2003 Acura TL complaints

WHILE SLOWLY PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE AT MY LOCAL FITNESS CLUB VEHICLE SUDDENLY MADE A ROARING NOISE, ACCELERATED, PLUNGED FORWARD, AND STRUCK TWO PARKED VEHICLES. THIS HAPPENED IN A MATTER OF SECONDS. AFTER THE CAR STOPPED, I PUT IT IN PARK AND TURNED OFF THE ENGINE. I NOTIFIED THE OWNERS OF THE OTHER VEHICLES, AND PROMPTLY CALLED THE POLICE. WHEN THE POLICE OFFICER ARRIVED, HE COMPLETED EXCHANGE OF INFORMATION FORMS FOR ALL INVOLVED PARTIES. HE ALSO TOLD ME TO BE SURE TO HAVE THE CAR CHECKED OUT MECHANICALLY. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO A BODY SHOP FOR REPAIRS. THEN, IT WAS TAKEN TO THE CAR DEALER SERVICE DEPARTMENT TO HAVE IT CHECKED FOR INTERNAL MECHANICAL MALFUNCTIONS. THE SERVICE MANAGER SAID THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR. HE SAID THERE WERE NO ERROR MESSAGES OR INDICATIONS OF MALFUNCTION. HOWEVER, LATER I NOTICED THAT THE CRUISE CONTROL BUTTONS MAY HAVE BEEN REPLACED WITH A NEW SET. I AM POSITIVE THAT THE CAR MALFUNCTIONED DUE TO AN ACCELERATION PROBLEM.*AK

'RECALL CAMPAIGN' ISSUED FOR 2003 ACURA TL TRANSMISSION FAILURE. *BF THE CONSUMER IS UPSET THAT THE DEALER KNOWINGLY SOLD HIM A VEHICLE THAT HAD A RECALL AND DID NOT DISCLOSE THE INFORMATION, HOWEVER THE DEALER STATED THEY DID NOT FIND OUT ABOUT THE RECALL UNTIL NOV 2004. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED ACURA CLIENT SERVICE AND WAS TOLD THE DEALER KNEW ABOUT THE RECALL 2 MONTHS PRIOR TO THE CONSUMER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE. (RECALL 04V176000). *JB THE CONSUMER REQUESTED REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE OUT OF POCKET EXPENSES FOR IMPROVEMENTS, INTEREST AND PAYMENTS. *SC *JB

I STARTED THE ACURA 3.2TL TYPE S AT 6:45AM, THE ACURA HAD NOT BEEN STARTED OR DRIVEN THE PREVIOUS 14 HOURS. ENGAGED TRANSMISSION IN REVERSE, THE GEAR LOCKED UP AND RAPIDLY ACCELERATED BACKWARD AND AT THE SAME TIME A FIRE STARTED IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, I MANAGED TO STOP THE ACURA AFTER 30 FEET WHERE I WAS ON AND OFF MY PARKING AREA AT MY HOUSE. BY THE TIME I HAD STOPPED THE CAR FLAMES, SMOKE & FUMES WERE FILLING THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT, I COULD NOT GET THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR OPENED, MY NEIGHBOR NOTICING THE LARGE AMOUNT OF SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD RUSHED TO MY AID FOR HE COULD SEE THAT I WAS IN THE CAR AND I WAS PUSHING ON THE DOOR WITH MY FEET IN AN EFFIORT TO ESCAPE THE BURNING ACURA. I WAS OVERCOME FROM THE FUMES AND SMOKE WHEN HE PULLED ME OUT OF THE NOW THE RAPIDLY BURNING ACURA, THE FLAMES HAVING ADVANCED TO THE FRONT SEAT. HE PULLED ME OUT WITH MY HEAVY JACKET ON FIRE AND THE BOTTOM OF MY PANTS AFLAME. HE MANAGED TO GET MY JACKET OFF AND THE FLAMES OUT ON MY PANTS AND WE MANAGED TO GET AWAY FROM THE BURNING ACURA THEN IN THIRTY TO FOURTY SECONDS THE FIRE HAD PROGRESSED TO THE REAR OF THE ACURA AND THE GAS TANK EXPLODED AND THE WHOLE CAR WAS A FIREBALL. I SUFFERED 2ND & 3RD DEGREE BURNS ON MY LEGS. APPLETREE ACURA, FLETCHER, NC HAD PERFORMED RECALL (CAMPAIGN ID #: 04V176000) ON DECEMBER 8TH, 2004 AT 42,000 MILES IN WHICH THEY DID NOT REPLACE TRANSMISSION BUT PERFORMED A REVISION TO THE OIL COOLER RETURN LINE. THE ACURA WAS A TOTAL LOSS. *AK

CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS STOPPED IN TRAFFIC WHEN ANOTHER VEHICLE TRAVELING AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED REAR ENDED CONSUMER'S VEHICLE, PUSHING IT INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE, AND CAUSING DRIVER'S SEAT TO COLLAPSE INTO THE BACK SEAT. CONSUMER SUSTAINED INJURIES, AND TAKEN TO HOSPITAL FOR PAIN IN HIS ARM AND LEGS. CONSUMER WAS X-RAYED, AND THEN INFORMED HE HAD NERVE DAMAGE, AND WAS REFERRED TO AN ORTHOPEDIC S. IMPACT, AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY.*AK

I OWN A 2003 ACURA TL TYPE-S. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, WHILE MERGING INTO HIGHWAY TRAFFIC, I'VE EXPERIENCED MOMENTS WHEN THE TRANSMISSION WOULDN'T RESPOND TO ACCELERATION (I.E. WOULDN'T DOWN SHIFT). THE CAR JUST SEEM TO COAST SLOWLY INTO TRAFFIC, CAUSING ME TO ALMOST GET INTO VEHICLE ACCIDENTS. THE FIRST TRANSMISSION I HAD WAS REPLACED DUE TO BURNT TRANSMISSION FLUID, I'M JUST UPSET THAT I WAS ALLOWED TO DRIVE A VEHICLE THAT HAD A DEFECTIVE TRANSMISSION. I HAD MENTIONED ON SEVERAL OCCASSIONS TO THE DEALER WHERE I ORIGINALLY LEASED THE VEHICLE (ACURA OF TROY), ABOUT TIMES WHEN THE CAR JUST SEEMED TO GET STUCK IN SECOND GEAR. I WAS TOLD BY DEALER THAT NOTHING WAS WRONG. HOWEVER, I FEEL I NO LONGER CAN DEPEND ON THE DEALER TO GIVE ME ACCURATE INFORMATION. THIS IS A VERY CRITICAL PROBLEM AND DANGEROUS. I'M AFRAID FOR MY LOVED ONES AND MYSELF WHEN DRIVING THIS VEHICLE. I TOOK CAR INTO ANOTHER DEALER (SUBURBAN ACURA) WHERE THEY REPLACED MY FIRST TRANSMISSION UNDER WARRANTY BECAUSE IT WAS DEFECTIVE, NOW I'M HAVING EVEN MORE PROBLEMS WITH THE SECOND ONE. I'M STARTING TO GET A BURNING ODOR FROM THE VEHICLE NOW. I'VE TAKEN THE VEHICLE BACK IN FOR SERVICE BUT WAS TOLD NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH IT. HOW CAN SOMEONE CHECK A TRANSMISSION IN ABOUT 30 MINUTES OR LESS? I WANT OUT OF THIS VEHICLE FOR SAFETY REASONS. THIS IS NOT WHAT I PAID FOR, AND NOW I'M DRIVING A VEHICLE THAT HAS REDUCED PERFORMANCE AND A BURNING ODOR. AGAIN, I'M AFRAID FOR MY WELL-BEING AND THOSE OF MY FAMILY.*AK

WHILE DRIVING ACCELERATOR STUCK. CONSUMER HIT THE BRAKES IN ORDEER TO STOP. TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF. CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER WHERE THE ACCELERATOR CABLE WAS REPLACED.*AK THE COSUMER STATED THAT THE DEALER REPLACED THE ENTIRE THROTTLE BODY. *TC

WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH TRANSMISSION LOCKED, CAUSING VEHICLE TO CRASH INTO A WALL. THE CAUSE OF WHY THIS HAPPENED WAS UNDETERMINED.*AK

I WAS SLOWING DOWN TO MAKE A LEFT TURN. THE STEERING FAILED. I WRESTLED THE CAR -- BRUISING MY HAND -- INTO THE TURN AND ENDED UP ON THE CURB. THE ENGINE APPARENTLY HAD STALLED, CAUSING THE STEERING FAILURE. I WAS ABLE TO RESTART AND GO ON MY WAY, AFTER BACKING OFF THE CURB.

