When I accelerate, sometimes I get thrown forward or at least it seems. Or perhaps I should say that I get jerked while the gears change.

What should I look for?

It does not happen when I keep the gears at 2 or 3.
When I put the lever at 2, does it mean that it stays at 2nd gear?
Where's gear 1?

This is auto transmission.

 

When you accelerate hard it increases the line pressure and makes for harder shifts. This is normal for a Honda automatic transmission. Make sure you are using Genuine Honda Fluid because it has a friction modifier that softens the shifts. The "D2" is 2nd gear locked in to place. 1st may not have a gear position to select for your model. D3 is for sport shifting around town and D4 is easier shifts with overdrive for the freeway. Depending on the year and model, some Honda automatic transmissions have a "TV" (Throttle valve) cable that can be adjusted to change the shift points.

 

Thanks.