2003 Acura TL Complaint Log

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 ACURA 3.2TL. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE ANY FURTHER. THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO DISPLAY A HIGH LEVEL OF RPMS AND THE CONTACT SHUT OFF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 118,000.

TRANSMISSION FAILED WHILE DRIVING UP A HILL. CAUSED CAR TO LOSE ACCELERATION, NEARLY GOT REAR ENDED WHILE PULLING OFF THE ROAD TO SAFETY. INITIAL TRANSMISSION FAILED AT 23,000 MILES. THIS IS THE 2ND TRANSMISSION FAILING WITH ONLY 116,000 MILES ON IT. DEFECTIVE TRANSMISSION. *TR

ON SEPT 3 2010 I WAS IN AN ACCIDENT WITH MY 2003 ACURA TL TYPE S. I WAS TRAVELING AROUND 45 MPH GETTING ONTO THE HIGHWAY FROM THE SERVICE ROAD WHEN SOMEONE CAME FROM THE FAR LEFT AND HIT ME ON THE DRIVERS SIDE FRONT - FRONT LEFT FENDER AND FRONT LIGHT, AND BUMPER WERE DAMAGED. THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG WENT OFF - NOTE THERE WAS NO ONE IN THE PASSENGER SIDE. THE DRIVERS SIDE AIR BAG DID NOT GO OFF AS WELL AS THE RESTRAINT DID NOT HOLD ME BACK ON IMPACT. *TR

1. THE GEARS IN MY ACURA BEGIN TO SLIP ON A SATURDAY MORNING AT THE END OF A FAMILY BEACH TRIP AND SOON THERE AFTER ON THE WAY BACK HOME WHICH WAS OVER 200 MILES WAYS THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. 2. ABOUT HALFWAY HOME(100 OR SO MILES), THE TRANSMISSION COMPLETELY FAMILY ON THE OPEN HIGHWAY, AND MY WIFE AND I WAS LEFT STRANDED IN THE RURAL NORTH CAROLINA WITH A 1 YEAR OLD AND A 5 YEAR OLD. 3. AFTER ALL THIS HAPPEN, I LEARNED OF A RECALL ON THE ACURA TL 2003 TRANSMISSION. ACCORDING THE ACURA.COM AND THE DEALERSHIP, THIS DEFECT WAS FIXED. I DO NOT THINK IT WAS FIXED BECAUSE OF THE SYMPTOMS OF MY TRANSMISSION FAILURE. I HAVE CALLED THE HONDA\ACURA CORPORATE OFFICE, THE NEAREST ACURA DEALERSHIP AND THE DEALERSHIP OF THE ORIGINAL PURCHASE OF THE VEHICLE. I HAVE GOTTEN THE SAME ANSWER FROM ALL OF THEM, "THERE IS NOTHING WE CAN DO". I THINK THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE AND VERY FRUSTRATING. *TR

1. THE GEARS IN MY ACURA 2003 TL BEGIN TO SLIP BETWEEN 2ND AND 3RD GEARS ON A SATURDAY MORNING AT THE END OF A FAMILY BEACH TRIP AND SOON THERE AFTER ON THE WAY BACK HOME WHICH WAS OVER 200 MILES AWAY THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. 2. ABOUT HALFWAY HOME(100 OR SO MILES), THE TRANSMISSION COMPLETELY FAILED ON THE OPEN HIGHWAY, AND MY WIFE AND I WAS LEFT STRANDED IN THE RURAL NORTH CAROLINA WITH A 1 YEAR OLD AND A 5 YEAR OLD. 3. AFTER ALL THIS HAPPENED, I LEARNED OF A RECALL ON THE ACURA TL 2003 TRANSMISSION. ACCORDING TO ACURA.COM AND THE DEALERSHIP, THIS DEFECT WAS FIXED BY INSTALLING AN 'OIL JET KIT' OR 'OIL COOLER RETURN LINE' TO HELP LUBRICATE THE 2ND GEAR AND KEEP THE TRANSMISSION FROM OVERHEATING. I DO NOT THINK IT WAS FIXED BECAUSE OF THE SYMPTOMS OF MY TRANSMISSION FAILURE. I HAVE CALLED THE HONDA\ACURA CORPORATE OFFICE, THE NEAREST ACURA DEALERSHIP AND THE DEALERSHIP OF THE ORIGINAL PURCHASE OF THE VEHICLE. I HAVE GOTTEN THE SAME ANSWER FROM ALL OF THEM, "THERE IS NOTHING WE CAN DO". I THINK THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE AND VERY FRUSTRATING. I HAVE ALSO BECOME AWARE OF A WARRANTY EXTENSION THAT WAS MADE ON 2003 ACURA CL AND TL MODELS BECAUSE OF A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT FILED AGAINST HONDA OF AMERICA. THE EXTENSION WAS FOR 93 MONTHS OR 114,000 MILES. MY CAR IS UNDER THE 93 MONTH EXTENSION BUT OUTSIDE ON THE 114,000 MILES. *TR

A DAY BEFORE WHILE DRIVING MY ACURA'S VSA LIGHT CAME ON AND WITHIN FEW MILES ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. BY THE END OF THE TRIP THE CAR WAS HAVING PROBLEM SHIFTING GEARS ESPECIALLY IN LOWER. NEXT DAY THE PROBLEM WORSENED AND THE CAR JUST STOPPED WHILE I WAS TRYING TO MAKE A TURN IN THE MIDDLE OF THE BUSY INTERSECTION. I HAD TO TOW IT TO NEAREST DEALER WHERE THEY INFORMED ME THAT ITS THE TRANSMISSION. IT HAS BEEN FIXED BACK IN 2004 AND IT WILL COST ME $4900 TO FIX IT NOW. I ASKED THEM ABOUT RECALL AND THEY SAID I DON'T HAVE THE WARRANTY ANYMORE SO IT IS NOT COVERED. I HAVE TALKED TO ACURA CASE MANAGER ABOUT HELPING US BUT THEY ONLY ARE GOING TO ASSIST WITH ABOUT 500 DOLLARS THAT'S NOT MUCH. *TR

2003 ACURA TL SUDDEN DOWNSHIFT FROM 5TH TO 2ND. *TR

ACURA 2003 TN-S CAN TURN OFF ENGINE WITH CAR IN NEUTRAL. I DID AND IT ROLLED AWAY. IT IS REPEATABLE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 ACURA 3.2TL. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE BEGAN INDEPENDENTLY BRAKING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NEED REPLACING. THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THE VEHICLE COULD POTENTIALLY FALL UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 04V176000 (POWER TRAIN: AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION). THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED BUT IT WAS NOT CONFIRMED IF THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 109,779.

