2002 Mazda MPV: harsh or hard shifting

6 of the 124 complaints about the 2002 Mazda MPV describe harsh or hard shifting.

owner complaints: 6
of this car's complaints: 5%
typical mileage: 51,000
recalls: 0

Is there a fix? 8 service bulletins cover this area of the car. See below

Harsh or hard shifting by model year

2003
10
2002
6

What owners say

Filed Feb 8, 2010 · Transmission · 111,000 miles · TN

Transmission failed in my 2002 mazda mpv at 111k miles. After reading several stories online that sound identical to mine, I felt compelled to file a complaint. I was travelling on a major interstate with 5 cubscouts and the transmission completely failed, leaving us stranded on the side of the road. Transmission gave no warning that it was about to fail, other than a few rough shifts from time to time. Mechanic checked fluid levels and pressure of transmission and all checked out okay after incident. This was not driver or maintenance error. The transmission will not engage at all in drive, low gears or reverse.

Filed Apr 6, 2008 · Transmission · 76,776 miles · VA

O/d light flashing and harsh shift. My family and I was planning to take a trip to williamsburg va, and when I start the van, I discovered the o/d (over drive) light is flashing and harsh shifts. I took the van to amoco and ask to check my transmission. The service tech told me everything is normal, however we noticed your gears are not shifting smoothly. They could get any code of what causing. I left their shop and stopped by cottman transmission. They also scanned and couldn't get any code; they also test drive the van and also noticed same thing that amoco has told me. The tech has asked me to take to the dealer and give this bulletin # 05-001/04 (harsh shifts - reflash PCM). I dropped the car to the dealer over night and mention what have happened and also mentioned the bulletin number. I have received a call the following morning from the dealer service department. The service adviser has told me that I need a new transmission and when I ask how much, he said it will cost to you about $3200. This shocked me and decided to do some research. I found out this has happened to thousand of mpv 2002 owners, which one forum has suggested that I should file a complain here.

Filed Aug 10, 2005 · Transmission · 51,000 miles · CA

The vehicle began to have a hard time shifting gears. The rough shifting began very intermittently at about 45,000 miles. At 51,000 the shifting was so hard that the tires actually screeched when the van shifted gears. Problem caused by defective solenoids. 2 of the 8 solenoids plus the torque converter had to be replaced to fix the transmission. Dealership would not cover the cost of the repair since we did not get the van to the service department prior the 50,000 mile mark. The torque was available as 'rebuilt".

Filed Nov 13, 2004 · Transmission · 38,500 miles · CO

Shifting was "clunky" since we bought the car in march of 2002. Had dealer look at problem in oct 2004 and they "reflashed" (rewrote the computer code) on the TCM: transmission control module. This seemed to help for a day, then the abrupt shifting returned. On nov 10, 2004, the transmission failed completely, unable to go into gear at all. I was traveling at 55 MPH on a highway, it shifted out of gear, and would not go back in. I was left without power to the wheels in the middle of the road. Dealership replacing transmission under waarranty.

Filed Mar 25, 2004 · Transmission · FL

I bought a mazda 2002 mpv lx used with 9k miles on it. It has a transmission problem similar to those I have reviewed on your site, intermittent hard shifting between first and second in the automatic transmission. Took it to the dealer and they found a code reference an electrical adjustment. Supossedly fixed, not! Took it back and was told the 2002 mpv has hard shifting. So does my old police baton! I am taking it back and talking to the owner to get the trans fixed or replaced. If they will not do that then I will go to 3 reputable transmission repair stores and get it in writing and file a consumer fraud complaint with the state of fl. Can you look into this being that there are more than one transmission complaint listed and all are similar and we get brushed off?

Filed Dec 1, 2003 · Transmission · 8,000 miles · TX

I have had trouble with the mazda mpv transmission of my car since I purchased it in september of 2002. The transmission has intermittent rough shifts/jolts. The dealer has tried to make adjustments and also changed the transmission fluid at 20,000 miles (which I was charged for), but the problem continues. This is the worst-feeling automatic transmission I have ever felt, so I purchased an extended warranty because I do not believe that the transmission will last to 100,000 miles.