Bulletins
| Bulletin | Bulletin date | Replacement Bulletin | Item no. | Summary | Added |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - BATTERY | |||||
| 0102504 | 07/21/2004 | 10009427 | Battery test procedure requirements. *tt | 09/29/2004 | |
| 001/97G | 04/08/1997 | 52503 | Maintenance free battery - diagnostic and charging procedure. *tw | 08/14/1997 | |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS | |||||
| 003/97G | 01/19/1997 | 15-070/88 | 52492 | Wiper motor inoperative - circuit breaker activation. *tw | 08/14/1997 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - WIRING | |||||
| 004/97T | 04/25/1997 | 52524 | Electrical connector and terminal replacement part availability. *tw | 08/14/1997 | |
Consumer Complaints
| Fail date | miles | occurences | Purchase date |
|---|---|---|---|
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | |||
| 09/01/2005 | 100970 | 5 | 11/12/2002 |
| Car cannot pass smog test - #10 test box does not exist. after spending $1300, it's been found repeated that 1997 car contains 1998 parts. #10 timing/ground doesn't exist on 1998 but no procedure to smog without it. all other systems passed. smog referee believes car was manufactured this way but possible dealership altered but they, of course, deny this and state they were able to smog car when they sold to us (since it is impossible to smog the car, it obviously was passed illegally by them). now we are out $1300 repairs, $12,000 for cost of car, $75 for registration that the state won't give us a sticker for, and no use of a car that sits on the street. only way to smog is to spend $2500 to replace all the parts to make it all 1997. car isn't even worth that on top of what was already spent. someone needs to come forward to take care of this mess. it's bad enough the car constantly stalls. (and yes, the motor light is always flashing. it doesn't mean anything, just a bezerk sensor-after paying $120 4-times to have it turned off, we just put masking tape over the annoying spot). *nm | |||
| 02/15/2005 | 46000 | 2 | 01/13/2001 |
| I have failed 2 times trying to type this letter of complaint. well,i have a 1997 mazda 626 lx 4 cylinder,2 liter engine sedan.,the engine light stays on all thew time now. first time i took it back to granger in garden city,ga and they sent it to fairway fordmazda in abercorn st in savannah,ga. they kept it about 6 weeks and the engine light stayed off about 2 years. then it started coming back on in february 2005,so i took it to a certified mechanic here in pooler,ga.he cleared the sensors,lasted about 1/2 day,toolk it back,he said it was number 2 sensor,replaced it,lasted about a day and now it stays on all the time. number 2 sensor was what it was the first time. i;m also expercing some jerky motion in this car and it could be the transmission. so i'm hoping that you will do something about these faulty problems with these cars,like recall them and repair them at no cost to the owners. lightstybee@aol.com. *ak | |||
| 12/16/2003 | 19000 | 1 | |
| After running the car for a short period (drove a few miles). upon turning off the ignition, a fire started from behind the steering column inside of the cab. my mother (87 years old) was driving this car and barely escaped before the entire car was engulfed in flames. the car is a total loss. this car had 19000 original miles and i was the only owner. the car never had been worked on for any electrical problem and was never in any accident. *la | |||
| 65000 | 2 | ||
| The vehicle experienced a problem with the headlight switch which was replaced a year ago. now the headlights and tail lights switch are inoperable. problem was due to broken wire connector inside of the switch.*jb *mr | |||
| 11/03/2003 | 66000 | 4 | 10/01/2000 |
| 1997 mazda 626 lx - transmission, catalytic converter, oxygen sensor, and computer have all been repaired in a span of 11 months. the car does not have 80,000 miles on it!*ak | |||
| 02/29/2000 | 5 | 03/01/1999 | |
| Consumer states vehicle has stalled numerous times, 2 times due to spillage from a cup that's in the cup holder, dealer installed a cover to protect pcm, vehicle has also stalled 3 other times with no explanation, possibly an electical problem, however check engine light was also illuminated, stalling could also be related to engine problem. *slc | |||
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR | |||
| 02/23/1998 | 5 | 05/01/1997 | |
| Fuel injection malfunctioned, causing car to stall. when starting up, wouldn't turn over , would open gas tank then car would start sometimes. put in shop took 30days to get part then within the same year. the alternator failed now within a year. the same problem is arising. it been in the shop 5 times since i purchased the vehicle a little over 2 years ago. *ak | |||
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - BATTERY | |||
| 11/15/2003 | 0 | ||
| In addition to smelling gas - the radio and antenna doesn't work. now the sunroof won't close all the way. the check engine light comes on more often than not since i had the car. the key sometimes won't fit into door lock and even though the car looks brand new and has been well taken care off - it just seems to fall apart. the glove compartment lock fell apart but the biggest thing is the sunroof won't close all the way. this is my 3rd mazda and i will never buy another one. | |||
| 08/15/2000 | 4 | 11/01/1996 | |
| The transmission went out in sept. of 2000. the car has been servised by university mazda front brakes wearing engine light , battery and shift console problems. the car is a lemon.*ak( dot number: ) | |||
| 04/01/1998 | 5 | 10/20/1997 | |
| Battery failed 5 times. | |||
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - BATTERY - CABLES | |||
| 04/02/2002 | |||
| Battery cable clamps are too loose for the battery pole | |||
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - IGNITION | |||
