1998 Mazda 626: engine overheating

Filed Feb 23, 2009 · Transmission · 103,000 miles · NY

I have 103,000 miles. My transmission hasn't failed yet, which I now see I should feel lucky about. I have had all the other transmission issues I now find are common because mazda put too small an engine into this car. I have had the o/d light flash on and off, the transmission be jerky, check engine light on. (this has gone on for several years now) I was told by a dealer I needed a range sensor and an aftermarket transmission cooler. I thought I had a leak of transmission fluid but it's just spewing up from the transmission overheating. Every time they change the fluid it gets worse. Now I can see from what others say that my transmission will no doubt fail soon. I had to find this out by going online; no mazda repair shop ever told me any of this, until today when I was told that there was an "issue" with the 1998 transmission. Unbelievable. Mazda should have to do something since it's their design defect. I will never buy another mazda!!!!!!! Toyota, here I come.

Filed Dec 1, 2008 · Transmission · 120,215 miles · PA · fire

Transmission problems with the year of 98's transmissions made by ford. Transmissions have had multiple issues starting from shifting issues, transmission fluid overheating requiring more and more mazda 626's to have aftermarket transmission coolers installed, transmission overheating. This year that ford made this transmission has caused many people to often replace transmissions for this vehicle. You will see many people have replaced their transmissions 2 or 3 times within putting 150k on the vehicle. Please look into as I have had my transmission slip and completely not work, to getting rebuilt and now my o/d is now flashing, which requires me to install an aftermarket oil cooler for my transmissions, which does not come with the vehicle already. Transmission rebuild is costing over 2,000 dollars due to the unavailability of parts from the dealer and aftermarket suppliers. Please recall this transmission!!!!!! A mazda technical service bulletin exists for some 1998-2001 models. Tsb 05-005/02 deals with one specific circumstance: "after extended highway driving, the o/d off light is blinking and code p1783 is set (excessive atf temperature). Occasionally there will be overflow through the dipstick tube and harsh shifting. Mazda's recommended fix is to replace the radiator and to install an auxiliary cooler for the transmission." when the light goes on, it enters a fail-safe mode? (the epc solenoid opens up and brings line pressure up to 'max') ... The only catch is it raises the fluid pressure well beyond normal specs (it goes from 100 to 400 psi). Ford cd4e transmission http://www.answerbag.com/q_view/724066 - issues also with transmission.

Filed Mar 11, 2008 · Transmission · 119,000 miles · CT

The vehicle jolts when coming off the highway which I was informed was due to the overheating transmission. After about two hours of highway driving I had to pull to the side of the highway because the vehicle became unstable.

Filed Mar 21, 2007 · Transmission · 76,691 miles · WI

We are complaining about our 1998 mazda 626 because the transmission failed with only 76,691 miles on the car. We are the original owners, so that mileage is correct. The total cost to have it rebuilt was $2,222.87. Had this happened on the highway in heavy traffic, there certainly would have been a horrible accident with serious, if not fatal injuries. When we looked on the internet, we found many other people complaining of transmission problems. The problem, which mazda is aware of is, it that they put a ford transmission in the mazda 626, but this transmission was meant for a smaller, lighter car, which is the reason for the overheating and eventual transmission failure. Their bulletin tsb# 0500502.addresses this problem. Mazda has refused to replace these transmissions or compensate owners for this problem. Since this transmission failure happens very suddenly, it is only a matter of time before someone is gravely injured or killed in an accident on a busy highway. Please make mazda do the right thing!

Filed Sep 10, 2006 · Transmission · 72,046 miles · FL

Transmission breakdown. Back on april 07, 2003, I brought my 1998 mazda 626 into a transmission repair shop to get my vehicle fixed. I was told the transmission was toast. It had overheated and burnt up most of the internals. I ended paying for a rebuilt unit, a new torque converter, and a drive chain. The total out of pocket expense was $1272.00 now exactly three years down to the month I'm starting all over with the same problems. The transmission is going downhill again. Fortunately this time I parked it in the driveway and haven't fixed it yet. I am currently researching the problem and it appears to be a nationwide problem, yet nothing is being done about it.

