Modern automatic transmissions are reliable and efficient, but they don’t forgive careless habits. According to mechanic Alexey Stepantsov, a handful of everyday behaviors quietly chip away at a gearbox—and plenty of drivers repeat them without thinking.

First up is coasting in Neutral. It used to be a way to save fuel, but modern cars cut fuel on overrun, so there’s no real benefit. Worse, if you suddenly need to accelerate, you waste time slotting the lever back into "Drive," and that lag can be risky. It feels thrifty, yet it’s a false economy.

Another common misstep is shifting without coming to a complete stop. Flicking the lever from "R" to "D" while the car is still rolling loads the clutches and brake bands—parts that aren’t meant to slow the vehicle. It accelerates wear and can turn a minor habit into a major repair bill.

The third is the so-called "neutral launch," when the driver revs the engine in "Neutral" and then snaps into "Drive." This kind of start damages the torque converter and causes clutch slip, cutting the transmission’s life severalfold. Few things are harder on an automatic.

There’s also no reason to select "N" at a red light. The load on the drivetrain while waiting in gear is minimal, and the fuel savings are negligible. If the pause is long, it’s safer to switch the engine off instead.

And finally, engaging "P" before a full stop. That puts a huge load on the parking pawl and can break it—a split second that can lead to a very expensive lesson.

These simple mistakes show up even among seasoned drivers, yet they’re often the very habits that bring on premature transmission failures.