Automatic Transmission Cooler problems of the 1997 Mazda 626

My wife and I own a 1997 Mazda 626. In 2006, seemingly out of nowhere, the transmission started shifting rough. I checked fluid levels but they were fine. Then while driving on the interstate one morning, my o/d kicked off (with warning light) and the entire drive home was extremely rough. Brought the car to a reputable local transmission shop and as soon as I told them what kind of car I had, they knew right away what the problem was. I ended up paying $2000 to have a new transmission installed due to the extent of damage in the original. Seems to me that if all of the transmission shops and (as I found out later) owner forums know about the problems with these transmissions, Mazda/Ford probably knows as well. It's irresponsible to know that a $50 repair could correct the problem but they do nothing to even inform their buyers of the problems. $50 would have been a lot easier to come up with than $2000. Summed transmission overheated due to insufficient cooling causing severe transmission failure. Transmission had to be completely replaced.

O/d light flashing, automatic transmission overheating, very hard shifting when in o/d on mode for more than 20 minutes at highway speeds.

I was driving my 1997 Mazda 626 when all of a sudden, the transmission started shifting hard and acting weird. This was the car's 2nd transmission it had replaced. I fixed the problem by buying a new radiator and an auxiliary cooler because the transmission had overheated.

1) normal daily use (20) miles to from work on highway roads 2) transmission won't work 3) complete transmission removal and rebuild required. I can't believe the amount of information and complaints all over the internet on this Mazda/Ford transmission problem. I also can't believe this government office has still not acted on it. Surely doesn't appear to be our tax dollars working for the tax payers here. There is a long history of worn out transmissions caused by faulty cooling design on this combined used Mazda/Ford transmissions model la4a-el. Mine is installed in a 1997 Mazda 626 4 cylinder. Will this agency please acknowledge all these complaints. This is costing hard working people a lot of money to replace these transmissions.

I have had nothing but trouble with my 1997 Mazda 626 since I got it on February 14, 2003. The rpm's shoot up and down all the time and the oc sensor is bad and now the transmission is going out already. I only have 80,000 miles on my vehicle and see no reason as to why all of these problems have occured. I have had it in the shop 4 times since I got it a little over aa year ago. I really like the new Mazda 6's that are out but am real reluctant on buying a new one due to the fact that I have had so many problems with the Mazda that I have now and parts are so expensive. I was told it was going to cost $750. 00 in order to fix the oc sensor, that is just crazy. Please help! I see all the complaints that on the transmission going out at low mileage, insane.

This complaint is regards to the automatic transmission (atx) on my 1997 Mazda 626, 2. 0l i4. The transmission is manufactured by Ford, model cd4e. Despite faithfully changing the fluid at recommended intervals, the transmission completely died and needed replacement at 105,000 miles. This transmission was forced on Mazda by Ford in all post 1993 4 cylinder models, and suffers major problems with heat and metal particles due to inadequate cooling and filtration systems. The filter is internal to the transmission and inaccessible (cannot be changed) requiring the fluid to be flushed. It is also woefully under cooled, with a simple pass through the engine radiator, and no external cooler. Models subsequent to 1999 has external coolers installed, so it seems that Mazda/Ford are acknowledging this problem. . Read more...

I have a 1997 Mazda 626 and with any warning the transmission has failed and the dealer is asking 2,400. 00 to fix it and I think it is wrong that they haven't came forth to tell anyone about the cooling system that is soppose to fix it.

I recently experienced problems with the transmission on my 1997 Mazda 626 after only 61,406 miles. Luckily I purchased an extended warranty at the time of the original purchase of the car. However, upon replacing my transmission with a "remanufactured" one I have again experienced transmission problems. It is obvious that there are some serious problems with the engineering of the transmissions that went into this model year car. I have read similar complaints on consumer complaint boards on the internet. What has exasperated this situation even more is when I brought my car in for repairs the dealership (actually two different ones) recommended that I purchase a transmission cooling kit for about $100. 00 as they stated that the transmission just couldn't take the heat of the deep south (I live in the new orleans area). This really irked me. I couldn't believe that these two dealerships were trying to get me to pay for this kit when it is obviously a problem with the engineering of the transmissions or associated electrical components. I called Mazda USA customer service and they said that they would not pay for this kit installation and they did not think it was at all needed. In other words there is no problem with transmission overheating even in the south according to Mazda motors north America. I would like to know how many other Mazda owners (especially those in the south) have been told by their dealerships that their transmission woes can be solved by purchase and installation of this cooling kit. I would hope that no one has been persuaded into purchasing one of these kits when its not their problem to pay for- it is the dealership's or Mazda motors responsibility to repair this problem!.

Od on/off light started to flash on highway, then speedometer and tachometer fell to 0, smoke went from the hood, and all transmission oil leaked away.

Transmission fluid leaking from vehicle. Tookehicle to dealer, and dealer indicated transmission was burning itself up.