INTERLOCK OPERATION OF IGNITION SWITCH DOES NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY ALLOWING IGNITION KEY TO BE TURNED OFF AND THE KEY REMOVED WITHOUT SHIFTING THE TRANSMISSION TO "PARK." THIS IS THE SAME DEFECT DESCRIBED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NO. 05V025000, ALTHOUGH THAT CAMPAIGN WAS FOR ACURA TL MODEL YEARS 1999-2000, AND DID NOT INCLUDE MODEL YEAR 2003. I HAVE RECENTLY EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM WHERE THE CAR ROLLED BACK AFTER I EXITED THE VEHICLE REQUIRING THAT I OPEN THE DRIVER'S DOOR, JUMP INTO THE CAR WHILE IN MOTION AND DEPRESS THE BRAKE. I UNDERSTAND THAT THERE HAVE BEEN SIMILAR DEFECTS THAT HAVE CAUSED SERIOUS INJURIES AND DEATHS. I REPORTED THIS TO ACURA TODAY (CASE NO. 05011338) BUT WAS TOLD THAT MY CAR WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE PRIOR RECALL AND NO REPAIRS WOULD BE COVERED BY ACURA.
2003 Acura TL complaints
Owner reports filed with NHTSA about this vehicle, newest first and reproduced as filed. They are unverified accounts: one proves nothing, and a pattern across many is the thing worth reading. Back to the full 2003 record →
MY CAR'S CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND TCS LIGHT CAME ON. HAD MY CAR SCANNED AT MY LOCAL OBII SERVICE CENTER AND RECIEVED CODE P1676. STILL EXPERIENCING SAME PROBLEM AFTER, I THEN TOOK MY CAR TO THE LOCAL HONDA DEALERSHIP SERVICE CENTER TO GET A VERIFICATION OF THIS CODE AND SAW A FLYER FOR RECALLS. I REVIEW THE INFORMATION, (I OWN AN ACURA, HONDA WAS UNABLE TO PROVIDE THE RECALL REPAIR SERVICE) AND FOUND THAT RECALLS PERTAINING TO THE CODE GENERATED FROM THE INITIAL SCAN FOR WHEN THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON PERTAINED TO THE CODE. I CALLED IN REFERENCE TO THE RECALLS POSTED ON THE NHTSA.GOV WEBSITE. I WAS INFORMED THAT A RECALL REPAIR FOR THE TRANSMISSION/POWER-TRAIN (04V176000) AND TIMING BELT (02V226000) WERE MADE TO MY VEHICLE HOWEVER I AM STILL HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM INCLUDING EXCESSIVE VIBRATION & HESITATION DURING ACCELERATION ESPECIALLY BETWEEN 50-60MPH), CRUISE CONTROL HAS SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING/NOTICE WHILE DRIVING , AND INABILITY TO PASS NC EMISSIONS INSPECTIONS. I CONTACTED THE NHTSA AND WAS INFORMED WITH 2 DIFFERENT REASONS WHY MY VEHICLE WAS NOT ELIGIBLE FOR REPAIR. (1) VEHICLE BATCH NUMBER WAS NOT AFFECTED AND THEN (2) THE REPAIR HAD ALREADY BEEN MADE IN FEB 2005 BY PREVIOUS OWNER. ALL THESE PROBLEM STARTED OCCURRING AFTER I TOOK MY CAR TO LEITH ACURA OF CARY, NC FOR THE RECALL ON THE TARKATA AIRBAGS(15V320000). I HAVE BEEN DENIED SAFETY REPAIRS TO MY VEHICLE. LEITH ACURA OF CARY, NC IS REQUIRING ME TO PAY $131.00 INORDER TO DO A DIAGNOSTIC SCAN ONLY THAT I ALREA
HONDA REPLACED MY AIRBAG AND I STILL GET THE SRS MALFUNCTION LIGHT. ACURA DOES NOT WANT TO TAKE THIS SAFETY ISSUE AND IS WANTING ME TO REPLACE THE SAFETY COMPONENTS AT MY COST. SRS LIGHT IS ON AND I SUSPECT FAULTY SEAT BELTS. BUT HONDA DOES NOT WARRANTY SEAT BELTS AND SAFETY COMPONENTS AFTER 10 YEARS.
