NHTSA Owner Complaint Log
This page lists owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2003 Acura TL. Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA and do not by themselves prove a defect or defect rate.
Data synced from NHTSA on May 4, 2026
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 ACURA TL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE HEADLIGHTS FAILED TO ILLUMINATE WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT. ALSO, THE PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY RETAINED STEAM. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO JOE RIZZA ACURA (LOCATED AT 8150 W 159TH ST, ORLAND PARK, IL 60462, (708) 403-7770) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE HEADLIGHT UNITS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED DUE TO THE REPAIR FEES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE INTERMITTENTLY OCCURRED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 76,000.
DEALER UNABLE TO REPAIR WITHIN 60 DAYS. MAY TAKE UP TO 5 MONTHS TO REPAIR.
THIS CAR HAS ALWAYS HADD SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE AND RECALLS PERFORMED ASAP. TRANSMISSION WAS SHIFTING ERRATICALLY SO IT WAS TAKEN TO TRANSMISSION PLACE BEFORE DUE AND IT WAS FLUSHED AND INSPECTED. IT STILL SHIFTS INCORRECLY BUT INTERMITTENTLY. I DECIDED TO DO SOME RESEARCH AND FOUND NUMEROUS SAFETY ISSUES WITH THE TRANSMISSION. I BOUGHT THIS BECAUSE IT WAS RATED AS SUCH A SAFE CAR FOR MY TEENAGER. I AM BEGINNING TO RETHINK MY ORIGINAL DECISION. ALL THE SCARY RESULTS OF THIS SYMPTOM HAVE HAPPENED AFTER THE PURCHASE. WE HAVE HAD IT SINCE SEPT 2014.
MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. I TOOK 2003 ACURA TL TO (2) LOCAL AUTO PARTS STORE (ADVANCE AUTO PARTS AND AUTOZONE) TO HAVE IT SCANNED USING THE DIAGNOSTIC TOOLS PROVIDED BY TECHNICIANS ON SITE. WAS GIVEN AN EXACT RECALL DIAGNOSTIC ERROR CODE (A/T. WHEN I CALL THE RECALL CENTER THEY SAID THAT THIS REPAIR HAD ALREADY BEEN DONE IN 2005. THIS OBVIOUSLY COULD NOT HAVE BEEN DONE PROPERLY. I CALLED AGAIN WHEN I STARTED HAVING OTHER PROBLEMS WITH MY CAR INCLUDING HESISTATION DURING ACCELARATION . THIS TIME I WAS TOLD THAT MY VEHICLE'S "BATCH" NUMBER WAS NOT AFFECTED BY THE RECALL. I CALLED MY LOCAL ACURA DEALER (LEITH ACURA IN CARY,NC) TO GET AN ESTIMATE OF THE REPAIRS WHICH WAS MORE THAN THE VALUE OF THE CAR WHICH DID NOT INCLUDE THE "OFFICIAL DIAGNOSTIC TEST" WHICH WAS $131.00 ALONE. THEN WAS TOLD I WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THE TEST EVEN THOUGH I ALREADY HAD 2 SCAN REPORTS FROM MY LOCAL RETAIL STORE B/C THE STORE ONLY SCANS ONLY GAVE A "GENERAL" SCAN AND THAT THEIR SCAN WAS MORE SPECIFIC. I ASKED HOW CAN IT BE MORE SPECIFIC WHEN IT SHOWS THE EXACT RECALL DESCRIPTION. I WAS THEN TOLD THAT IF THAT WAS THE CASE THEN I WOULD BE REIMBURSED. .
POWER STEERING PRESSURE HOSE LEAKING AND POWER STEERING PUMP LEAK. YEARS 2004-27 HAVE BEEN RECALLED FOR THIS; 2003SHOULD BE, AS WELL. RIGHT ENGINE MOUNT AND REAR ENGINE MOUNTS CRACKED OR BROKEN.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 ACURA TL. WHEN THE CONTACT PLACED THE GEAR SELECTOR FROM REVERSE TO THE DRIVE POSITION, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO GEAR. THE VEHICLE HESITATED AND THEN FINALLY WENT INTO GEAR. THE VEHICLE WAS SLUGGISH AND ROUGH AS IF IT WERE SHIFTING INTO THE NEUTRAL GEAR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHERE IT COULD NOT BE DIAGNOSED. THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
TRANSMISSION. RECALL. TRANSMISSION DIED WHILE DRIVING AT HIGH SPEED ON INTERSTATE 76 WEST. ACURA SHOULD REPLACE UNDER RECALL.
CLEAR COAT IS PEELING OFF OF THE TRUNK, SIDES OF THE CAR, AND ROOF.