TL-THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 ACURA TL. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION BEGAN TO SLIP OUT OF GEAR WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND TURNED THE ENGINE OFF. THE VEHICLE RESUMED OPERATION AND THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE CONTACT HAD DRIVEN WITH CAUTION AT AN EXTREMELY LOW SPEED. THE CONTACT STATED THE FAILURE WAS CONTRIBUTED TO THE TRANSMISSION. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 71,900.

INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) ACURA 2003 3.2TL COMMON TRANSMISSION FAILURE CODES PO740 AND PO730. SHIFTS ERRATICALLY LIKE MILLIONS OF OTHERS. VIN # IS NOT ON THE LIST. WE HAVE LEARNED THIS IS THE 2ND TIME IN. HONDA CITY IN WISCONSIN - DEALER SCAMMED US. CARFAX DID NOT LIST THE REPAIR!!! DEALER IS TELLING US TO DRIVE IT IN AND RISK OUR LIVES!!! !!! THE DEALER SHOULD DRIVE IT HIMSELF. HONDA CORPORATE IS NOT TAKING ANY ACTION. 1-800-422-2872 AMANDA CASE # [XXX] . WHY IS THE GOVERNMENT NOT TAKING ACTION !!! *TR

THERE WAS A SUDDEN DOWNSHIFT IN GEARS WHILE DRIVING IN THE VEHICLE AND CHANGING FREEWAYS LATE AT NIGHT. THE CAR, AS A RESULT, DECELERATED QUICKLY IN FAST MOVING TRAFFIC ALMOST CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. THE CAR WAS PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE FREEWAY AND WAS RENDERED INOPERABLE DUE TO TRANSMISSION FAILURE. THE CAR WAS PART OF THE ACURA 00-04 CL & TL A/T RECALL (AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SECOND GEAR INSPECTION). AS PART OF THE RECALL, IF THE CAR WAS OVER 15,000 MILES, THE DEALER WOULD INSPECT THE GEAR FOR HEAT DISCOLORATION. IF THEY FOUND DISCOLORATION, A NEW TRANSMISSION WOULD BE INSTALLED. THE CAR WAS OVER 15,000 MILES AT THE TIME BUT THE DEALER REPORTED NO DISCOLORATION. AS A RESULT, ONLY AN OIL JET KIT WAS INSTALLED ONLY. DUE TO A LARGE NUMBER OF CASES OF TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS WITH THE TL AND A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT, ACURA EXTENDED THEIR TRANSMISSION WARRANTY FOR MODEL YEARS 1999-2002 AND INCLUDED ONLY SOME 2003 DEPENDING ON VIN NUMBER. MY VEHICLE IS A 2003 MODEL, BUT DID NOT FALL WITHIN THE VIN NUMBER CUTOFF. THEREFORE, MY CAR DOES NOT QUALIFY FOR THE TRANSMISSION EXTENDED WARRANTY. I HAVE A FOUND A LARGE NUMBER OF OTHER COMPLAINTS ON THIS WEBSITE, AS WELL AS OTHERS, REGARDING 2003 ACURA TLS THAT DID NOT MAKE THE VIN NUMBER CUTOFF BUT STILL SUFFERED FROM TRANSMISSION FAILURE. OBVIOUSLY, THERE IS A SAFETY ISSUE REGARDING THESE CARS AND THEIR TRANSMISSIONS THAT WAS NOT ADDRESSED IN THE INITIAL RECALL. (THE APPROPRIATE REPAIRS WERE NOT MADE). THE SECOND RECALL, WITH THE EXTENDED WARRANTY, ALSO DOES NOT APPEAR TO COVER ALL VEHICLES EFFECTED BY THIS TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 ACURA 3.2 TL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE TCF LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE DOWNSHIFTED AND BEGAN SPUTTERING. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND FILED A COMPLAINT. THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIR. THE CONTACT WAS ALSO INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL 04V176000 (POWER TRAIN: AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION) AND HE WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR REPAIR COSTS. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 71,000.

MY 2003 ACURA TL-S TRANSMISSION, 83,000 MILES. BASED ON THE RESEARCH I'VE DONE ONLINE. IT SEEMS THAT THERE ARE MAJOR PROBLEMS WITH THIS MODEL. *TR

WAS TRAVELING ON I-20 WITH FAMILY AND TRANSMISSION IN 2003 ACURA TYPE S JUST BLEW OUT WITH NO WARNING TRAVELING SEVENTY MILES AN HOUR. COASTED TO SIDE OF INTERSTATE AND HAD TO GET OUT AND PUSH CAR FURTHER OUT OF HARMS WAY. HOT TRANSMISSION FLUID CREATED SMOKE FROM ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND LEFT US STRANDED SIXTY MILES FROM HOME. NEW TRANSMISSION WAS INSTALLED IN THIS VEHICLE IN 2007 AT DEALERSHIP WITH 50,000 MILES ON IT AND NOW IT GOES OUT AGAIN WITH ABOUT 50,000 MILES ON IT. DEALER WOULD ONLY GIVE TEN PERCENT TOWARDS GOODWILL FIX PAID THIRTY TWO HUNDRED OUT OF POCKET. THIS YEAR AND MODEL WAS INVOLVED IN A LAWSUIT IN CALIFORNIA BUT THE VIN NUMBER ON MY CAR AS WELL AS NUMEROUS OTHERS WAS NOT INCLUDED BUT SHOULD WELL HAVE BEEN. ACURA SERVICE MANAGER TOLD ME THIS IS A WEAK PRODUCT BUT THAT WAS PUTTING IT MILDLY AFTER GETTING ON THE INTERNET AND READING ALL THE CONSUMER COMPLAINTS ON THIS EXACT MODEL AND YEAR ACROSS THE COUNTRY. THESE TRANSMISSIONS ARE STILL DEFECTIVE AND SHOULD BE REPLACE BY HONDA FOR FREE. CONSUMERS ARE TRADING AND GETTING RID OF THE CARS BECAUSE THEY FEEL THEY ARE A SAFETY THREAT TO THEIR FAMILY. MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING US TO A GRADUATION WHEN THIS HAPPENED AND IT SCARED HER TO DEATH HAPPENING AT THAT SPEED ON THE INTERSTATE. THIS PRODUCT IS WELL DOCUMENTED AS BEING A PIECE OF CRAP BUT CONSUMERS LIKE ME HAVE NO RECOURSE BUT SUFFER THE LOSS AND HOPE FOR THE BEST OUT OF THE NEXT TRANSMISSION. WHEN PEOPLE HAVE TO PUT THREE AND FOUR TRANSMISSIONS IN A CAR WITH A HUNDRED THOUSAND MILES ON IT SOMEBODY NEEDS TO STEP IN AND PROTECT THE CONSUMERS. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT DIFFERENCE WAS MADE DURING THE VIN NUMBER ON MY CAR AND SAME MODELS BEFORE IT THAT WERE COVERED UNDER THE LAWSUIT. EVIDENTLY THE SAME TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS STILL EXISTED IN ALL THESE MODELS. JUST READ ALL THE THREADS ON WWW.CARSURVEY.ORG/REVIEWS/ACURA/TL/R71264/COMMENTS. *TR