| 08/01/1998 | |||
| Dealer refused to look at it as a warranty repair and advised me to take it back to other mazda deale where new transmission was installed and car was diagnosed for other ignition related problems. *ak | |||
| 11/23/1998 | 1 | 10/01/1997 | |
| Difficulty starting vehicle due to faulty spark plug wires. | |||
| 02/19/1998 | 07/05/1997 | ||
| Vehicle started on own, with no key in ignition, shut down then started again. vehicle then began smoking under hood and from wheel hubs. | |||
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - IGNITION - MODULE | |||
| 02/01/1998 | 4 | 02/01/1997 | |
| O/d off light began blinking after 30 min of driving, dealership replaced cpu, next week same problem--when blinking begins the car jerks from 1st to 2nd gear and resets after car turned off--after several times it begins driving rougher and rougher in 1st and 2nd gear. *ak( dot number: ) | |||
| 1 | |||
| The electrical module failed (computer) causing the vehicle to shut down, was told by the dealer that this would not be cover under warrenty because something had spilled into it. consumer believes this happened by design since the module is located immediatly forward and below the cup holder making it possible for things to spill into this location. nlm | |||
| 05/01/2000 | 0 | 05/01/1988 | |
| Vehicle was in repair shop. computer chip and sensor had to be replaced. also, overdrive light kept blinking, and transmission malfunctioned and has to be rebuilt. *ak *ml | |||
| 03/27/2000 | 2 | 11/01/1997 | |
| This car has been in the shop five times for the same symptoms, the car runs very rough, stalls, no acceleration etc. in november, 1998 (25,657 miles), jim ellis mazda in atlanta diagnosed the problem as being a defective powertrain control module. this part was replaced under warranty. at 63,000 miles, the power train control module goes bad again. however, this time, the dealer service representative as well as the mazda representative stated that the reason the part was bad was due to me spilling a drink on it and thus breaking it. it should be noted that the part has an 80,000 mile warranty, which becomes and void if the part is damaged through owner negligence. to my astonishment, the service representative told me that the power train control module is located directly under the drink holder near the gear shift. the unprotected location of this critical part under a drink holder is exceeding hazardous to human life because when the power train control module breaks down, the car does not run. locating this critical electonic part under a drink holder is extremely dangerous and in my opinion requires an investigation by the nhtsa. imagine if some of my grandchilden spilled a drink on the interstate? it should be noted that the mazda representives acknowledged to me that this is a design flaw, but, in my case, since i spilled a drink on the control module, it invalidated the warranty. however, they were gracious enough to release my car to me by me paying 1/2 of the repair costs as a gesture of goodwill. since a representative with mazda acknolwedged that this is a design flaw, i would have to assume that other people have complained about it and that mazda is aware of the problem. please take this matter seriously and investigate this complaint. the car barely runs with a defective power train control module. with this part being so easily susceptible to drink damage, this is a disaster waiting to happen. *ak | |||
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - STARTER ASSEMBLY | |||
| 02/19/1998 | 1 | 07/05/1997 | |
| Starter failed resulting in the vehicle starting to crank without a key in the ignition followed by smoke bellowing from the engine and around the wheel wells. | |||
| 04/04/1998 | |||
| Vehicle takes too long to start,and one can hear the starter kicking or striking for about 20 seconds. but when turned on again, engine starts right away. | |||
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - WIRING | |||
| 12/01/2004 | 10 | ||
| Car rpm's are high on start, car idles rough, over drive light blinks, car is very dangerous and when od light blinks car cannot change gears correctly and makes it dangerous on turns. had close calls almost being hit, as transmission and engine does not work properly. i have had to change all spark plugs and wires, had a rebuilt engine out in as old one was destroyed due to a spring in the timing belt breaking. new 02 sensors, and maf. current issues are with the od light blinking and causing the car to hesitate and stall. turning car off and on seems to fix it for a while, then problem happens again after a few hours. seems to be a computer problem or something, also there is a whining noise when rpm's are over 4000. this car is a lemon and i have read how mazda refuses to admit the transmission problems they have. *jb | |||
| 10/24/1999 | |||
| Was driving at 55mph when the interior system went out, eg., instrument panel/dome lights. another driver indicated no tail lights on vehicle. the headlights were working. checked the manual, all are connected to one fuse, but the fuse did not blow. took to dealer & mechanic noticed fuse which was not blown. indicated it was electrical system. wiring. *ak | |||
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - WIRING - FRONT UNDERHOOD | |||
| 04/30/2004 | 100313 | 1 | 08/09/2003 |
| Car traveling at 70mph. car unexplainably accelerates and then moderate pop heard under hood. debris noticed falling from car. car is brought to stop on shoulder. smoke eminating from under hood. latch of hood is released to investigate when flames erupt. engine is on fire. electric cooling fan was melted and destroyed. damage to radiator and surrounding components and wiring as well as hood, chassis, and trim paint damage.*ak | |||
| 07/15/1998 | 99 | 03/01/1997 | |
| No summary listed for this vehicle. *ak | |||