I have a 93 honda civic coupe EX1.6 with4 speed auto trans. It has had this problem both before and after I changed the fluid with dexron III. It runs and goes through the gears nice and firm, however if you are not accelerating very hard, it will stay in 2nd gear until i hit about 24-25 MPH. At this point it is revving kind of high but not too high to hurt anything. It's just annoying. IfI let off the gas after crusing at 23 mph or so, it feels like i'mdriving a stick and take my foot off the gas with the clutch out, in gear to slow down. And if I turn a corner and hitthe gas likeI normally would, it will down shift like i'm hitting it hard to accelerate. Is this just the nature of the car or am I looking ata bigger problem?

It has almost 116K on it and I am replacing a rattling upper left motor mount today if that makes any difference. Thanks

 

Sounds about right for an automatic. I wouldn't worry if it's always been like that since you've had it. I think most automatics when they get older rev a little higher befor they change gears, From my experience. Never had one tottaly go on me (the transmission), but never had a car or honda with more than 130,000 miles on it thats an automatic. Sonot a 100% sure.
With my manual if I let off the gas in first it winds down quickly, I think because it's a low gear so it's ment to.

I would run some engine cleaner through it if you haven't already, like seafoam through the intake manifold. Helps alot for automatic trans stutterings through gears.