I AM HAVING TROUBLE WITH MY TRANSMISSION SLIPPING BETWEEN 2ND AND 3RD GEARS. WHEN I BOUGHT THE CAR NEW IN 2003, I GOT A LETTER FROM ACURA INFORMING ME THAT THEY WERE GOING TO WARRANTEE THE TRANSMISSION FOR AN EXTRA 12 MONTHS AND 12,000 MILES BECAUSE THEY WERE HAVING TROUBLE WITH THEM. NOW THAT I AM, ACURA REFUSES TO HELP ME WITH REPAIRS.
RECENTLY PURCHASED AN 03 ACURA TL. 64000 MILES AT TIME OF PURCHASE. I DRIVE IT USING THE SLAP STICK AND MOSTLY HIGHWAY DRIVING. I NOTICE WHEN SHIFTING FROM 2ND TO 3RD GEARS, AT APPROXIMATELY 20-25 MPH THE CAR SEEMS TO JERK, OR JUMP IN THE FRONT END. ALSO BETWEEN 3RD AND 4TH GEARS. DEPENDING ON HOW FAST I ACCELERATE AND CHANGE THE GEARS, SOMETIMES THERE IS MORE JERKING...AT LOWER SPEEDS....AND LESS JERKING WHEN ACCELERATING AT A FASTER RATE. THE VEHICLE NOW HAS 76000 MILES ON IT AND I AM CONCERNED THERE ARE GOING TO BE TRANSMISSION ISSUES SOON. THIS IS MY SECOND ACURA TL, THE FIRST ONE HAVING OVER 205K MILES WITH NO ISSUES WITH TRANSMISSION, THAT WAS REPLACED BY DEALER @ 55K. IS THERE ANYTHING THAT CAN BE DONE WITH THIS ISSUE THAT I AM NOT AWARE OF. THERE ARE NO OTHER ISSUES WITH THIS VEHICLE. DID I MISS THE RECALL CUT OFF DATE, WAS THERE NEVER RECALL, OR DID ACURA MISS GROUP OF VIN #S? IF THIS IS TRULY A SAFETY CONCERN, FROM ACURA, THEY SHOULD STAND BEHIND THERE PRODUCTS, CORRECT THE "KNOWN ISSUES" WITH THE TRANSMISSIONS, FOR THERE DRIVERS TO BE SAFE, SO THEY ARE THERE FOR FUTURE PURCHASES.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2003 ACURA TL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE ENCOUNTERED A POT HOLE CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO JERK VIOLENTLY. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE VEERED OFF THE ROAD AND FLIPPED OVER. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONTACT'S LEFT SHOULDER STRAP SEAT BELT WAS DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE LEAVING BEHIND ONLY THE WAIST STRAP SEAT BELT AS THE CONTACT SHIFTED FROM THE DRIVER'S SEAT TO THE PASSENGERS SEAT DURING THE ACCIDENT. FURTHERMORE, THE CONTACT'S HEAD WAS PARTIALLY HANGING OUT OF THE WINDOW AFTER THE ACCIDENT. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A FRACTURED WRIST, CHEST PAINS, MULTIPLE LACERATIONS AND A CONCUSSION. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT'S STOMACH WAS SEVERELY TWISTED OUT OF SHAPE AND THE CONTACT VOMITED AND FAINTED NUMEROUS OCCASIONS AFTER THE ACCIDENT. THE CONTACT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 123,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
THE PASSENGER-SIDE SUBFRAME HAS MAJOR RUST AND SOME PARTS ARE RUSTED THROUGH. A MECHANIC AND FURTHER RESEARCH HAS NARROWED THE PROBLEM ON THE A/C CONDENSER HOSE DRIPPING ONTO THE METAL. THE DRIVER-SIDE PART OF THE SUBFRAME HAS MINIMAL SURFACE RUST. THIS PROBLEM IS COMMON AMONG HONDA ACCORDS AND ACURA TLS ALIKE, ACCORDING TO THE MECHANIC. $1500 TO REPLACE SUBFRAME WITH A USED PART, OR $2500 AT THE DEALERSHIP. WAS TOLD BY THE DEALERSHIP THE VEHICLE IS TOO DANGEROUS TO DRIVE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 ACURA TL. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS AT AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR A ROUTINE OIL CHANGE, THE TECHNICIAN NOTICED THAT THE SUB FRAME AS CORRODED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 180,000. UPDATED 1/12/16 *CN
