NHTSA Complaint #10162479 — 1996 MAZDA 626

I BROUGHT MY 1996 MAZDA 626 INTO HOEHN MAZDA OF CARLSBAD, CA FOR A SPECIFIC CODE (P0441-EVAP EMISSIONS CONTROL-INCORRECT PURGE FLOW). THE DEALERSHIP MECHANIC PULLED A CODE OF P0741- SLIPPING TORQUE CONVERTER. THEY SAID I WOULD NEED A TRANSMISSION REPLACEMENT (WHICH WOULD BE THE THIRD OR FOURTH FOR THIS VEHICLE). I STATED THAT MAY BE A PROBLEM SINCE THE OVERDRIVE LIGHT HAD BEEN BLINKING AND ALSO STATED THAT THERE WAS A SERVICE BULLETIN ON THESE PARTICULAR TRANSMISSIONS. SOON AFTER I CHECKED MY CAR'S VIN NUMBER ON CARFAX AND NOTICED A NOTE PLACED BY MAZDA THAT THIS CAR HAD NO RECALLS ON IT. HOEHN MAZDA TOLD ME THAT THIS WAS A GOOD THING AS IT MEANT THAT MY PARTICULAR TYPE CAR WAS OK. I INTERPRETED IT TO MEAN THAT THIS WAS A WARNING TO DEALERSHIPS NOT TO DO ANY "FREE WORK" ON MY MAZDA. THESE FORD TRANSMISSIONS (CD4E) REALLY DO NEED A RECALL. I BELIEVE THE FIX IS A BETTER PUMP (SONNAX) AND HAVE SEEN MANY, MANY COMPLAINTS REGARDING THIS PARTICULAR TRANSMISSION OVER THE YEARS. I JUST WANT TO ADD MY OWN COMPLAINT AND DISSATISFACTION WITH THIS PARTICULAR DEALERSHIPS TREATMENT OF A CUSTOMER. THEY NEVER DIAGNOSED THE ORIGINAL P0441 COMPLAINT AND CHARGED ME $88 FOR THE ADVICE ON REPLACING MY TRANSMISSION. HOW WAS THIS TRANSMISSION TREATED? FLUID CHANGE ANNUALLY OR EVEN MORE OFTEN; DRIVEN EXTREMELY GENTLY, AND FAILED LIKE CLOCKWORK. *JB