2003 ACURA TL Complaints

AFTER HAVING MY TRANSMISSION'S SERVICED IN MY 2003 ACURA 3.2 TL TYPE-S, I BEGAN EXPERIENCING VARIOUS ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS IN MY CAR. I HAVE HAD THE OIL JET KIT INSTALLED AND ONE REPLACEMENT TRANSMISSION. I AM AWAITING MY THIRD TRANSMISSION. SINCE THE WORK ON MY TRANSMISSION VARIOUS OTHER PROBLEMS HAVE SURFACED. MY ON-STAR IS CLAIMING I NO LONGER AM CAPABLE OF HAVING REMOTE DIAGNOSTICS DONE ON MY ENGINE. ALSO, MY SRS LIGHT HAS COME ON AS WELL AS MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT PAIRED WITH MORE SPORADIC SHIFTING. I AM CONSTANTLY GETTING THE "ERROR CODE" READING ON MY RADIO AND I HAVE HEARD EXTREMELY LOUD ECHOING IN MY CAR WHEN I ATTEMPT TO MAKE AND RECEIVE CALLS VIA MY ON STAR COMMUNICATION SERVICE. I AM BEGINNING TO QUESTION THE COMPUTER SYSTEM IN MY VEHICLE. I AM HOPING THE THERE CAN BE AN INVESTIGATION OF THE ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT BOARDS AND THE POWERTRAIN; TRANSMISSION COMMUNICATION MODULE TO FIND OUT IF THERE ARE COMPUTER PROBLEMS DIRECTLY CORRELATED WITH THE TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. THIS IS BEGINNING TO BE QUITE FRUSTRATING. TOGETHER MY GIRLFRIEND AND I HAVE BOUGHT AND PAID OFF FIVE VEHICLES FROM THE HONDA MOTOR COMPANY AND ARE SURPRISED AT THE WAY THIS ISSUE IS BEING HANDLED. *JB

IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING THE PURCHASE OF MY NEW ACURA 3.2 TL TYPE-S I BEGAN EXPERIENCING UNUSUAL JERKING AND SHIFTING WHILE OPERATING MY VEHICLE. I HAVE TAKEN MY VEHICLE TO THE DEALER ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS TO BE SERVICED FOR THIS AS WELL AS DUE TO THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT BEING ON. INITIALLY THEY STATED THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE MY COMPLAINT IN COMPARISON TO OTHER SIMILAR VEHICLES. I HAVE ALREADY HAD THE OIL JET KIT INSTALLED, AND HAVE ALSO HAD THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED ONCE. AS I AM FILING THIS COMPLAINT MY VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY AT THE DEALER AWAITING ITS THIRD TRANSMISSION. I HAVE PURCHASED THREE CARS MANUFACTURED BY THE HONDA MOTOR COMPANY AND AM APPALLED AT THE CONTINUOUS PROBLEMS, INCONVENIENCE AND SAFETY ISSUES PERTAINING TO MY ACURA TL. IN ADDITION TO THE TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS WE HAVE EXPERIENCED WE HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH OUR RADIO CODE AFTER SERVICING THE TRANSMISSION AND THE DEALER WANTED TO CHARGE US $140 TO ENTER THE CODE OR RESET IT. ALSO OUR ON STAR REMOTE DIAGNOSTICS APPEAR NOT TO BE WORKING; ON STAR IS CLAIMING WE DON'T HAVE THEM WHEN WE HAVE UTILIZED THIS SERVICE BEFORE. THE SERVICE ATTENDANT AND TECHNICIAN I SPOKE WITH AT THE DEALER CLAIMS THEY AREN'T AWARE OF ANY REMOTE DIAGNOSTICS BEING POSSIBLE, DESPITE THE FACT I HAVE USED THIS FEATURE BEFORE TO DETECT TROUBLE. BEING ABLE TO USE THIS FEATURE WOULD BE GREAT CONSIDERING ALL THE PROBLEMS I HAVE EXPERIENCED. I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM VACATION THE CAR BEGAN TO JERK AND IT APPEARED TO BE SHIFTING AND SLOWING WHILE WE WERE ON THE INTERSTATE FWY. I WAS FEARFUL THAT THE TRANSMISSION WOULD GO OUT AND THAT I WOULD HAVE AN ACCIDENT, SO I PROCEEDED TO PULL OVER AND WAITED FOR ASSISTANCE TO GET MY FAMILY HOME SAFE. MY CAR HAS NOW BEEN IN THE SHOP FOR OVER TWO WEEKS. YESTERDAY I WAS TOLD THAT DUE TO A SPILLED DRINK IN MY CAR THAT THEY NEED $914 DOLLARS TO REPAIR A FAULTY CIRCUIT BOARD AND REPLACE THE CENTER COUNCIL WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE SHIFT KNOB BEFORE THEY CAN GET AUTHORIZATION FOR A THIRD TRANSMISSION. *NM

