1996 Mazda 626: check engine light

Filed Jun 21, 2016 · Electrical, Engine · 165,000 miles · NC

Tl* the contact owns a 1996 mazda 626. While driving, the check engine sensor light suddenly illuminated and the instrument panel lights would not illuminate. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the ignition switch wire harness was faulty and needed to be replaced. The wire harness was replaced. Approximately six months later, the vehicle experienced the same failure. While operating the vehicle, the engine head gasket malfunctioned. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified. The failure mileage was 165,000.

Filed Aug 19, 2009 · Transmission · 92,000 miles · CA

Mazda 626 1996, od-off blinking, check engine light on.

Filed Dec 12, 2006 · Transmission · 52,000 miles · TX

Transmission had to be rebuilt. Check engine light was on and the o/d light flashed.

Filed Jul 9, 2006 · Transmission · 77,000 miles · VA

My car has a little less than 90,000 miles. Every time I drive this car for more than 30 miles or so, sometimes less if having to speed and slow often, my over drive light begins to flash which also makes the transmission shift erratically. If I pull over and restart the engine to stop the light from flashing and it begins to flash again shortly after my check engine light will also comes on. Normally after a week or so the check engine light will turn off by itself. My husband and I had the throttle body cleaned about a year ago thinking that was the problem when one day my car decided while sitting at a stop light that I could not keep an idle strong enough to keep the motor running and I then have had to start placing my car in neutral for stop lights and rev the engine while the light was red to keep from stalling. We have not replaced the transmission, though I am aware it should have been done long before now. We simply do not drive the car for more than 20 miles at a time. If we are going 30 miles or more, I have to stop half way to turn the engine off for several minutes to let the transmission rest. I feel that mazda has been completely irresponsible, unethical, and reckless in allowing loyal customers to continue to loose faith in mazda's quality of standards. I would assume that the loss in amount of profits and business for years of past and years to come would easily outweigh the damper to profits that would have resulted from doing the right thing and compensating mazda owners for the hard ships that have been caused by a much needed recall and lack there of. My husband and I now are in the market for a new vehicle, most likely an SUV, and while mazda before now was our first vehicle make of choice, it will now not only be last but mazda will not be an option at all. As I assume others have come to the same terms, we will not place trust in a vehicle used to transport our children that we can not rely on for safety and dependability.

Filed Jul 9, 2005 · Transmission · OH

Overdrive light flashes, engine light is on...all of it is linked to the transmission. It has already been rebuilt once and was told it will need rebuilt again. Also the car idles very rough.

Filed Nov 5, 2004 · Transmission · 27,000 miles · NY

Purchased the vehicle (1996 mazda 626) at 27,000mi on odometer - transmission had gone bad. Because it was still in warrantee, the mazda dealership replaced the transmission. I took it back a few times over the past few years because of leaking transmission fluid and engine light being on. Nothing was found or done. Last december, at 96,000mi, the transmission burned out again. I took it to the dealership who said the transmission would have to be replaced again. This would be the 3rd transmission in under 100,000 miles!! As mazda would not assist in the cost of replacement, in july I had the car towed to a local mechanic who replaced the transmission with a rebuilt one. A few weeks ago (october 2004) the o/d light started blinking and I took it back to the mechanic who replaced the transmission. He searched deeper and found that the cupholder is placed directly over the car's computer, and had been leaking any spilled fluid onto it, shorting out the overdrive, causing the transmission solonoid to burn out. He cleaned the computer and replaced the tcc solenoid, mazda takes no responsibility even though their technicians had the car several times without properly diagnosing the problem.

Filed May 12, 2004 · Engine, Transmission · IA

Transmission was slipping and fuel was leaking. Consumer took vehicle to the dealer, and dealer told him that transmission failed, and it needed to be repaired. Conumer stated that dealer told him it would cost approximately $3000.00. Consumer was concerned because he did not have that many miles on vehicle. Also, check engine light came on and stayed on.

Filed Apr 17, 2004 · Acceleration, Engine · 138,318 miles · NM

I bought a used 1996 mazda 626lx from rierson motors in clovis, new mexico and have had the car less than one month and the engine light stays on , it loses power on the interstate when I accelerate above 55 MPH and lurches and goes in to next gear very hard. I think mazda should be held liable for these defects in this paticular model. I hope the government will look into this matter and investigate why so many consumers are having the same problems and mazda should step up to the plate and admit their failure and fix the problem are compensate the consumer for their expenditures.

Filed Jan 27, 2004 · Transmission · 124,000 miles · OK

While driving at any speed, there was a problem when shifting into over drive. The over drive light flashed constantly, which caused the check engine light to come on. The dealer found that a new transmission was needed. The manufacturer was not aware of the problem. *jb *sc

Filed Jan 2, 2004 · Transmission · 71,900 miles · GA

Check engine light came on. Transmission hesitates between 1st and 2nd. Diagnosed as transmission failure by mazda dealer. Dealer suggests replacing with rebuilt transmission for $2800. Am currently researching other alternatives.

Filed Jul 20, 2003 · Transmission · 56,000 miles · PA

Transmission problem with 1996 mazda 626-I bought the car (a demonstrator) from allentown mazda in allentown pa. On may15, 1997 with 10,000 miles on it. I stopped at a light 2 miles before I was about to get onto onto the ne extension of the pa turnpike. As I pulled out, the car barely picked up enough speed to make the turn and I pulled to the side of the road. Although the engine revved, the car wouldn't move. I had the car towed to a garage where they told me the transmission had failed - at 56,000 miles! I had a rebuilt transmission put into it for $2000. There is now 86,000 on the car and I am having trouble with the car shifting into 2nd and 3rd gear and I am afraid, after reading about everyone else's problems with this car that it is the transmission again. My engine light has also been on continuously, almost from the time I bought it. No one has been able to fix it. I understand this has also been a common problem with this model and year and would like to add my name to the list of dis-satisfied mazda owners who would like to make mazda accountable in some way for these expensive, dangerous, and chronic problems.

Filed Mar 11, 2003 · Engine, Transmission · 90,000 miles · IL

While driving the car on the expressway or anywhere for that matter the car engine light comes on and the "over drive off" light begins to blink and my overdrive turn off. I usually have to pull over to the shoulder or at a red light and turn the car off and back on to fix it. This is very unsafe and annoying because it happens almost everyday. I have to do this during rush hour on I-294 in chicago. I am reluctant to take it to mazda repair because they charge $100 just to take the car in the shop and they try to find little ways to slap on a bigger bill. I had them change my transmission fluid and a week later it leaked and they told me there was a hole in the transmission. Apparently it was not there before the transmission fluid change and they did not notice it during. So I had them just refill it and I added sealant from auto zone. I checked my transmission fluid weekly and its just fine. Engine light comes and goes at will. There seems to be a problem with the computer chip or something which is mazda's fault and I should not have to pay to replace or fix. Everything on the car is stocked and I maintain the car better than mazda suggests. I check all fluids, oil change every 2000 miles, etc... I know that many people (thousands of them) that have the same problems with the engine lights and the "over drive off" light blinking.