MajorCommonTransmission

Honda Accord: 5-Speed Automatic Shift-Solenoid Wear (MPZA/MLYA)

5-Speed Automatic Shift-Solenoid Wear (MPZA/MLYA) is a common transmission fault on the Honda Accord on the 2002–2008 cars, and we rate it major. Putting it right costs $700 to $2,200 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. Below is what goes wrong, the symptoms to notice on a test drive, where to look, and what to ask the seller before you hand over any money. It is one of 55 documented faults on the Honda Accord.

Vehicle: Honda Accord
Years: 2002–2008
Fuel: petrol
Gearbox: auto
System: Transmission

This page covers the Honda Accord as a model. Some faults only affect particular engines or build years — enter a plate below to narrow the list to one car.

All Honda Accord faults55 documented faults on this model

What you are looking at

No photograph available

We do not hold a verified photograph of the Torque converter yet. We would rather show none than show a picture of a different part.

What goes wrong

The MPZA and MLYA five-speed automatics fitted to CL7/CL9 Accords suffer solenoid valve wear and linear solenoid failure with age and ATF neglect. Faulty solenoids produce harsh 1-2 or 2-3 shift shock, torque-converter shudder on light throttle, and lockup judder at highway cruise. Honda extended coverage on earlier versions of this transmission but AU/NZ units are largely out of any support period.

What you would notice

Harsh clunk on 1-2 or 2-3 upshift
Torque-converter shudder at 60-90 km/h light throttle
Delayed engagement from Park into Drive
CEL with P0740 (TCC solenoid) or P0750-P0775 shift solenoid codes

How to check it

Where to look. Transmission valve body, accessible via pan drop

Check ATF condition and colour (should be clear red, not brown/black).
Conduct a test drive including 50-100 km/h light-throttle cruise to induce shudder.
Scan for stored transmission codes.
Ask specifically about transmission fluid service history.

Parts involved: Torque converter.

What it costs to put right

$700 to $2,200 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. That is for this job on its own, not for the car.

An estimate, in NZD, for the repair as normally carried out. What a specific car costs depends on which part has failed and what it damaged on the way — treat this as the floor for a negotiation, not a quote.

Ask the seller

“Has the automatic transmission fluid ever been changed, and when?”
“Have you noticed any harsh shifts or shudder at highway speeds?”
“Has a transmission-related fault code appeared on the dashboard?”

Now check the Honda Accord you are actually looking at

Everything above is true of the model, and it is free. What it does not tell you is whether THIS car has been looked after: its odometer history and whether the reading has ever gone backwards, whether there is still money owing on it, whether it has been reported stolen, how many owners it has had and what it is really worth today. That comes from the official records for that plate. Enter the plate for the free details, or get the full history and a market valuation from $13.49.

Not sure what you would be paying for? See what a full KickTyres check includes.

Where this comes from

The failure described above is documented in published sources — owner forums, technical service bulletins, recall notices and workshop write-ups — held in our fault database. The inspection instructions and the cost estimate are KickTyres’ own interpretation of them, and it is a starting point for an inspection rather than a manufacturer statement.

Honda Accord buyer questions

Is 5-speed automatic shift-solenoid wear (mpza/mlya) serious on a Honda Accord?

We rate it major and common on the Honda Accord. The MPZA and MLYA five-speed automatics fitted to CL7/CL9 Accords suffer solenoid valve wear and linear solenoid failure with age and ATF neglect. Faulty solenoids produce harsh 1-2 or 2-3 shift shock, torque-converter shudder on light throttle, and lockup judder at highway cruise. Honda extended coverage on earlier versions of this transmission but AU/NZ units are largely out of any support period.

How much does it cost to fix on a Honda Accord?

$700 to $2,200 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. That figure is for this job on its own. A car showing the symptoms on this page is usually worth either walking away from or negotiating down by at least the repair figure.

Which Honda Accord years are affected?

Our research records this fault on the 2002–2008 Honda Accord. Build dates move around, especially on imported cars, so treat the range as the years to look hardest at rather than a guarantee either way. The official records tell you the exact build and first registration date for the car in front of you.

How do I check for it before I buy?

Check ATF condition and colour (should be clear red, not brown/black). Conduct a test drive including 50-100 km/h light-throttle cruise to induce shudder. Scan for stored transmission codes. Ask specifically about transmission fluid service history. Look here: Transmission valve body, accessible via pan drop