VEHICLE IS A 2003 ACURA3.2 TL. THE ENGINE ACCELERATES AT RANDOM AND WHILE IN PARK OR IN GEAR.*AK

THE TRANSMISSION ON MY 2003 ACURA TL TYPE S FAILED AT APPROXIMATELY 38000 MILES. THE TRANSMISSION WAS RECENTLY SERVICED PURSUANT TO A NOTICE BY ACURA. THIS IS THE THIRD ACURA THAT I HAVE OWNED THAT HAS HAD TRANSMISSION FAILURE. THE FIRST VEHICLE (2002) WAS REPLACED WITHIN TWO WEEKS. THE SECOND VEHICLE HAD TWO FAILURES AND WAS EVENTUALLY REPLACED WITH A 2003 MODEL AFTER NEGOTIATION WITH THEIR MEDIATION GROUP. IT IS VERY APPARENT THAT THE TRANSMISSIONS ARE IN FACT DEFECTIVE, GIVEN THE FACT THAT HONDA MOTOR CO. LTD DID FINALLY ISSUE A RECALL NOTICE. BASED ON MY PERSONAL EXPERIENCE I AM VERY CONCERNED AS TO THE SAFETY OF THE VEHICLE, EVEN WITH ANOTHER TRANSMISSION. I ALSO FEAR FOR MY SAFETY AS WELL AS MY FAMILY?S SAFETY WHEN OPERATING THE VEHICLE. THIS IS AMENDED INFORMATION PROVIDED OVER THE PHONE.*AK

UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE TO WARM IT UP BEFORE TAKING OFF THE DEFROSTER TAKES ABOUT 15 MINUTES TO CLEAR THE BACK WINDOW. WINDOWS STEAM UP VERY BADLY. *AK

WHILE GOING THROUGH AN INTERSECTION, PAUSING TO LET ANOTHER VEHICLE PASS. THEN, TRANSMISSION FAILED. CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, AND WAS TOLD THAT TRANSMISSION FAILED. *AK

I OWN A 2003 ACURA TL TYPE S. RECENTLY I HAVE BEEN HAVING TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. I TOOK THE CAR INTO THE CEALERSHIP AND THEY TOLD ME THAT I NEED A RECALL DONE. WHAT THEY DID WAS INSTALL AN OIL JET TO LUBRICATE THE 2ND GEAR BETTER.(2ND GEAR IS THE SUPPOSED CAUSE OF FAILURE) . AFTER THE OIL JET WAS INSTALLED THE DEALERSHIP INFORMED ME THAT I WOULD NEED A TRANSMISSION REPLACEMENT. I WAS OUTRAGED. I HAVE TO PAY OUT OF MY POCKET BECAUSE THEY HAVE A DESIGN FLAW. ON THE WAY HOME FROM THE DEALERSHIP THE TRANSMISSION FLAT OUT DIED. THE CAR WOULDNT SHIFT GEARS AND I HAVE TO DRIVE IT HOME IN 2ND GEAR. I DONT KNOW WHAT TO DO, I AM IN NO FINANCIAL POSITION TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION.*AK

WITHIN 1 WEEK OF TAKING DELIVERY OF THE VEHICLE, THE TRANSMISSION STARTED SHOWING SIGNS OF A PROBLEM. *NM RECALL CAMPAIGN : 04V176000. WHILE DRIVING IN FIFTH GEAR THE TRANSMISSION WOULD HESITATE AND FEEL LIKE IT WAS HUNTING BETWEEN GEARS CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SHUTTER. THE SECOND INCIDENT WAS THE SAME AS THE FIRST AND INCLUDED THE ENGINE REVVING AS THE TRANSMISSION SLIPPED INTO NEUTRAL EVEN THOUGH THE VEHICLE WAS IN D5 IN AUTOMATIC MODE. THE VEHICLE COASTED TO THE SHOULDER AND STOPPED. REGARDLESS OF WHAT GEAR THE TRANSMISSION WAS IN NO POWER WENT TO THE FRONT WHEELS. THE CONSUMER SMELLED A BURNING SMELL COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. AFTER THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTED. THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED AGAIN AND THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTED. *TC *JB

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE STALLED. CONSUMER DROVE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC COULD NOT BE DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA RECALL 04V176000 CONCERNING TRANSMISSION FAILURE. AFTER HAVING REVISING THE OIL COOLER RETURN LINE CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD KNOCKING NOISE COMING FROM THE TRANSMISSION. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, BUT CAUSE COULD NOT BE DETERMINED. *AK

FAULTY NO BENT OR SCRATCHED ON RIM. SHOULD BE REIMBURSE FOR TIRE. *BF THE VEHICLE TIRE HAD A RIP IN THE INSIDE WALL. THE CONSUMER WANTED TO BE REIMBURSED. *TC