TAKATA RECALL I CONTACTED ACURA THREE TIMES TO RESOLVE THIS BUT NOBODY EVER CALLS ME OR WRITES ME A LETTER TO GET THE PROBLEM RESOLVED. I LIVE NEAR ESCANABA, MI AND THE NEAREST DEALERSHIP IS IN APPLETON, WI WHICH IS A FOUR HOUR DRIVE AWAY FROM ME OR 200 MILES ONE DIRECTION. I CANNOT AFFORD TO TRAVEL THE DISTANCE AND WOULD LIKE TO GET IT REPAIRED LOCALLY. THE OPERATORS I'VE SPOKEN TO TELL ME THEY NEED TO SPEAK WITH THEIR SUPERVISORS... WHO NEVER COME TO THE PHONE, WHO INSTEAD TELL ME THEY WILL CONTACT ME AT A LATER DATE TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEM... LIKE I'VE STATED I HAVE NEVER RECEIVED A RETURN PHONE CALL, VOICE MESSAGE, OR LETTER IN THE MAIL REGARDING MY REQUEST... I WANT TO GET THIS ADDRESSED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 ACURA TL. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V320000 (AIR BAGS) AND STATED THAT THE PART NEEDED FOR THE REPAIR WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.
MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. I TOOK 2003 ACURA TL TO (2) LOCAL AUTO PARTS STORE (ADVANCE AUTO PARTS AND AUTOZONE) TO HAVE IT SCANNED USING THE DIAGNOSTIC TOOLS PROVIDED BY TECHNICIANS ON SITE. WAS GIVEN AN EXACT RECALL DIAGNOSTIC ERROR CODE (A/T. WHEN I CALL THE RECALL CENTER THEY SAID THAT THIS REPAIR HAD ALREADY BEEN DONE IN 2005. THIS OBVIOUSLY COULD NOT HAVE BEEN DONE PROPERLY. I CALLED AGAIN WHEN I STARTED HAVING OTHER PROBLEMS WITH MY CAR INCLUDING HESISTATION DURING ACCELARATION . THIS TIME I WAS TOLD THAT MY VEHICLE'S "BATCH" NUMBER WAS NOT AFFECTED BY THE RECALL. I CALLED MY LOCAL ACURA DEALER (LEITH ACURA IN CARY,NC) TO GET AN ESTIMATE OF THE REPAIRS WHICH WAS MORE THAN THE VALUE OF THE CAR WHICH DID NOT INCLUDE THE "OFFICIAL DIAGNOSTIC TEST" WHICH WAS $131.00 ALONE. THEN WAS TOLD I WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THE TEST EVEN THOUGH I ALREADY HAD 2 SCAN REPORTS FROM MY LOCAL RETAIL STORE B/C THE STORE ONLY SCANS ONLY GAVE A "GENERAL" SCAN AND THAT THEIR SCAN WAS MORE SPECIFIC. I ASKED HOW CAN IT BE MORE SPECIFIC WHEN IT SHOWS THE EXACT RECALL DESCRIPTION. I WAS THEN TOLD THAT IF THAT WAS THE CASE THEN I WOULD BE REIMBURSED. .
THE LEFT REAR DOOR WILL NOT OPEN FROM EITHER THE INSIDE OR THE OUTSIDE.
TAKATA RECALL. I HAVE RECEIVED SEVERAL NOTICES TO REPLACE THE AIR BAGS ON MY 2003 ACURA. THE HONDA DEALER 25 MILES FROM MY HOME WILL NOT REPLACE IT. THE NEAREST ACURA DEALER IS 60 MILES AWAY. TWICE I HAVE TALKED TO YOUR PEOPLE, THEY ATTEMPTED TO SET UP AN APPOINTMENT WITH THE HONDA DEALER BUT THAT HAS NOT HAPPENED. NOW THE GOVERNMENT SAYS I SHOULD NOT DRIVE MY CAR AT ALL. AS SUCH THE ONLY OPTION IS FOR YOU TO SEND A WRECKER TO PICK UP MY VEHICLE, REPAIR THE AIRBAG, AND RETURN IT TO ME. ACURA APPARENTLY BUILT AND SOLD A DANGEROUS VEHICLE. IT IS NOT MY RESPONSIBILITY TO DRIVE 120 MILES AND WASTE MOST OF A DAY TO CORRECT YOUR MISTAKE.