I OWN A 2003 ACURA 3.2TL, THE TRANSMISSION FAILED WHILE I WAS DRIVING IT HOME THE OTHER DAY. I ALMOST CAUSED A MAJOR ACCIDENT ON THE HIGHWAY I WAS TRAVELING ON. IF IT WASN'T FOR THE OTHER DRIVER ON THE ROAD I WOULD HAVE BEEN IN A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. AFTER FINDING THOUSANDS OF ACURA TL OWNERS ALL ACROSS THE COUNTRY WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME. I THINK IT ONLY FAIR TO HAVE THIS MATER INVESTIGATED BY YOUR COMPANY. ACURA NEEDS TO ACCEPT THAT THEY DESIGNED A POORLY FUNCTIONAL TRANSMISSION THAT SHOULD BE REPLACED REGARDLESS OF VEHICLE MILEAGE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 ACURA TL. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATE SPEEDS OF 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE SHIFTED FROM DRIVE TO NEUTRAL WITHOUT DRIVER INTENT, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO STALL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC AND TESTING. THE DEALER ADVISED THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER WOULD NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 72,000.

PURCHASED USED ACURA TL3.2 FEB. 1, 2010. TRANSMISSION FAILED. SLIPPAGE IN 2ND AND 5TH GEAR. CAR UNSAFE TO DRIVE BECAUSE IN TRAFFIC WOULD NOT ACCELERATE BECAUSE OF SLIPPAGE. CONTACTED DEALERSHIP WHERE CAR WAS SOLD ORIGINALLY. REFUSED ANY ASSISTANCE. CALLED ACURA HOT LINE AND REFUSED ANY ASSISTANCE. CONTACTED 12 RELIABLE SOURCES REGARDING REPLACEMENT. CONTACTED 6 RELIABLE MECHANICS AND PAID FOR INSTALLATION OF REBUILT TRANSMISSION. SENT LETTER TO PRESIDENT OF CUSTOMER SERVICE AND TELEPHONE CALL PLACED TO ME ADVISING NO ASSISTANCE. INFERRED BECAUSE USED CAR NOT PURCHASED FROM ACURA DEALER AND INSTALLATION OF NEW REBUILT TRANSMISSION NOT DONE BY ACURA DEALERSHIP WOULD NOT OFFER ANY GOOD FAITH ASSISTANCE. BELIEVE RECALL SHOULD BE DONE ON THIS VEHICLE. ALREADY DID ONE ON 2ND GEAR AND ADDED SOMETHING REGARDING OIL AND REHEATING. ALSO TIMING BELT RECALL. RECALL ON 2ND GEAR OBVIOUSLY DID NOT WORK. WOULD ADVISE ANYONE NOT TO PURCHASE THIS MODEL VEHICLE!! PREVIOUSLY OWNED HONDA ACCORD AND ACURA INTEGRA EXCELLENT VEHICLES. 3,.2 TL NOT EXCELLENT VEHICLE MANUFACTURER NEEDS TO RECALL VEHICLES AND REIMBURSE CUSTOMERS FOR COST OF TRANSMISSIONS. *TR

2003ACURATL 4 DOOR. THE PASSENGER AIRBAG LIGHT COME AT DIFFERENT TIMES WHEN DRIVING THE CAR WITH SOMEONE IN THE SEAT. THE GAS PEDAL ALSO IS STARTING TO STICK AND HARD TO PUSH DOWN TO MOVE THE CAR FORWARD. COULD THERE BE A RECALL MAYBE A INVESTIGATION. *TR

COMPLETE FAILURE OF THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION IN MY 2003 ACURA TL 3.2 WITH ONLY 70,000 MILES. *DT

I PURCHASED A 2003 ACURA TL TYPE S 2 YEARS AGO WITH 99,000 MILES ON IT. LAST WEEK THE TRANSMISSION WAS SLIPPING FROM 2ND TO 3RD GEAR AND WOULDN'T GO INTO 3RD GEAR. THAT PROBLEM STILL PERSISTS AND HAS GOTTEN WORSE. THE CAR NOW HAS 139,000 MILES ON IT, I PUT 40,000 MILES ON IT THE LAST 2 YEARS. I CALLED ACURA TO SEE IF THEY WOULD STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT BUT THEY SAID SINCE THE CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY THEY CANT DO ANYTHING. I TOOK OUT A LOAN TO BUY THIS CAR AND I STILL OWE ON IT. I DON'T KNOW IF I WILL EVER BUY ANOTHER ACURA BECAUSE OF THIS EXPERIENCE. *TR

I ALREADY FILED A CLAIM, BUT HAVE FURTHER INFORMATION. MY HUSBAND AND I OWN A 2003 ACURA 3.2TL THERE IS A RECALL ON THE TRANSMISSIONS OF THESE CARS (BOTH IN AGE AND MAKE AND MODEL), BUT OUR VIN # IS NOT IN THE LOT OF VIN'S UNDER THE RECALL. THREE DAYS AFTER I FILED THE COMPLAINT WITH YOU THE TRANSMISSION SEIZED WHILE MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING 40 MPH. LUCKILY HE AVOIDED AN ACCIDENT. HE STOPPED DRIVING THE VEHICLE AND HAD IT TOWED TO THE ACURA DEALERSHIP. WE HAD THEM REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION. THEIR ORIGINAL BID WAS FOR $4,600. WE HAD BIDS FROM TRANSMISSION SHOPS TO DO THE JOB FOR $2,000. THE DEALERSHIP NEGOTIATED AND DID THE WORK FOR $2,000. I SPOKE WITH ROBERT FROM THE NHTSA AND HE SAID THAT THE RECALL WAS FOR TRANSMISSIONS SEIZING WHEN THE VEHICLES WERE BEING OPERATED. I FEEL THAT IT IS IMPORTANT TO ADD THIS INFORMATION TO MY ORIGINAL COMPLAINT. *TR