I TOOK MY ACURA TL-S 2003 IN FOR THE 30,000 MILE SERVICE ON OCTOBER 27, 2004. AT THIS TIME I WAS INFORMED THAT THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WOULD BE EXAMINED FOR DAMAGE DUE TO INCORRECT LUBRICATION. I WAS NOT AWARE OF THE RECALL BEFORE THIS. THE EXAMINATION WAS DONE, AND I WAS TOLD THAT THE TRANSMISSION LOOKED FINE AND THEY HAD INSTALLED AN OIL JET KIT. ON NOVEMBER4, 2004 MY TRANSMISSION FAILED AS I WAS DRIVING IN TRAFFIC HOME. THE TRANSMISSION APPEARED TO LOCK CAUSING A SUDDEN DECELERATION THEN ALTERNATED BETWEEN SLIPPING AND LOCKING. LUCKILY I WAS NOT ON THE HIGHWAY WHERE IF THIS HAD HAPPENED, I AM CONVINCED I WOULD HAVE HAD A BAD ACCIDENT. AS IT WAS I NEARLY WAS REAR ENDED BY AN UNSUSPECTING MOTORIST BEHIND ME (IT WAS DARK OUTSIDE AND OF COURSE MY BRAKE LIGHTS DID NOT ALERT THAT MOTORIST). THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ALSO CAME ON, AND THE TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM VSA OFF LIGHT LIT UP. I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO ACURA WHERE THEY "CONDEMNED" THE TRANSMISSION. THEY TOLD ME THEY WILL BE PUTTING A REFURBISHED TRANSMISSION IN THE VEHICLE. THIS IS VERY CONCERNING SINCE THEY LOOKED AT MY PREVIOUS ONE, MADE THE CHANGES THAT THEY BELIEVE WILL FIX THE PROBLEM, AND THEN MY TRANSMISSION STILL FAILED. SOMEONE IS GOING TO GET KILLED BY THIS PROBLEM, SOONER OR LATER!*AK

A PLUG FELL OUT OF THE PASSENGER SIDE REAR WHEEL WELL HOLDING THE PLASTIC BODY MATERIAL TO THE FENDER. IT FELL OUT AND CAUSED ME TO FIND A METAL SCREW TO HOLD IT IN PLACE, I WENT TO THE DEALER TO SEE IF THEY WOULD REPAIR/GIVE ME A NEW PLUG, I WAS TOLD THAT IT WOULD COST ME $254,00 & LABOR AND AN AUTO BDY SHOP TO PUT IT ON. HOW LUDICROUS CAN THAT BE. AM I WRONG IT MY CHALLENGE TO THE DEALER.*AK

TWICE, MY ACURA TL HAS SLOWED DRASTICALLY AS I WAS DRIVING AT HIGH SPEED IN THE FREEWAY FAST LANE. BOTH TIMES I PULLED INTO THE RIGHT LANE, AND BY THEN THE CAR SEEMED TO BE FUNCTIONING NORMALLY. I WAS LUCKY I WASN'T IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. I CALLED THE CAR DEALER AFTER THE SECOND INCIDENT AND WAS TOLD THEY HAD "NEVER HEARD OF ANYTHING LIKE THAT." MY INTERNET RESEARCH FOUND THE NHTSA INVESTIGATION OF ACURA TL TRANSMISSIONS. I CALLED THE DEALER AGAIN, AND THEY HAVE AGREED TO INPSECT THE TRANSMISSION.*AK

THE TRANSMISSION FAILED ON THE HIGHWAY. THE VEHICLE JUST STOPPED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. AFTER PICKING THE VEHICLE UP, THE TIMING CHAIN BROKE. *JB

2003 ACURA TL TYPE-S, 36960 MILES: RECURRING TRANSMISSION SLIPPAGE WHEN SHIFTING BETWEEN 2ND AND 3RD GEAR (AUTOMATIC 5-SPEED TRANSMISSION) AND NEARLY CAUSED CAR CRASH WHEN DRIVING ON HIGHWAY DURING RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC THREE TIMES. CURRENTLY DRIVING A RENTAL WAITING TO HAVE REPLACEMENT TRANSMISSION INSTALLED. ("OIL JET KIT" WAS INSTALLED BY DEALER 2 MONTHS AGO IN RESPONSE TO RECENT RECALL BY ACURA.)*AK

VEHICLE STALLED WHILE DRIVING. CONSUMER PULLED VEHICLE OFF THE ROAD. CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE, AND IT WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE DEALERSHIP INSPECTED VEHICLE THREE TIMES, BUT WAS UNABLE TO FIX IT. *AK

RECALL WAS FOUND ON THE INTERNET. AFTER CONTACTING THE MANUFACTURER ABOUT NOT RECEIVING RECALL LETTER, CONSUMER WAS TOLD THEY COULD NOT SEND HIM THE LETTER AGAIN, THEIR OBLIGATION WAS FULFILLED WITH RECALL 04-V176000 CONCENING TRANSMISSION FAILURE. HOWEVER, TRANSMISSION WAS STILL DEFECTIVE. *AK

I BROUGHT FRIST TL IN 2002 AND AT 2003 THE CAR'S TRANSMISSION BROKE AND I TRADED THE TL AND BOUGHT NEW 03 TL TYPE-S IN 2003. THEN JULY OF 2004, THE TRANSMISSION BROKE AGAIN WITH MY NEW 03TL AGAIN. I ALMOST GOT ACCIDENT BECASE THE CAR JUST SHIFT IT'S GEAR ITSELF. *AK