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!
RECENTLY PURCHASED AN 03 ACURA TL. 64000 MILES AT TIME OF PURCHASE. I DRIVE IT USING THE SLAP STICK AND MOSTLY HIGHWAY DRIVING. I NOTICE WHEN SHIFTING FROM 2ND TO 3RD GEARS, AT APPROXIMATELY 20-25 MPH THE CAR SEEMS TO JERK, OR JUMP IN THE FRONT END. ALSO BETWEEN 3RD AND 4TH GEARS. DEPENDING ON HOW FAST I ACCELERATE AND CHANGE THE GEARS, SOMETIMES THERE IS MORE JERKING...AT LOWER SPEEDS....AND LESS JERKING WHEN ACCELERATING AT A FASTER RATE. THE VEHICLE NOW HAS 76000 MILES ON IT AND I AM CONCERNED THERE ARE GOING TO BE TRANSMISSION ISSUES SOON. THIS IS MY SECOND ACURA TL, THE FIRST ONE HAVING OVER 205K MILES WITH NO ISSUES WITH TRANSMISSION, THAT WAS REPLACED BY DEALER @ 55K. IS THERE ANYTHING THAT CAN BE DONE WITH THIS ISSUE THAT I AM NOT AWARE OF. THERE ARE NO OTHER ISSUES WITH THIS VEHICLE. DID I MISS THE RECALL CUT OFF DATE, WAS THERE NEVER RECALL, OR DID ACURA MISS GROUP OF VIN #S? IF THIS IS TRULY A SAFETY CONCERN, FROM ACURA, THEY SHOULD STAND BEHIND THERE PRODUCTS, CORRECT THE "KNOWN ISSUES" WITH THE TRANSMISSIONS, FOR THERE DRIVERS TO BE SAFE, SO THEY ARE THERE FOR FUTURE PURCHASES.
WHEN I PUT THE CAR IN GEAR AND TURN OFF THE SWITCH, THE CAR KEEPS ROLLING AND DOES NOT PROVIDE ANY HINDRANCE DUE TO ENGAGED GEAR FROM ROLLING IT. I THINK THIS IS A PROBLEM, AS MY OTHER CARS DON'T DO THIS. ON MY MAZDA CX-9, IF I PUT IT IN GEAR AND TRUN OFF THE SWITCH, THE GEAR STAYS ENGAGED AND PREVENTS THE CAR FROM ROLLING. I THINK MY ACURA HAS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT IN THE TRANSMISSION SINCE IT LETS THE CAR ROLL EVEN WHEN IT IS IN THE GEAR AND ENGINE IS OFF. I HAVE ASKED MY DEALER IN FREMONT TO TAKE A LOOK AT IT, AND HE SAYS THERE ARE NO RECALLS. BUT MY MECHANIC SAID THAT THERE ARE RECALLS FOR THIS DEFECT. I WILL APPRECIATE IF YOU CAN PLEASE HELP ME WITH THIS. THIS PROBLEM IS CONSTANT, AND IT HAS NOT BEEN RESOLVED. I AM AFRAID THIS CAN CAUSE ACCIDENTS.
THIS CAR HAS ALWAYS HADD SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE AND RECALLS PERFORMED ASAP. TRANSMISSION WAS SHIFTING ERRATICALLY SO IT WAS TAKEN TO TRANSMISSION PLACE BEFORE DUE AND IT WAS FLUSHED AND INSPECTED. IT STILL SHIFTS INCORRECLY BUT INTERMITTENTLY. I DECIDED TO DO SOME RESEARCH AND FOUND NUMEROUS SAFETY ISSUES WITH THE TRANSMISSION. I BOUGHT THIS BECAUSE IT WAS RATED AS SUCH A SAFE CAR FOR MY TEENAGER. I AM BEGINNING TO RETHINK MY ORIGINAL DECISION. ALL THE SCARY RESULTS OF THIS SYMPTOM HAVE HAPPENED AFTER THE PURCHASE. WE HAVE HAD IT SINCE SEPT 2014.