FAULTY TRANSMISSION IN OUR 2003 ACURA 3.2 TL. WE PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE NEW. AT AROUND 80,000 MILES IT STARTED TO SHUDDER WHEN ACCELERATING BETWEEN 20 AND 30 MPH. WE DIDN'T THINK MUCH OF IT. WE NOW KNOW THAT IT WAS THE TRANSMISSION. ACURA EXTENDED THE WARRANTY FROM 50,000 MILES TO 100,000 FOR THIS REASON, BUT WE WERE NEVER NOTIFIED. NOW THE CAR HAS 112,000 MILES AND THIS WEEK THE TRANSMISSION STARTED SLIPPING BETWEEN 2ND AND 3RD GEAR, AND NOW BETWEEN 1ST AND 2ND THERE IS A BANG AND A LURCH. CURRENTLY IT IS FAR TOO DANGEROUS TO DRIVE THE CAR. WE TOOK IT TO A TRANSMISSION SPECIALIST WHO DIAGNOSED THE CAR AND RESEARCHED THE PROBLEM. HE SAID THAT ACURA HAS A RECALL FOR THIS EXACT ISSUE AND OUR CAR SHOULD BE COVERED. WE MET WITH THE LOCAL ACURA DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAY OUR CAR ISN'T IN THE "BATCH" OF VIN'S COVERED IN THE RECALL. THEY FURTHER SAY THAT SINCE WE DON'T HAVE A MAINTENANCE RECORD SHOWING THAT WE HAVE SERVICED THE TRANSMISSION EVERY 30,000 MILES, WE HAVE LOST OUR CHANCE OF THEM WORKING WITH US AT ALL. OUR MANUAL CLEARLY STATES TO DO THE FIRST TRANSMISSION SERVICE AT 120,000 MILES. WE HAVE RECORDS FOR HAVING DONE ALL OTHER ROUTINE MAINTENANCE, BUT NEVER DID ANYTHING ABOUT THE TRANSMISSION, BECAUSE THEIR INFORMATION SAYS NOT TO. NOT ONCE HAS ANYONE FROM ACURA EVER INFORMED US THAT CONTRARY TO WHAT OUR MANUAL SAYS, WE SHOULD SERVICE THE TRANSMISSION EVERY 30,000 MILES. THERE WAS A RECALL ON A PART OF THE TRANSMISSION THAT THEY DID REPLACE WHEN THE CAR HAD 50,000 MILES, AND ACURA SAYS THAT IS ALSO A REASON THEY DON'T HAVE TO HELP US TODAY.*CW

2003 ACURA TL TRANSMISSION FAILURE WITH OUT WARNING. UPON TRAVELING AT 50 MPH MY VEHICLE DROPPED GEARS CAUSING IT TO DECELERATE AT RAPID RATE. THE CAR TACKED UP TO APPROX 5000 RPM. THE FAILURE CAUSED THE TRANSMISSION TO DOWN SHIFT RAPIDLY AND LOOSE SPEED AND COULD POSSIBLY CAUSE DRIVER TO LOOSE CONTROL. I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER WITHOUT INCIDENT. THERE HAVE BEEN MANY TRANSMISSION FAILURE ADMITTED BY ACURA CAUSING THEM TO EXTEND WARRANTY ON SOME MODELS BUT THEY ARE NOT ADMITTING TO THE TOTAL PROBLEM AND POTENTIAL HAZARDS. *TR

2003 ACURA TL TRANSMISSION SUDDENLY FAILED CAR HAD 99,500 MILES ,WAS TOWED TO ACURA DEALER , TOLD $4300FOR NEW TRANSMISSION BECAUSE I DIDN'T FALL WITH-IN VIN # FOR 105,000 MI FREE REPLACEMENT (EARLY 2003) I FEEL PROBLEM WAS NOT FIXED IN MID 2003 AND I SHOULD BE COVERED. *TR

WHEN I SHIFT GEAR I NOTICE THE CAR PULLING FORWARD. IT'S BECOMING MORE OF A PROBLEM IT HAPPENS CONSTANTLY. *TR

I WAS DRIVING MY 2003 ACURA WITH MY 3 YEAR OLD CHILD IN IT WHEN SUDDENLY THE TRANSMISSION WENT INTO NEUTRAL AND FEW SECONDS LATER WENT BACK INTO GEAR AND LATER STARTED SLIPPING OUT OF GEAR, MIND YOU MY VEHICLE ONLY HAS 75,000 MILES ON IT. MANY OTHERS HAVE HAD SIMILAR PROBLEMS WITH THE SAME TYPE OF CAR AND WITH EVEN LESSER MILES ON IT. *TR

MY 2003 ACURA TL HAS ACCELERATOR PROBLEMS SIMILAR TO THE TOYOTA PROBLEM. TWO YEARS AGO IT STUCK TWICE AND THE VEHICLE REACHED SPEEDS UP TO 90 MPH BEFORE I COULD STOP IT BY PUTTING BOTH FEET ON THE BRAKE AND DOWNSHIFTING IT. I REALLY THOUGHT I WAS GOING TO DIE. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP, THEY TESTED IT AND SAID IT WAS PROBABLY A BAD TRANSMISSION SO THEY REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION. THE CAR HAD ABOUT 50,000 MILES ON IT AT THAT TIME. A MONTH AGO THE SAME THING OCCURRED. AGAIN I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER. THEY SAID IT WAS PROBABLY THE TRANSMISSION HOWEVER THEY WOULD NOT REPLACE IT WITHOUT THE WARRANTY PEOPLE ACTUALLY SEEING IT MALFUNCTION. THEY CHARGED MY $110 AND SENT ME ON MY WAY. I AM AFRAID TO RIDE IN THE VEHICLE, MY WIFE AND CO-WORKERS WILL NOT RIDE IN THE VEHICLE. I HAD TO BUY A REPLACEMENT VEHICLE AND NOW CANNOT SELL THIS ONE IN GOOD CONSCIENCE. I AM GOING TO ASK THE DEALER TO TAKE IT BACK AND GIVE ME FAIR MARKET VALUE FOR THE VEHICLE. THEY CAN DO WITH IT WHAT THEY WANT. WHAT OTHER ALTERNATIVES DO I HAVE? TW*

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 ACURA 3.2TL TYPE S. WHILE ACCELERATING ON THE HIGHWAY THE TRANSMISSION BEGAN TO SLIP OUT OF GEAR AND INTO NEUTRAL. THE RPMS BEGAN TO REV AND INCREASE; YET, THE VEHICLE DID NOT ACCELERATE. HE WAS ABLE TO DRIVE 25 MPH TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REPLACED AT THE OWNERS EXPENSE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 100,000.

