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:
3 / 1
Injuries / Deaths:
2 / 0
Average Mileage:
158,953 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.
The contact owns a 2000 Acura TL. The contact stated while driving 65 MPH, the vehicle independently downshifted to second gear with the traction control and check engine warning lights illuminated on the instrument panel. The contact stated that the vehicle would not exceed 50 MPH while driving to the residence. The contact then called a local dealer who informed him that NHTSA Campaign Number: 04V176000 (Power Train) recall repair was already performed on the vehicle. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 174,000.
Car has 50K miles. Starting smoking and has burning oil smell. It has been diagnosed as the differential, ultimately the transmission. Cannot find recall as it is more then 15 years. But there was one in 2004. How do I get that recall covered? please help. I love this car.
Gear/transmission lock up while driving. Vehicle stalled and could not switch gear back to drive. Vehicle failed emissions twice but was passed 3rd time without exemption or waiver. This vehicle has been discontinued due to the on going unfixable issues, why wasn't it blacklisted or label a category a car? these Acura's are dangerous and shouldn't even be allowed on the road! NHTSA doesn't even specify if the vehicle was fixed after the recalls- obviously they weren't because the car was poorly made and is unfixable. We need justice
The contact owns a 2000 Acura TL. The contact stated that the vehicle experienced a complete loss of power. The vehicle was taken to hendrick Acura (6824 E independence blvd, charlotte, nc) where it was diagnosed that the third gear pressure switch was defective and needed to be replaced. Prior to the failure, the vehicle was remedied per NHTSA campaign number: 04V176000 (power train). The manufacturer was notified of the failure and offered no assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 114,000.
My transmission failed due to overheating as described in Acura safety recall campaign P39. I've had the this diagnosed at Acura reno, the maintenance manager has found the described condition present in my transmission. He agrees he has found the heat discoloration and symptoms describes in the warranty and the original safety recall. He is declining service based on the service records of the transmission fluids, he states tans fluid needs to show service records with every 50,000 mile this is untrue based on the owners manual information. Mine meet and exceed Acura recommendations. They have confirmed this with the service center that serviced the car in Maryland. At this point they are doing everything they can to not honor the repair. Safety risk: NHTSA recall number: 04V-176 gear failure could result in transmission lockup, which could result in a crash. Remedy: On vehicles with 15,000 miles or less, the dealer will update the transmission with a simple revision to the oil cooler return line to increase lubrication to the second gear. On vehicles with more than 15,000 miles, the dealer will inspect the transmission to identify gears that have already experienced discoloration due to overheating. If discoloration exists, the transmission will be replaced if discoloration is not present, the dealer will perform the revision to the oil cooler return line.I'm speaking to a [xxx] at Acura reno [xxx] my case number with Acura is [xxx] my VIN is [xxx] this failure occurred on hwy 80 East bound just before donner summit in California. I noticed a strong odor and smoke then the transmission lost engagement. I had the vehicle towed to reno nv that was the closet town we are from Colorado on summer vacation. Information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
While driving on the highway the vehicle wouldnt shift. Luckily I was able to pull to the side to prevent an accident being that I had my three year old in the car.
I purchased the car listed above in February 2014. Due to transmission problems, I went to trade this car in and purchase a newer one. I was then informed by the salesman that there was a discrepancy with the mileage on the car I was trading in. The history report showed my car at 281,762 miles in July of 2013. At the time I was trading the car in it had a mileage of 161,787. When I was sold the car in February of 2014 the mileage was listed at approximately 140,000 miles. There was no notice on the car indicating an engine swap or odometer swap. The car was sold at a price of $5500 dollars due to the outstanding mileage for that year. I now believe this to be a common practice at this car lot as I did not trade the car in and returned it back to the car lot.
The contact owns a 2000 Acura TL. The contact stated that the vehicle decelerated independently after the engine light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic. The technician stated that the transmission needed to be repaired. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 161,000.
The contact owns a 2000 Acura TL. The contact stated that while driving 50 mph attempting to accelerate, the vehicle hesitated to accelerate and excessive force was required to depress the pedal. Additionally, the contact stated that when pressure was applied to the front driver or passenger side doors, the air bag warning light illuminated. The failure occurred on several occasions. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was unknown.
As I was waiting in my car, for my sister to get in. All of a sudden the ab light appears on my dash board. The second incident happen soon after that, as I was driving on the freeway, my car just came out of gear and wouldn't pass 1st gear. The D5 light started to flash on my dash board also. By then I had made it to the curb of the freeway, thankfully. I was really frighten cause I had my 8 month old baby in the back seat. Then it started to over heat as I was at a stop already.
The contact owns a 2000 Acura TL. The contact stated that while driving 55 mph, the front passenger's side made loud noise as the vehicle hesitated. The vehicle was not repaired and the manufacturer was not notified. The approximate failure mileage was 160,000.
The contact owns a 2000 Acura TL. The contact stated that the transmission failed. The contact referenced NHTSA campaign id number: 04V176000 (power train) and contacted the manufacturer. The manufacturer stated that the transmission was previously replaced under the recall in 2005. The transmission failed again because the gears were fractured. The failure and the current mileage was 155,000.
My key can be pulled from the ignition without first putting the shifter in park. If the emergency brake isn't applied the car can roll but cannot be steered. It is dangerous. Acura and Honda have a number of recalls for this issue, including some 2000 TL vins but apparently doesn't include my VIN under the recall. The description of the recall exactly matches my symptoms and it is a serious safety issue and a very expensive repair. Onset date and mileage are approximate. I've been living with this problem for years hoping that Acura would eventually recognize that they are responsible for this and pay for the repair.
When turning car off ignition transmission interlock failed and the car was left in neutral and after exiting car it rolled backward (on a hillside) & hit parked truck. Very risky! I didn't know that Acura TL had prior years (thru 99) that were recalled. Also Honda had other models in later years with the same problem. Called national Honda 800 and they verified not covered. I had fixed, but Honda is putting public at risk!
Was driving my vehicle which I just purchased on May 26th 2012, and my car began to have shifting problems in 2nd and third gear racing rpms and would not stay engaged in 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th gear and violently downshifted into second gear at freeway speeds causing me even restrained by the seat beat to fly into the steering wheel and windsheild bumping my head and hurting my back due to whip lash. This occurrence happened several times. Then the D5 would start flashing and check engine light became lite. After calling Acura customer care, brian informed me of the recall that had to do with this matter and was supposedly fixed. My car is unsafe to drive because of the rapid change of speed at the cars desire. I could injure not just myself but others around me.
The contact owns a 2000 Acura TL. The contact stated that the vehicle stalled and would not accelerate above 20 mph. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who inspected the failure and stated that the transmission needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was notified and offered no assistance. The failure mileage was 185,000.
This car had been recalled due to a transmission issue in 2004. Early 2012, a shifting delay happened first for about one month. Then, transmission jerked between 2nd gear and 3rd gear and its getting worse. I went back to Acura, they said the transmission is broker and should be dead anytime. They suggested me to replace to it, which costs me 3500 dollars.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Ogden, UT, USA