DEALER UNABLE TO REPAIR WITHIN 60 DAYS. MAY TAKE UP TO 5 MONTHS TO REPAIR.
MY BROTHER WAS DRIVING MY CAR ONE THEN IT ALL THE SUDDEN CAR JUST STOPPED WHEN WAS GOING AND BAD PART WAS IT STOPPED IN TRAFFIC HE ALMOST GOT HIT IT WAS SCARY. I GOT LOTS OF PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR PLEASE HELP!
CLEAR COAT IS PEELING OFF OF THE TRUNK, SIDES OF THE CAR, AND ROOF.
TRANSMISSION. RECALL. TRANSMISSION DIED WHILE DRIVING AT HIGH SPEED ON INTERSTATE 76 WEST. ACURA SHOULD REPLACE UNDER RECALL.
POWER STEERING PRESSURE HOSE LEAKING AND POWER STEERING PUMP LEAK. YEARS 2004-27 HAVE BEEN RECALLED FOR THIS; 2003SHOULD BE, AS WELL. RIGHT ENGINE MOUNT AND REAR ENGINE MOUNTS CRACKED OR BROKEN.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 ACURA TL. WHEN THE CONTACT PLACED THE GEAR SELECTOR FROM REVERSE TO THE DRIVE POSITION, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO GEAR. THE VEHICLE HESITATED AND THEN FINALLY WENT INTO GEAR. THE VEHICLE WAS SLUGGISH AND ROUGH AS IF IT WERE SHIFTING INTO THE NEUTRAL GEAR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHERE IT COULD NOT BE DIAGNOSED. THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
I AM HAVING TROUBLE WITH MY TRANSMISSION SLIPPING BETWEEN 2ND AND 3RD GEARS. WHEN I BOUGHT THE CAR NEW IN 2003, I GOT A LETTER FROM ACURA INFORMING ME THAT THEY WERE GOING TO WARRANTEE THE TRANSMISSION FOR AN EXTRA 12 MONTHS AND 12,000 MILES BECAUSE THEY WERE HAVING TROUBLE WITH THEM. NOW THAT I AM, ACURA REFUSES TO HELP ME WITH REPAIRS.
TL* 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.
!!!WARNING THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED!!! "CRUISE CONTROL CONTROL BOX DEFECT!" 2003 TL TYPE S AUTOMATIC 4 DOOR WITHOUT CRUISE CONTROL ON CAR ENGINE BEGAN TO REV OUT OF CONTROL WHILE DRIVING, TRIED TO APPLY BRAKES BUT ENGINE IS TOO STRONG, ONCE VEHICLE HIT 80 MPH FROM THIS ON HIGHWAY I CALMLY TURNED IGNITION OFF ONE CLICK SO STEERING WHEEL WOULD NOT LOCK AND COASTED TO SAFETY. I HAD TO DETACH MODULE AS WELL AS SPEED CONTROL WIRE GOING TO THE IDLE CONTROL OF ENGINE. IF I WAS INEXPERIENCED I COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED EITHER BY GETTING INTO AN ACCIDENT OR BY MY AIRBACK BEING DEPLOYED AND KILLED FROM THE TAKATA INFLATOR. "CLEAR COAT" 2003 TL TYPE S BLACK CLEAR COAT PAINT FLAKING OFF AND MASSIVELY DISCOLORED DUE TO THE DRY WINTER COLD AND THE UV HEAT DURING SUMMER. "INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTING PROBLEM" 2003 TL TYPE S PROBLEM WITH PART OF INSTRUMENT PANEL WHERE ODOMETER IS AS WELL AS OUTSIDE TEMP NOT ILLUMINATING.
