2001 Mazda 626: complete transmission failure

Filed Sep 22, 2012 · Transmission · 88,000 miles · AE

This car started having difficulty with going into reverse. Forward is becoming difficult also. Two different mechanics indicate that it is the transmission. They note that changing the transmission fluid may give temporary relief but the real problem is I need a new transmission. I live and work overseas on a us army military base so to even consider bringing an spec rebuilt transmission over is very expensive. I have been told that with a replacement transmission I will have the same problem. I have had all preventive maintenance done on the cover over the years and to have this happen at 88,000 miles is a financial hardship.

Filed Apr 12, 2011 · Transmission · 118,000 miles · WA

The transmission in my 2001 mazda 626 i4 has failed twice. The first time it failed at 118,000 miles while I was accelerating from a stop at a intersection almost causing an serious accident with the cars behind me. After having the transmission rebuilt for 2k the transmission failed again at 120,000 miles while accelerating from a stop at an intersection on a uphill slant and almost caused a major accident with the cars behind me as I backed the car down the hill to the curbside. Ford needs to recall these horrible cd4e transmissions. I have had the transmission rebuilt again and the certified transmission shop tells me ford has redesigned the drum for these transmissions (the part that failed both times) and they only release them 1 at a time from the ford factory to transmission shops to avoid a recall on the previous design which failed all of their cd4e transmissions prematurely. This is very poor customer service on fords part and they should stand behind their product and not hide from their failures while sticking it to their costumers. I will not buy another ford product again.

Filed Feb 8, 2010 · Transmission · 80,800 miles · CA

My 2001 626 (4 cylinder) transmission needs to be replaced at under 81,000 miles!!!! The only warning sign was it wouldn't shift into reverse one day, then boom, it barely moved forward again. I have never had a problem with this car and I have mostly owned mazda's so imagine my surprise and disappointment that it happened just after I lost my job. Now I have no job, no transportation and no means to get a job without it. Mazda apparently knew there were problems with the transmissions and chose to do nothing about it. I will never purchase or recommend a mazda ever again! As a result of your blatant failure to inform your customers you have lost at least one good customer forever.

Filed Aug 7, 2009 · Transmission · 128,000 miles · WA

2001 mazda 626 4 cylinder automatic transmission failed. The car will not drive anymore. After driving it for a distance of 60 miles one day, I parked it, tried to start driving it again and it wouldn't go.

Filed Apr 21, 2009 · Transmission · 70,000 miles · FL

Transmission failed, even after proper maintenance. 2nd transmission also failed 13 months later. 2001 mazda 626 es v6 2.5l automatic transmission.

Filed Apr 7, 2009 · Transmission · 98,000 miles · IL

Transmission failure occurred the first time in early spring of 2003. My 626 had just turned over 53,000 miles when the transmission went. Called for a tow, transmission place said that it was likely to have to be a full rebuild. I called dealership, they called mazda and mazda paid for new transmission and tow, even though the car was out of warranty. This weekend, driving car, no sign of any issue, just had a fluid flush done on the car 6,000 miles ago so I know that is fine. Come home after a weekend of city driving and go to get in the car the next morning when the car will not shift. Stays in park no matter what gear I move shifter to. Taking it in again with only 45,000 miles on the ~new~ transmission that mazda paid for the first time round. Car only had 98,000 miles on it and has suffered 2 different transmission failures.

Filed Feb 23, 2009 · Transmission · 95,000 miles · VA

My 2001 mazda 626 2.0l lx has 104,500 miles on it. Around 95,000 the transmission started shifting roughly. The problem got worse over time and at 104,500 miles I now need a transmission rebuilt. Every mechanic I have taken it to and talked to knows the problems with this ford cd4e built transmission and are shocked ford/mazda has not done a recall on them. I am now looking at 2000 dollars in repairs. Please forward this complaint to mazda along with all of the others and make them do what is right. So many people have been affected by these horrible transmission failures. Please help us all.

Filed Dec 8, 2008 · Transmission · 115,258 miles · IA

With only 115,000 miles on 2001 mazda 626, the transmission needs replaced per professional assessment. Took it in after the overdrive function stopped working and the only way I was able to drive the car was by turning off the overdrive function.

Filed Nov 1, 2008 · Transmission · 105,000 miles · VA

I have a 2001 mazda 626 with only a little over 100,000 miles and now the transmission went out. I had it looked at and was told that the chain inside the transmission was skipping links. The service man who looked at the car told me that he believes that there was a recall on this transmission because this problem was happening to alot of mazda 626 transmissions. The car is just sitting now because we can not afford 2000 dollars to get this fixed but if its possible to be looked at I was told that we could get it replaced for free. We really need assistance with this because we have a 10 month old daughter and one running vehicle and really need help getting this problem fixed.

Filed Sep 7, 2008 · Transmission · 25,574 miles · TX

2001 mazda 626 with an automatic transmission. I purchased the car from a mazda dealer, it was a 1 owner trade-in with only 25,000 original miles. The vehicle went through a 100 point inspection from their service department. I only had the car for 5 days before the transmission went out. When I placed the transmission in reverse or drive, it just remained still as if it was still in park or neutral, it was towed to a mazda dealer and diagnosed with a torque converter failure. This is apparently a major issue with most mazda 626's, old and new!

Filed Sep 4, 2008 · Transmission · 125,000 miles · TN

I have a 2001 mazda 626 lx with automatic transmission. The car has worked great but at 125,000 miles the transmission went out. Many other people have had similar problems with this transmission and still no recall? I took the car to a reputable mechanics shop and was told that the transmission needs to be replaced and not to waste my money on it because it is known for failures. I took it to a shop that specializes in transmissions and was told the same story except they felt they could fix the situation with an aftermarket valve kit that solves the problem. Why are mazda and ford (the transmission was built by ford) allowed to ignore this problem?

Filed May 31, 2008 · Transmission · 96,000 miles · FL

My mazda 626, year 2001 has a problem with the transmission. At first the car would not go into reverse, then the entire transmission failed. I spoke with a co-worker that had the same problem with her mazda 626. Is there a recall on the mazda. Please help me with the repairs, I can't afford to get the vehicle fixed.