ACURA 2003 TL TRANSMISSION DEFECT. FIRST FAILURE TRANSMISSION LOCKED UP AT SPEED OF 70 MPH HAPPENED 6 TIMES . TRANSMISSION REPLACED.SECOND FAILURE TRANSMISSION LOCKED UP GOING 55 CAR FOLLOWING BEHIND ME CRASHED INTO ME . SIGNIFIGANT INJURIE'S RESULTED FROM THIS CRASH THAT INVOLVED 3 VEHICLES.*AK I HAVE REPORTED THIS INFO TO "THIS" SITE 3 TIMES AND GO BACK TO FIND MY SUBMISSION AND IT MYSTERIOUSLY DISSAPEARS! HONDA ACURA'S RECENT SAFETY RECALL FOR THIS TRANSMISSION DEFECT KEEPS CLAIMING THERE ARE NO CRASHES OR INJURYS' AS A RESULT OF THIS DEFECT . THIS IS FALSE !!!! I KNOW OF ATLEAST 3 OTHER INCIDENCES THAT INVOLVE INJURY'S DUE TO THE SEVERE DEFECT THAT CAUSES THE TRANSMISSION TO LOCK UP WITH OUT WARNING!

CAR WAS DRIVEN ON THE INTERSTATE HIGHWAY AND SUDDEN TRANSMISSION FAILURE. CAR SURGE AND TRANSMISSION WENT OUT, NO SHIFTING IN ANY GEAR AT ALL. MIL CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON. OWNED TO THE DEALERSHIP AND DIAGNOSIS SHOW TRANNY FAILURE. NEW TRANSMISSION IS REPLACED. *AK

BUCKING AND FRONT WHEELS LOCKED UP MOMENTARILY. HIGHWAY SPEEDS, VERY DANGEROUS. 2003 ACURA AND NOW THE DEALERS SAYS THEY WILL REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION. I WAS LIED TO WHEN I BOUGHT THIS CAR, DEALER SAID ALL 2003'S WERE NOT INFLICTED. NOW I FOUND OUT DIFFERENT. MY EXPERIENCE WAS SCARY. RECALL NOW!*AK

WHILE DRIVING OUR 2003 TL-S ON THE HWY, THE CAR SUDDENLY VIOLENTLY JERKED AND THE TRANSMISSION SEEMED TO BE FAILING. SURE ENOUGH I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO INFORMED ME THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. I AM EXTREMELY UPSET THAT MY PRE-OWNED VEHICLE WITH ONLY 22000 MILES HAS TO HAVE THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED. THE CAR WAS VERY DANGEROUS AND COULD HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT WITH THE WAY IT WAS CAUSING WHIPLASH. THE COMPANY SHOULD DO A RECALL ON THE TRANSMISSION NOT JUST AN EXTENSION OF THE WARRANTY. SO FAR WE HAVE EXPERIENCED MANY OF THE COMPLAINTS LISTED ON THE NHTSA WEBSITE. WE HAVE HAD THE TIRE SIDEWALL BULGE, WHICH I HAD TO PAY TO HAVE THE NEW TIRE REPLACED ONCE IT BLEW OUT ON THE HWY. WE HAD TO HAVE THE RADIO MISSFIRE FIXED AND NOW THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED WITHIN THE LAST 6 MONTHS. THIS CAR IS DEFINITELY NOT RELIABLE.*AK

I OWN A 2003 ACURA TL TYPE S. AT 18,434 MILES, THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. IT WAS REPLACED, BUT THIS TRANSMISSION IS EXHIBITING THE SAME SYMPTOMS THE ORIGINAL TRANSMISSION DID BEFORE IT FAILED. THE SYMPTOMS ARE HESITATION AND JERKING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. SOME ACURA TL OWNERS WERE GIVEN AN EXTENDED DRIVETRAIN WARRANTY. I WAS TOLD MINE WAS NOT PART OF THAT OFFERING EVEN AFTER MY TRANSMISSION FAILED, SO I AM NOT COVERED BY THE WARRANTY. BASED ON THE FACT THAT THE REPLACEMENT TRANSMISSION IS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS, IN ADDITION TO ALL OF THE ACURA TL OWNERS WHO HAVE HAD TWO AND THREE REPLACEMENT TRANSMISSIONS, I FEEL THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL FOR THESE TRANSMISSIONS. *AK

