1998 MAZDA 626 Complaints

THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER HAS BEEN ON BACK-ORDER TO MILLENIUM MAZDA DEALER NUMBER 23836SINCE 5-14-01. I HAVE CONTACTED MAZDA CUSTOMER ASSITANCE BY LETTER AND PHONE AND THERE HAS BEEN NO RESPONSE. I HAVE BEEN WITHOUT A CAR FOR NEARLY 2 MONTHS. NO ONE SEEMS WILLING TO OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE AND SINCE THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER IS A SAFTEY AND EMISSION ITEM I CANNOT DRIVE THE VEHILCE WITHOUT A NEW ONE. ANY ASSITANCE OR GUIDENCE WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED. *AK

ALL FOUR TIRES HAD DRY ROT PROBLEMS, THE CONSUMER INFORMED FIRESTONE BUT FIRESTONE DID NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM, TIRE SIZE P205/60R15. *YH

CAR SUFFERED "INTERNAL FAILURE OF TRANSMISSION" AT 43,000 ON 2/00. THIS WAS REPLACED AT MAZDA DEALER IN ROSWELL GA.. IT WAS REPLACED WITH A NEW PART. "INTERNAL FAILURE OF TRANSMISSION" OCCURED ON 6/11/01 AT 105,000 MILES. SERVICE DEPT. WAYNE EVANS SAID, "WE GOT A MEMO FROM MAZDA CORP., IT SAYS WE SHOULD ENCOURAGE CUSTOMERS THAT COME IN FOR ANY SERVICE TO HAVE AN EXTERNAL TRANSMISSION COOLER INSTALLED. THE PART IS 120.00 PLUS LABOR." I TOLD DEALER THAT IT MAY SUGGEST THAT MAZDA KNOWS IT HAS A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. FIRST QUOTE WAS OVER 2,000. I ASKED FOR THE PART REPLACED AT NO CHARGE TO ME. THE SERVICE DEALER CALLED BACK AND SAID THAT BOB WHITE, THE REGIONAL MANAGER WILL GIVE PART FREE IF I AGREE TO A 60,000 MILE MAINTENENCE SERVICE AT 679.00 PLUS TAX. AND IF I AGREED TO ADD THE EXTERNAL TRANSMISSION COLLER FOR 120.00 PLUS LABOR AND TAX. THEY SAID THEY WOULD ONLY GIVE FREE PART IF I AGREED TO THIS. I HAVE THE CAR SERVICED REGULARLY & MAINTAIN RECORDS. THEY SAID, IT WASN'T SERVICED AT A MAZDA DEALER & I WOULD NEED TO AGREE TO THE 679.00 60,000 MILE SERVICE AND EXTERNAL TRANSMISSION COOLER IF THEY WERE TO GIVE ME THE PART. THE RATIONALE WAS THAT THEY WANTED TO BE SURE I TOOK CARE OF CAR IF THEY GAVE A FREE PART. MY CONCERN IS THEIR BUSINESS PRACTICES FOR ONE. MY BIGGER CONCERN IS THE RISK I INCURRED WHEN TRANSMISSION FAILED TWICE ON THE SAME CAR. AND THE CORP MEMO ON THE EXTERNAL COOLER MAKES ME UNEASY.*AK

REAR END COLLISION WHILE STOPPED AT LIGHT. UNCERTAIN OF STRIKING VEHICLE SPEED. MAZDA REAR CRUMPLED SUFFICIENT TO DISTORT REAR DOOR FRAMES. BOTH FRONT SEAT MECHANISMS RELEASED AND OCCUPANTS WERE LAYED OUT FLAT. ONLY TWO OCCUPANTS IN CAR, APPROXIMATELY 225 LBS. EACH. MINOR NECK INJURIES (MUSCLE PULL?) RESULTED.

CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY AND ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON DASHBOARD. MECHANIC TOLD CONSUMER THAT OXYGEN SENSOR MALFUNCTIONED. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REBUILT AT APPROXIMATELY 60,000 MILES BECAUSE GEARS WOULD NOT ENGAGE. A PRIVATE MECHANIC INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM IN MAZDA 626. *AK

ENGINE CHECK LIGHT HAD BEEN COMING ON INTERMITTENTLY. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, WHO FOUND NO PROBLEM. THEN, WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 60 MPH TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT ENGAGE, VEHICLE DROPPED TO 30 MPH QUICKLY WHILE ENGINE REVVED. TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

I HAVE HAD REPEATED ELECTRICAL AND FUEL/TRANSMISSION RELATED PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE. DEALERSHIP RESPONDS WITH THIS IS NORMAL. OTHER MECHANICS QUESTION FREQUENT VISITS HOWEVER AGREE THAT THE SERVICES ARE NEEDED.*AK

TRANSMISSION JERKS USUALLY IN THE FIRST AND SECOND GEARS OF TRANSMISSION WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A ROLLING STOP OR SLOW DOWN.*AK

I TOOK MY CAR INTO MILLINEUM MAZDA, CHAPEL HILL BLVD., DURHAM, N.C. BECAUSE THE TRANSMISSION WAS JERKING FROM THE PARKED POSITION. THEY DECIDED TO REPLACE THE PISTON ASSEMBLY AND I PURCHASED AN $80.00 TRANSMISSION FLUSH. HOWEVER, NEITHER OF THESE WERE CORRECTIVE ACTIONS. THE SERVICE MANAGER, CHARLES GRAY, DECIDED TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION ON JULY 18, 2000. WELL, THIS TIME, THE TRANSMISSION BEGAN SHIFTING HARD WHEN IT MOVED TO REVERSE. ON OCTOBER 23, 2000, THE 1ST REPLACEMENT TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED. I CAN'T REALLY SAY THAT THE SHIFTING IN REVERSE WAS TOTALLY SMOOTH IN THIS TRANSMISSION. IT HAS PROGRESSIVELY WORSENED AND IT IS QUITE AGGRAVATING. I AM GETTING THE LINE "MAZDA WILL STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT AND DO EVERYTHING THEY CAN TO RECTIFY THE PROBLEM" FROM THE CUSTOMER SERVICE DEPARTMENT. BUT ON THE OTHER HAND, "WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THE PROBLEM IS. WE JUST HAVE TO TAKE IT DOWN TO SEE" ARE THE LINES I AM GETTING FROM MAZDA TECHNICIANS. THIS IS APPALLING TO ME BECAUSE I MUST CONTINUE TO MAKE PAYMENTS ON A CAR THAT I CAN'T SEEM TO GET REPAIRED.*AK