What if it's perfect and runs like new again?
Transmission Fail
This is the last thing I’d ever expect to post on here, my transmission is going to get replaced - eventually. I drive a 2021 select sedan, automatic.
The last couple of days, I noticed a chirp at lower RPMs while changing from 4th to 5th gear. I took it in to the dealer this morning. Techs couldn’t recreate the sound so I asked to take them on a drive. Sure enough, I was able to replicate the sound and even get some jerkiness with the gear changes. They even recorded it on their phone.
Finally, I took the car home but they started the process of starting the case with Mazda to order a new transmission.
I am honestly bummed out. I avoided the Civic and Corolla since I didn’t want a CVT and this happened. Unreal. My question is, after it’s repaired and hopefully working properly, should I keep the car or just move on from it? I hate that my poor car is going to get molested and have a new transmission in it. Maybe it’ll be fine, but what if it happens again? What if it’s never the same?
I know. Long post. Sorry.
The last couple of days, I noticed a chirp at lower RPMs while changing from 4th to 5th gear. I took it in to the dealer this morning. Techs couldn’t recreate the sound so I asked to take them on a drive. Sure enough, I was able to replicate the sound and even get some jerkiness with the gear changes. They even recorded it on their phone.
Finally, I took the car home but they started the process of starting the case with Mazda to order a new transmission.
I am honestly bummed out. I avoided the Civic and Corolla since I didn’t want a CVT and this happened. Unreal. My question is, after it’s repaired and hopefully working properly, should I keep the car or just move on from it? I hate that my poor car is going to get molested and have a new transmission in it. Maybe it’ll be fine, but what if it happens again? What if it’s never the same?
I know. Long post. Sorry.
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It’s honestly what I’m hoping for.What if it's perfect and runs like new again?
In a sick way, I'm almost glad to hear that your transmission is failing. Not because of the inconvenience to you – for that, I am truly sympathetic. But it may bring some attention to the thousands of 2019+ Mazda 3 transmissions that are 'borderline' – technically still working, but jerky or otherwise hard to live with.
@dagone12, how many miles are on your 2021? Do you remember any other symptoms that alluded to problems in the past?
I'm wishing you the best of luck. Please update us on how this gets resolved!
@dagone12, how many miles are on your 2021? Do you remember any other symptoms that alluded to problems in the past?
I'm wishing you the best of luck. Please update us on how this gets resolved!
My car has 19k miles. Honestly, I noticed for a little bit that jerkiness with the gears during slow driving but I always thought it was the trans hunting for gears. The past week or so I started hearing that chirp between 4th and 5th.@dagone12, how many miles are on your 2021? Do you remember any other symptoms that alluded to problems in the past?
Lower RPMs, it’s noticeable. Once it’s rolling faster, it’s smoother.
It’s unfortunate. I really like the car.
I like the car too, just not driving with the clunky AT. I have 23k miles and feel much of what you describe. Instead of a chirp, I get a "whoosh", almost like a turbo blowoff valve, on 1-2-3 shifts when accelerating. (Maybe just intake noise, I have no idea.) I think the tuning of the torque converter lockup clutch transmits a lot of gear shock to the driver and makes for non-linear acceleration, almost like how turbo cars used to be in the 80s or 90s. The acceleration in my 3 is like an on/off switch.
When my car gets up past 45-50mph it's pretty good. Definitely not like the transmission is always 1 hard shift away from exploding.
Thanks for sharing your info. Will be following along for updates
When my car gets up past 45-50mph it's pretty good. Definitely not like the transmission is always 1 hard shift away from exploding.
Thanks for sharing your info. Will be following along for updates
No matter how good the brand is for reliability, there will always be a small percentage of defects. Truly sorry you drew the short straw!
But look at it this way, it has failed within the warranty. Far worse if it had lasted longer and then failed.
But look at it this way, it has failed within the warranty. Far worse if it had lasted longer and then failed.
I might be posting this to late and if your hearing weird transmissions noises then it might not even help but this video fixed the weird transmission issues I had. The video basically goes over how to reset what the transmission learned and you have to "retrain" it in a way.
