTH TIME. THE RESERVOIR HOLDS THE OVERFLOW FROM THE RADIATOR. THERE IS A CRACK IN THE SEAL WHERE THE SEAL MEETS. SHE HAS HAD TO PAY FOR EACH REPAIR BECAUSE THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.

NHTSA ID

10273474

Incident

Jun 8, 2003

Mileage

150,000 mi

THE LIGHT FOR THE AIR BAGS JUST STARTED TO FLASH ON THE PANEL - CAR ONLY 8 YEARS OLD & DONE AROUND 50000 KMS - HAVE BEEN TOLD IT IS THE MODULE AND NEEDS REPLACING - ALSO THAT THE BAGS COULD EITHER INFLATE WITHOUT WARNING OR MAY NOT WORK AT ALL IF CAR INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT - THEREFORE CONSIDERED DANGEROUS. COST OF APPROX AU$1500. SHOULD THIS REALLY BE HAPPENING IN A CAR OF THIS AGE. WE FEEL IT IS A FAULT WITH THE CAR AND THE MODULE SHOULD BE REPLACED AS A 'CAR DEFECT REPLACEMENT'. HAS ANYONE HAD ANY DEALINGS WITH THIS PROBLEM BEFORE AND IF SO WHAT WAS THE OUTCOME. I FEEL WE SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY FOR THIS AS IT IS DEFINITELY A MANUFACTURING PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ID

10268897

Incident

May 8, 2009

2001 626 MAZDA 4 CY. TRANSMISSION IS GOING OUT AND DUE TO THE NUMBER OF ISSUES REPORTED BY CONSUMERS ABOUT TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS, COSTLY REPAIRS AND EVEN ADDITIONAL PROBLEMS. WHEN IS MAZDA GOING TO BE FORCED TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS ISSUE? IF THEY DO NOT - THIS WILL BE MY LAST MAZDA. *TR

NHTSA ID

10266412

Incident

Apr 7, 2009

Mileage

126,341 mi

TRANSMISSION FAILED, EVEN AFTER PROPER MAINTENANCE. 2ND TRANSMISSION ALSO FAILED 13 MONTHS LATER. 2001 MAZDA 626 ES V6 2.5L AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. *TR

NHTSA ID

10266331

Incident

Dec 20, 2006

Mileage

70,000 mi

TRANSMISSION FAILURE OCCURRED THE FIRST TIME IN EARLY SPRING OF 2003. MY 626 HAD JUST TURNED OVER 53,000 MILES WHEN THE TRANSMISSION WENT. CALLED FOR A TOW, TRANSMISSION PLACE SAID THAT IT WAS LIKELY TO HAVE TO BE A FULL REBUILD. I CALLED DEALERSHIP, THEY CALLED MAZDA AND MAZDA PAID FOR NEW TRANSMISSION AND TOW, EVEN THOUGH THE CAR WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. THIS WEEKEND, DRIVING CAR, NO SIGN OF ANY ISSUE, JUST HAD A FLUID FLUSH DONE ON THE CAR 6,000 MILES AGO SO I KNOW THAT IS FINE. COME HOME AFTER A WEEKEND OF CITY DRIVING AND GO TO GET IN THE CAR THE NEXT MORNING WHEN THE CAR WILL NOT SHIFT. STAYS IN PARK NO MATTER WHAT GEAR I MOVE SHIFTER TO. TAKING IT IN AGAIN WITH ONLY 45,000 MILES ON THE ~NEW~ TRANSMISSION THAT MAZDA PAID FOR THE FIRST TIME ROUND. CAR ONLY HAD 98,000 MILES ON IT AND HAS SUFFERED 2 DIFFERENT TRANSMISSION FAILURES. *TR

NHTSA ID

10264375

Incident

Apr 6, 2009

Mileage

98,000 mi