THE PASSENGER-SIDE SUBFRAME HAS MAJOR RUST AND SOME PARTS ARE RUSTED THROUGH. A MECHANIC AND FURTHER RESEARCH HAS NARROWED THE PROBLEM ON THE A/C CONDENSER HOSE DRIPPING ONTO THE METAL. THE DRIVER-SIDE PART OF THE SUBFRAME HAS MINIMAL SURFACE RUST. THIS PROBLEM IS COMMON AMONG HONDA ACCORDS AND ACURA TLS ALIKE, ACCORDING TO THE MECHANIC. $1500 TO REPLACE SUBFRAME WITH A USED PART, OR $2500 AT THE DEALERSHIP. WAS TOLD BY THE DEALERSHIP THE VEHICLE IS TOO DANGEROUS TO DRIVE.
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?
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 ACURA TL. WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE HESITATED AND VIOLENTLY SHIFTED GEARS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TORQUE CONVERTER CLUTCH CIRCUIT FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 173,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 ACURA TL. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS AT AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR A ROUTINE OIL CHANGE, THE TECHNICIAN NOTICED THAT THE SUB FRAME AS CORRODED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 180,000. UPDATED 1/12/16 *CN
2003 ACURA 3.2TL. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO AIRBAG MODULE RECALL NOTICE ISSUES. *SMD THE CONSUMER HAS BEEN TRYING TO GET AN APPOINTMENT SINCE THE END OF MARCH 2015. *JB
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 ACURA TL. WHILE DRIVING AT 15 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION STARTED HESITATING AND JUMPED INTO GEAR. THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPAIRED UNDER A MANUFACTURER'S RECALL IN 2008, HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 142,000.
2003 ACURA 3.2TL. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO A DEFECTIVE TRANSMISSION. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED HIS WIFE EXPERIENCED THE FOLLOWING WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE: THREE LIGHTS ILLUMINATED; TWO UNKNOWN AND THE ENGINE LIGHT, THERE WAS A DELAY OF 30 SECONDS WHEN TAKING OFF FROM A STOPPED POSITION AND THE GEARS JERKED AND WHEN SHE STOP AND TOOK OFF, IT FELT AS THOUGH THE VEHICLE HAD NO POWER. THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED BY A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP, THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *JB
FOR SOME TIME, THE INTERLOCK DEVICE HAS NOT BEEN WORKING AND IT ALLOWS ME TO REMOVE MY KEY WHEN THE VEHICLE IS IN GEAR. THIS HAS ALLOW THE VEHICLE TO ROLL AWAY ON HILLS.
NHTSA RECALL NUMBER: 04V-176 I BOUGHT THIS CAR IN 2012 AND HAVE BEEN HAVING ISSUES SINCE. I HAVE HAD ISSUES WITH MY TRANSMISSION UNDER 40 MPH. IT DOES NOT ACT UP ALL THE TIME, BUT I AN CONCERNED THAT IT COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. THE PRIOR OWNER NOTICED THE SAME ISSUES FROM TIME TO TIME. IT DOES NOT ACT UP ALL OF THE TIME. THE ACURA DEALER SAID THERE IS NOTHING WRONG AND THAT MY MODEL DID NOT NEED THE 2004 RECALL FOR TRANSMISSION ISSUES. THAT IS THE SAME INFO ON ACURA AND YOUR WEBSITE, BUT I AM CONCERNED ABOUT THE ACCURACY. COULD YOU CHECK IF MY EXACT VIN NEEDED THE RECALL? AND IF REPAIR WAS NEEDED, CONFIRMATION THAT THE RECALL REPAIR WAS COMPLETED. I AM THE 2ND OWNER OF THE CAR AND I KNOW THE 1ST OWNER OF THE CAR. ALL MAINTENANCE SINCE THE CAR WAS PURCHASED NEW HAVE BEEN DONE AT THE SAME ACURA DEALER IN ST. LOUIS AND I HAVE ALL THE RECORDS FROM THE DEALER SINCE 2003.
