NHTSA Complaint #10149997 — 1997 MAZDA 626

(SEE COMPLAINT # 10149676) AFTER HAVING THE RIGHT FRONT CV JOINT REPLACE JUST THE DAY BEFORE, TRANSMISSION FAILED AGAIN @ 72,650 MI. FROM A COLD START, THE CAR WAS ALLOWED TO WARM UP BEFORE BEING PUT INTO DRIVE (APPROX 5 MIN.) THE CAR WAS DRIVEN APPROXIMATELY 1/4 MILE IN 30 MPH STOP AND GO TRAFFIC WHEN, AFTER A COMPLETE STOP, THE CAR SUDDENLY ACTED LIKE IT WAS IN NEUTRAL. EVEN THOUGH THE GEAR SHIFT WAS STILL IN DRIVE. THE SAME THING WHEN PUT INTO REVERSE GEAR. I MANAGED TO GET THE CAR TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND TURNED OFF THE IGNITION. FIVE MINUTES LATER I RESTARTED THE ENGINE, PUT THE GEAR SHIFT IN DRIVE, AND VOILA! I'M MOVING AGAIN. ANOTHER 500 FEET FURTHER DOWN THE ROAD? THE SAME THING. STANDING THERE IDLING WITH THE GEAR SHIFT IN DRIVE, NO REVERSE, NOTHING. HAD IT TOWED TO A TRANSMISSION SHOP. ESTIMATE: $1500.00 TO FIX THIS CD4E TRANSMISSION AGAIN. I HAVE DECIDED TO NOT HAVE THIS TRANSMISSION FIXED THIS TIME AND WILL TRADE THE CAR IN, AT A SUBSTANTIALLY LOWER VALUE (BECAUSE THE DEALERS ALL KNOW THE TRACK RECORD OF THIS CD4E GEM), FOR A HONDA ACCORD. WHICH I CONSIDERED BUYING INSTEAD OF THE MAZDA 626 BACK IN LATE JUNE OF 2000. MAZDA NORTH AMERICAN OPERATIONS, IN MY OPINION, SHOULD LIABLE FOR MONETARY REIMBURSEMENT TO THEIR CUSTOMERS FOR OUT-OF-POCKET EXPENSES, LOST TIME AND WAGES, AND AGGRAVATION ON THE BASIS THAT THEY HAVE BEEN FRAUDULENT. SIGNED, FORMER MAZDA CUSTOMER. *NM