CarComplaints.com Notes: The 1999-2003 Acura TL has a known & widespread defect with the transmission.

Honda fixed some vehicles with a recall in 2004 by changing the oil cooler return line. To settle a class action lawsuit in 2006, Honda extended the transmission warranty on some of these Acura TL's to 93 months / 109,000 miles.

Now these vehicles are past the warranty limit, so buyer beware.

10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
1 / 1
Injuries / Deaths:
1 / 0
Average Mileage:
44,888 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2000 Acura TL accessories - interior problems

accessories - interior problem

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2000 Acura TL Owner Comments

problem #6

Jun 282011

TL

  • 62,121 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

My car was parked in the sun at which time the automatic rear view mirror proceeded to leak caustic fluid from the photo cell unto the middle of my car's interior console especially all over the gear shifter area. This fluid was corrosive to the point that it melted a hole in the bottom of my rearview mirror and damaged the plastic pieces in the center of the console including the gear indicator and its trim ring. The rearview mirror is now cloudy and somewhat damaged. Some of the fluid got on the back of my hand when I put my car in gear and caused a slight burning sensation until I washed it off. I'm not sure if there's more fluid yet to leak from the damaged mirror the next time the interior of the car gets hot.

- Solon, OH, USA

problem #5

Aug 102010

TL

  • 92,000 miles
There was a recall on transmissions for my 2000 Acura TL. In 2005 I had 86,000 miles on it and Honda replaced my transmission with a brand new one due to recall. Five years later I have 178,000 miles (92,000 on transmission) and I am in need of another transmission. My transmission is showing the exact same problems as it did five year earlier. Second gear slipping and discoloration. This time Honda/Acura will not replace or even help pay for a replacement which was also faulty. I also spoke to another person who had to put three transmissions in her 2000 Honda Accord. It is unacceptable for a company to replace a defect with another defected piece and not stand behind the replacement that was supposed to be fixed.

- Indianapolis, IN, USA

problem #4

Mar 012000

TL

  • miles
I had a total of 6 transmissions replaced in my Acura TL 2000 3.2 liter. Why is Toyota getting so much press and trouble and Honda didn't. Honda wouldn't address the issue and my resale value was horrible. I encountered the problem after buying the car at 14,000 miles. I am considering sending this to abc news. They wanted the story a couple of years ago when I E-mailed them. I think I will follow up now. Why do Toyota owners get help but Acura owners do not. The recommendations by your Agency didn't protect Acura owners from potential deadly consequences nor financial losses. I spent thousands of dollars on this problem. Your remedy was insulting and the lawsuit was a joke.

- Austin, TX, USA

problem #3

Jul 102006

TL 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Acura 3.2 TL 2000 was purchased in 2000; the first transmission went out sometime within that first year. Dealer replaced the transmission. The second transmission went out in same manner in 2003; the dealer replaced that transmission. The recall on the transmission was done in 2004; I took my car to dealer in response to recall; the work was done in July or August of that year. Recently, was driving my car and it began to exhibit same problems I have had with the transmission each time car became inoperable. The car goes to 2 RPM and then gives a jerk; it will shift and then go to 4 RPM where it gets stuck and will have larger jerk (very unnerving). Then the car will not shift at all and moves very slowly. I had a line of cars moving behind me on the last occurrence and I also had to cross some very busy streets. This model is very unsafe and I don't believe it can be repaired as this has happened for the fourth time -- even after the recall and the parts were installed to make it safe. The first occurrence was about seven to ten months after original purchase (January to may, 2001). The second occurrence was September, 2003. Now the last occurrence in July, 2006. How many times does a transmission have to be repaired, replaced, recalled before it is safe to operate.

- Fresno, CA, USA

problem #2

May 142004

TL 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 115,205 miles
I purchased this vehicle as new in April 2000. In November 2001, the transmission failed, and I was thrown forward at a high rate of speed as though rear-ended. The transmission was replaced with a rebuilt transmission at the dealer in temecula, California, and covered under recall or warranty (I think it was warranty, and that the recall was made after the fact.) well, now it has been a little over 2 years, and the same thing has happened again. While traveling on an interstate, my transmission failed, throwing me forward, and rapidly decelerating the vehicle. I was quite fortunate to have not been rear-ended! my neck and back hurt, and my dealer has charged me nearly $6000 for the repairs. A failure of this sort must be investigated before people are injured or killed.

- Murrieta, CA, USA

problem #1

Mar 072002

TL

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
Purchased 2002 Acura brand new. During an accident, the driver air bag did not deploy during crash. The passenger air bag deployed when no one was in the passenger seat during crash. Acura 3.2 TL was featured to be a safe vehicle in advertisements. It had front and side airbags. Acura is combining target markets for approach to safety, best value for high end car, upper-end demographics. For a price of over $28,000, vehicle should be be flawless. Let the buyer beware. Consumer product safety commission should issue a recall.

- Cedar Park, TX, USA

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