NHTSA — Power Train: Automatic Transmission Problems

2002 Mazda MPV (Page 2 of 3)

2.4

hardly worth mentioning
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
63,521 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2002 Mazda MPV transmission problems

transmission problem

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2002 Mazda MPV Owner Comments (Page 2 of 3)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #33

Feb 212008

MPV 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 83,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

We have 83000 miles on our vehicle. We have taken our vehicle in for the required check ups at 20K, 30K, ,for issues concerning air sensors. We had not received any caution by the dealer that we may have issues with any part dealing with the powertrain even after the dealer "26 point inspection" they always talk about. My family was driving from a doctor appointment, and the transmission started jerking in and out of gear. We called the dealer, and were informed that the car could have a transmission issue and not to drive it. Nobody was injured through the jerking motions of the car, but luckily, we were in our neighborhood when it happened. It was towed to our dealer for a diagnosis, and we were informed that it needed a new transmission.

- Midlothian, VA, USA

problem #32

Jan 122008

MPV 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 53,575 miles
Transmission failure, while 200 mi away from home, over $3,000 usd damage.

- Shelburne, VT, USA

problem #31

Dec 152007

MPV 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 79,600 miles
Vehicle has 79600 miles on it. I am the original owner and have maintained the car well. The transmission has completely failed and needs to be rebuilt to the tune of $3500. Mazda seems to be taking thier time getting in touch with me. They had denied that this is a cronic problem. This will be the last Mazda I will own if the Mazda usa cannot live up to the fact that the transmissions are faulty.

- Evansville, IN, USA

problem #30

Dec 092007

MPV 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 61,900 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The transmission in my 2002 Mazda MPV with 62,000 miles on the odometer, failed while driving in the carpool lane on the 405 freeway in orange county California. Fortunately I was able to pull the car over through 4 lanes of traffic to the shoulder. The failure occurred with no warning and no lights came on the dash. Had this happened in another situation it could pose a very serious safety threat.

- Redondo Beach, CA, USA

problem #29

Nov 022007

MPV 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 97,000 miles
Transmission in 2002 Mazda MPV failed on 19 in summersville wv. Van serviced at Mazda dealer and transmission fluid flushed at 88000. Failed at 97,000. Had to push off of highway. Extended warranty is only covering part of cost.

- Cary, NC, USA

problem #28

Oct 052007

MPV 5-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 60,000 miles
I was driving my 2002 MPV ES with 60,000 miles on it when it suddenly would not go into drive(auto trans). I tried putting it in 2 and 3 with the same results. I paid $780 a week ago at the dealership to replace coils 1, 2,3 and now this!

- Marietta, GA, USA

problem #27

Jun 292007

MPV 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 46,109 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The transmission was shifting rough so we had the car in to the dealership. The dealership flushed the transmission fluid and reprogrammed it. After the service the transmission started flaring and less than 100 miles later wouldn't shift to overdrive. I was on the freeway, so exited and at the second stop-light the car would not shift into gear at all. I had to push it off a 4-lane road and have it towed back to the dealership. The dealership reported the transmission had failed completely and required replacement.

- Bothell, WA, USA

problem #26

Aug 192007

MPV 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 54,000 miles
My family & I just experience the same catastrophic transmission failure as described in these entries. We have a 2002 MPV ES with 54,000 miles and were returning from a weekend gateway to coer D eleene id. Luckily we stopped at a state park to stretch when the transmission gave out, 130 miles from home. After arranging for our MPV to be towed to the nearest Mazda dealership I pondered what went wrong and if I overlooked something. I came up with the following items. I performed all the regularly scheduled maintenance. I believed I mentioned on two separate service visits that the vehicles RPM are running high before a gear shift occurred but I don't see these comments in the customer invoice. During our trip I did notice the shift flaring but only when going up moderate to steep hills. I'm also very disappointed with Mazda, I was expecting a much more reliable & dependable vehicle. I now question if I'll ever purchase a Mazda made vehicle again.