MY CAR'S CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND TCS LIGHT CAME ON. HAD MY CAR SCANNED AT MY LOCAL OBII SERVICE CENTER AND RECIEVED CODE P1676. STILL EXPERIENCING SAME PROBLEM AFTER, I THEN TOOK MY CAR TO THE LOCAL HONDA DEALERSHIP SERVICE CENTER TO GET A VERIFICATION OF THIS CODE AND SAW A FLYER FOR RECALLS. I REVIEW THE INFORMATION, (I OWN AN ACURA, HONDA WAS UNABLE TO PROVIDE THE RECALL REPAIR SERVICE) AND FOUND THAT RECALLS PERTAINING TO THE CODE GENERATED FROM THE INITIAL SCAN FOR WHEN THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON PERTAINED TO THE CODE. I CALLED IN REFERENCE TO THE RECALLS POSTED ON THE NHTSA.GOV WEBSITE. I WAS INFORMED THAT A RECALL REPAIR FOR THE TRANSMISSION/POWER-TRAIN (04V176000) AND TIMING BELT (02V226000) WERE MADE TO MY VEHICLE HOWEVER I AM STILL HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM INCLUDING EXCESSIVE VIBRATION & HESITATION DURING ACCELERATION ESPECIALLY BETWEEN 50-60MPH), CRUISE CONTROL HAS SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING/NOTICE WHILE DRIVING , AND INABILITY TO PASS NC EMISSIONS INSPECTIONS. I CONTACTED THE NHTSA AND WAS INFORMED WITH 2 DIFFERENT REASONS WHY MY VEHICLE WAS NOT ELIGIBLE FOR REPAIR. (1) VEHICLE BATCH NUMBER WAS NOT AFFECTED AND THEN (2) THE REPAIR HAD ALREADY BEEN MADE IN FEB 2005 BY PREVIOUS OWNER. ALL THESE PROBLEM STARTED OCCURRING AFTER I TOOK MY CAR TO LEITH ACURA OF CARY, NC FOR THE RECALL ON THE TARKATA AIRBAGS(15V320000). I HAVE BEEN DENIED SAFETY REPAIRS TO MY VEHICLE. LEITH ACURA OF CARY, NC IS REQUIRING ME TO PAY $131.00 INORDER TO DO A DIAGNOSTIC SCAN ONLY THAT I ALREADY HAVE PROOF FROM SEVERAL ASE CERTIFIED INSPECTION STATIONS (WHICH WERE FREE OF CHARGE). I DOES NOT INCLUDE THE AMOUNT THAT MAY BE REQUIRED TO FIX THE PROBLEM PENDING IT IS NOT TOTALLY A RECALL REPAIR. I BELIEVE THAT THE REPAIR WAS DONE INCORRECTLY OR THE CURRENT TRANSMISSION IS NOT THE ONE THAT REPLACED THE ORIGINAL TRANSMISSION AFTER THE RECALL REPAIR. IF SO, I SHOULD BE ALLOWED REPAIRS.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 ACURA TL. WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE HESITATED AND VIOLENTLY SHIFTED GEARS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TORQUE CONVERTER CLUTCH CIRCUIT FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 173,000.
FOR SOME TIME, THE INTERLOCK DEVICE HAS NOT BEEN WORKING AND IT ALLOWS ME TO REMOVE MY KEY WHEN THE VEHICLE IS IN GEAR. THIS HAS ALLOW THE VEHICLE TO ROLL AWAY ON HILLS.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 ACURA TL. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V320000 (AIR BAGS) AND STATED THAT THE PARTS NEEDED WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE DEALER WAS UNCERTAIN WHEN THE PARTS WOULD BECOME AVAILABLE TO SERVICE THE VEHICLE UNDER THE RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.
THE ACCELERATOR STUCK WHEN PULLING INTO MY DRIVEWAY THEN ACCELERATING. THE ENGINE STUCK IN THE ACCELERATED MODE. I HAD TO BRAKE WITH 2 FEET AND PUT THE TRANSMISSION IN NEUTRAL, THEN TURNED THE IGNITION TO OFF. I WAS FORTUNATE THAT I DID NOT DRIVE THROUGH THE GARAGE DOOR. EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE'S THROTTLE BODY SHOWED THE BREAKAGE OF THE PLASTIC CRUISE CONTROL "PULLEY" ON THE THROTTLE BODY ACTUATOR SHAFT, CAUSING THE CRUISE CONTROL CABLE TO HOLD THE THROTTLE OPEN. THE PLASTIC PART CRACKED AT THE CABLE RETENTION NOTCH. I HAVE NOTED THAT OTHER ACURA OWNERS HAVE ALSO EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM. REF: ACURAZINE.COM/FORUMS/SECOND-GENERATION-TL-1999-2003-98/CRUISE-CONTROL-REPAIR-SUGGESTION-833196/
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 ACURA TL. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE HESITATED, JERKED FORWARD, AND THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE GEAR SHIFT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 04V176000 (POWER TRAIN). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 62,000.
