Automatic Transmission Control Module problems of the 2002 Mazda MPV

The transmission on my 2002 Mazda Mpv failed with just 53,000 miles on it. I had noticed some problems shifting on hills and freeways. The repair man called it "flash shifting" when I took it in to be checked out. Dealer diagnosed the problem and performed a "reflash" of the transmission control module. 3 days later, the car lost the upper gears. Lost the others the next day. I had it towed to another repair shop as every time I take the car to the dealer, I'm back 2 months later with a more expensive repair. The transmission has now been pulled out 4 times in 6 weeks to be rebuilt, replace solenoids, etc. I have heard that many other Mazda Mpv owners have had to replace transmissions on vehicles with even lower mileage than mine. I believe that this car is dangerous. I'm afraid to drive it with my 3 young sons. I'm so grateful that this happened in a parking lot at a soccer game and not on the freeway on the way to that soccer game. The results could have been disastrous. Mazda should be held responsible for selling cars with faulty transmissions. We are still waiting to get our car back from the third repair. Maybe it's finally fixed, maybe not.

Since new, hesitates between 40-50 mph, causing sudden loss of power, high rpms but no acceleration. Removing foot from gas van sometimes recovers. Has had transmission control module replaced as a result, then ignition coils were blamed and those were replaced one by one, sometimes more than once, then coolant temperature sensor went, now at 85,000 transmission went. Each event stranded my family by the side of the road and car had to be towed.

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.

-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.

While waiting at an intersection vehicle accelerated uncontrollably. However, consumer was able to apply the brakes and vehicle stopped completely. Mechanic inspected the vehicle and determined that transmission control module needed to be upgraded. However, the problem recurred.

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.