What is the average mileage to which a transmission on a 2002 sedan be replaced?

Answer 1

There is no "correct" answer for this. Mileage is just one factor to use in determinign the life of an auto transmission. Some transmissions last for many many miles, and others do not. The big factor is how much regular maintenance and service the trans has seen. Routine fluid and filter changes are important. Also if the transmission was used to tow heavy trailers. The enemy of transmissions is HEAT. Heat destroys the fluids which are inside the tranny. The fluid is pumped inside the tranny to cause the tansmission to turn. The fluid flows throughotu the tranny and when it begins to lose it's lubrication properties or is heated to the place where it loses it's protective additives, then the trans wears out quickly. A "burnt" transmission has a unique smell to it. A transmission that has an added cooler and has pulled trailers should be in better condition than a stock tranny with the usual small tranny cooler. Soem transmissions last longer just because they are built better. Some tranmissions are abused when driver's change directions from drive to reverse without completely stopping first. Maybe if you can better ascertain how the tranny was cared for before looking at mileage as a factor, it will give you a better idea of when it will need changed. I had a Toyota Camry that went 289,000 with the original trnsmission, never a problem because it was maintained and serviced regularly. One other factor is hwo many miles a year th eavg person drives. Some say it's 12,000 per year, some say 15,000. So if you are looking at a tranny with 60,000 to 75,000 miles on it, and it has been cared for, you "should be" okay. More than 100,000 and abused.............look out.