IN JUNE 2015 A LIGHT SUDDENLY CAME ON THE DASHBOARD WHEN I TURNED ON THE IGNITION INDICATING A PROBLEM WITH THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG. I TOOK IT TO MY ACURA DEALER WHO SAID IT MALFUNCTIONED AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. IT WAS REPLACED AND I WAS CHARGED $753.84. I ASKED IF IT WAS NEVER USED HOW COULD IT MALFUNCTION AND WHY DID I HAVE TO COVER THE CHARGE. IN NOVEMBER 2014 THE FRONT AIRBAGS WERE REPLACED BY THE DEALER AT NO COST TO ME. SINCE YOUR AGENCY IS LOOKING INTO SIDE AIRBAGS, CAN I BE REIMBURSED FOR MY PAYMENT OF $753.84, AND IF SO, TO WHOM DO I MAKE THIS REQUEST? DO I NEED TO HAVE ANY OTHER AIRBAGS REPLACED IN MY CAR?
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 ACURA TL. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V320000 (AIR BAGS). THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO ESSERMAN INTERNATIONAL ACURA (305-477-6666, LOCATED AT 10455 NW 12TH ST SUITE A, DORAL, FL 33172) WHERE THE RECALL REPAIR WAS PERFORMED; HOWEVER, THE AIR BAG INDICATOR FLASHED ON AND OFF. A COUPLE OF YEARS LATER, THE CONTACT RECEIVED ANOTHER NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V182000 (AIR BAGS). THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE SAME DEALER AND THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT A DIAGNOSTIC TEST NEEDED TO BE PERFORMED AT THE CONTACT'S EXPENSE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AFTER THE INITIAL REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT PROVIDED.
2003 ACURA 3.2TL. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO AIRBAG MODULE RECALL NOTICE ISSUES. *SMD THE CONSUMER HAS BEEN TRYING TO GET AN APPOINTMENT SINCE THE END OF MARCH 2015. *JB
!!!WARNING THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED!!! "CRUISE CONTROL CONTROL BOX DEFECT!" 2003 TL TYPE S AUTOMATIC 4 DOOR WITHOUT CRUISE CONTROL ON CAR ENGINE BEGAN TO REV OUT OF CONTROL WHILE DRIVING, TRIED TO APPLY BRAKES BUT ENGINE IS TOO STRONG, ONCE VEHICLE HIT 80 MPH FROM THIS ON HIGHWAY I CALMLY TURNED IGNITION OFF ONE CLICK SO STEERING WHEEL WOULD NOT LOCK AND COASTED TO SAFETY. I HAD TO DETACH MODULE AS WELL AS SPEED CONTROL WIRE GOING TO THE IDLE CONTROL OF ENGINE. IF I WAS INEXPERIENCED I COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED EITHER BY GETTING INTO AN ACCIDENT OR BY MY AIRBACK BEING DEPLOYED AND KILLED FROM THE TAKATA INFLATOR. "CLEAR COAT" 2003 TL TYPE S BLACK CLEAR COAT PAINT FLAKING OFF AND MASSIVELY DISCOLORED DUE TO THE DRY WINTER COLD AND THE UV HEAT DURING SUMMER. "INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTING PROBLEM" 2003 TL TYPE S PROBLEM WITH PART OF INSTRUMENT PANEL WHERE ODOMETER IS AS WELL AS OUTSIDE TEMP NOT ILLUMINATING.
I WAS LEAVING WORK AT ABOUT 7PM. I NOTICED IT TOOK THE TRANSMISSION AN EXTRA FEW SECONDS TO SHIFT INTO DRIVE BUT IT WAS COLD SO I LET IT WARM UP AND THINGS SEEMED TO BE FINE. AS I STARTED TO GET ON TO I-93 I NOTICED MY TACHOMETER SPIKE TO ABOUT 4K RPM. I COULDN'T CATCH 3RD GEAR AND THE CAR BEHIND ME HAD TO VEER AROUND ME AS I STARTED SLOWING DOWN. AFTER I PULLED OVER ON THE SIDE OF THE ON RAMP FOR A MINUTE THE CAR SEEMED TO BE SAFE TO DRIVE SO I HEADED HOME SLOWLY IN THE BREAKDOWN LANE AND IT SLIPPED AT ABOUT 35 AGAIN. I'VE ALWAYS FELT COMFORTABLE DRIVING MY CAR, BUT THIS MADE ME SECOND GUESS BUYING IT IN THE FIRST PLACE. PEOPLE COULD'VE GOTTEN HURT AND ON A TRANSMISSION WITH LESS THAN 125K THIS SHOULDN'T BE HAPPENING. I PURCHASED IT IN 2013 FROM MY UNCLE AND PUT LESS THAN 10K ON THE ODOMETER. HE HAD PURCHASED IT IN 2008 CERTIFIED FROM AN ACURA DEALER. NEITHER OF US WERE AWARE OF THE RECALL ON THOSE MODELS OF HONDAS AND I WOULD THINK THE DEALERSHIP WOULD'VE TAKEN CARE OF THE ISSUE. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 ACURA TL. WHILE DRIVING AT 15 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION STARTED HESITATING AND JUMPED INTO GEAR. THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPAIRED UNDER A MANUFACTURER'S RECALL IN 2008, HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 142,000.
