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:
7 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
6 / 1
Average Mileage:
79,499 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.
Takata recall I don't know if this is the right forum for my complaint. But I have been dealing with Acura for 6 months trying to get my recalled airbags replaced on my 2003 Acura 2.3tl. The closest dealership to where we are stationed (husband in the navy) is 2 hours away. Acura put in a request with rick justice Honda in meridian, ms to do the repair for me, but they refused. Rick justice Honda informed me that Acura will not pay them to do the repair, Acura claims this is not the case. I have made dozens of attempts to contact Acura customer care to get this figured out. No one is able to help me, and my case manager (case 04757404) never calls me back. I have requested a rental car since it is my understanding that I absolutely should not drive my car, especially since I live in a gulf coast state. They told me I would need to drive 2 hours to pick it up since rick justice, 30 minutes from me, will not help me. I feel Acura/Honda are doing nothing to help me or insure my safety. I feel rick justice Honda should be able to do the repairs since Acura and Honda are virtually the same!
The contact owned a 2003 Acura TL. The contact stated that while driving at 65 mph, the vehicle encountered a pot hole causing the vehicle to jerk violently. As a result, the vehicle veered off the road and flipped over. The air bags did not deploy. The contact's left shoulder strap seat belt was detached from the vehicle leaving behind only the waist strap seat belt as the contact shifted from the driver's seat to the passengers seat during the accident. Furthermore, the contact's head was partially hanging out of the window after the accident. The vehicle was destroyed. The contact sustained a fractured wrist, chest pains, multiple lacerations and a concussion. In addition, the contact's stomach was severely twisted out of shape and the contact vomited and fainted numerous occasions after the accident. The contact required medical attention. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 123,000. The VIN was not available.
In June 2015 a light suddenly came on the dashboard when I turned on the ignition indicating a problem with the front passenger side airbag. I took it to my Acura dealer who said it malfunctioned and had to be replaced. It was replaced and I was charged $753.84. I asked if it was never used how could it malfunction and why did I have to cover the charge. In November 2014 the front airbags were replaced by the dealer at no cost to me. Since your Agency is looking into side airbags, can I be reimbursed for my payment of $753.84, and if so, to whom do I make this request" do I need to have any other airbags replaced in my car"
2003 Acura 3.2tl. Consumer writes in regards to airbag module recall notice issues. The consumer has been trying to get an appointment since the end of March 2015.
- Little Elm, TX, USA
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The contact owns a 2003 Acura TL. The contact stated that the recall notice for NHTSA campaign number: 15V320000 (air bags) was received in 2014. After contacting the dealer and the manufacturer on multiple occasions, the contact was informed that the parts needed to repair the vehicle were still not available and no estimated time for receiving the parts could be given. The contact had not experienced a failure.
The contact owns a 2003 Acura TL. The contact received a notification for NHTSA campaign number: 15V320000 (air bags) and stated that the parts needed were unavailable. The dealer was uncertain when the parts would become available to service the vehicle under the recall. The manufacturer was notified. The contact had not experienced a failure.
The contact owns a 2003 Acura TL. The contact received a recall notification for NHTSA campaign id number: 14V351000 (air bags) and stated that the part needed was unavailable to perform the recall repair. The manufacturer was notified of the issue. The contact had not experience a failure.
The contact owns a 2003 Acura TL. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign id number: 14V351000 (air bags) and stated that the parts needed were not available. The dealer was unable to provide a specific date when the parts would become available. The manufacturer was contacted and could not provide an estimated date for when the vehicle would receive the recall repairs. The contact was not experiencing a failure.
This 2003 Acura Tls was recalled for airbag defect. After 3 visits I am now told I will need a $700 repair to the airbag sensor. It is extremely odd that the 2 items happened at the same time. I believe the two items are one in the same and should have the scope of the recall expanded to encompass this sensor. I noticed another complaint on the same issue with the SRS light.
The contact owns a 2003 Acura TL. The contact stated that the air bags were a safety concern, if deployed. The contact was concerned that the air bags would rupture with metal fragments striking and potentially injuring the passenger and driver. The manufacturer was notified. The contact had not experienced a failure.
My daughter died in a accident on November 7, 2013 in the Acura TL 2003. She had been telling me that it felt like the ignition was sticking and would speed up. I would check with my local mechanic and he told me Acura are known to idle high. I believe that her car problem was the cause of the accident and the police could not give me a reason for the accident. She was 19 and a senior in high school and was a good child.
The contact owns a 2003 Acura TL. The contact stated that while driving approximately 60 mph, the SRS warning light illuminated continuously. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where an unknown repair was performed. The failure recurred thirty days after the vehicle was repaired. The vehicle was repaired but the failure recurred. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 87,994. Dr updated 09/05/14 updated 09/10/2014
TL- the contact owns a 2003 Acura TL. The contact stated while driving approximately 65 mph she crashed into a guard rail. The air bags did not deploy. The contact stated that she injured her head, and knee. There was no police report filed. The vehicle was destroyed. The vehicle was towed to the dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 124,000. Rk updated 03/31/14
The contact owns a 2003 Acura TL. The contact stated that while entering the vehicle, the driver's side curtain air bag inadvertently deployed. The contact sustained injuries to the left shoulder and became numb on the left side of the back up to the spine. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who replaced the driver's side frontal air bag but did not inspect the side curtain air bag. The cause of the inadvertent air bag deployment was not determined. The failure was reported to the manufacturer. The failure and current mileage was 45,000.
I was applying the brake due to stopped traffic ahead of my car. As I did so, the car accelerated rather than slowed down. My car contacted the left rear of the car in front of mine, and as I tried to straighten out the car, it again accelerated. Veered to the right, and struck the stone wall of the bridge on the shoulder of the highway. According to the police report, there was a malfunction with the throttle mechanism. "officers witnessed, when starting the vehicle, the RPM indicator quickly rise to approximately 5,000/5,500 without any pressure applied on the gas pedal. The floor area did not exhibit items, including the floor mat, which would potentially be the cause."
The contact owned a 2003 Acura TL. The contact stated that while driving 55 mph on a wet surface, she lost control of the vehicle and was involved in a rollover crash. The air bags did not deploy. A police report was filed. The contact stated that she injured her back, neck, and sustained bruises and contusions. The vehicle was destroyed. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The VIN was not available. The failure and current mileages were 138,000.
The contact owns a 2003 Acura TL. The contact stated that four months after having repairs performed under NHTSA campaign id number: 11V260000 (air bags:frontal:driver side inflator module), the SRS warning lamp illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who diagnosed that the driver side air bag and the passenger side seat belt buckle needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure who did not offer any assistance since the vehicle was previously repaired under a recall. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 63,299 and the current mileage was 65,406.
Hi sir, I have recently purchased the above used vehicle from a local dealer in Aug 2011. It is indicated in the carfax report that there was a safety recall (#R55) for A/S drivers airbag inflator. The "SRS" light is illuminated. When I took the car to godson Acura at 1750 E, airport freeway, irving Texas. They informed me that I have to pay for this service. Can you advise me on this. If it is a recall, shouldnt it be repaired by the authorised dealer? [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
2003 Acura 3.2 TL. Fleet manager writes in regards to safety recall notice the dealer refused to honor the recall, stating they would not get paid for the work.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Lauderdale, MS, USA