Has anyone else experienced their auto transmission downshifting (sharply) whenever the brake is applied at a speed of approx 50-60 mph? My car downshifts hard enough to make it feel like a manual transmission...it can make your head bob! As soon as the brake is applied, the transmission drops down a gear (or two?) and it causes the rpm's to jump up.

 

umm.. I think that might be just AT getting ready for acceleration?

Since our tranny does not go into 5th until almost 50mph, if u ever go below 50mph I would think tranny downshifts to prepare for accelration.

 

Understood...but it actully jerks the car due to the sharp increase in rpm.

 

Are you heading down an incline when this happens?

Perhaps it is the grade logic in our transmissions that is causing this down shift.

When I'm heading down a hill and I apply the brakes, the tranny downshifts and assists in the breaking.

I think it's actually quite smart.

What I usually do is tap the breaks a bit on a down hill and then just let the engine break slow me down a bit so I don't catch up to the car in front of me.

 

Mine does something similar, but doesn't jerk. What happens is that there is a marked slowdown if I let go of the accelerator (no braking though) after getting past 50+ mph. The slowdown isn't as smooth at the rest of the speeds (0 to 80+)

 

its supposed to do that. its job is to downshift to help decellerate just as you would with a manual trans. i think its a cool feature, but i could see how it might annoy some.

 

Yep, agree with puffer, it's programmed in to the transmission computer. Does the same in my TL & MDX. Actually a good thing for the brakes.

 

Like everyone else here says, the downshift was a purposeful design. Compared to my 97 Camry V6, the change in vehicle speed is a little more dramatic and seems a little aggressive at times when you touch the brake just lightly. People in the car might think you are braking a bit suddenly. I've gotten used to it and find it a big plus at holding a set speed especially when I am going an mild incline.

dsc888

 

Mine does it around 40 MPH and I don't like it. I wish it would blip the throttle a bit during the shift so it's not so jarring. I now expect it, but I've had passengers ask why I stabbed the brakes. Sometimes, I override it by going into SS mode as I head down the long hill on my commute home. I like that I don't have to ride the brakes so much, but I think it could be done more smoothly and transparently instead of feeling like I popped the clutch during a downshift.

 

It would be cool and better if the auto tranny rev match for you. I heard that the auto tranny on the G35 does it. Thats would be so cool if the TL had that so we wont have that jarring downshift.

 

Thanks for all of the replies.