- Bellevue, WA, USA

problem #25

Nov 262006

MPV 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 39,167 miles
Complete and immediate failure of transmission on highway going 65 mph of 2002 Mazda MPV with 39167 miles followed by failure of failure of ignition coil. Mazda did offer to go in with half of the charge at $1624.27. Ignition coil was a $396.03 charge

- Naperville, IL, USA

problem #24

Aug 182007

MPV 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 65,000 miles
The transmission in my 2002 Mazda MPV failed. The minivan as less than 65000 miles. The transmission failed without warning and it's currently being repaired. The transmission failure left me and my wife and 2 children under the age of 8 in the middle of a 3 lane highway. Stranded, I needed a tow truck to get the car to the repair shop. I am the original owner of the minivan and it's incredible that an engine will fail so early.

- Schenectady, NY, USA

problem #23

Jul 282007

MPV 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 70,030 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

2002 Mazda MPV ES had a transmission failure without warning on interstate. We did make it to a exit ramp, but could not pull to side of road. With three children under the age of 8 was worried about there safety. Mazda has informed me that the internal pump in transmission goes without warning, striping out gears. My cost for a new transmission is $2800. Upon researching this I am finding that this is a common problem among MPV owners. First and foremost I am concerned about the safety of others when a catastrophic failure occurs without warning. Unable to move a vehicle on a busy highway or road is dangerous. Second I hypothesize that a defect may exist with the internal workings of the transmission in finding so many owners with this problem through Mazda clubs, and compliant websites.

- Gibsonia, PA, USA

problem #22

May 252007

MPV 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 54,000 miles
Driving along with my 2 1/2 year old daughter on the freeway in very fast and very busy traffic conditions the van suddenly and without warning lost all power transfer to the wheels. The red lines raced up into the red, but the van would not be propelled any further by engine power. I had to coast nearly a mile or more on shoulder less rush hour highway, all the while transitioned lanes to the first exit I could access, then as momentum decreased I had to step out of the car into extremely heavy traffic and push a further 30 yards to the first turn-off, drivers door open, baby screaming with 55 mile an hour traffic screeching and swerving around me and the blind corner I was hidden behind. The van has 54,000 miles on it and is well looked after may I add. Now Mazda says "not their problem" but look at all the other people on here with the exact same story! low mileage 2002 Mazda MPV drops transmission with no warning in busy traffic. Its a wonder no one has been killed or injured. I feel lucky for me and my daughter. They are now attempting to charge me with $4000 for a rebuilt transmission, 1/4 of what I paid for the car used 10 months ago. Yes the car is out of warranty, but every manufacturer worth their salt offers "good will" programs for things like this, not Mazda. Last Mazda I buy, not only is my most precious possession, my family, left in harms way but then they try to soak you afterwards. Don't buy a Mazda that's my advice. Why no recall by the way?

- Denver, CO, USA

problem #21

Dec 272006

MPV 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 57,900 miles
While driving on the freeway, the transmission began to not transfer power when automatically shifting out of overdrive when the accelerator was pressed. After getting off the freeway and coming through a busy intersection, the transmission failed completely (zero power transfer) nearly causing an accident in the intersection as the vehicle coasted to a stop. The "check engine light" did not illuminate until after the transmission had completely failed. The vehicle had only 57K miles on the odometer and all service had been done by the dealer up to that point. The vehicle was brought to the Mazda dealer and diagnosed as total transmission failure. The fault code was P0752, shift solenoid circuit stuck on. Despite the vehicle being past the 3 year/50K mile warranty period, Mazda offered to replace the transmission with a factory rebuilt unit. We were responsible for the labor costs and split those costs with the local dealer. Judging by the already large number of similar complaints registered on the NHTSA site, this is a known, common problem with these vehicles and an investigation into this transmission defect should be started.