TRANSMISSION FAILURE ON ACURA 3.2TLS. *AK

I AM A CLAIM REPRESENTATIVE FOR NATIONWIDE INSURANCE. OUR INSURED, JOHN MIHOLIC'S SON, WAS DRIVING THE 2003 ACURA 3.2TL AT NIGHT. HE LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND STRUCK THE RIGHT FRONT END OF HIS VEHICLE. A CAUSE AND ORIGIN REPORT CONDUCTED BY LANGE TECHNICAL SERVICE INDICATED THAT DUE TO THE IMPACT, THE IGNITION OF COMBUSTIBLE MATERIALS FORM THE HIGH INTENSITY HEAD LAMP BULB THAT WAS DISPLACED CAUSED THE FIRE WHICH TOTALED OUT THE VEHICLE. *JB

TRANSMISSION FAILURE. *AK

THE TRANSMISSION IN MY 2003 ACURA 3.2TL TYPE S HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE AND IS GOING BACK IN ON MONDAY FOR ANOTHER CHECK.*AK

WHILE HAVING AN OIL CHANGE PERFORMED, THE DEALERSHIP NOTICED AN OIL LEAK. THE OIL WAS LEAKING THROUGH THE TRANSMISSION CASING. THE DEALERSHIP INDICATED THAT THE CASING WAS FAULTY AND REPLACED IT WITH A PREVIOUS MANUFACTURED PART. THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM IN THESE VEHICLES. *AK 20% OF THE CAST TRANSMISSION CASING WAS DEFECTIVE. THE CONSUMER FELT THAT HE DID NOT NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION WITH LESS THAN 3K MILES. THE CONSUMERS EXTENDED WARRANTY WAS EXCLUDED. *SC *JB

TRANSMISSION FAILED AT 30,000 MILES IN MY 2003 ACURA TL-S, LEAVING ME GOING 30MPH TRYING TO MERGE ONTO A FREEWAY.*AK

TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS WITH SUDDEN HARSH JERK. TRANSMISSION IS ON ITS SECOND REPLACEMENT ALSO FRONT BRAKE CALIPER BOLT SHEARED OFF AT 75 MILES PER HOUR RESULTING TIN THE FRONT TIRE LOCKING UP. VENTILATION PROBLEMS WITH MOLD IN THE RECIRCULATION SYSTEM.*AK

FAILED TRANSMISSION IN BOTH A 2002 AND 2003 ACURA TLS VEHICLE. *AK

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WAS LEAKING FLUID. DEALER REPLACED IT WITH A REBUILT TRANSMISSION , CONSUMER ASKED WHY TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED WITH A REBUILT AND NOT BRAND NEW TRANSMISSION. *AK

CONSUMER FELT THAT THE TIRES ON THIS VEHICLE WERE NOT THE PROPER SIZE. CONSUMER HAD TO REPLACE FIVE FRONT TIRES DUE TO BLOW OUTS AT THE SIDEWALLS. *AK

WHILE DRIVING, THE TRANSMISSION SLIPPED GEARS. THE CONSUMER MANAGED TO DRIVE HOME AND HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION. *JB

MY 2003 ACURA TL CURRENTLY HAS 3500 MILES ON IT. THE OTHER DAY IT STARTED MAKING A GRINDING NOISE - NO NOISE WAS PRESENT PRIOR - TURNS OUT THE REAR BRAKES AND ROTORS WERE BAD (THE FRONT ONES WERE FINE). *AK

MY WIFE WAS IN A COLLISION ON 12/12/03 WHICH INVOLVED ANOTHER VEHICHLE THAT RAN A STOP SIGN AND MY WIFE'S NEW 2003 ACURA TL HIT THE VEHICLE AT FAULT IN THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR. I HAVE INCLUDED PICTURES OF THE PROPERTY DAMAGE INCURRED. THE FRONT AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. I REPORTED THIS INCIDENT TO THE ACURA DEALER IN FORT WALTON BEACH IMMEDIATELY THAT I PURCHASED THIS FROM AND GAVE THEM A CHANCE TO TEST THE AIRBAGS BEFORE THE CAR WAS FIXED. THEY DECLINED AND INFORMED ME THEY WOULD TEST THE AIRBAG SYSTEM ONCE IT WAS REPAIRED. THE CASE FILE# WITH THE DEALER WAS B012003-12-1601041. EVERYBODY THAT I SPOKE WITH REGARDING THIS WAS AMAZED THAT THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPOY ON A FRONT END CRASH THAT CAUSED $7183 DOLLARS WORTH OF DAMAGE. THE CORE SUPPORT OF THE CAR HAD TO BE REPLACED. I HAVE HEARD OF OTHER ACURA FAILURES FOR FRONT AIRBAGS AND WANTED TO SEE IF THERE WAS A DEFECT IN THIS PARTICULAR MODEL. THE DEALER WAS NOT THAT HELPFUL. MR. KIRK PERKS THE DISTRICT MANAGER DID AGREE TO MEET WITH ME TO DISCUSS AND THE DEALER PERFORMED AN AIRBAG TEST , HOWEVER THE AUTO REPAIR SHOP STATED TO ME THAT THERE WAS NO WAY TO ACCURATELY TEST THE AIRBAG SYSTEM. MY CONCERN NOW IS OBVIOUSLY IF THESE AIRBAGS WILL DEPLOY ON ANY FUTURE INCIDENTS.*AK

