1998 Mazda 626: jerking or lurching

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 Jun 4, 2008 · Transmission · 123,000 miles · FL

While driving down the rode the transmission just began to lurch, shift in and out of gear, no warning at all, very dangerous. No transmission light or check engine light illuminated.

Filed Sep 26, 2006 · Transmission · 71,000 miles · MD

Dt*: the contact stated the vehicle jerked when the accelerator pedal was depressed. At 50,000 miles the transmission was flushed and the fluid was black. The repair shop determined the seals on the gaskets were worn and the transmission needed to be replaced within 30,000 miles. Then, while traveling 40 MPH, the transmission failed. The vehicle was towed to an independent repair shop who determined a rebuilt transmission needed to be installed.

Filed Sep 22, 2006 · Transmission · 117,000 miles · TN

I along with about every mazda 626 owner I know am facing replacing my transmission. It is not shifting properly and is a real hazard sometimes is works sometimes it doesn't. It is slipping between first and second gear and will "hunt" for first gear at times with several jerks between gears before it shifts.

Filed Jul 27, 2005 · Transmission · 112,000 miles · OH

I have a 1998 mazda 626 lx 4 cylinder automatic. The transmission failed and is giving jerky movements while driving especially after a extended driving. Estimated cost is 3375 plus taxes. I read about similar problems on the web and did not know if anyone else complained to you.

Filed Jul 27, 2005 · Transmission · 40,000 miles · TX

Dt: the transmission performed poorly. Been in the repair shop twice, the first time because it was leaking transmission fluid and jerking when accelerating past first gear. Had around 40,000 miles. Second time it had 54,000 miles for the exact same thing, and currently, the third time the vehicle was still leaking fluid and it will not go forward but will only going backwards. The first time was around 2001.

Filed Apr 7, 2005 · Acceleration · 150,000 miles · GA

When accelerating from a stop vehicle lurched forward. Dealership was notified, but did not resolve the problem.

Filed Mar 22, 2005 · Transmission · 98,200 miles · TX

Transmissions shifting in jerky motions, needed to flush fluid out. Many problems noted with mazda cd4e transmissions.

Filed Mar 19, 2005 · Engine, Transmission · LA

My 1998 626 was purchased in 2000. In september 2003 my transmission completely failed on me and had to be replaced. Ths car has been nothing but problems for me, I have had the timing belt to break on me causing my car to kill in traffic, my check engine light constanty comes on, my car stalls and jerks and yet no mechanic can find a reason for this.

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 22, 2005 · Transmission · 77,999 miles · KS

Ijust bought my 626 about 6 months ago and it is having major problems that it did not have when I bought it. The transmission is failling, it jerks, it smokes, and sometimes it will not even go. To get it fixed I will have to pay about $3000 unless they find more problems in the car. I see many people have the same problem as me and I do not understand why they don't fix it.

Filed Feb 11, 2005 · Transmission · OH

Mazda 626 has always jerked on occasion when shifting. Driving without any warning (no warning lights of any kind came on), my car started jerking and lurching (this is while going 45 MPH). Worried about making it to my destination, just barely made it to where I was headed, had it towed from this spot to dealer to evaluate because I felt the vehicle was not safe to drive at this point. Was told by the dealer that the clutches had burnt out and the debris from this caused other problems, needed new transmission $2,700 to fix. Just previously had them do some transmission work costing me over $500 for the service.