- Goleta, CA, USA

problem #20

Apr 132007

MPV 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 74,000 miles
2002 MPV at about 7000 miles the transmission started to drop out suddenly. We drive a loton country roads and there is no shoulder to pull over on. We were very lucky not to get into an accident. This happend twice, then we took the van into the dealership. They could not find the problem, but changed the fluid. Driving home from the dealer, within 10 miles, the transmission started to slip again. At a stop light it failed completely, and we were unable to move. My wife was in the car with our two kids, stranded. Fortunately, I was about a mile ahead of her, and came back for her and the kids. The vechile ended up being towed back to the dealership, and they are now replacing the transmission.

- Burlington, WI, USA

problem #19

Mar 292007

MPV 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 64,000 miles
-the contact owns a 2002 Mazda MPV. While trying to accelerate into traffic the vehicle would not accelerate. The rpms raced to 5000, but the van wouldn't move forward at an accelerated speed. He stated that the vehicle decreased in speed, and the transmission disengaged and down shifted. He was able to accelerate a little after that for about a half mile, trying to keep up with traffic. The vehicle lost acceleration power again. Aamco informed him that it would cost $2,000 to have a diagnosis of the transmission. He then had the vehicle towed to rosenthal Mazda, who had the vehicle since 04/02/07. While the contact had the vehicle he always had problems with the transmission. He had the tcm module reprogrammed on three other occasions. He contacted the manufacturer and filed a complaint, and was given case# 112644580. The current and failure mileage were 64,000 miles.

- Fairfax, VA, USA

problem #18

Feb 102007

MPV

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
Transmission failure.

- West Valley, UT, USA

problem #17

Apr 032007

MPV 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 94,000 miles
Transmission failure after 5 documented trips to dealer about transmission problems: - car bought 2/2002. - 8/6/02-10,816 - hesitation from start. Wife complaining of poor driving characteristics. Dealer couldn't verify anything, even that the cel was on. - 2/21/03 - 21,065 - rough downshifting. Wife thought tranny was slipping and kicking in. Dealer flashed tranny per tsb on the 3-2 downshift known problem. - 8/27/03 - 26,235 - poor shifting. Dealer said shift solenoid sticking. Flashed tcm again. (not sure what they did to correct solenoid) - 11/19/04 - 41,979 - tranny & torque converter flushed after complaining of poor driving again. Note: - contacted Mazda corporate about the lack of transmission maintenance in owners manual. Mazda said there's no maintenance required! - 4/4/07 - 94, xxx - without warning, no accelerating, car simply stopped moving on the highway. Tranny was slipping bad and my wife was nearly killed pulling off the highway! fluid level was ok, color was ok, but it smelled burnt. Car required towing. It was diagnosed with total transmission failure. I called Mazda usa, who said the car is out of warranty and no assistance will be offered. I called the dealership where it was always serviced, and they said that they've never seen Mazda support a car out of warranty like this. I complained to both about how this was a documented problem from new. If I was smart, I would have filed a lemon law complaint and gotten a full refund back then, but they just kept insisting it was a tcm program. I never imagined that the tcm would be able to cause the tranny to physically fail. Also, the fact that these trannies have internal, non-serviceable filters is just poor design. Lastly, Honda has the same issue with their odessy, but they are covering the repairs in full! my friend had his tranny replaced at 88K miles! I'm exploring legal avenues of recourse.

- Melville, NY, USA

problem #16

Jan 142007

MPV 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 83,000 miles
At just over 80,000 miles the transmission on my MPV stopped shifting into higher gears. There was absolutely no warning except for a few times when the transmission seemed to feel like it was slipping, certainly no warning lights or messages showing it needed to be serviced.

- Grabill, IN, USA

problem #15

Dec 102006

MPV 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 68,000 miles
At 68,000 miles, the transmission on my Mazda MPV totally failed on a busy interstate highway outside of Chicago. It was towed in and needed a totally new transmission at a substantially high cost. The vehicle was 18 months out of its 3 year warranty. This is apparently a "known issue" for Mazda MPV transmissions. I will never purchase Mazda again.

- Chicago, IL, USA

problem #14

Jun 092006

MPV 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 82,000 miles
Like so many others. My transmission failed while driving on the freeway. Total transmission failure. Approximately 80000 miles.

- St Louis, MO, USA

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