THE ACCELERATOR STUCK WHEN PULLING INTO MY DRIVEWAY THEN ACCELERATING. THE ENGINE STUCK IN THE ACCELERATED MODE. I HAD TO BRAKE WITH 2 FEET AND PUT THE TRANSMISSION IN NEUTRAL, THEN TURNED THE IGNITION TO OFF. I WAS FORTUNATE THAT I DID NOT DRIVE THROUGH THE GARAGE DOOR. EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE'S THROTTLE BODY SHOWED THE BREAKAGE OF THE PLASTIC CRUISE CONTROL "PULLEY" ON THE THROTTLE BODY ACTUATOR SHAFT, CAUSING THE CRUISE CONTROL CABLE TO HOLD THE THROTTLE OPEN. THE PLASTIC PART CRACKED AT THE CABLE RETENTION NOTCH. I HAVE NOTED THAT OTHER ACURA OWNERS HAVE ALSO EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM. REF: ACURAZINE.COM/FORUMS/SECOND-GENERATION-TL-1999-2003-98/CRUISE-CONTROL-REPAIR-SUGGESTION-833196/
TL* 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.
IN 2006 I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE 2003 ACURA TL TYPES VEHICLE...THE VEHICLE ONLY HAD 53,000 MILES ON IT AT THE TIME OF PURCHASE....I REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION IN 2008 IT ONLY HAD 103,000 MILES THEN...NOW 2015 I NEED.ANOTHER TRANSMISSION WITH ONLY 165,000 MILES ON IT NOW...I SEE WHERE THERE IS A RECALL ON THE TRANSMISSION IN 2004 I DIDN'T HAVE THE VEHICLE AT THAT TIME. I NEED TO KNOW WHAT I NEED TO DO ABOUT THIS.
TL* 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.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 ACURA TL. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE HESITATED, JERKED FORWARD, AND THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE GEAR SHIFT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 04V176000 (POWER TRAIN). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 62,000.
SUDDEN AND PREMATURE TRANSMISSION FAILURE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS
I WAS LEAVING WORK AT ABOUT 7PM. I NOTICED IT TOOK THE TRANSMISSION AN EXTRA FEW SECONDS TO SHIFT INTO DRIVE BUT IT WAS COLD SO I LET IT WARM UP AND THINGS SEEMED TO BE FINE. AS I STARTED TO GET ON TO I-93 I NOTICED MY TACHOMETER SPIKE TO ABOUT 4K RPM. I COULDN'T CATCH 3RD GEAR AND THE CAR BEHIND ME HAD TO VEER AROUND ME AS I STARTED SLOWING DOWN. AFTER I PULLED OVER ON THE SIDE OF THE ON RAMP FOR A MINUTE THE CAR SEEMED TO BE SAFE TO DRIVE SO I HEADED HOME SLOWLY IN THE BREAKDOWN LANE AND IT SLIPPED AT ABOUT 35 AGAIN. I'VE ALWAYS FELT COMFORTABLE DRIVING MY CAR, BUT THIS MADE ME SECOND GUESS BUYING IT IN THE FIRST PLACE. PEOPLE COULD'VE GOTTEN HURT AND ON A TRANSMISSION WITH LESS THAN 125K THIS SHOULDN'T BE HAPPENING. I PURCHASED IT IN 2013 FROM MY UNCLE AND PUT LESS THAN 10K ON THE ODOMETER. HE HAD PURCHASED IT IN 2008 CERTIFIED FROM AN ACURA DEALER. NEITHER OF US WERE AWARE OF THE RECALL ON THOSE MODELS OF HONDAS AND I WOULD THINK THE DEALERSHIP WOULD'VE TAKEN CARE OF THE ISSUE. *TR
VEHICLE WAS DRIVING AT 65 MILES ON HIGHWAY AND SUDDENLY SHIFTED TO LOWER GEAR WITHOT PRIOR WARNING. LOOKS TO BE A TRANS TORQUE CONVERTER . *TR
2003 ACURA TL TRANSMISSION SLIPPING *CN THE DEALER STATED THE TRANSMISSION WAS NOT SLIIPING. HOWEVER, THE DID SERVICE THE TRANSMISSION. A YEAR LATER, THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER BECAUSE THE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. IT WAS THEN, THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.
TL*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.
SRS LIGHT CAME AND WONT GO OFF. CAN I GO TO A HONDA DEALER NEAR ME AND HAVE PROBLEM FIX ASAP.