I HAVE THE ABOVE VEHICLE, PURCHASED NEW ON 1/27/2003. AT 55000 MILES THE CAR WAS RECALLED TO ADD A SECOND PUMP (AT LEAST THAT WHAT I WAS TOLD) IN THE TRANSMISSION. FROM THEN ON I HAVE HAD A SHUDDERING PROBLEM WITH MY TRANSMISSION WHEN IT UP-SHIFTED AT LOW SPEEDS. I WAS ABLE TO FINALLY PROVE TO THE ACURA DEALER THAT THERE WAS SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE TRANSMISSION AFTER 3 VISITS TO THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT (CURRY ACURA IN WESTCHESTER COUNTY, NEW YORK). THEY CLAIMED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED AND THAT ALL WAS WELL. THIS WAS IN 9/21/2005. HOWEVER, AFTER ANOTHER 20K MILES, I AM HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM AT A LESSER LEVEL AND I AM SURE THAT THE DEALER WILL CLAIM THAT I AM IMAGINING THE SYMPTOMS BECAUSE THEY CANNOT DUPLICATE THEM. IN ADDITION, I WAS TOLD THAT THE CAR WILL ONLY BE COVERED UP TO 100K MILES. I NOW HAVE 99K MILES. *NM

FOURTH TRANSMISSION AND TODAY STARTED MAKING NOISES AGAIN AND MY ACURA EXTENDED CARE EXTENDED WARRANTY EXPIRES IN 4000 MILES. *NM

THE CARELESSNESS OF THE WORKERS COMPLETING CONSTRUCTION ON INTERSTATE 275. I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE TWO HIGH PERFORMANCE TIRES; DUE TO A SCREW WHICH CAUSED MY TIRE TO BLOW WITH THE FIRST TIRE ON THE INTERSTATE AT 4:45 AM, HAD TO SPEND $266.46 TO REPLACE TIRE. THEN A WEEK AND A HALF LATER WHILE DRIVING ON THE SAME INTERSTATE GOING TO WORK HAD TO REPLACE ANOTHER TIRE DUE TO A NAIL, ANOTHER $200.00. I THINK IT IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF DOT TO MAKE SURE ALL SCREWS AND NAILS ARE CLEARED OFF THE INTERSTATE SINCE PEOPLE ARE HAVING TO TRAVEL IN ORDER TO GET TO WORK EACH DAY. TO HAVE TO PAY OVER $400, IN A WEEK AND HALF; MONEY THAT I DON'T HAVE IT IS TAKING A TOLL ON ME FINANCIALLY. I THINK DOT NEEDS TO STEP UP AND TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR ALL THE LOOSE NAILS AND SCREWS BEING LEFT ON THE INTERSTATE. *JB

STEERING FAILED - STEERING WHEEL WOULD TURN FREELY WITHOUT AFFECTING THE FRONT WHEELS. OCCURRED IN A PARKING LOT SO THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE BEFORE HITTING ANYTHING. A SERIOUS PROBLEM. *JB

THE PAINT ON MY BLACK TL-S HAS BEEN CONTINUALLY DETERIORATING SINCE A COUPLE MONTHS AFTER PURCHASE. EVERY BIRD DROPPING, ROAD GRIME, HARD WATER MARK ON MY CAR SEEMS TO EAT THROUGH 3 COATS OF MEGUIAR'S WAX AND TAKE OFF THE PAINT. FRIENDS HAVE WITNESSED HOW WELL I TAKE CARE OF MY CARS (WITNESS MY 10 YEAR OLD MITSUBISHI WITH NO SUCH PROBLEMS AND IT WAS NOT GARAGED!) AND AGREE THAT THE PAINT QUALITY ON MY ACURA IS EXTREMELY POOR. I HAVE BEEN READING OF OTHER CUSTOMERS WITH SIMILAR PROBLEMS AND I BELIEVE ACURA SHOULD HAVE TO SEND OUT A SERVICE BULLETIN TO REPAINT THOSE CARS EXHIBITING THIS PEELING, FLAKING, CRACKING, ETCHING PROBLEM. I USE A CAR COVER AND IMMEDIATELY WASH OFF ANYTHING THAT LANDS ON MY CAR.... OFTEN THE CONTAMINANT DOES NOT WASH OFF (BONDS TO THE PAINT?) OR JUST TAKES THE PAINT OFF WITH IT! TALKED TO THREE ACURA DEALERS OVER THE YEARS AND NO ONE WILL TAKE RESPONSIBILITY. IT'S DISAPPOINTING FOR A COMPANY MY FAMILY HAS DONE BUSINESS WITH FOR 18 YEARS (7 HONDA PRODUCTS SO FAR). NEVER SAW THIS PROBLEM ON ANY OF THE OTHER HONDA / ACURA PRODUCTS EITHER. *NM

