NHTSA Complaint #10199750 — 1999 MAZDA 626

OUR MAZDA 626 1999 WAS WELL MAINTAINED. AT 72,134 MILES I TOOK IT TO A TRANSMISSION PLACE FOR A TRANSMISSION FLUSH. I DROVE HOME FOR 5 MILES AND IN THE EVENING ON THE FREEWAY. THE MAZDA NOW FELT A BIT JERKY AT 55-60 MPH. (I NEVER NOTICED THAT BEFORE.) AFTER 23 MILES THE MAZDA SUDDENLY LOST POWER AND STOPPED. I WAS LUCKY TO GET TO THE SIDE OF THE FREEWAY WITHOUT ACCIDENT. I WAS STRANDED ON THE FREEWAY IN DARKNESS AND HEAVY TRAFFIC FOR 1 1/2 HOURS. SCARY!!!! THERE WAS A LONG TRAIL OF TRANSMISSION FLUID BEHIND THE CAR, A PUDDLE UNDER THE CAR, ALSO UNDER THE HOOD AND ALONG THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOORS. THE TOWING SERVICE NOTICED A DISCONNECTED TRANSMISSION HOSE UNDER THE HOOD. I WAS TOWED HOME AND THE NEXT MORNING TO THE MAZDA DEALER. THEY SAY I NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION FOR $3225. THE DEALER SAYS THE 30A EGI INJ FUSE IS BURNT. FLUID LEVEL OF TRANS WAS AT LEAST 3 QTS OVER FULL, WAS DARK BROWN AND HAD SEVERE BURNT SMELL. FLUID APPEARS TO HAVE LEAKED OUT OF COOLER LINE AND VALVE BODY PAN DUE TO HIGH PRESSURE. (I NEVER SAW A LEAK ON OUR GARAGE FLOOR.) TRANSMISSION IS STUCK IN REVERSE. (I DON'T KNOW HOW IT GOT INTO REVERSE FROM MY DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY???) THIS IS COSTING US BIG BUCKS AND AGGRAVATION: NEW TRANSMISSION, THREE TIMES TOWING CHARGES, DIAGNOSTIC BY DEALER, TRANSMISSION FLUSH, RENTAL CAR, LOSS OF WORK... AND NO GUARANTEE THAT THINGS WILL BE MADE GOOD! AFTER READING ALL THE COMPLAINTS ABOUT BAD MAZDA TRANSMISSIONS, I AM NOT SURE WHETHER THE FAULT HERE LIES IN A BAD PRODUCT (TRANSMISSION) OR BAD WORKMANSHIP WITH THE TRANSMISSION FLUSH. NOW THE MAZDA IS BACK AT THE TRANSMISSION SERVICE PLACE THAT ORIGINALLY DID THE TRANSMISSION FLUSH, IN HOPES THAT THEY WILL MAKE GOOD. I COULD HAVE BEEN ROAD KILL! CAN SOMEBODY INVESTIGATE AND HELP? *JB