OUT OF THE BLUE TRANSMISSION IS STARTING TO SLIP FROM 2ND TO 3RD GEAR. CAR WAS BROUGHT IN FOR A TRANSMISSION RECALL IN 2006 WITH 36000 MILES. DEALER INSTALLED OIL INJECTOR SAID TRANSMISSION WAS FINE. CAR HAS 82000 MILES NOW AND DEALER SAYS NEED NEW TRANSMISSION. OF COURSE VIN NUMBER IS 5000 OVER THE LIMIT OF THE TRANSMISSION EXTENDED WARRANTY. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 ACURA TL. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH THE VEHICLE HAD SUDDENLY STOPPED ON ITS OWN AND COULD NOT BE DRIVEN PAST THE SECOND GEAR WITHOUT STOPPING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THERE WERE NO PRIOR WARNINGS AND THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED BY A LOCAL MECHANIC. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 107,000.

I OWN A 2003 ACURA TL. MY TRANSMISSION IS NOT SHIFTING PROPERLY UNLESS I BABY THE ENGINE. THE PROBLEMS GETS WORSE AS THE CAR HEATS UP AND GETS HOT. THE MAIN PROBLEM COMES IN WHEN SHIFTING FROM 1ST GEAR TO 2ND GEAR AND FROM 2ND TO 3RD AS WELL. GOING UP HILLS FROM A STOP IS DIFFICULT. I BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY PULLED CODE P1450. THE TECH TOLD ME THAT THERE ARE INTERNAL SOLENOIDS THAT ARE RECEIVING THE SIGNAL TO SHIFT, BUT ARE NOT ACTUATING. I'VE LOOKED INTO THIS PROBLEM AND SAW THERE IS AN OUTSTANDING RECALL ON THIS TRANSMISSION (04V176000). I'VE BEEN TOLD BY ACURA HQ AND THE LOCAL DEALER THAT I'VE BEEN DEALING WITH (ACURA OF AVON IN AVON, CT) AND HAVEN'T GOTTEN ANY RESULTS. I UNDERSTAND THAT MY CAR DOES NOT FALL WITHIN THIS RECALL, BUT I ALSO UNDERSTAND THAT THERE IS ALSO A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT AGAINST ACURA THAT DESCRIBES MY EXACT PROBLEM. DESPITE ACURA'S INFORMATION ON VIN NUMBER DISTRIBUTION OF PROBLEMATIC TRANSMISSIONS, I BELIEVE I HAVE A VEHICLE THAT IS EXPERIENCING THE PROBLEMS COVERED UNDER EITHER THE RECALL OR THE CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT. THIS PROBLEM OCCURS EVERYTIME I DRIVE THE VEHICLE. I HAVE TO KEEP THE ENGINE AT AROUND 2,000 OR 2, 500 RPMS UNTIL THE TRANSMISSION FINALLY SHIFTS. IF I DO NOT LAY OFF THE GAS, THE TRANSMISSION WILL NOT SHIFT. *TR

I HAVE A 2003 ACURA 3.2 TL TYPE S WITH 71K MILES. ONE DAY I WAS DRIVING AND I NOTICED EXCESSIVE JERKING AND SLIPPING. USUALLY BETWEEN 2 AND 3 GEAR. WHEN I TRY TO REVERSE, IT WOULD TAKE A WHILE TO GET INTO GEAR AND THEN IT WOULD JERK HARD. IT SEEMS LIKE SOMETIMES WHEN I WOULD TRY TO ACCELERATE IT WOULD GET STUCK IN NEUTRAL AND THE ENGINE JUST REVS UP TO 5000 OR 6000 RPMS. THIS HAPPENED TO ME WHEN I WAS TRYING TO CHANGE LANES TO MAKE AN EXIT. I FEEL UNSAFE DRIVING THIS CAR ON THE HIGHWAY, BECAUSE I FEAR ONE DAY IM GOING TO GET REAR ENDED. MY D5, VSA, AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS CAME ON SO I TOOK IT TO AND AUTOZONE TO RUN A DIAGNOSTIC. THE COMPUTER GAVE THE CODE P0740. I TOOK IT TO AN ACURA DEALERSHIP AND WHILE DRIVING THERE MY CAR GETS STUCK IN 2ND OR 3RD GEAR. IM ON THE HIGHWAY GOING 45 MPH AND REVVING MY ENGINE UP TO 5000 OR 6000 RPM. WHEN I GOT THERE THE DEALERSHIP WANTED TO CHARGE ME $3700 TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION. SUPPOSEDLY MY VIN NUMBER WASN'T COVERED IN THEIR EXTENDED WARRANTY, EVEN THOUGH MY CAR HAS THE EXACT SAME PROBLEMS AS OTHER TLS THAT WERE COVERED UNDER THE WARRANTY. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 ACURA TL. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH THE VEHICLE DOWN-SHIFTED WITHOUT ANY PRIOR WARNINGS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL REPAIR FACILITY, AND A MECHANIC CONCLUDED THAT THE GEARS IN THE TRANSMISSION WERE SLIPPING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN ADVISED HIM THAT BEFORE REPAIRS COULD BE PERFORMED HE WOULD HAVE TO PAY AN $140.00 DIAGNOSTIC FEE. NO REPAIRS WERE MADE. THE TECHNICIAN CONCLUDED THAT HE WOULD CALL THE MANUFACTURER TO DETERMINE WHAT RECOURSE THEY WOULD PROVIDE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 63,300. UPDATED 11/06/09. *LJ THE BALL JOINTS WERE REPLACED. UPDATED 11/10/09

THERE IS A KNOWN TRANSMISSION ISSUE WITH ACURA 2003TL VERSION, EVEN THOUGH ACURA HAVE PUT IT IN RECALL, TO DO THE WORK THE DEALER CHARGE ANYWHERE FROM $350-600. THE VEHICLE CHOKES UP IN BETWEEN THE ROAD BECAUSE OF OVERHEATING IN TRANSMISSION. THE HEADLIGHTS FLICKERING IS ONE ANOTHER ISSUE WHICH WHEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER CALLED IT AS COMPUTER SYSTEM MESS UP IN THE CAR AND THIS IS NOT IN THE RECALL, THE DEALER CHARGES ABOUT $800 FOR SUCH REPAIR WHICH IS NOT REASONABLE FOR THE FAULTY EQUIPMENT OF ACURA. *TR

