NHTSA Complaint #10226699 — 2000 MAZDA 626

2000 MAZDA 626 EXPERIENCED TRANSMISSION FAILURE AROUND 70,000 MILES. WHILE DRIVING ON VACATION I NOTICED SOME OIL ON THE TRUNK AFTER ARRIVING AT OUR DESTINATION. BEFORE DEPARTING I HAD THE CAR CHECKED AT A LUBE AND TUNE CENTER. WAS INFORMED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FLUID WAS LEAKING AND THE LIKELY CAUSE WAS A LOOSE DRAIN PLUG. PLUG WAS TIGHTENED AND FLUID WAS TOPPED OFF. ON THE TRIP HOME SMOKE WAS VISIBLE FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. OTHER DRIVERS BROUGHT THIS TO MY ATTENTION. AFTER PULLING OVER AND DISCUSSING THE MATTER WITH MY MECHANIC ON THE PHONE, I ELECTED TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED TO A TRANSMISSION REPAIR SHOP IN THE CLOSEST LARGE CITY. I WAS TOLD THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REBUILT. APPARENTLY THE SEAL BETWEEN THE TWO HALVES OF THE TRANSMISSION RUPTURED. A SMALL LEAK SUDDENLY GREW TO A LARGE LEAK ON THE TRIP AND RUINED THE TRANSMISSION. THE TECHNICIAN SAID THAT HE HAD BEEN SEEING 'MORE AND MORE' OF THIS PROBLEM WITH THESE TRANSMISSIONS. THE TOW WAS $500 AND THE REBUILD WAS $2500. TIME OFF WORK AND A RENTAL CAR FOR TWO WEEKS ALSO WERE NEEDED. *TR