VEHICLE WAS DRIVING AT 65 MILES ON HIGHWAY AND SUDDENLY SHIFTED TO LOWER GEAR WITHOT PRIOR WARNING. LOOKS TO BE A TRANS TORQUE CONVERTER . *TR
SRS LIGHT CAME AND WONT GO OFF. CAN I GO TO A HONDA DEALER NEAR ME AND HAVE PROBLEM FIX ASAP.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 ACURA TL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAGS WERE A SAFETY CONCERN, IF DEPLOYED. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED THAT THE AIR BAGS WOULD RUPTURE WITH METAL FRAGMENTS STRIKING AND POTENTIALLY INJURING THE PASSENGER AND DRIVER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.
THIS 2003 ACURA TLS WAS RECALLED FOR AIRBAG DEFECT. AFTER 3 VISITS I AM NOW TOLD I WILL NEED A $700 REPAIR TO THE AIRBAG SENSOR. IT IS EXTREMELY ODD THAT THE 2 ITEMS HAPPENED AT THE SAME TIME. I BELIEVE THE TWO ITEMS ARE ONE IN THE SAME AND SHOULD HAVE THE SCOPE OF THE RECALL EXPANDED TO ENCOMPASS THIS SENSOR. I NOTICED ANOTHER COMPLAINT ON THE SAME ISSUE WITH THE SRS LIGHT. *TR
2003 ACURA 3.2TL. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO A DEFECTIVE TRANSMISSION. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED HIS WIFE EXPERIENCED THE FOLLOWING WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE: THREE LIGHTS ILLUMINATED; TWO UNKNOWN AND THE ENGINE LIGHT, THERE WAS A DELAY OF 30 SECONDS WHEN TAKING OFF FROM A STOPPED POSITION AND THE GEARS JERKED AND WHEN SHE STOP AND TOOK OFF, IT FELT AS THOUGH THE VEHICLE HAD NO POWER. THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED BY A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP, THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *JB
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 ACURA TL. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 14V351000 (AIR BAGS) AND STATED THAT THE PARTS NEEDED WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO PROVIDE A SPECIFIC DATE WHEN THE PARTS WOULD BECOME AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND COULD NOT PROVIDE AN ESTIMATED DATE FOR WHEN THE VEHICLE WOULD RECEIVE THE RECALL REPAIRS. THE CONTACT WAS NOT EXPERIENCING A FAILURE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 ACURA TL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V320000 (AIR BAGS) WAS RECEIVED IN 2014. AFTER CONTACTING THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS, THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE PARTS NEEDED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE WERE STILL NOT AVAILABLE AND NO ESTIMATED TIME FOR RECEIVING THE PARTS COULD BE GIVEN. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.
TAKATA RECALL I CONTACTED ACURA THREE TIMES TO RESOLVE THIS BUT NOBODY EVER CALLS ME OR WRITES ME A LETTER TO GET THE PROBLEM RESOLVED. I LIVE NEAR ESCANABA, MI AND THE NEAREST DEALERSHIP IS IN APPLETON, WI WHICH IS A FOUR HOUR DRIVE AWAY FROM ME OR 200 MILES ONE DIRECTION. I CANNOT AFFORD TO TRAVEL THE DISTANCE AND WOULD LIKE TO GET IT REPAIRED LOCALLY. THE OPERATORS I'VE SPOKEN TO TELL ME THEY NEED TO SPEAK WITH THEIR SUPERVISORS... WHO NEVER COME TO THE PHONE, WHO INSTEAD TELL ME THEY WILL CONTACT ME AT A LATER DATE TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEM... LIKE I'VE STATED I HAVE NEVER RECEIVED A RETURN PHONE CALL, VOICE MESSAGE, OR LETTER IN THE MAIL REGARDING MY REQUEST... I WANT TO GET THIS ADDRESSED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
SUMMER OF 2014 I CAN TO A STOP LIGHT AT A COMPLETE STOP. MY TL TYPE S KEPT IDLE AT 3500 - 3700 RPM. DROVE THE CAR ABOUT QUARTER OF A MILE BEFORE HAVING TO SHUT OF THE ENGINE. THAT FIX THE PROBLEM FOR THE TIME BEING. THIS WOULD HAPPEN 2-5 TIMES A WEEK FOR THREE WEEKS UNTIL I FIGURED OUT THE CAUSE. COME TO FIND OUT IT WAS THE CRUISE CONTROL LEVER AT THE THROTTLE THAT WAS GETTING STUCK. EVENTUALLY JUST UNHOOKED THE CABLE FOR THE CRUISE CONTROL. HASN'T BEEN FIX SINCE.
