Three problems related to power train have been reported for the 2002 Mazda 626. The most recently reported issues are listed below. Please also check out the statistics and reliability analysis of the 2002 Mazda 626 based on all problems reported for the 2002 626.
Transmission jerks-hard kicking from first to second gear automatic transmision/defective transmision on this model no matter what I do to try to fix the problem. (fluid filter speed sensor etc)still has the same problem. . . This problem is well known on all the Mazda vehicles with this type of transmission.
Tamara recall.
Had transmission replaced in 2010 after hard shifting and skipping gears, same problem again started in September 2012. Should not be replacing a transmission every two years.