2002 Mazda Mpv

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.*AK

THE TRANSMISSION "BUCKS" WHEN SHIFTING OUT OF FIRST GEAR. THIS HAPPENS MAINLY AFTER ACCELERATING, LETTING YOUR FOOT OFF THE GAS, AND THEN RE-ACCELERATING. THE CAR HAS BEEN IN SEVERAL TIMES FOR THE SAME ISSUE, AND IT CONTINURES TO OCCUR. THE DEALERSHIP DOES NOT CONSIDER THIS A WARRANTY ISSUE, THOUGH WE HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE CAR SINCE WE THE 2ND WEEK WE OWNED THE VEHICLE. IT SHOULD BE NOTED THAT THERE HAVE BEEN A NUMBER OF TRANSMISSION "UPDATES" THAT THE VEHICLE HAS GONE THROUGH AS PART OF SERVICE. IN ADDITION THERE IS A SULFUR SMELL EMITTED BY THE EXHAUST SYSTEM. WE WERE TOLD TO CHANGE TO "GOOD GAS" WHICH WE DID AND WE CONTINUE TO HAVE THE SMELL. WE WERE THEN TOLD THAT MAZDA WOULD NOT LOOK AT THIS PROBLEM AGAIN UNTIL THE VEHICLE HAD 10K MILES ON.

GEAR SHIFT DETENT AT DRIVE IS TOO EASY TO MISS WHEN SHIFTING FROM PARK - LEVER SKIPS DRIVE AND GOES INTO HIGHER (LESS POWERFUL) GEAR. WHEN AT REST AND PULLING INTO TRAFFIC, THERE IS INSUFFICIENT POWER TO ACCELERATE AS EXPECTED, SO ONCOMING TRAFFIC GETS DANGEROUSLY CLOSE BEFORE YOU REALIZE THE GEAR SHIFT IS NOT IN DRIVE. NEED WARNING THAT CAR IS NOT IN LOWEST GEAR WHEN SHIFTING FROM PARK OR REVERSE. *NLM

THIS IS ABOUT A POTENTIAL SAFETY HAZARD AND A COUPLE OF NEAR ACCIDENTS. I LOVE EVERYTHING ABOUT MY NEW MPV EXCEPT FOR THE INCREDIBLY POORLY DESIGNED STEERING COLUMN MOUNTED SHIFTER. IT IS UNNECESSARILY LONG AND INTERFERES WITH ACCESS TO AND VIEW OF THE CLIMATE AND AUDIO CONTROLS. I HAVE KNOCKED IT OUT OF GEAR MORE THAN ONCE (INCLUDING ONCE WHEN I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE STEEP DOWNHILL GRADE OF THE I-5 GRAPEVINE) REACHING TO TURN ON OR OFF THE RADIO, AND I HOPPED A SHOULDER ONCE ON THE FREEWAY WHEN TRYING TO LOOK AROUND IT TO FIND THE A/C BUTTON. MY HUSBAND ALSO KNOCKED THE SHIFTER INTO NEUTRAL WHEN REACHING TO TURN THE RADIO ON. THE PROBLEM IS THE BRACE ON MY RIGHT WRIST, WHICH I WEAR WHEN DRIVING DUE TO A RECENTLY BROKEN/SEVERELY SPRAINED WRIST . *JB I ASKED THE DEALER'S SERVICE MANAGER IF THEY COULD REPLACE, SHORTEN OR BEND THE HANDLE AND HE REFUSED. (MY HUSBAND WOULD EVEN TRY TO BEND THE HANDLE, BUT WE'RE CONCERNED ABOUT DAMAGING THE SHIFTER AND/OR VOIDING THE WARRANTY) I HAVE SERIOUS CONCERNS ABOUT THE POTENTIAL FOR ACCIDENTS POSED BY THIS POORLY THOUGHT OUT LEVER (THE ONLY BAD DESIGN ON THIS WONDERFUL VAN). I HOPE THAT YOU CAN CONVINCE MAZDA TO CORRECT IT.