THE PAINT ON ALL 2003 ACURA TL THE PAINT FAILS BADLY. THE TRANSMISSION ALSO WENT OUT ON ME SOON AS MY CAR HIT 100,000 MILES WHICH SAD FOR AN ACURA. I OWNED A 96 TL AND NEVER HAD ANY OF THESE ISSUES. *TR
TRANSMISSION FAILURE/TRANSMISSION LOCK-UP WHILE DRIVING AT ABOUT 40 MPH. LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO AVOID A VERY CLOSE CALL COLLISION WHEN THE TRANSMISSION LOCKED UP. SOMEONE COULD HAVE BEEN SEVERELY HURT OR EVEN DIED DUE TO THIS KNOWN ISSUE. WHAT IS IT GOING TO TAKE FOR ACURA TO ISSUE A FULL RECALL? HOW MANY PEOPLE NEED TO EXPERIENCE THIS ISSUE AND HOW MANY PEOPLE NEED TO DIE? SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE AND AN INVESTIGATION NEEDS TO BE OPENED. ACURA AND HONDA ARE NOT STANDING BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT, EVEN WITH THE FACT THAT THERE IS AN OPEN CAMPAIGN. EXTENDING THE WARRANTY DOES NOTHING FOR A CAR THAT IS ONLY DRIVEN A FEW MILES TO WORK DAILY. I HAVE JUST OVER 80,000 MILES ON MY 2003 TL. I GUESS IT IS SHAME ON ME FOR NOT DRIVING 15K MILES A YEAR. HAD I BEEN DRIVING THE NATIONAL AVERAGE THE TRANSMISSION WOULD HAVE SEIZED UP MANY YEARS AGO AND IT WOULD HAVE BEEN COVERED BY THE EXTENDED WARRANTY. WHAT A SCAM. THANKS FOR NOTHING HONDA/ACURA. *TR
MY BROTHER WAS DRIVING MY CAR ONE THEN IT ALL THE SUDDEN CAR JUST STOPPED WHEN WAS GOING AND BAD PART WAS IT STOPPED IN TRAFFIC HE ALMOST GOT HIT IT WAS SCARY. I GOT LOTS OF PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR PLEASE HELP!
I WAS PULLING OFF THE INTERSTATE AND CAME TO A RED LIGHT ON A HILL RIGHT BEFORE HAYWOOD ROAD. I HAD TO STOP BECAUSE THE LIGHT WAS RED AND WHEN THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN I PULLED ONTO HAYWOOD ROAD AND THE CAR WENT THROUGH 1ST GEAR, 2ND GEAR AND RIGHT BEFORE IT WENT INTO 3RD IT SLIPPED OUT OF GEAR AND JUST REVVED TO AROUND 4000 RPM. WHEN THE CAR WENT INTO 3RD AND STARTED SIPPING I HAD A PILE OF CARS THAT BUNCHED ON MY BEHIND. I HAD TWO GUYS IN A TRUCK SCREAM AND YELL OBSCENE GESTURES. *TR
I HAVE ENCOUNTERED AN UNSAFE CONDITION ON MY 2003 ACURA TL (MADE BY HONDA). THIS CONDITION WAS SHOWN TO ME BY MECHANIC WHO INDICATED THAT THE VEHICLE IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE DUE THE FRONT PASSENGER CROSS FRAME MEMBER IS COMPLETELY RUSTED THROUGH (PHOTOS ARE AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST). THE CONDITION WAS FOUND AFTER 96,746 MILES DURING A REPAIR AFTER A ROUTINE OIL CHECK. THE APPARENT CAUSE IS THE HOSE LINE CONNECTED TO THE AIR CONDITIONING UNIT IS POSITIONED IN SUCH A WAY THAT IT LEAKS ONTO THE SUB-FRAME, CAUSING IT TO RUST OUT. THE COST FOR THE FRAME REPAIR WAS $ 2,052.970, BUT WHAT IS MORE DISTURBING IS THAT I WAS DRIVING THIS CAR WITH MY GRANDCHILDREN AND FAMILY UNDER THE RISK OF AN ACCIDENT WITHOUT MY KNOWLEDGE OF THE CONDITION. ALSO, DISTURBING IS TO KNOW THERE MAY BE OTHER CARS WITH THE SAME ISSUE BEING DRIVEN TODAY. *TR
TL- THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 ACURA TL. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH SHE CRASHED INTO A GUARD RAIL. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE INJURED HER HEAD, AND KNEE. THERE WAS NO POLICE REPORT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 124,000. RK UPDATED 03/31/14*LJ