TL* 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.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 ACURA TL. WHILE DRIVING AT UNKNOWN SPEEDS, THE TRANSMISSION SEIZED WHILE SHIFTING BETWEEN FIRST AND SECOND GEAR. THE FAILURE RECURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE CONTACT WAS MADE AWARE OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 04V176000 (POWER TRAIN). THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND OFFERED TO PAY FOR PART OF THE REPAIRS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 122,000.
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. *TR
TL* 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 ACURAS 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. *TR
TRANSMISSION FAILURE/TRANSMISSION LOCK-UP WHILE DRIVING AT ABOUT 40 MPH. LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO AVOID A VERY CLOSE CALL COLLISION WHEN THE TRANSMISSION LOCKED UP. SOMEONE COULD HAVE BEEN SEVERELY HURT OR EVEN DIED DUE TO THIS KNOWN ISSUE. WHAT IS IT GOING TO TAKE FOR ACURA TO ISSUE A FULL RECALL? HOW MANY PEOPLE NEED TO EXPERIENCE THIS ISSUE AND HOW MANY PEOPLE NEED TO DIE? SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE AND AN INVESTIGATION NEEDS TO BE OPENED. ACURA AND HONDA ARE NOT STANDING BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT, EVEN WITH THE FACT THAT THERE IS AN OPEN CAMPAIGN. EXTENDING THE WARRANTY DOES NOTHING FOR A CAR THAT IS ONLY DRIVEN A FEW MILES TO WORK DAILY. I HAVE JUST OVER 80,000 MILES ON MY 2003 TL. I GUESS IT IS SHAME ON ME FOR NOT DRIVING 15K MILES A YEAR. HAD I BEEN DRIVING THE NATIONAL AVERAGE THE TRANSMISSION WOULD HAVE SEIZED UP MANY YEARS AGO AND IT WOULD HAVE BEEN COVERED BY THE EXTENDED WARRANTY. WHAT A SCAM. THANKS FOR NOTHING HONDA/ACURA. *TR
TL* 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*LJ UPDATED 09/10/2014 *JS
I WAS PULLING OFF THE INTERSTATE AND CAME TO A RED LIGHT ON A HILL RIGHT BEFORE HAYWOOD ROAD. I HAD TO STOP BECAUSE THE LIGHT WAS RED AND WHEN THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN I PULLED ONTO HAYWOOD ROAD AND THE CAR WENT THROUGH 1ST GEAR, 2ND GEAR AND RIGHT BEFORE IT WENT INTO 3RD IT SLIPPED OUT OF GEAR AND JUST REVVED TO AROUND 4000 RPM. WHEN THE CAR WENT INTO 3RD AND STARTED SIPPING I HAD A PILE OF CARS THAT BUNCHED ON MY BEHIND. I HAD TWO GUYS IN A TRUCK SCREAM AND YELL OBSCENE GESTURES. *TR
THERE WAS A RECALL ON MY TRANSMISSION IN 2004. I BOUGHT MY ACURA FROM AN ACURA DEALERSHIP IN MACON GA IN 2007. I HAD TO PAY FOR A NEW TRANSMISSION IN 2013. I FEEL THAT I SHOULD BE REFUNDED FOR MY TRANSMISSION. I WAS NEVER TOLD ANYTHING ABOUT THE RECALL ANYTIME I WAS AT THE ACURA DEALERSHIP NOR DID I FIND ANYTHING WHEN I LOOKED UP MY VIN NUMBER UNTIL AFTER THE TRANSMISSION WAS ALREADY FIXED. ON THE RECALL IT SAYS "IF HAVE ALREADY PAID TO HAVE TRANSMISSION REPLACED, YOU MAY BE ELIGIBLE FOR REIMBURSEMENT". I SENT ALL MY INFORMATION TO ACURA ABOUT 3 WEEKS AGO AND STILL HAVEN'T HEARD ANYTHING FROM THEM. *TR
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NHTSA publishes every complaint as the owner wrote it and investigates only a fraction. Spelling, capitalisation and judgement are the filer’s own. What carries weight is repetition: the same component failing the same way across many filings, and whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.
Full record for the 2003 Acura TL → · Every TL year → · How the figures are calculated →