1998 Mazda 626: stuck in gear or won't shift

6 of the 433 complaints about the 1998 Mazda 626 describe stuck in gear or won't shift.

owner complaints: 6
of this car's complaints: 1%
recalls: 0

Is there a fix? 4 service bulletins cover this area of the car. See below

Stuck in gear or won't shift by model year

2002
4
2001
12
2000
13
1999
14
1998
6
1997
7
1996
6
1995
8
1994
6
1993
2

What owners say

Filed Jan 8, 2018 · Electrical, Transmission · FL

Since owning the mazda 626 I have had a very big problem the transmission slipping. It will slip going into second gear. If its below 60 degrees the car wont shift into drive until the motor gets hot enough. The car is like this every single day and does it every time it is driven. Also the interior lights work somtimes on and off and the back windows wont roll down from the driver button

Filed Oct 13, 2008 · Transmission · TN

1998 mazda 626 automatic transmission car will not go into gear, forward or reverse. The problem just started while driving at about 45 miles an hour on a smooth highway. The car had to be towed back home.

Filed Sep 11, 2004 · Transmission · GA

I purchased my 626 in june 1998. At 58,700 miles (nov 2001), the 1st transmission went up (flashing o/d, wouldn't shift, etc). I had a rebuilt transmission installed at a local transmission shop because it was no longer covered under the warranty. It cost $1,500. At 92,000 miles (nov 2003), the 2nd transmission also went up. I had the third transmission installed at the same shop at a cost of $1,800. The vehicle currently has a little over 100,000 miles on it and it is currently in the shop getting it's 4th transmission. This time, we were headed out of town with the car fully packed for vacation when it decided to dump all of the transmission fluid, started smoking, flashed o/d lights, etc. Four transmissions in 100,000 miles is a glaring failure on the part of mazda and/or ford (who built the transmission). I will never buy another mazda and I will advise everyone I know that mazda vehicles can't be trusted. I don't understand why there was no recall on this horrendous piece of junk.

Filed Sep 10, 2004 · Transmission · 163,467 miles · TX

Transmission takes about 10 sec to shift from park to drive and from park to reverse. Wont accelerate but rpms go up and wont shift.I had the car checked by sevral mechanics and they all say I need a new transmission.

Filed Aug 16, 2004 · Transmission · 85,267 miles · TN

I was driving my 1998 mazda 626 in normal traffic and stopped at a traffic light. After the light changed, I accelerated as normal and the automatic transmission would not shift to a higher gear and the engine began to race. I pulled into the parking lot where I flagged down my husband and told him there was a problem. He then got in and experienced the same problem, the transmission would not shift to a higher gear. He drove the car to mazda knoxville in the first gear. The service manager looked under the hood and told us that the transmission had gone out and would have to be replaced. He also suggested that we install a "transmission cooler" to prevent this from happening again. He said that mazda puts these type of coolers in newer models. I had no warning, nor had I had any previous problems with the transmission.

Filed Feb 15, 2001 · Transmission · NJ

Transmission does not go into reverse. Dealer has been notified.