I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AND MY CAR ALMOST STOPPED. IT WAS LIKE I HAD PUSHED THE BRAKE PEDAL TO THE FLOOR AND HELD IT. IT THEN WOULDN'T SHIFT INTO GEAR AND THE RPM WENT UP TO 6000. IT IS NOW UNSAFE TO DRIVE AS IT DOESN'T SHIFT INTO GEAR AND "BUCKS" AS I TRY TO GO DOWN THE ROAD. I WENT TO AN ACURA DEALER AND THEY TOLD ME IT WOULD COST ME $4500 TO REPLACE TRANSMISSION WITHOUT LOOKING AT IT SO THEY ARE VERY AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. I CALLED ANOTHER DEALER AND LEFT MESSAGE AND THEY NEVER CALLED ME BACK. IN RESEARCHING THIS ISSUE I FOUND THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THE EXACT ISSUE I WAS HAVING. MY CAR DID HAVE THE SO CALLED "FIX" COMPLETED IN 2004. I TOOK GREAT CARE OF THIS CAR AND CHANGED MY TRANSMISSION FLUID APPROXIMATELY EVERY 30000 MILES. I CALLED AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR COMPANY AND THEY TOLD ME I WOULD HAVE TO PAY TO HAVE IT DIAGNOSED BY THE SAME DEALER WHO QUOTED ME $4500 WITHOUT LOOKING AT IT OR THE DEALER WHO NEVER CALLED ME BACK. THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH MY MODEL TRANSMISSION AND THE FACT THAT I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AND WAS ALMOST REAR ENDED BECAUSE MY CAR BASICALLY STOPPED IS UNACCEPTABLE. IT'S SAD THAT HONDA WILL NOT TAKE CARE OF THE PROBLEM. AMERICAN HONDA HAS CHOSEN PROFIT OVER CUSTOMER SATISFACTION AND SAFETY. *TR
UPON DRIVING ON A FREEWAY GOING AROUND 50 MPH MY TRANSMISSION SUDDENLY PULLED MY CAR TO A QUICK SLOWING DOWN MOTION AS IF BEING MOVED FROM GEAR DOWN TO FIRST OR SECOND. LUCKILY, THERE WERE NO VEHICLES BEHIND ME AS I WAS IN A FAR RIGHT LINE. IT IS AN OLDER VEHICLE HOWEVER IT IS A RECURRING ISSUE IT APPEARS AS THERE WAS A RECALL ON IT ALREADY BEFORE. THE DEALERSHIPS HAVE GIVEN ME CONFLICTING STORIES ON THE VEHICLE HISTORY AS FAR REPAIRS AND RECALLS ON THE VEHICLE AND I DO WISH TO HAVE THE NHTSA LOOK INTO THE HISTORY OF THIS RECALL AS WELL AS WARN THE CURRENT OWNERS OF THE VEHICLE OF THIS ISSUE AS I HAD NOT HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSION SINCE BECOMING THE OWNER AND WAS NOT TOLD OF THE RECALL UPON MULTIPLE VISITS TO THE DEALERSHIP. *TR
TRANSMISSION LOCKED UP AT 40 MILES AN HOUR. TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN LOCKING UP AND ALSO SLIPPING RECENTLY. HAD ENGINE LIGHT ON - WENT TO JIFFY LUBE...GAVE ME CODE TCC CIRCUIT MALFUNCTION P0740 ABD P1740 DTC DEFINITION NOT FOUND...SPOKE WITH MANGER[XXX] AT NIELLO HONDA AND AGREED NEED NEW TRANSMISSION - COST IS $3400. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 ACURA TL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE SRS WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED CONTINUOUSLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE AN UNKNOWN REPAIR WAS PERFORMED. THE FAILURE RECURRED THIRTY DAYS AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 87,994. DR UPDATED 09/05/14*LJ UPDATED 09/10/2014 *JS
