Automatic Transmission Failure

• The failure of the automatic transmission--particularly in vehicles with the 2.0 L, 125-horsepower, inline four-cylinder engine--has been a major problem with later-model Mazda 626s. When that happens, the Overdrive indicator on the dashboard may flash.
  
  

Model Years Affected

• The automatic transmission failure is most common on three of the last five model-year entries for the Mazda 626: the 1998, 1999 and 2002 models. Other Mazda 626 model years have reported infrequent transmission problems with low repair costs.
  
  

Cost

• As of September 2010, the cost to get a remanufactured automatic transmission to replace the bad one in a Mazda 626 was approximately $1,722, with an additional $364 for labor charges.