Good question. We bought the car 14 years ago and my wife had been driving it until I took over it about four months ago. Since I drive it now and I begin to feel the problems. I don't recall that I had the transmission serviced by a mechanic, maybe I forgot, but I never look at the ATF level until now. There is no puddle underneath the car, so where did the ATF go? Beats the heck of me but I certainly will pay more attention to it now.