DEAR SAFERCAR.GOV, I HAVE A 2003 ACURA 3.2 TL NAVI. IT HAS APPROXIMATELY 132,800 MILES ON IT AS OF 30 NOVEMBER 2013 (CAR IS IN SHOP, SO I CAN'T VERIFY EXACT MILEAGE). ON SATURDAY, 30 NOV 2013, I TOOK IT IN TO ACURA, BECAUSE THE ENGINE CHECK LIGHT IS ON. I ALSO ASKED THAT THE TRANSMISSION BE CHECKED, BECAUSE IT DIDN'T SEEM TO BE ENGAGING CORRECTLY. THIS MODEL AS WELL AS OTHER ACURA MODEL VEHICLES, ETC, HAD A PREVIOUS RECALL ON THE TRANSMISSION (2004). I ALSO PREVIOUSLY HAD TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED (26 AUG 2004) TO ACURA BECAUSE THE TRANSMISSION FAILED WHILE DRIVING AND THE CAR BROKE DOWN. THE CAR HAS BEEN WELL-MAINTAINED - BODY AND MECHANICALLY, I HAD THE 120K SERVICE PERFORMED ON 22 OCTOBER 2012, WHERE MILEAGE WAS 125,226. ON 11 MARCH 2011, I HAD THE TRANSMISSION FLUID FLUSH SERVICE PERFORMED. THE SERVICE RECORD STATES "FLUSH ENTIRE UNIT OF ALL OLD AND SUSPENDED DEBRIS USING A SAFE AND EFFECTIVE CLEANER TO DISSOLVE THE VARNISH AND GUMS IN THE TRANSMISSION & TORQUE CONVERTER. INSTALL NEW TRANSMISSION FLUID TO FACTORY SPECIFICATION. TODAY (01 DEC 2013), I WAS TOLD THAT THE ENTIRE TRANSMISSION AND SOME ASSOCIATED PARTS NEED TO BE REPLACED AND WILL COST ME BETWEEN $4000 TO $5000 (ESTIMATED NOW, BUT COULD GO UP). IT'S DIFFICULT FOR ME TO FATHOM THAT THIS TRANSMISSION WAS VERIFIED TO MANUFACTURER SPECS IN 2011 AND NOW A COMPLETE FAILURE AT 132800. I BELIEVE THIS TRANSMISSION FAILURE IS THE RESULT OF THE PREVIOUS PROBLEMS, AS STATED IN THE RECALL. THE RECALL I'M CITING IS FROM NHTSA IN APRIL 2004. THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER IS: 04V176000; RECALL DATE: 13 APRIL 2004; COMPONENT: POWER TRAIN: AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION; POTENTIAL NUMBER OF UNITS AFFECTED: 1,099,796. AS A RESULT OF THE HISTORY OF PROBLEMS WITH THIS TRANSMISSION, AND THE RECALL, I'M REQUESTING ASSISTANCE IN HAVING THIS TRANSMISSION REPLACED BY ACURA AT NO COST TO ME. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
MY DAUGHTER DIED IN A ACCIDENT ON NOVEMBER 7, 2013 IN THE ACURA TL 2003. SHE HAD BEEN TELLING ME THAT IT FELT LIKE THE IGNITION WAS STICKING AND WOULD SPEED UP. I WOULD CHECK WITH MY LOCAL MECHANIC AND HE TOLD ME ACURAS ARE KNOWN TO IDLE HIGH. I BELIEVE THAT HER CAR PROBLEM WAS THE CAUSE OF THE ACCIDENT AND THE POLICE COULD NOT GIVE ME A REASON FOR THE ACCIDENT. SHE WAS 19 AND A SENIOR IN HIGH SCHOOL AND WAS A GOOD CHILD. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 ACURA TL. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 14V351000 (AIR BAGS) AND STATED THAT THE PART NEEDED WAS UNAVAILABLE TO PERFORM THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCE A FAILURE.
CAN REMOVE KEY FROM IGNITION WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN D (DRIVE). *TR
2003 ACURA TL TRANSMISSION SLIPPING *CN THE DEALER STATED THE TRANSMISSION WAS NOT SLIIPING. HOWEVER, THE DID SERVICE THE TRANSMISSION. A YEAR LATER, THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER BECAUSE THE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. IT WAS THEN, THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.
I GOT MY ACURA 2003 TL TYPE S BACK FROM MY LOCAL DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THAT THE SUBFRAME ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE WAS COMPLETLY RUSTED AND THAT THE VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THE CAR'S A/C DRAIN IS RIGHT ABOVE THE AREA OF THE SUBFRAME RUST. THIS A MAJOR DEFECT IN THE CAR THAT IS CAUSING THE SUBFRAME TO BE ROTTED THROUGH AND UNSAFE. I ALSO FOUND THAT THE HONDA ACCORD 1999-2002 HAS THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE SUBFRAME RUST FROM THE A/C DRAIN. I NOTIFIED THE CAR MANUFACTURER OF THIS PROBELM AND THEY ARE DENYING THAT THERE IS ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR'S CRAFTSMANSHIP. *TR