FAULTY TRANSMISSION. ACURA RECALLED VEHICLE, BUT MY VEHICLE DID NOT FALL UNDER THE "VIN" RECALL. *NM

ON 8/16/06 WHILE DRIVING MY 03 ACURA 3.2TL AT 55 MPH I ACCELERATED TO APP 60 MPH TO PASS A CAR. MY CAR SLAMMED FROM 5TH GEAR TO 2ND GEAR RESULTING IN A VIOLENT JERK. IT WAS SO VIOLENT I THOUGHT I COULD HAVE BEEN RAMMED FROM BEHIND BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. NO WARNING LIGHTS. APP 1 MILE LATER GOING 45 MPH THE CAR VIOLENTLY JERKED SEVERAL MORE TIMES AS IT APPARENTLY SHIFTED FROM 4TH OR 5TH GEAR TO 2ND GEAR OR NEUTRAL. AGAIN QUITE VIOLENT AND NO WARNING LIGHTS PRESENT SO I SLOWED DOWN AND CONTINUED ON TOWARD HOME. I TRAVELED 2 MORE MILES AT 30 MPH AND EXPERIENCED ALMOST 12 MORE JERKS BEFORE MY WARNING LIGHTS STARTED FLASHING. I THEN PULLED OVER AND SAT FOR A MOMENT. THEN THE WARNING LIGHTS STOPPED FLASHING AND STAYED ON. I WAS ONLY A COUPLE OF BLOCKS FROM HOME SO I WAITED FOR A BREAK IN TRAFFIC AND PULLED BACK ONTO THE ROAD. MY CAR DID NOT WANT TO ACCELERATE AND CONTINUED JERKING VIOLENTLY IN AND OUT OF GEARS UNTIL I REACHED HOME. MY CAR HAD PREVIOUSLY (A COUPLE OF YEARS EARLIER-JULY 2004) HAD A RECALL TO PLACE A OIL SPRAY JET ON MY TRANSMISSION. I RECEIVED NO NOTICE FROM ACURA ABOUT ANOTHER TRANSMISSION PROBLEM OR RECALL UNTIL I HAD THIS MAJOR PROBLEM AND TOOK MY CAR IN. MY HUSBAND DEALT WITH THE SERVICE DEPT AT SOUTHERN MOTORS ACURA IN SAVANNAH, GA. THEY REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION AT NO EXPENSE. MY HUSBAND TOLD THE SERVICE MGR THAT HE FEARED WHAT HAPPENED COULD HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. HE WAS ASSURED THAT THE PEOPLE HAVING 3 AND 4 TRANSMISSIONS REPLACED WAS BEFORE HONDA ENGINEERS FIGURED OUT THE PROBLEM AND THAT I SHOULD NOT HAVE ANOTHER PROBLEM. HE WAS TOLD THAT THEY WOULD EXTEND MY WARRANTY TO 100K MILES OR 7 YEARS (NOT IN WRITING). SINCE GETTING MY CAR BACK WITH ITS "NEW" TRANSMISSION, I BELIEVE MY CAR HAS "SLIPPED" OUT OF GEAR ONCE MORE BUT AT A MUCH LOWER SPEED. I AM NOT CONFIDENT THAT THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN ADEQUATELY RESOLVED AND AM CONCERNED FOR MY SAFETY WHILE DRIVING THIS VEHICLE. I FEEL THAT ACURA IS COVERING UP AN ISSUE THAT COULD COST LIVES. *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE VIOLENTLY JERKED AS THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SHIFTED GEARS. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A DEALER WHO DETERMINED THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. AFTER THE INITIAL REPLACEMENT, THE PROBLEM PERSISTED AND THE VEHICLE WAS RETURNED TO THE DEALER FOR FURTHER INSPECTION. THE DEALER DETERMINED THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AGAIN. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALERTED.