2003 ACURA TL Complaints

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

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

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

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.

WHILE DRIVING THE TRANSMISSION SLIPPED ALMOST INTO NEUTRAL AND HAS PROGRESSED TO GET WORSE CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO RUN FOR A FEW MOMENTS AND THEN NOT MOVE AT ALL UNTIL IT SITS FOR 20-30 MINUTES. I HAVE CONTACTED ACURA AND MY VEHICLE HAS HAD THE RECALL DONE SO I CONTACTED MY LOCAL DEALERSHIP TO SEE IF THERE WAS ANY KIND OF WARRANTY ON THE RECALL AND WAS TOLD NO. THIS VEHICLE HAS LESS THEN 70,000 MILES ON IT AND HAS HAD ALL MAINTENANCE MAINTAINED ON IT. UPON RESEARCHING THE PROBLEM I'M APPARENTLY NOT THE ONLY OWNER WHO HAS HAD THIS PROBLEM AND SOMEONE IS GOING TO GET SERIOUSLY INJURED OR POSSIBLY LOOSE THEIR LIFE IF THE MANUFACTURE DOES NOT FIX THESE PROBLEMS. MY FIRST ENCOUNTER I WAS EXCHANGING FROM ONE MAJOR HIGHWAY TO ANOTHER AND BECAUSE MY CAR ACCELERATED AND THEN STOPPED IF I WOULDN'T HAVE GONE OFF ONTO THE SHOULDER, WHO KNOWS WHERE I WOULD BE TODAY. *TR

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