NHTSA Complaint #10070864 — 1998 MAZDA 626

MY 1998 MAZDA 626 4CL 2.0 ENGINE HAS APPROX. 71K MILES ON IT. THE TRANSMISSION STARTING HAVING PROBLEMS IN AUGUST 2003, AT WHICH POINT WE HAD THE TRANSMISSION FLUID FLUSHED,& THE SPARK PLUGS CHANGED. THE MECHANIC TOLD US TO DRIVE IT A LITTLE WHILE AND LET THE CONDITIONERS TAKE EFFECT, BUT THE CAR SHOWS NO DIFFERENCE IN DRIVING. THE O/D LIGHT FLASHES NOW ON OCCASION, AND THE RPM GOES UP TO 4 OR 5 BEFORE IT SHIFTS TO A HIGHER GEAR. WE ARE NOT DRIVING IT NOW..ITS BEEN SITTING IN OUR DRIVEWAY FOR A WEEK & A HALF. I CALLED THE MAZDA DEALERSHIP AND BEFORE SEEING THE CAR THEY SAID IT NEEDED A NEW TRANSMISSION. I HAVE A EXTENDED WARRANTY THATS GOOD THRU 90K, BUT THEY MAY OR MAY NOT HONOR IT, I CAN'T AFFORD TO TAKE THE CHANCE IF THE WARRANTY COMPANY DOSENT REIMBURSE ME. THIS IS OUR ONLY CAR, AND I STILL HAVE 2 YEARS OF PAYMENTS LEFT. AFTER READING 56 PAGES OF COMMENTS ON-LINE WITH PEOPLE EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM, I HAVE NO FAITH THAT A NEW TRANNY WOULD EVEN SOLVE THE PROBLEM...IT LOOKS AS THOUGH EVEN WITH A REBUILT ONE THEY GO OUT RIGHT AFTER THE REBUILT WARRANTY. I HAVE NOT SEEN A CARFAX ON MY CAR, BUT I WOULD NOT BE SURPRISED IF THIS WASN'T THE FIRST TRANSMISSION. WE CAN NOT AFFORD TO BUY A NEW CAR WITHOUT SELLING THIS ONE, BUT HOW CAN I SELL A CAR THAT DOSEN'T RUN, ESPECIALLY WHEN I STILL OWE MONEY ON IT.