2003 ACURA 3.2 TL PREVIOUSLY REPORTED SUDDEN DOWNSHIFT FROM 5TH GEAR TO 2ND GEAR AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. VEHICLE INSPECTED BY GETTEL ACURA IN SARASOTA, FL. TOLD "CANNOT REPRODUCE PROBLEM SO HONDA/ACURA WILL NOT AUTHORIZE ANY REPAIRS". VEHICLE IS STILL AT DEALER, THEY ARE ATTEMPTING TO REPRODUCE PROBLEM. HAVE BEEN TOLD BY ACURA CUSTOMER CARE THAT MY VEHICLE IS "OUTSIDE THE VIN NUMBER SERIES COVERED BY PREVIOUS NHTSA INVESTIGATIONS" AND MY VEHICLE IS NOT A CANDIDATE FOR REPAIR, DESPITE THE 7 YEAR, 100K MILE EXTENDED WARRANTY. WAS TOLD "WE BELIEVE YOU, BUT IF WE CANNOT REPRODUCE THE PROBLEM, THERE IS NOTHING WE CAN DO...WHY SHOULD WE DUMP THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS IN PARTS INTO YOUR CAR IF WE CAN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG?" I EXPLAINED THEIR LIABILIY AND THE POTENTIAL SAFETY HAZARD, AS, THE VEHICLE HAD SUDDENLY DOWNSHIFTED FROM 5TH GEAR TO 2ND, TWICE IN LAST 5 DAYS. ACURA/HONDA APPEARS TO BE STONEWALLING, AND I WILL HAVE TO SEEK LEGAL COUNSEL IN ORDER TO COMPEL THEM TO COMPLY WITH THE TERMS OF THE EXTENDED TRANSMISSION WARRANTY...BEFORE THE TRANSMISSION FAILURE CAUSES AN ACCIDENT OR INJURY TO MYSELF OR MY FAMILY. ACURA INSISTS THE TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS WERE "FIXED" BEFORE THE CAR WAS BUILT, SO THERE IS NO WAY I COULD BE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS, AND I WAS CHASTIZED FOR QUOTING INFORMATION FROM NHTSA INVESTIGATION RESULTS...THEY TOLD ME "YOU AREN'T A MECHANIC, AND TRYING TO GET A NEW TRANSMISSION BECAUSE YOU READ SOMETHING ON THE WEB DOEN'T MEAN YOUR CAR HAS A PROBLEM". THIS WAS COURTESY OF "R

SUDDEN DOWNSHIFT OF AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WHILE DRIVING IN D-5 (5TH GEAR) AT APPROXIMATELY 60MPH WHILE MERGING ONTO HIGHWAY. MOMENTARY LOSS OF CONTROL, REGAINED WHEN 5TH GEAR RE-ENGAGED. MOTOR SUDDENLY REVVED TO NEAR RED-LINE CAUSING TORQUE STEER FEEL AND DECELERATION. REVIOUSLY NOTIFIED DEALER OF TRANSMISSION-RELATED ISSUES, WAS TOLD "NO PROBLEM FOUND" AT GETTEL ACURA IN SARASOTA, FL. PLAN ON TAKING VEHICLE BACK TO SHOP AGAIN.*AK

BURNING SMELL EMANATING FROM EXHAUST AREA INTO CABIN AT 9800 MILES. TERRIBLE - CAN SMELL IT ON THE OUTSIDE FROM 25 FEET AWAY. THE STENCH INSIDE THE BACK SEAT OF THE CABIN IS ENOUGH TO MAKE YOU GAG. CAR IS ONLY 100 MILES OVERDUE FOR AN OIL CHANGE (3100 MILES) RUNNING MANUFACTURER RECOMMENDED OIL WEIGHT. CAR HAS HAD TROUBLE SINCE I BOUGHT IT - BUT MOSTLY EXTERNAL UNTIL NOW (PEELING PAINT). *CB