WITH 2 YEAR OLD SON AND 4 YEAR OLD SON IN CAR, THE TCS (TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM) LIGHT TURNED ON AND ENGINE REVVED BUT CAR SLOWED. WENT FROM 40MPH DOWN TO 30MPH. CONTINUED DOWN ROAD AND ENGINE CONTINUED TO NOT RESPOND. HAD TO HAZARD AND BARELY MADE IT OFF ROAD. MOST DANGEROUS POSITION I PUT MY KIDS IN. WENT TO DEALER AND GOT TOLD FLARE IN SHIFTING. THEY RAN FULL DIAGNOSIS AND RETRIEVED CODE P0730 INCORRECT GEAR RATIO AND CODE P0740 TC CLUTCH FAILURE. TOLD NEEDED TO REPLACE TRANSMISSION FOR $5K. ASK TO ESCALATE TO FACTORY DISTRICT REP OF ACURA WHO AGREED TO PAY HALF OUT OF GOOD WILL AND TOTAL COST AROUND $1.85K. NOT IN LIST OF ORIGINAL VIN NUMBERS WHO GOT AUTOMATIC POWERTRAIN EXTENSION TO 100,000 MILES. FROM CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT, SOUNDS LIKE ACURA/HONDA GAVE JUDGE EMPIRICAL DATA THAT SHOWED THEY HAD "FIXED" THE TRANSMISSION PROBLEM AND OUR VEHICLES DON'T NEED TO BE INCLUDED. GIVEN MY TRANSMISSION FAILED AND LOOKS LIKE A FEW OTHERS, I THINK WE SHOULD HAVE BEEN INCLUDED. NHTSA SHOULD MONITOR THESE TRANSMISSION FAILURES BECAUSE WE ARE 6-7 YEARS IN VEHICLE LIFE AND AT 10,000 MILES PER YEAR, IF TREND HOLDS...QUITE A FEW TRANSMISSION MIND DIE IN NEXT YEAR. VERY DANGEROUS. CREATED A YAHOO NEWSGROUP AND ALIAS FOR OWNERS WITH VIN NUMBERS NOT INCLUDED IN WARRANTY EXTENSION. HTTP://AUTOS.GROUPS.YAHOO.COM/GROUP/2003_ACURA_TL_TRANSMISSION_PROBLEMS/. *TR

TRANSMISSION BEGAN SLIPPING AT 85,000 MILES. *TR

TRANSMISSION SLIPPING FROM SECOND TO THIRD GEAR - TRANSMISSION FREEZES COMPLETELY WHEN CAR BECOMES WARM AND HAS BEEN DRIVEN FOR PERIOD OF TIME - ACURA CLAIMS VIN NUMBER NOT INCLUDED IN WARRANTY EXTENSION FOR TRANSMISSION RECALL. *TR

LTR REGARDING PROBLEMS SHE IS EXPERIENCING WITH HER 2003 ACURA 3.2TL. SHE WOULD LIKE A THOROUGH INVESTIGATION INTO THIS MATTER. *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WOULD HESITATE WHEN ACCELERATING. ON AUGUST 14, 2009, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO GET THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. THE PROBLEM WAS THOUGHT TO BE THE BATTERY AND TIMING BELT AND THE CONSUMER WAS CHARGED $ 1,371.49. ON DECEMBER 12, THE VEHICLE STARTED JERKING INTO GEAR. THE VEHICLE WAS DROPPED OFF AT THE DEALER. THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A CALL FROM THE DEALER STATING THE VEHICLE NEEDED A NEW TRANSMISSION. *JB

TRANSMISSION CAUSED VEH TO JUMPED OR JERKED FORWARD. *TR

WE HAVE A 2003 ACURA 3.2 TL PURCHASED IN SEPTEMBER OF 2002. THERE WAS A RECALL ISSUED FOR OUR MODEL AND OUR CAR WAS BROUGHT IN TO OUR DEALER TO HAVE IT CHECKED IN JANUARY OF 2005. THE DEALER STATED THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WAS UPDATED (AN OIL JET KIT WAS INSTALLED) AND WE CONTINUED TO DRIVE THE CAR UNTIL AUGUST 2009. THERE WAS A SUDDEN JERK WHILE DRIVING ON THE NJ TURNPIKE AND THE CAR SUDDENLY STOPPED. WE HAD TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED AND IT STARTED DRIVING AGAIN A COUPLE HOURS LATER. WE BROUGHT IT IN TO THE ACURA DEALERSHIP AND THEY STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REPLACED. WE ENDED UP PAYING ALMOST $4000.00 TO HAVE THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED. ACCORDING TO HTTP://WWW.HONDATRANSMISSIONSETTLEMENT.COM THERE HAS ADMITTEDLY BEEN A PROBLEM WITH HONDA/ACURA TRANSMISSIONS. UNFORTUNATELY, THE VIN OF MY CAR IS NOT COVERED UNDER THE LAWSUIT, NOR DOES THE WARRANTY COVER OUR REPAIRS. I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY MY CAR IS NOT COVERED WHEN IT OBVIOUSLY HAS THE SAME TRANSMISSION ISSUES THAT HAVE BEEN REPORTED BY THOUSANDS OF ACURA OWNERS. I HAVE TRIED CONTACTING THE DEALER AS WELL AS ACURA AND THEY HAVE NOT BEEN HELPFUL AT ALL. I FEEL THAT I SHOULD NOT BE PAYING FOR ACURA'S TRANSMISSION DESIGN FLAW. FOR REFERENCE: HTTP://WWW.CARSURVEY.ORG/REVIEWS/ACURA/TL/R71264/COMMENTS/ AND HTTP://WWW.ACURAWORLD.COM/FORUMS/F47/LOOK-ME-ANOTHER-TRANSMISSION-THREAD-32947/. *TR

