24th Oct 2002, 23:15

I got a 2000 Mazda a couple of weeks back.. I had the same problem with the engine light coming on..But, the dealer fixed it.. The brakes had to replaced too.. The car had 28,000 miles when I bought it.. After reading these comments.. I am getting anxious..But, time will tell whether this was a good or bad buy..

2nd Nov 2002, 12:38

Our 1999 Mazda 626LX has been wonderful to drive through New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont. It handled the roads so well.

HOWEVER... we have had our problems with rear-end noises (big time grating - especially over speed control bumps (fixed under warranty - now back on the left side when car is cold), brake squeal (ongoing and no longer under warranty), window noise, & other small (irritating) details that I can't remember enough to be specific (without looking up the work-forms).

It's been in the shop more than a few times.

This a.m. (thank heavens NOT on the way to a hockey game/practice) the "check engine" light came on, we are a one car family, and though the dealership looked at it right away (with a little push) (on a Saturday), I just know that at almost 90,000 KM there will be other situations to upset us.

The battery was replaced last week, the horn fuse failed - (could have been serious as it was REALLY needed at that moment) - just the week before that.

They reprogrammed the computer, and the code suggested that it was something to do with the throttle/module/intake.

I wasn't the driver when the problem occurred and wasn't the one to take it in to the dealer - so the details thus far are scarce in my mind.

We have such terrible problems with our cars. (especially Ford Taurus and THEIR throttle body)!!

My best car was a 1974 Valiant with the slant 6 engine > GREAT! (except in wet weather)

All our cars get very regular oil changes (for hard wear/city driving) new tires when required - pressure is right for the weather/driving conditions, spark plugs are platinum, it is washed and dried, polished and vacuumed.

So frustrating to be treated this way by a hunk of metal!

We will see if the problem with the "check engine" happens again.

I would love to keep a well-running (without MAJOR failures) car for 15-20 years.

Maybe the next one?... Martha. However none LAST that long. oh well.

5th Nov 2002, 07:24

I have a 98 Mazda 626. And just recently, my check engine light came on. Especially, when I put my foot on the gas pedal, it starts jerking back in forth. November is my last payment on the car, even though it's a lease. I will never deal with mazda again. They lack customer service skills. And they are very rude. Especially, when I brought the car for service. I just kindly told the guy to hand over my darn keys and I took the car to Merchant. Mazda No More! This is a lesson learned.

22nd Dec 2002, 19:21

I purchased a 1999 Mazda 626 with 21,000 miles 2 years ago this month. Within the first year the transmission went and the catalytic converter had to be replaced. Both were under the 50,000 mile warranty, thank goodness! The transmission acted funny, banging, hesitating, check engine light flashing on and off. I took it into the dealership about 5 times, finally, they agreed to change the transmission. It ran okay for a few months, but now,70,000 miles, the check engine light comes on and off and it studders when you give it a lot of gas (ex: passing, taking off from stop sign). I hate to take it in to the dealer and pay through the nose. Also, the back end rides very rough, banging, rattling, noise, no one can find. Front Rotors gone at 70,000, no warning. Right now the engine light is off! Think I'll trade. No more Mazda's for me!

28th Dec 2002, 22:36

My Mazda 626 is a 1999 and at 68k miles on it the transmission just died. I am currently dealing with the corporation to get it replaced.

7th Jan 2003, 18:16

Wow! This is just amazing! At 67,000 miles, our MX-6 just had the transmission fail. I need transportation NOW, and don't have time to mess around with trying to talk Mazda into doing anything, which they most likely would not. It's really painful to pay $2500 for a transmission on a car with so few miles on it. It's also painful that the transmission will cost more than half the value of the car.

I should have learned when my turbos and engine went out on my 1993 RX-7 two weeks after I bought it for the tune of $14000. Say it with me folks, "NO More Mazdas"...

28th Jan 2003, 23:58

Now I'm perturbed! After writing a review on my Mazda 626, I can hardly believe what I'm reading here.

I've only been impressed with the vehicle (of course, nothing's faultless), but I've owned the following models and the only one that's been possibly more reliable is the Datsun 120Y (Because even in spite if having been abused before I got it, it never once broker down on me, even when it was using a pint of oil every 100km) :

- 1974 Vauxhall Viva - sold at about 150 000km

- 1972 Mercedes Benz 220D - sold at 520 000 km (believe it!)

- 1993 Hyundai Sonata 2.0 exec - sold at 113 000 km

- 1990 Nissan Sentra 1.6 SGLi - accident rebuild sold at 150k km

- 1979 Datsun 120Y - stolen 145 000 km - probably by environmentalists

- 2001 Nissan Sentra 160 GXi - still own - only 15 000 km

- 1999 Mazda 626 GLX - still own - 82 000 km.

Please tell me that the manual transmission isn't going to give up, as I'm about to take delivery of a VW Jetta and I'm thinking of selling the Sentra and keeping the Mazda.

17th Feb 2003, 20:12

I have a 1998 Mazda 626 LX 85,000.00 miles, I've had all the problems in all the e-mails I just read. What's the problem with the check engine light? can anyone tell us? I must have taken that car back to the dealership approximately 10 times in the last 3 years for the check engine light, and no one can tell me what the problem is, it's Feb 17th, the dead of winter, 25 inches of snow, and my car will not start. I just hope it's not a transmission or an engine problem. Can we as consumers do anything about this? will Mazda look into the problems when it comes to this car? all I know is, I will not recommend this car to anyone, and I will not buy another Mazda. Thank you for your time.