NHTSA Complaint #10201599 — 2002 MAZDA 626

THE CAR IS A 2002 MAZDA 626 WITH APPROXIMATELY 90K MILES. THE CAR WAS NOT IN A CRASH OR INCIDENT LEADING UP TO THE ISSUE. AUGUST 28, 2007-DRIVING ON I-5 ON THE WAY HOME FROM WORK THE O/D LIGHT BEGAN TO FLASH. I WAS APPROXIMATELY 1.5 MILES FROM HOME SO I CONTINUED ON. THE NEXT MORNING I STARTED THE CAR AND BACKED OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY. IT WOULD NOT GO INTO GEAR AT ALL. REVERSE WORKS JUST FINE. IT WAS TOWED TO THE MECHANIC AND WE HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THE TRANSMISSION IS COMPLETELY DEAD AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THE COST OF THIS IS GOING TO BE $1350 FOR A REBUILT/REMANUFACTURED TRANSMISSION AND LABOR ($650). THIS IS A TOTAL OF $2,000 NOT INCLUDING TAX. THERE WERE NO USED TRANSMISSIONS AVAILABLE AT THE TIME. BASED ON MY RESEARCH THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH MAZDA 626S AND THEY'VE ISSUED A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN # 05-005/02 DEALS WITH ONE SPECIFIC CIRCUMSTANCE: AFTER EXTENDED HIGHWAY DRIVING, THE O/D OFF LIGHT IS BLINKING AND CODE P1783 IS SET (EXCESSIVE ATF TEMPERATURE). THE TSB REQUIRES THAT A COOLING KIT BE INSTALLED DUE TO OVERHEATING WITHIN THE TRANSMISSION THE KIT IS INSTALLED AT THE COST OF THE OWNER WHICH IS APPROXIMATELY $1,236 (QUOTED BY SENATOR MAZDA). THE PROBLEM IS THAT THE CD4E WAS MEANT FOR THE FORD CONTOUR/MYSTIQUE WHICH IS MUCH LIGHTER THAN THE MAZDA 626. IN ADDITION, THE MANUAL DOESN'T MENTION ANY SERVICING REQUIREMENTS FOR THE TRANSMISSION NOR HAVE I BEEN CONTACTED AS MAZDA'S DUE DILIGENCE TO REACH OUT TO THEIR 626 OWNERS TO FIX THE PROBLEM AS A PEREMPTORY STRIKE. *JB