Bought this car in 2010 ever since I had it nightmare, the automatic transmission would bang between 1st and 2nd gear at just normal speed, the tires would spin because of this. It also would slip out of gear in 3rd with shifting up sometimes. But just recently I found out that the intake tube for the car had a giant hole in it. So fixed that and its not really banging 1st and 2nd but slips a little bit.

- Bristol, CT, USA

My 2004 Mazda 6 was demonstrating a racing engine/problematic automatic transmission and shifting issues (the tachometer was fluttering and racing) as I was braking on a major road from 40 mph to a stop at a red light. The car would not slow. I manually shifted down from 4th to 3rd, and it still exhibited the same 'bouncing' revs on above 2000 RPM. As I applied my brakes the car was definitely hesitating to downshift and wasn't slowing well; I put it back into automatic "D" shifting and pressed firmly on the brakes to try to slow the vehicle. I halted very close to the next car in the line despite having started braking well before I needed to safely come to a stop in the vehicle. In first gear at a stop, the tach was fluttering from 1000 to 1800 (well outside the normal idle range of 900-1100) until I put the car in park, engaged the parking brake, and shut the vehicle off. When I restarted it seemed to be okay but it has done this on several occasions.

- Naperville, IL, USA

Shift shock when the automatic transmission changes gears. This is an intermittent, ongoing occurrence. Mazda has issued a "technical service bulletin (tsb)" (#05-005/05) to the dealers to repair this using a "flashing" of the computer system. Warranty won't cover it because it involves the computer. It should be a recall item. The tsb states that the concern is caused by driven plate deformation due to a rapid rise in temperature in the 2-4 brake driven plate when repeated shifting is done with a cold engine. In part, it also states the logic has been changed to prevent an abnormal rise in 2-4 brake driven plate temperature. I have a copy of the bulletin and can fax if needed.

- Elk Grove, CA, USA

Occasionally car will not come out of park, took itto dealer twice for service. The first time they replaced a switch, second time could not find a problem. Dealer service center recommended to use E-brake when parking, and this wa S normal if parking on a incline. Problem got worse, from analyzing the problem myself, determined that the incline or E-brake had no relation. The problem occurred during a very hot day when leaving work. Determined that if it jerked shifted it back and forth about 10 times, when I heard a click, at that time.I could move the shift lever out of park.

- Virginia Beach, VA, USA

My 2004 Mazda 6 that I loved so much when I purchased it earlier this year, has become a vehicle I hate to drive. My car has a serious transmission problem (as best as I can tell). The first symptom is a horrible whine while idling or accelerating. While driving the noise is accompanied by terrible shifting. My rpms often approach 5 and the car jerks terribly when the transmission "catches". I feel as if my body is taking a beating every time I drive. I have had the car at the dealership on three occasions for this problem. The first time, they could not find a problem. The second time they replaced the water pump, I don't know why. And this last time they found the problem...they couldn't not this time, it had gotten so bad that I warned the driver picking it up to buckle up and hold on. He later reported to me it was the roughest ride of his life. The problem was reported to me as a programming problem and fixed. The only problem with that is here I am 10 days later, and it's right back to where it was before the repair. Can anyone say "lemon law"?

- Burlington, IA, USA

Vehicle design problem that could easily result in fatality. 2004 Mazda 6S. This is the transmission that can either be run as full automatic or as a semi manual shift. When in a passing situation with the throttle fully open, the engine jumps into action and the transmission down shifts as it should. However, if the gas pedal is kept pressed down as in a passing situation, the transmission will not up shift at any point. The result is that the engine rpms will increase to the point of hitting the red line. At that point another feature shuts down the engine until the rpms are significantly below the red line. The result is loss of power at the most critical time in the passing maneuver. I was able to brake and return to the previous place behind the vehicle being passed, but almost did not make it. Had I been much further forward I would certainly have collided with the oncoming traffic. I have contacted my local dealership and took it in for service. They tested it, talked with appropriate Mazda service center experts and reported that there was no malfuntion - all setting were as they were supposed to be. I corresponded with North american Mazda via email (attached) and forwarded that email string to your technical information service at tis@NHTSA.dot.gov. Mazda continues to say that niether design defect or malfunction exists. To them it is an operator problem. If so, anyone accustomed to the automatic transmissions in all other cars will find themselves in the same position, unaware of the potential. All other transmissions that I have experience with up shift at either a certain speed or vacuum level well before the engine can get to dangerous rpms.

- Crossett, AR, USA