9th Dec 2004, 12:58

I bought a Mazda 626 LXV6 a little over 5 years ago. Since the day I drove my car off the lot, I noticed a very small jerk, but did not think anything of it. With 47,000 miles my check engine light came on, so I had a mechanic look at it and they could not find anything wrong. A few days later, I was going up a hill and my engine died. Fortunately, I was covered by the warranty and the dealership replaced/fixed my engine. To this day, my car-jerking has increased in severity. I took it to 2 separate mechanics who could not find anything wrong with it. Now, at 86,000 miles, my check engine light came on again. A different Mada dealership ran a diagnostic test to discover my engine is misfiring and I need to replace my spark plugs, fuel filter, air filter and some other minor things. The cost of this repair is between $600-700. My car is paid off and I was hoping to get some more mileage out of it, but this appears to be a common problem with the 626's, so I think I might trade it in before it gives me any more problems. I just wanted to let people know in case they decide to buy this car. My review would be poor and would not recommend it.

10th Feb 2005, 05:56

I have a Mazda 626 1993. I think I have been very lucky since I never had any major problems. The car has 209,000 miles and is running perfect. It is a 5-speed and never had any transmission problems. I am planning to buy a 1999 5-speed Mazda 626 and I hope it will come out as good as the one I still drive.

11th Feb 2005, 07:52

I also have a 4 cylinder, 626 SE. I've had both the engine and transmission replaced under warranty at around 80,000 km. The car has always idled rough, and been jerky when it's cold. My engine light just came on yesterday, about 110,000 km. From everyones' comments it may just be the O2 sensor. It's been a good car, just hope this light doesn't mean anything worse than that. I too will likely trade it in as soon as its' paid off.

24th Feb 2005, 11:18

I have a 1999 Mazda 626 and my check engine light has been on and off a couple times this past winter. I refuse to take it to the garage and pay them to turn the switch off and tell me nothing is wrong with it again. It does have an odd idle and I am thinking about trading it in after reading all the reviews about it. All cars are hit and miss, but I will not buy another Mazda again. I'm now off to take the battery out to see if it takes the check engine light off!

2nd Jun 2005, 11:53

I have bought a new Mazda 626 V6 in 1999. My previous car was Mazda Protege. I bought it used in Quebec and had no problems with it. Quite contrary, I had the following major problems with 626 : at 50,000 miles the engine began to overheat. It occurred that the plastic tank connected to the radiator cracked at the joint and the cooler was leaking out when the engine was hot. At 60,000 miles a noise in front wheels appeared and the bearings on both front wheels were replaced. At 70,000 miles check engine light came on and the oxygen sensor was replaced twice. After the first replacement the light came on the next day. According to the dealership, the new sensor was defective. After a year of driving and 83,000 miles the "check engine" light was on again. My first visit to dealership led to cleaning up the fuel injector. The light came back in a day. At the present time, the computer is replaced.

The first two problems at 50,000 and 60,000 miles were fixed free of charge at Oak Tree Mazda Dealership in Bay Area. The problems with "check engine" light cost me 400$ so far at Royal Moore dealership in Beaverton, OR.

Though the repairs were not expensive, they produced a lot of hassle as it was never clear how long they could take. My friends, who acquired Toyota's and Honda's at the same time as I had much less problems with them so far.

14th Aug 2005, 21:51

I just wanted to say the I have a 1998 Mazda 626 LX (4 cylinder automatic). I have nothing, but good things to say about my car. It has 130,000 miles on it. It runs perfect. I have had to make some repairs, but none that I would consider to be out of the ordinary. I thought I was having major problems about a year ago, but come to find out it was a bad spark plug that were fouling out and causing it to stutter while accelerating. My next car will likely be another Mazda (probably a Mazda 6).

24th Aug 2005, 20:45

I have Mazda Protege 1997, 1.5 Litre engine. I frequently get the engine code P0455. Every time I reset with OBD code reader, but after 400 to 800 KMS it comes back. I checked with mechanic, they say it is Evaporation Systems Malfunction problem. What should I do for that?

20th Jun 2006, 15:56

I have a 99 Mazda 626 ES with 80K miles. Currently getting the tranny replaced - right now the cost is running $1850+.

I was driving on the freeway and it started jerking whenever switching from 3rd to 4th gear. Then after awhile it started jerking whenever it switched gears. It drove better with the o/d off, but then that started driving like crap too. I never had any major problems except flat tires and the serpentine belt went 8 months ago. Oh wait one of my backseat doors doesn't open and the high beam switch doesn't work. What a piece of garbage. I'll never buy a mazda again. zoom zoom boom!

6th Sep 2006, 22:06

My wife bought a 1999 Mazda 626 LX brand new. Ever since she drove it off the car lot, it had a hard jerk when the gears would change. BEWARE... this is not normal!!! We had the tranny replaced at 118,000 miles. The service center said that the front plate was broken in the tranny causing it to over heat. It only cost us a mere $2,100.00 to have it rebuilt for a 12 month/12,000 mile warranty. It's a beautiful car, but don't let the good looks fool you!!!