NHTSA Complaint #10168541 — 1999 MAZDA 626

A 1999 MAZDA 626 WAS PURCHASED IN JUNE 2006 FROM CARMAX IN TAMPA, FL. WE TRADED IN OUR 2004 FORD EXPLORER FOR THIS 626 TO SAVE ON GAS. THE MAZDA HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP 4 TIMES FOR TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS, NONE OF WHICH HAVE BEEN CLEARLY EXPLAINED TO US; NOR ARE THEY EXPLAINED ON THE RECEIPTS. THE FIRST PROBLEM WE EXPERIENCED WAS AN OVERHEATED TRANSMISSION WHICH CAUSED IT TO GET STUCK IN SECOND GEAR. THE MAZDA DEALER RECOMMENDED A TRANSMISSION COOLER ONCE THE TRANSMISSION WAS DISSECTED TO BE SURE THERE WAS NO INTERNAL DAMAGE. CARMAX TOWED THE VEHICLE FROM THE DEALER AND HAD AAMCO DO THE REPAIR WORK. NEW PARTS WERE ORDERED THOUGH CARMAX SAID AAMCO DIDN'T KNOW WHAT WAS WRONG WITH THE CAR. UPON DRIVING MY 1 YEAR OLD SON HOME AFTER THIS FIRST REPAIR, THE TRANSMISSION BEGAN TO LEAK AND MAKE GRINDING SOUNDS, NONE OF WHICH DID IT DO BEFORE BEING REPAIRED MIND YOU. THE SECOND TIME WE SIMPLY EXPERIENCE THE STUCK IN GEAR ISSUE AGAIN, HOWEVER, THIS TIME BELTS WERE ALSO SQUEALING AND OUR FUEL EFFICIENCY HAS DROPPED. THE THIRD TIME SEEMED DO BE THE CHARM, OR SO WE THOUGHT. THIS MORNING DRIVING THE CAR TO WORK, WE EXPERIENCED THE SAME STUCK IN SECOND GEAR PROBLEM WE HAD ORIGINALLY! AFTER CALLING THE LOCAL STORE THEY SAID TO TAKE IT TO AAMCO. I NEVER DEALT WITH AAMCO BEFORE WHY SHOULD I TAKE IT THERE NOW. I ALSO CALLED THE CARMAX CORPORATE HELP LINE AND THEY SAID THEY WOULD CALL THE LOCAL STORE WE ORIGINALLY PURCHASED THE CAR FROM. I HAVE YET TO RECEIVE ANY PHONE CALLS OR GET THE SERVICE OR GUARANTEE THAT CARMAX PROMISED WHEN I PURCHASED THIS CAR. *NM