PAINT ON REAR TRUNK LID EXTREMELY THIN AND PEELING WHEN CAR IS WASHED. DESPITE HAVING 5 COATS OF WAX ON THE CAR, WASHING THE CAR (BY HAND WITH MAGUIAR'S SOFT CAR SOAP AND SOFT TERRY TOWELING) PEELED SECTIONS OF THE PAINT OFF THE TRUNK LID. CAR HAD SAT FOR TWO WEEKS (STANDARD WASH INTERVAL FOR THE CAR DUE TO MY WORK SCHEDULE) OUTSIDE (CAR IS COVERED WHEN FIRST CLEANED). NO REASON FOR THE PAINT TO HAVE COME OFF. NO RESPONSE TO MY LETTERS FROM MANUFACTURER. DEALER REFERRED ME TO ACURA CUSTOMER CARE SO NO HELP THERE. *CB

2003 ACURA TL TYPE S EXPERIENCING TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. *MR THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTED ROUGHLY IN ADDITION TO MISSING WHEN THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS ENGAGED. WHEN THE CONSUMER PRESSED THE CRUISE CONTROL TO INCREASE THE SPEED THE ENGINE SURGED ON TWO OCCASIONS BACK TO BACK AS THE CONSUMER TRIED TO DISENGAGE THE CRUISE CONTROL. (FAULTY TL TRANSMISSIONS WERE A WIDELY KNOWN PROBLEM FOR ACURA) *SC

THE ENGINE LIGHT WENT ON SUDDENLY AT 11,000 MILES MAKING A CLUNKING NOISE. WAS IN REPAIR 15 DAYS. REBUILT AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION & TORQUE CONVERTER WAS REPLACED AS WELL AS BROKEN ENGINE MOUNT. AT 19,713 ENGINE LIGHT WENT ON AGAIN FAILURE VSA & ECM UNITS REPLACED. AT 25,596 MILES ENGINE LIGHT GOES ON,TRANSMISSION DOES NOT GO INTO REVERSE DUE TO INTERNAL FAILURE, REPLACED PCM & TRANSMISSION (REBUILT)LOCK-UP CONTROL SOLINOID ASSEMBLY, REPLACED LOST TRANSMISSION FLUID.LEFT DEALER'S SERVICE DEPT & UPON REACHING HOME, ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, HAD TO RETURN BACK TO SERVICE DEPT. ON THE WAY, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY & WITHOUT NOTICE LOCKED 6 TIMES AT 50 MPH, DECELERATED DOWN TO 30 MPH MAKING BOOMING NOISES, CAR BEHIND ALMOST CRASHED INTO MY VEHICLE, HAD TO PULL OVER, SLOWLY DRIVING TO DEALER SCARED TO DEATH AS THE VEHICLE WAS SO ERRATIC & MAKING BOOMING NOISES. MY SON WAS DRIVING, CALLED ME ON HIS CELL PHONE AS TO HIS EXPERIENCE, FINALLY MADE IT TO THE SERVICE DEPT. HONDA/ACURA VOLUNTARILY EXTENDED WARRANTY IN 2002 ON THE TRANSMISSIONS DUE TO DEFECTS AS WELL AS IN 2003 OFFERED ENHANCED PCM POWERTRAIN SERVICE DUE TO DEFECTS IN ANOTHER NOTIFICATION. NHTSA CONDUCTED INVESTIGATION & SHOULD HAVE RECALLED THE 3.2TL TYPE S VEHICLES AS WELL AS OTHER MODELS AS THEY CAN POTENTIALLY CAUSE SERIOUS INJURIES AND/OR DEATH TO EVERYONE CONCERNED WITHOUT NOTICE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS ESPECIALLY. THESE TRANSMISSION DEFECTS WERE KNOWN BY HONDA/ACURA YET VEHICLES WERE BEING SOLD TO THE PUBLIC ANYWAY. HONDA/ACURA NOW

MY TRANSMISSION LITERALLY LOCKED UP OVER 6 TIMES WHILE DRIVING AT SPEEDS OVER 65MPH CAUSING MY CAR TO TRY AND COME TO A COMPLETE STOP WHILE DRIVING THIS FAST ..I HAD NO WARNING PRIOR ,THAT ANYTHING WAS WRONG WITH THE TRANSMISSION . IT LITERALLY WAS ABOUT TO THROW ME THROUGH THE WINDSHEILD ,IT LEFT BALD ARES ON MY TIRES FROM THIS AND THE SERVICE GUY WHO DROVE IT STATED IT ALMOST THREW HIM THROUGH THE WINDSHEILD AND HE WAS ONLY DRIVING 30MPH ...THIS HAS INJURED MY NECK AND ARM ,LEFT ARM AND I AM NOW SCARED TO DEATH OF DRIVING THIS CAR AS THIS WAS SUCH A SCARY EXPIERIENCE ,NEVER KNOWING WHEN IT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN .. I AM INVOLVED IN A FORUM ONLINE FOR OTHER ACURA OWNERS WHO HAVE HAD THEIR TRANSMISSION REPLACED UP TO 4 TIMES.. I WANT OUT OF THIS DEATH TRAP!