2001 Mitsubishi Eclipse GT, 3.0LV6 Automatic Transmission. 15 years old, but only 40,000 miles (bought new). Driving as usual when without any notice or warning, no longer having any power to wheels from transmission (engine still running normal as usual). Automatic transmission had complete total catastrophic failure due to a manufacturing defect of an internal part called WAVE CUSHION SPRING. Once this inferior part breaks and fails, the pieces circulate through the transmission rendering the whole transmission useless including the torque convertor. Reading other complaints, I discovered that the original part, the WAVE CUSHION SPRING, has a manufacturing defect. Also, discovered that new replacement WAVE CUSHION SPRING has been upgraded from the original version. Wonder why? Called Mitsubishi customer service to discuss issue (with a reference #). No success. Mitsubishi will not address this issue of a manufacturing defect probably because there are not enough complaints registered. To add insult to injury, the Mitsubishi representative was trying to push a new car sale with promotions and incentives. Are you kidding me? Who would buy the same products when a major issue is not addressed.

I was driving my car home, (after having put shell V-Power gas in it for the first time, if that makes any difference), and all of a sudden it started vibrating really hard when I went to park it in my driveway. I thought it might have been because of the added power from the gas. However, the next day, I drove it and it started bucking when I tried accelerating. I tried to accelerate more slowly and gently, but it continued to buck, ( like the whole car was "jumping" or "thumping") and it wouldn't go into gear. After about another mile, the neutral light on the instrument panel started blinking, while I was driving the car. And then, the "Service Engine Soon" light came on, so I called a tow company, in fear that the car might blow up or something else awful. It is still in the shop, because it's a holiday, but the garage I took it to says it's a transmission problem, but it might just be a pump. They will be towing it again to another garage that specializes in transmissions. I'm just waiting to hear the news. :(

Update from Sep 14, 2016: The transmission had to be completely rebuilt after this happened. Since the rebuild, I have put over 100,000 more miles on it without a problem at all. It's 2016 and the car still runs and drives great.