Transmission Repair

clutch replacement

April 12, 2010

These days, an ever-increasing number of people are opting to purchase used cars.  No longer are consumers heading straight to major dealerships.  Thus, “Buy-Here/Pay-Here” used car lots have evolved past the seedy establishments they were once deemed to be.   Lemon Laws have been created to protect the “average Joe” from getting stuck with vehicles that spend more time in auto repair shops, than on the road.  But what happens when the auto manufacturers themselves are at fault for problems that are guaranteed to arise after a few thousand miles of driving?   Such is the case with many used Mazda 626s produced from 1994-2000. 

If your Mazda 626 is experiencing oil burnout, low power, gear damage, or even rough acceleration, then there is the possibility that your car has a faulty transmission.   According to The EStreetJournal, half of the complaints submitted to the government regarding this vehicle were attributed to the transmission.   In the EStreetJournal report, one bemused driver claims experiencing a “jerking while accelerating” after only 30,000 miles.  Upon contacting the Mazda dealership, the consumer was told that “this was typical of Mazda transmissions,” and that it was not cause for concern.   The problem was never documented by the dealership, and the dealership did not request that the car be brought in for inspection.   The same consumer allegedly reported that after approximately 112,000 miles, the check engine light came on, and then failed to start after the engine was shut off.  Per the report, another aggravated Mazda owner in Lancaster, PA complained that her transmission began performing erratically after only about 50,000 miles of driving.   She recounted taking her 1999 Mazda 626 to Lancaster Toyota-Mazda, and was simply offered a generic internal cooler to prevent her transmission from overheating.

The source of the problem is that Mazda built the 626 with a Ford transmission (CD4E) that was actually meant for a much smaller and lighter vehicle.   Quite simply, the Mazda 626 was too heavy for the type of transmission issued.   Thus, as the cars were exposed to extensive highway driving, the transmissions began to overheat, and eventually fail.   Because it has been a Mazda North American Operations policy that Mazda dealers do not perform engine rebuilds, manufacturers instead, switch the faulty transmissions for previously rebuilt ones.   Furthermore, in May 2002, Mazda issued a Technical Service Bulletin #05-00502 (TSB) regarding the automatic transmissions of all 626 models manufactured during 1998-2000.   The bulletin details the manufacturing problem, and outlines the procedure used to compensate for the issue: by installing an external cooling kit to keep the transmission from overheating.  The cost of the kit, approximately $300, is relatively inexpensive.  But depending upon the added labor costs, repairs of this nature could easily reach $800 or more.  What has frustrated 626 drivers the most is Mazda’s awareness of the transmission’s tendency to fail.  The car’s driving manual makes no mention of this issue, and does not even address when to change the transmission fluid.  Moreover, many consumers were never advised of the Technical Service Bulletin, even as Mazda 626 complaints began to rise. 

Apparently, there were too few official complaints to Mazda North American Operations, for the company to initiate any other service programs.   Though Mazda no longer produces the 626 model, anyone searching for a used car should be aware of this vehicle’s manufacturing history.   For those considering purchasing a Mazda 626 (or any car for that matter), it is strongly advised that you have the car thoroughly inspected by a licensed mechanic.   Those who already own this model should contact Mazda North American Operations (MNAO) with any questions or concerns, at 1-800-222-5500. 

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