P1744 on Mazda

Torque converter clutch slipping or not working as expected (Ford, Lincoln, Mercury, Mazda)

Severity: Inspect soon

The lock-up clutch is a monitored transmission output, and a code reference rates P1744 as severe because slipping can damage the transmission.

It gets more serious if:

Not verified: The O/D OFF light blinks, the transmission slips, or it goes into limp-home mode. A Mazda owner reported slipping while passing, but we found no source saying whether you must stop

Source: how we rate severity

This page covers only what differs on Mazda. For what P1744 means, the ranked causes and the test order, see the P1744 guide.

What's different on Mazda

Mazda

1996–1997 · 626
Supported by vehicle data
Owners report Mazda dealers reading P1744 with P0741 on transmissions that later slipped or failed; the O/D OFF light blinked in one case.

Sources and review

NHTSA complaint ODI 738516: 1996 Mazda 626 dealer code readout — NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation
NHTSA complaint ODI 751990: 1997 Mazda 626 dealer code readout — NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation
Cal. Code Regs. Tit. 13, § 1968.2 — Malfunction and Diagnostic System Requirements (OBD II) — California Air Resources Board (via Cornell LII)
P1744 OBD-II Trouble Code: Torque Converter Clutch System Performance — Kelley Blue Book

Last reviewed: October 15, 2026
Written by: Saurabh K.
Editorial review: Pending
Technician review: Technician review pending

This page explains what a code usually means; it is not a substitute for a professional inspection. How we source and review · Report an error