Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (automatic and manual transmissions, CVT, axles, driveshaft, 4WD/AWD).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2001 Mazda 626 owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
I purchased a 2001 Mazda 626 in July of 2002 and have had extensive problems with the tires on the car. I've had to change usually two tires at a time every six months. As of today along with problems with the tires my transmission blew out and I'm being quoted $3,300 to replace it. This shouldn't be happening on any car that is only four years old. It has 72,000 miles on it. I've researched this problem and have come across 200 other individuals that have had this same problem with the transmission. Some of them with brand new Mazda's and some of them with the same car that is older than mine. It's amazing to me that Mazda can get away with selling this car for so long with this same problem. I have three children that are in the car with me daily and I almost had an accident when the car died on me in the middle of a busy road. …
I have a 2001 Mazda 626 that had a transmission failure at less than 60K miles. My problems began when I started noticing a jerking motion when I accelerated out of a full stop. Then, the transmission would sometimes delay engaging in reverse or drive. I had multiple mechanics look at the car, all of whom recommended a replacement transmission. I spoke with even more mechanics about the situation, including three at Mazda dealerships, and all fully and openly acknowledged widespread problems with Mazda transmissions. One service manager at a Mazda dealership recommended I get rid of the car altogether. Another independent mechanic, a transmission specialist, refused to work on mazdas at all. To add insult to injury, Mazda is also charging exorbitant prices for replacement transmissions (perhaps because they're in such demand?): just under $3000 for the part itself, not to mention labor. …
Faulty/defective transmissions are being used in Mazda vehicles well after the manufacturer knew about the issue. There are literally hundreds, if not thousands of individuals and companies who have had their transmissions go out...many with well under 60K miles. And, many have been through several transmissions before 100K miles. All of the problem vehicles share the same symptoms: od light flashing off and on, and transmission slipping in and out of gear, as the transmission burns up, literally from poor design and implementation which doesn't allow for proper air flow and cooling. This problem is widely acknowledged by the manufacturer, car owners, dealers, service centers, and other automotive professionals. Proof of this fact was a notice sent out to dealers that there is a cooling kit "available" for this transmission that should aid in keeping the transmission cool. …
A year ago the shifter cable on my 2001 Mazda 626 broke (car under warranty at the time). I telephoned the local dealer and the cable was on backorder indicating many others were having the same problem a local mechanic put a bushing where the cable was attached to the shifter arm at transmission to replace the failed part. That worked fine until yesterday (8-6-04). I put the car in reverse to exit a parking lot and could not shift into drive. At present, a cable tie is on the cable to hold it in place. I telephoned the dealer again this morning, he said Mazda is aware of the problem and the dealer has also talked to Mazda but has not issued a recall. The cable is now available now that our warranty has expired. This is a safety issue. The first failure, we had our grandson in his safety seat, our car cranked, backed into the street, stopped and would not shift. …
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. …
After two hours of highway driving, my 2001 Mazda 626 o/d off light began flashing, as my transmission fluid over-heated. I checked the transmission fluid level, which was OK. My engine oil level was 2 qts. Low. This did not make any sense since I had just had my oil changed two weeks prior and checked the oil level after the work was completed. I called the Mazda dealership and was told to bring the car in to have it evaluated. The car registered a p1783 code during diagnostic testing. I was told that there was a service bulletin recommending that an atf cooling kit be installed to reduce the atf temperature, preventing over-heating. The service manager recommended that I not have the atf cooling kit installed at a cost of $1,100 since my transmission May possibly fail within a few months. …
I own a 2001 Mazda 626. While the car is 9 years old, it has only 72,000 miles on it. The problem I've had with it is that the shifter cable keeps failing on it. This is a very dangerous and potentially fatal thing that keeps happening. It has failed 3 times in the past 4 years (2006-2010) and seems to be happening every 20K-30K miles. The last time was less than a month ago and just over a year since the last failure. Each time, the warranty period has expired, so I'm having to pay hundreds of dollars out of pocket to get this replaced. I've had it done at 3 different places, including a Mazda dealership. There is obviously a serious defect in the shifter cable parts/design, but, to my knowledge, Mazda has yet to acknowledge it. I've contacted them to no avail. Most people, myself included, have cars for years and years and with a lot more mileage, and the shifter cable never goes out. …
I bought a Mazda 626 2001 in October 2005. In January of 2006 (4 months later) the transmission blew up. Tranny fluid was every where and there was a hole in the tranny it's self, I was stranded. Thankfully I purchased the extended warranty, and the factory warranty covered the cost. Again. Less than a month and a half, I have the same problem. I took it back to the transmission shop and they told me that if was a 'wear and tear" problem. I then took it to the original dealer and the informed me that it was the transmission mounts that caused it to slip. The dealer again sent it to their contractor...the same ones that 'fixed' it before. Needless to say I have come to my ends trying to fix my car. I rely on my car for transportation to get not only myself to work, but also my nephew to daycare, and my mother to work. …
My 2001 Mazda 626 4 cyl had low power from the beginning. When it reached about 52000 miles I noticed that it was shifting slowly. At about 53000 the overdrive light began flashing and within a week or so the car would not go in reverse and was very difficult to start moving after a stop. I called harold Mazda and they told me I needed a new transmission which they put in for a mere $3800 as it was 3013 miles over the 50000 mi warantee period.. At the time I asked them if there was a reason it failed and they told me no there were no problems with the Mazda 626. They also told me there was nothing I could do to reduce the likelyhood of it's happening again - they did not mention the cooling unit I have read about. Now my Mazda 626 is again shifting slowly and I afraid it will happen again. There is only 67000 miles on it now but the new transmission is out of it's 1 yr warantee period. …
My name is [redacted]. I have a 2001 Mazda 626 lx. 4 cyl. With only 97,000 miles on it the transmission has gone bad. When I put my car into drive gear the car would not move only the rpms would rev up. The car drives in 1st and 2nd gear and reverse but not in drive. After taking to the transmission shop it is costing me $2000 to have the transmission rebuilt. This is ridiculous that so many people have filed a compliant against this car for transmission problem and the car manufacturer is not doing anything for their consumers. Why don't they have a recall for this car?? Doesn't Mazda want to sell more cars in the future? I will never buy another Mazda and will discourage anyone I know from buying it. Is this transmission even worth rebuilding? I am scared that this issue will happen again. Is Mazda even reimbursing any cost for this repair? Does anyone know?
Transmission complaints in other 626 years
Frequently asked questions
How common are transmission problems on the 2001 Mazda 626?
NHTSA has 139 complaints about the transmission & drivetrain of the 2001 Mazda 626, 74% of the model year's 188 complaints. The component named most often is automatic transmission (126 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2001 Mazda 626 transmission problems?
No. NHTSA lists no transmission & drivetrain recall for the 2001 Mazda 626. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2001 Mazda 626 transmission problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 80,000 miles, and 6% before 25,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.