ON THURSDAY 7/23/09 AS I WAS ON MY WAY HOME FROM WORK, MY TRANSMISSION COMPLETELY FAILED. I WAS PULLING OUT ONTO A BUSY ROAD AND WAS ALMOST INVOLVED IN A VERY BAD COLLISION WHEN MY TRANSMISSION QUIT WORKING. IT LURCHED ME FORWARD INTO MOVING TRAFFIC HOWEVER WOULD NOT ACCELERATE FAST ENOUGH TO GET ME MOVING. LUCKILY, THE ONCOMING SEMI TRUCK WAS ABLE TO SLAM ON IT'S BRAKES AND TURN TO AVOID A COLLISION. I COULD HAVE EASILY BEEN KILLED IF THE DRIVER HAD NOT BEEN ALERT AND PAYING ATTENTION. THERE IS ALREADY A RECALL ON THIS TRANSMISSION (NHTSA #04V176000) WHICH ACCORDING TO HONDA WAS ALREADY DONE ON MY CAR HOWEVER IT OBVIOUSLY WAS NOT DONE PROPERLY. IT MAY NOT LOCK UP AS STATED IN THE ORIGINAL RECALL HOWEVER A COMPLETE FAILURE TO MOVE IS ALSO EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. CHECKING AROUND ONLINE, MANY MANY OTHER PEOPLE ARE MAKING THIS SAME COMPLAINT ON MY YEAR AND MODEL. ACURA NEEDS TO COMPLETELY RESOLVE THESE PROBLEMS OR PEOPLE MAY BE SERIOUSLY INJURED OR EVEN KILLED. *TR

DRIVING THE CAR ONE AFTERNOON, WHEN SUDDENLY THE CARS RPM RAPIDLY WENT UP, NEARLY TOUCHING THE RED LINE PART OF THE RPM. LOOKING AT THE METERS ON THE DASH THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COME ON. TO MY UNDERSTANDING THE 3RD GEAR WAS NOT WORKING CORRECTLY. HAD IT CHECK AT AN LOCAL AUTO PART STORE AND WAS TOLD "SOMETHING IS WRONG WITH THE GEAR RATIOS." IT WAS A PROBLEM THAT NEVER WENT AWAY. BRING IT IN FOR AN INSPECTION I WAS TOLD THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE REPLACE. SO WITH THE AMOUNT TO REPLACE IT BEING ABOUT $3700 I DECLINED THE SERVICE. LOOKING ONLINE FOR ISSUE INVOLVING THE CARS TRANSMISSION I FOUND OUT THAT THE CAR HAD A RECALL THAT WAS ISSUE IN APRIL 2004 SO I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND ASK THEM ABOUT THE RECALL AND WAS TOLD THE IT HAD ALREADY BEEN DONE AND FIX IN 2004. WHICH I WOULDN'T HAD KNOW ABOUT BECAUSE THE CAR WAS BROUGHT IN 2007. THE CAR NOT BEING UNDER WARRANTY I AM LEFT WITH THE COST TO REPLACE IT. IM COMPLAINING BECAUSE I DID HAVE THE CAR IN 2004 AND THE CAR NEVER GOT A RECALL REPLACEMENT AND NOW THAT I AM THE NEW OWNER OF THE CAR I EXPERIENCE THE FAILURE AND IS LEFT WITH NO OTHER OPTION BUT TO PAY FOR SOMETHING THAT COULD OF BEEN FIX AT THE TIME. *TR

WHILE TRAVELING ON THE PENNSYLVANIA TURNPIKE IN A 2003 ACURA 3.2TL, THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A TOTAL LOSS OF POWER DUE TO COMPLETE FAILURE OF THE TRANSMISSION (AUTOMATIC). THE VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING WITH CRUISE CONTROL ENGAGED AT 65 MPH. ENGINE RPM BEGAN TO CLIMB. CRUISE CONTROL WAS SECURED. WITHIN 1-2 MINUTES ALL CLUTCH ENGAGEMENT IN THE TRANSMISSION WAS LOST WITH A CORRESPONDING TOTAL LOSS OF POWER (ENGINE WAS STILL OPERATING, BUT NO FORWARD OR REVERSE GEARS/POWER TO THE WHEELS). WITH FAMILY MEMBERS IN THE CAR, AND NO POWER, THE CAR WAS COASTED TO THE SIDE OF THE TURNPIKE. ACURA DEALER SAID THAT CODES ON VEHICLE INDICATED TOTAL TRANSMISSION FAILURE, NO CAUSE PROVIDED. I VIEW THIS FAILURE AS A DEFECT, RELATED TO PRIOR TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS FOUND ON 1999-2003 ACURA 3.2 TLS THAT RESULTED IN A CLASS ACTION SUIT, WITH CORRESPONDING EXTENSION OF WARRANTY ON THE TRANSMISSIONS, BUT THE VEHICLES INCLUDED IN THE GROUP COVERED BY THE SUIT DID NOT INCLUDE MY VEHICLE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 ACURA 3.2TL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION DOES NOT SHIFT AND THE RPMS RINSE WHEN THE VEHICLE IS NOT TRAVELING AT HIGH SPEEDS. THE VEHICLE JERKS WHEN THE TRANSMISSION STALLS AND THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS FLASH. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED THAT THE JERKING COULD CAUSE A CRASH. THE DEALER OFFERED TO PAY 50% OF THE REPAIR COST, BUT THE CONTACT FEELS THAT THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD PAY FOR THE ENTIRE REPAIR SINCE THE VEHICLE HAS 68,880 MILES AND THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE CANNOT BE DETERMINED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 68,880.