Yeah, I am out of luck at my position. Rough shifts at times and 4th to 5th 'chirp' all the time.I might be posting this to late and if your hearing weird transmissions noises then it might not even help but this video fixed the weird transmission issues I had. The video basically goes over how to reset what the transmission learned and you have to "retrain" it in a way.
Bro consider yourself lucky. Those of us with jerky trannies, Mazda refuses to fix because technically there are no error codes and all stats look correct according to them, so they won't do anything. If you get a new transmission, hope it works well and be happy. I wish they gave me a new transmission but they won't because they say oh that's by design and there's no error codes.
If you are under warranty.. find a good 3rd party mechanic (non Mazda dealership) and get a second opinion. Get it in writing.
If a professional opinion backs up your complaint, and you have documentation that you went 3 times to the dealership for a fix, you can lemon law it.
Also gives Mazda incentive to fix it to avoid that.
If a professional opinion backs up your complaint, and you have documentation that you went 3 times to the dealership for a fix, you can lemon law it.
Also gives Mazda incentive to fix it to avoid that.
Was the chirping constant or only while changing gears. Currently I have a chirp noise I can't get figured out. However I haven't had any jerkiness in changing gears, it also seems to do it quite often not just changing gears.This is the last thing I’d ever expect to post on here, my transmission is going to get replaced - eventually. I drive a 2021 select sedan, automatic.
The last couple of days, I noticed a chirp at lower RPMs while changing from 4th to 5th gear. I took it in to the dealer this morning. Techs couldn’t recreate the sound so I asked to take them on a drive. Sure enough, I was able to replicate the sound and even get some jerkiness with the gear changes. They even recorded it on their phone.
Finally, I took the car home but they started the process of starting the case with Mazda to order a new transmission.
I am honestly bummed out. I avoided the Civic and Corolla since I didn’t want a CVT and this happened. Unreal. My question is, after it’s repaired and hopefully working properly, should I keep the car or just move on from it? I hate that my poor car is going to get molested and have a new transmission in it. Maybe it’ll be fine, but what if it happens again? What if it’s never the same?
I know. Long post. Sorry.
Only while changing gears (4th to 5th).Was the chirping constant or only while changing gears. Currently I have a chirp noise I can't get figured out. However I haven't had any jerkiness in changing gears, it also seems to do it quite often not just changing gears.
Update as of 5/18: Mazda approved the transmission and it’s on order - they just don’t have an ETA for it.
Update as of 5/26: New Transmission arrived 5/25, dropped off the car at 930a and it was ready TODAY at 1140a. Car feels smoother (I dont think it ever felt like this since day 1) and 4th gear chirp is obviously gone.
That's awesome. Congratulations. Is the car truly seamless / smooth, or just 'smoother'?
I can’t say seamless, like, I feel the gear changes but it’s a natural change like other cars. But it’s really smooth. Day and night. Even at the lower speeds.That's awesome. Congratulations. Is the car truly seamless / smooth, or just 'smoother'?
Great to hear this. I bought a used 2020 Mazda 3 in February of this year. Seemed fine when I test drove it, but I soon realized that it did some occasional weird stuttering in 2nd and 3rd gears, especially under load (going uphill, etc. but sometimes even on level ground). Stuttering that seemed definitely transmission-related, not air filter or MAF sensor or fuel injector or anything like that. Fortunately, when I took it to my local dealer, they were able to replicate it, but unable to fix it. They were able to get approval from Mazda USA to put a new transmission in it (it only had about 33,000 miles on it so still under warranty), but the ETA for that is July 14! Still, if my story ends as happily as yours, I will be very pleased.
10digital: when was the approval from Mazda done? They didn’t even give me a date stating that it was backordered and it arrived in just about 2 weeks.
On a side note, I can’t believe how many people have experienced transmission issues. Again, I was avoiding CVT vehicles to not go through any issues and somehow, I had my transmission swapped at 19k miles. It’s wild.
On a side note, I can’t believe how many people have experienced transmission issues. Again, I was avoiding CVT vehicles to not go through any issues and somehow, I had my transmission swapped at 19k miles. It’s wild.
Mine is sort of an "am I crazy" situation because my car works fine but it feels like it ... doesn't. Very aggravating. I wish mine would just give up
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