Filed Jul 12, 2006 · Transmission · 90,000 miles · GA

Failure of 1998 mazda 626 automatic transmission. Transmission overheated on the interstate resulting in boiling out of fluid, fluid was replaced and the transmission overheated again blowing the main seal. Sudden loss of power occurred on the interstate (was able to maintain vehicle to exit ramp -incident occurred very close to ramp). The seal was prepared and the check engine light came on (ptc 0743). Diagnosis at local shop indicated that the transmission needed to be replaced. Mileage was only 90,000.

Filed May 6, 2006 · Transmission · MA

Mazda 626 4 cylinder, 4 door, automatic; 93k mi; transmission failed due to internal overheating (''o/d off'' light flashes). I never used this car to tow anything; driving pattern is very light. Approximately 40 miles daily to work on highway at 40-60 m/h speed (traffic). My research shows that mazda was clearly aware of this problem - sb0500502/the federal safety agency 634465. Sb details a very simple and relatively inexpensive fix - external trans oil cooler. Dealer clearly states the car is not safe to drive. If it was not safe to drive my family uses this car routinely why would mazda be so negligent and not advice owners of this potential risk and the alternative repairs, which would save thousands of dollars in property damage? It is now in the thousands to fix the car.

Filed Jan 2, 2006 · Transmission · OH

I had the automatic transmission on my 1998 mazda 626 rebuilt at no. 1 auto repair center in stafford, va, back in november of 2002 at a cost of 1650.00. On january 1, 2006, while driving home from lorain, oh, to kettering, oh, this rebuilt transmission seemed to overheat and blow. The transmission went out suddenly and smoke proceeded to billow from my hood while I was driving at a speed of 75 MPH. The o/d off light had been blinking a few weeks ago, so I took the car in to grismer auto repair in dayton, oh. They said the transmission fluid was very dark and sludgy and recommended a flush and change. The o/d off light went off after that and didn't come on again until moments before this second transmission failure. Now it looks like I will have to get a second rebuilt transmission for the same car within a span of approximately three years. By the way, my last payment is next month on a five-year lien. That's two rebuilt transmissions I have had to pay for before the car was even paid off. Will someone please tell me how this is fair.

Filed Feb 23, 2005 · Transmission · 130,800 miles · MI

1) from early on, the transmission was always jerking and shifting late. We took it to a transmission shop and also to a mazda dealer, who told us that it would need to be replaced. After doing web research, we found that these were ford transmissions that would ultimately fail due to overheating and that even with a replacement the problem would recur. 2) on 2/22/05 the transmission finally failed for good (at 130,000 miles). In spite of mazda's knowledge of this problem, and their lack of public acknowledgement, they have done nothing to accomodate us. The engine runs well and the body is in great shape, but the vehicle is now undrivable. ) we will probably junk the car, since it is well-known that even if replaced, the transmission will have a high probability of failure.

Filed Feb 8, 2005 · Transmission · 116,041 miles · KS

(1) transmission fluid leak...o/d light flashing off and on, car smoking and overheating; (2) transmission overhaul...$2000 plus $115 tow bill; (3) still not corrected...but so far new sprage front planetary, torque converter, tec valves, retainer for sprage, thrust beaning.

Filed Jan 14, 2005 · Transmission · 101,000 miles · TX

While driving on the highway, I stopped for fuel. I got in the car to leave and it would not move. Had the car towed to aamco . Transmission and torque converter were repaired. Two weeks later, I had to return to aamco and the torque converter was again replaced. This is a well maintained car and not abused. There was no warning that something was wrong. Aamco said the transmission had overheated causing the failure. There was no apparent slippage prior to the event.

Filed Jul 29, 2004 · Transmission · 86,000 miles · KY

I purchased my 1998 mazda 626lx in december 2000 with 65,000 miles on it. In july 2002 the transmission went out completely while driving up a hill at 65 MPH with the cruise control on and the air conditioning turned on. The car suddenly shifted into second gear and proceeded to strip all the gears in the transmission (as I was told by the transmission repair shop) rendering my car useless for three months while I saved the money to have it repaired. I put a remanufactured one in from phoenix hard parts (never got my rebate, so don't go to them for help!). It cost me $1300 for the transmission and $1200 in labor to have it installed. Now this transmission overheats (flashing o/d light) after only an hour on the interstate! Please someone look into this issue. It may not be child seats, but this is costing lots of people thousands of dollars!