HELLO, MY NAME IS GILLIEUME GONSALVES WITH A 2003 ACURA TL. THE CAR WAS PURCHASED IN 3/07 FROM PRICE ACURA IN DOVER DELAWARE. THE SALES MAN WHOSE NAME IS BILL WHISTLER TOLD ME THAT THE CAR HAD NO PROBLEMS, THE CAR WAS INSPECTED FOR A SAFETY RECALL DEALING WITH THE TRANSMISSION AND SHOULD LAST WELL THROUGH THE ACURA WARRANTY AND THE LIFE OF THE CAR. AFTER ABOUT 6 MONTHS WORTH OF DRIVING, I WAS ON THE HIGHWAY AND DRIVING ABOUT 65 ON THE HIGHWAY AND LIGHTLY STEPPED ON THE BRAKES AND NOTICED THE TACHOMETER GO WELL BELOW THE NORMAL IDLE SPEED AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THE CAR JERKED AND SLIPPED OUT OF 5TH GEAR INTO 2ND GEAR CAUSING A SUDDEN DECELERATION AND ALMOST CAUSING A PILE UP ON THE FREEWAY. I WENT TO THE ACURA DEALERSHIP FOR THEM TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM AND THEY SAID IT WILL BE NOTED IN THE COMPUTER AND WILL BE COVERED UNDER THE WARRANTY EVEN AFTER IT RUNS OUT. I COMPLAINED TO HONDA AMERICA AND THE DEALERSHIP THAT IM NOT CONCERNED ABOUT BREAKING DOWN ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, I WAS MORE AFRAID THAT THE CAR WILL LOCK UP ON THE HIGHWAY AND ME OR MY FAMILY WILL END UP DEAD IN A CAR CRASH OR ROLL OVER, JUST LIKE SOME OTHER COMPLAINTS I HAVE SEEN ON THE INTERNET, THEY BOTH SAID THERE WAS NOTHING THEY CAN DO AND THEY CANNOT HONOR ANYTHING POSTED ON THE INTERNET. THE PROBLEM HAPPENED AGAIN JUST AFTER THE CAR CAME OUT OF WARRANTY AND ACURA SAID IF I PAY $3400 ACURA WILL PUT A USED THE TRANSMISSION THAT HAD ALREADY FAILED AND REBUILT IN THE CAR, I DECLINED. 2 MONTHS LATER THE TRANSMISSION SLIPPED OUT OF 5TH GEAR WHEN I TOOK MY FOOT OFF THE ACCELERATOR DURING RUSH HOUR AND THE POLICE WITNESSED THE SUDDEN DOWNSHIFT AND TOLD ME TO TOW IT HOME. THE NEXT DAY I HAD AAMCO TRANSMISSIONS LOOK OVER THE CAR AND THE MECHANIC SAID THE CAR ALMOST PUT HIM THROUGH THE WINDSHIELD TWICE AND I SHOULD LEAVE IT OR SOMEONE IS GOING TO GET KILLED. I HAD TO PAY $4000 TO HAVE A NEWLY REBUILT TRANSMISSION INSTALLED IN MY CAR. WHICH IS CRAZY BECAUSE HONDA IS TOO CHEAP TO REPLACE THIS DEFECT IN MY CAR. *TR

INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) 2003 ACURA TL 3.2, [XXX] MILEAGE: 55,189 AFTER DRIVING FOR A FEW MINUTES, AUTO TRANSMISSION DOES NOT PULL, SIMILAR TO THE TRANSMISSION BEING PLACED IN "NEUTRAL". ACURA TAKEN TO LEITH ACURA, CARY, NC ON 4/14/10. DEALER SERVICE DEPT IDENTIFIED THE FOLLOWING COMPUTER CODES: P0740-TORQUE CONVERTER CLUTCH, P0730-GEAR INCORRECT RATIO, & P0700-SHIFT MALFUNCTION. BASED ON THESE CODES, DEALER RECOMMENDED TRANSMISSION & TORQUE CONVERTER TO BE REPLACED (TOTAL COST APPROX $ 3400). DEALER CONTACTED THE REGIONAL ACURA OFFICE, WHICH PROVIDED A 45% ADJUSTMENT TO THE ORIGINAL COST. NET CHARGE BY DEALER $ 1,783.19. THIS VEHICLE WAS SUBJECT TO A RECALL IN 2003-04 (NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID # 04V176000). THE MODIFICATION TO THIS SAFETY RECALL WAS COMPLETED ON 9/10/2004 BY TISCHER ACURA, LAUREL, MD WITH MILEAGE @ 8,426. PER THE INVOICE FROM TISCHER & SINCE THE MILEAGE WAS LESS THAN 15,000, THE RECALL INSTRUCTED THE DEALER TO "INSTALL AN OIL JET KIT", WHICH WAS COMPLETED. NOTE, IF THE VEHICLE HAD MORE THAN 15,000 MILES, THE SAFETY RECALL INSTRUCTED THE DEALER TO "REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION". BASED UPON THE HISTORY OF THIS PARTICULAR ACURA, I BELIEVE THE DEALER IN 2004 SHOULD HAVE REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION INSTEAD OF INSTALLING AN OIL JET KIT. MANY ACURAS MANUFACTURED PRIOR TO THE 2004 MODEL HAD SERIOUS "TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS" WHICH WERE INCLUDED IN OTHER "RECALLS". *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 ACURA TL. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH IN RAINY WEATHER CONDITIONS, THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTED INTO ANOTHER GEAR WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE CAUSED SUDDEN DECELERATION. THE CONTACT IS IN THE PROCESS OF TAKING THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 52,320.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 ACURA 3.2TL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION'S THIRD GEAR CLUTCH PACK HAS FAILED. THE TRANSMISSION SLIPS OUT OF THIRD GEAR BEFORE REACHING 40 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT SHE WOULD HAVE RECEIVED A DEDUCTION ON THE REPAIR COST IF HER VEHICLE HAD BEEN SERVICED BY ACURA. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VIN WAS EXCLUDED FROM NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 04V176000 (POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 66,000.

TRANSMISSION IN MY 2003 ACURA TLS HAD BEEN RECALLED OCT, 5TH, 2004 FOR AN OIL JET INSTALL. I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE USED FROM A CERTIFIED ACURA DEALERSHIP IN FRANKLIN, TN. ON JUNE 3RD, 2006. WAS NEVER DISCLOSED OF THIS ISSUE. I LEARNED OF THIS PROBLEM ON NHTSA WEB SITE. RECENTLY IN MARCH OF 2009 AND WITH 95,000 MILES ON THE CAR, I NOTICED A HESITATION WHILE ACCELERATING. I TOOK THE CAR TO MY DEALER AND THEY SAID THE TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REPLACED. MY WARRANTY WAS UP AT 100,000 MILES. THEY REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION, OR SO THEY SAY, AND IT HAD THE SAME PROBLEMS AS I DROVE IT OFF THE DEALER LOT. UPON RETURNING THE CAR TO THE DEALER THE NEXT DAY, THEY ASSURED ME THEY WOULD REPLACE THAT 2ND TRANSMISSION WITH A 3RD. HOWEVER, THE WARRANTY WOULD ONLY COVER TO THE ORIGINAL 100,000 MILE EXTENSION LEAVING ME WITH 5 THOUSAND MILES TO TEST THIS 3RD TRANSMISSION. THE KNOWN FAILURE RATE ON THESE(CHECK NHTSA) IS ASTOUNDING. WHAT IS WRONG WITH THESE TRANSMISSIONS? ARE THEY PUTTING THESE SAME KNOWN DEFECTIVE PARTS INTO THESE REMANUFACTORED TRANSMISSIONS? WHY DOESN'T ACURA STAND BEHIND EACH ONE WITH A NEW SEPARATE WARRANTY? *TR