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 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
1 / 1
Average Mileage:
40,890 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.
Vehicle experienced sudden stalling while on the road. Took vehicle to dealer for check up, and results showed that the vehicle needed to be replaced with a new transmission.
2002 Acura 3.2tl transmission is slipping. ** answer required***. the consumer's transmission was slipping between first and second gear. The consumer received a recall campaign referencing transmission problems. The vehicle was taken to the dealer. The dealer indicated that the transmission was slipping but was unsure what component was causing the problem. The transmission was replaced once prior to recall notification at 50000 miles.
While driving at highway speed transmission jerked. Consumer pulled over, and had the vehicle towed. Dealership replaced the transmission four times, but problem recurred.
The dealer refused to perform recall repairs to the vehicles transmission because the warranty had expired. Recall campaign: 04V176000. The consumer stated that the warranty was cancelled. The consumer requests reimbursement.
- Paoli, PA, USA
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Consumer took vehicle to dealer for automatic transmission recall. Dealer stated there was no discoloration, and placed inject into the vehicle. Consumer experienced second gear slippage. Dealer urged consumer to bring the vehicle to another dealer, who test drove the vehicle, and stated there was definitely a problem, and the manufacturer needed to authorize any further repairs. No recall found. *
I am on my 6th transmission in a 3 year old vehicle. The 5th almost caused a wreck which would have hit the spot where my 3 year old was sitting. The 5th transmission lasted only 3 weeks! this car is paid for and I wanted to keep it forever. But, apparently, I will be forced to sell it(for next to nothing) before 100K miles since Acura will only replace their bad tranny with a badder one for up to 100K miles. I do not feel safe in this vehicle. Twice I have had near misses while trying to get to a safe place after the transmission totally locked up on me. Can't anyone do anything about this"!"! how is it legal, or ethical (even though ethics seems to be a thing of the past in business anymore) to continually put people, and their families, back on the street knowing these cars are still unsafe. I am sorry, but I used to believe Acura/Honda was above that. Obviously, I was wrong.
Recall campaign 99V089000; consumer's son was involved in a tragic accident which may have been a result of the automatic transmission recall. (letter from the lawyer, richard kaufman)
Acura TL type-S (2002) transmission failure at 34,500 miles. Transmission failed 2-3 months after service at an authorized Acura dealer which supposedly included installation of the oil kit recommended in the recall notice from Honda\Acura. Installation of said kit was to have provided a permanent repair. Notifed car was ready for pickup 1/27/05 - picked up 1/28 and drove approx. 8 miles to work - car overheated. Returned to dealership 6 hours later - car overheated again with temp gauge going past the high point off the scale. Told it will be re-evaluated on 1/31/05.
Transmission went out and was replaced, then transmission went out a second time, and transmission was replaced again. Consumer was charged and the labor was reduced.
Transmission failed while driving on the inter state. Vehicle started jerking, and would'nt accelerate to speed of more than 5 mph, before failing to accelerate at all. Vehicle was towed to the dealership, where the transmission was replaced under warranty. The cause of the transmission failure was not provided to the consumer.
Just bought a pre-owned used 2002 Acura 3.2tl-types 1/11/05 from an Acura dealer in ardmore, pa. It was suppose to be certified like new. After the second off the lot, my car started to just revved up, wanting to change gears all by itself. Sometimes it takes a long to change gears while I'm driving, sometimes it just revs up and doesn't change gears. Driving down the schukyl expressway, it down shifted on me and there was a mack truck barreling down my behind. Imagine if the car came to a complete stop. My car would have been flying off the road or the truck could swerve and hit another vehicle on the next lane. Then all these lights came on. The next morning the same things happened. Took it to the dearl on 1/13/05 and he said it probably was a mechanical problem. No sh** sherlock. What do you think a it was, a goblin in under the hood? I did a full research from BBB, carsurvey.org, here, and many other places and it is consistent that hundreds of complaints are of the same type and Acura doesn't want to acknowledge it. What are they stupid. I also work at a restaurant where the Acura dealer is. Imagine if I started passing out MINIcards to tells the customer and I'm pretty sure that some of them are Acura customers also, they these cars have major problems. I don't think they will be in business long. If they can't fix it right the first time then I will be forced to pass out those cards and contact a lawyer.
My 2002 Acura Tls was recalled by Honda na for possible transmission failure. I responded to the recall & took the car to my local dealer. After doing the work required by Honda na, I drove the car home. Approximately 2 weeks later, the transmission failed. Honda na refuses to replace or repair the transmission because the car is out of warranty. I have already replaced 2 (two) transmissions in this car because of failure at my expense. In my opinion, they need to honor the recall notice & replace this transmission. Currently, the car is setting in the garage unable to drive. I would not have taken the car in to the dealer if it were not for the recall notice. The transmission worked fine until the required recall work was done.
While driving 65 mph transmission locked up temporally, causing the vehicle to lurch forward. Dealership was notified, but did not resolve the problem.
The consumer purchased the vehicle new and within 10000 miles the transmission had to be replaced. At 18000 miles the transmission failed again, then again at 35000 miles. The consumer stated the vehicle has been through five transmission including the one that is in the vehicle right now.
Experience problems with transmission. Replaced the transmission, then received recall notice for the transmission. The problm could not be duplicated.
Transmission locked up twice, car failed in the middle of traffic, axle broke 2nd time as a result, car stalls, this is a 2002 with only 40K miles!!! and it's supposed to be made by Honda!!
NHTSA recall 04V176000 on the automatic transmission. The consumer contacted the dealer on November 2, 2004 and was informed that the parts would not be available until January 10, 2005.
1. transmission started slipping and jerked the car violently several times. 2. transmission failure and at 52,000 miles. 3. transmission was replaced by dealer.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Malibu, CA, USA