NHTSA Complaint #10058649 — 2002 MAZDA MPV

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION "BUCKS" OR OTHERWISE SHIFTS VIOLENTLY INTO THE NEXT GEAR (ANY GEAR, PICK ONE). MY MPV CURRENTLY HAS 26,000 ON IT. WE HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING THIS PROBLEM FOR OVER A YEAR, BUT HAVEN'T HAD THE TIME TO TAKE IT IN. FINALLY TOOK IT IN TO THE DEALER. SERVICE MANAGER STATED (WITH A STRAIGHT FACE) TO ME THAT THE BRAKES (CALIPERS) WERE CREATING "DRAG" AND THE VIOLENT SHIFT WOULD OCCUR WHEN REACHING THE THRESHOLD OF POWER TO GO INTO THE NEXT GEAR. HE RECOMMENDED THAT WE HAVE THE BRAKE PADS REPLACED AND THE ROTORS "TURNED" (FOR $250). WE DID NOT HAVE THE WORK DONE, BUT PICKED UP THE CAR. THE SHIFTING WAS A LOT BETTER WHEN WE PICKED UP THE CAR. THAT LASTED ABOUT A WEEK. NOW IT IS STARTING THAT JOLTING AGAIN. WE TOOK THE CAR TO BIG O FOR OIL CHANGE, TIRE ROTATION AND SPECIFICALLY ASKED THEM TO CHECK THE BRAKES. ROTORS AND CALIPERS ARE FINE AND THE BRAKE PADS ONLY HAVE 25% WEAR ON THEM. NOW, I AM BLONDE, BUT IT SEEMS TO ME THAT IF THE BRAKES WERE CREATING "DRAG" THERE WOULD BE A MUCH HIGHER PERCENTAGE OF WEAR ON THE PADS, OR THERE WOULD BE SOMETHING INDICATING THAT THE CALIPERS WERE MALFUNCTIONING, ESPECIALLY AFTER 26,000 MILES. IN FACT, THE BIG O MANAGER THOUGHT MY HUSBAND WAS A LITTLE DAFT IN ASKING ABOUT BRAKES HAVING ANY SUCH AFFECT ON GEAR SHIFTING. *JB