5th Dec 2005, 16:11

This Mazda has been the worse car we have ever owned. I wish I got a cylinder head for the old Chrysler I had, I could of made it go 38 more thousand miles for a lot less than 3500. Too many problems with Mazdas, I will not buy another one.

5th Dec 2005, 21:46

Transmission fluid should be changed every 12,000 miles?!? Hey, I'm a big-time proponent for regular maintenance of vehicles, but this is friggin' ridiculous! Any transmission that is that fragile must come with a key for winding up.

6th Dec 2005, 14:42

My wife and I were looking for a good used car. We found the Mazda 626, with the 4speed automatic. We thought it was a good deal. Within 6 months, the oil pump began to fail, and the lifters clattered. Replaced it,1000 dollars. Then about 6 months the trans failed, 2568.14 dollars. (The overdrive light flashed and shifted so rough it would feel like your neck was going to break) Then the axles, then the water pump (Two of them at 380 a pop), then the exhaust system. We will never buy another one. We could of got a Lincoln Mark 8 for what we have in this thing. I should of never fixed the oil pump, I should of walked away and watched them crush it.

18th Dec 2005, 00:56

I've read many of your comments and I'm glad that we are not the only ones having so many issues with the mazda 626. We purchased a 2002 mazda 626, and whenever we come to a stop, the car seems to stutter/jump a bit. Its like the automatic transmission isn't fully disengaging or is disengaging and re-engaging while at a complete stop. The car has a little over 40k on it. I just can't believe that a tranny could give out this early...

24th Dec 2005, 09:19

I too am the victim of the dreaded 1995 Mazda 626 w/2.0 4 Cly. engine with automatic trans.

I bought the car at auction (donor car) on 12-02-05. They drove the thing through the buy line!!! I still can't figure that one out!!! They DROVE it through! I payed for my car, and when I went to leave... Low & behold, the car would not move when put into drive, 1st, or 2nd! Not even a slight creep out of reverse! If you shut it off for five minutes, it would drive about a block, then start slipping again.

Needless to say I called AAA for a tow to my mechanics shop (I have an incredibly honest and fair on the bill auto repair shop here in Ohio that I use). I searched through part finder on line, and found a rebuild with 38,000 miles on it in Waynesburg for $500.00, I picked it up, drove back North, took a week to install it, and so far, so good (just knocked on wood). I am on day 4, I think it is a little rough on the down shift out of first, but it depends how you work the accelerator, also the accelerator pedal sticks upon initial start of the day, but I have managed to get it to work so far.

I also have the vibration problem at idle while in gear (I read a TSB that misaligned radiator dampers are the cause of this), and a rumble vibration/shimmy at speeds over 60 MPH. I do need new tires, but they look evenly worn so I am not totally convinced it is an alignment problem. I think it is a "skinny, wimpy, little thread" of a sway/stabilizer bar that came with the car problem!

I am going to stop in at my mechanics shop after the holidays & let him read the suggestion of a replacement valve for $55 (thank you for the info!), and see what he thinks about the excessive, but potentially necessary trans fluid changes every 12,000 miles. If this keeps my investment going it will be worth it. So far I have $2,200 into the car, and it looks and drives brand new (under 60 MPH).

I will keep driving this car, while holding my breath, until a recall or till I can unload this thing, whichever comes first!!!

Thanks to everyone for the valuable info on this pos car, even though we found out after the fact.

I will also be contacting the attorney office in Michigan, and filling a complaint through the provided links after the holidays.

Have a "MERRY CHRISTMAS & HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!" everyone.

Drive safe,

Linnea.

27th Dec 2005, 10:28

I have a 1990 Mazda 626 with only 172.000 km on the clock, and am still very satisfied with the performance of its 2 liter engine with automatic gear (especially with towing caravans in mountainous areas, like the European alps).

I only have one problem with it: the humidity in the car is too high. Especially in winter time I have to dry (or scrape the ice of) my windscreen on the inside!

I checked and double-checked for leaks, but found nothing.

Does anyone have an idea where that water comes from and how to treat this?

8th Jan 2006, 08:18

We have now become the victim of tranmission problems as all the rest of you. When putting the tranmission in Drive the car stays in 1st gear. I too have the vibration problem and have gone through 2 sets of transmission mounts. Something has to give here if everyone else is experiencing similiar problems. Has anyone seen this identical problem?

26th Jan 2006, 14:28

Well, I wish I hadn't seen these pages... At 85,000 miles, My 2001 626 started blinking and went out last night... I have yet to get the report back, But I pray for a miracle.

7th Feb 2006, 22:15

Hello,

I have been looking for a used Mazda 626. We had a 1988 Mazda 626 which I bought with 150,000 miles on it. We never had any trouble with it-- 4 cylinder, manual trasmission, ran like a new car. No clutch or transmission problems, only normal maintenance things. You could not even hear it run. I thought it was stalled at lights all the time, but you just could not hear it run. At 225,000 miles it was still going strong. Somebody hit and ran it when it was parked at the curb and totalled it. We were hoping to get it to 300K, but---

It was the best used car I ever bought. I have heard though that it is not the same car it was in the late 80's and early 90's. Anyway, I have seen a used one really cheap that needs a transmission. Any idea what that will cost? It is an automatic--can you put a manual one in it?

14th Feb 2006, 10:05

I currently own a 91 Mazda 626 lx hatchback I bought it with 85000 miles on it and now shes got 218000 and its running like a brand new car. it is a 5 speed manual never had any engine or transmission problems except for a clutch, but that was mostly my fault. overall I think the Mazda 626 japanese built is one of the most solid late model cars ever made.

21st Feb 2006, 09:08

The Mazda's built before 1992 were made entirely in Japan and have performed quite well. The problem started when Ford took over and started building the cars in Flat Rock, MI in 1992. I'm the not so proud owner of a 1996 626 four cylinder automatic. I bought the car new in May 1996 and it was fine until the warranty ran out. The transmission started acting up at 40K and finally died at 86K. Shakes almost all of the time and shifts rather poorly especially when hot outside (third transmission). I changed all of the motor and transmission mounts which reduced the problem with the car lurching and grinding every time it shifted first to second. So far I have over $5000 invested in repairs and it is by far the most costly to run vehicle I have ever owned.