Acura TL Complaints (2003)

391 consumer complaints on file.

#10038727September 11, 2003
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TRANSMISSION SLIPS AND REVS AT APPROX 55-65 MPH, SO STRONGLY CAR LOSES DIRECTION WHILE DRIVING AND PASSENGER FEELS 'JOLT', DEALERSHIP HAS REPLACED TRANSMISSION TWICE, ALSO REPLACED EGR VALVE, PROBLEM CONTINUES TO OCCUR. AXLE NOT PROPERLY REPLACED; TRANSMISSION FLUID LEAKING OUT WHICH CAUSED CAR TO SMOKE. MET WITH REGIONAL SERVICE REP WHO WAS CONDESCENDING AND PATRONIZING, AND OFFERED 'ACCESSORIES'. TRANSMISSION #1 WAS 'REFURBISHED' AND GUARANTEED BY ACURA BY 150,000 MILES-->WAS REPLACED BY #2 WHICH WAS 'NEW'...STILL HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM-EXTREMELY UNSAFE!! I JUST WANT A CAR THAT IS SAFE AND WORKS!!
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10038169September 9, 2003
TIRES:SIDEWALL
ALL FOUR VEHICLE TIRES LOST PRESSURE WHILE DRIVING. *MR WHILE DRIVING ALL FOUR MICHELIN TIRE LOST TIRE PRESSURE. UPON INSPECTION THE TECHNICIAN NOTICED A SIDEWALL TEAR 1.5 INCH IN LENGTH, PERPENDICULAR TO TREAD. INSPECTION OF THE OTHER THREE TIRES REVEALED THAT ONE OTHER TIRE HAD A BULGE IN THE SIDEWALL ABOUT 2.5 INCHES IN DIAMETER. (MICHELIN PILOT HXMXM4, DOT# B938 CTTX1102) *SCC *NLM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10038385September 8, 2003
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
VEHICLE'S LOW BEAMS ARE AIMED TO LOW FAILING TO PROVIDE ILLUMINATION.*MR HIGH BEAMS CAUSED REFLECTIONS HIGH UP ON VERTICAL OBJECTS AT THE SIDES OF THE ROADS. DEALER STATED THAT WAS THE WAY THE LIGHTS WERE DESIGNED AND THEY COULD NOT BE CORRECTED. *PH *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10038038September 2, 2003
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL
CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT GAS PEDAL PROBLEM. IT WOULD ACCELERATE ON ITS ON. THIS HAS HAPPENED FOUR DIFFERENT TIMES, WHERE THE VEHICLE SWITCHED BY ITSELF , AND IT ALMOST FELT LIKE GEARS WERRE SWITCHING INTO NEUTRAL. DEALER HAD BEEN CONTACTED, AND STATED THAT SINCE VEHICLE DID NOT DO IT WHEN THEY WERE DRIVING THERE WAS NOTHING THAT THEY COULD DO.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10037077September 2, 2003
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
HAVE TAKEN MY 2003 ACURA TLS INTO THE DEALERS APPROXIMATELY FOUR TIMES FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. DEALER STATES THEY CANNOT DO ANYTHING BECAUSE THEY CANNOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM.*AK WHILE DRIVING THE GAS PEDAL SELF-DEPRESSES AND LOCKS, BUT THE CAR FEELS AS THOUGH IT HAS SHIFTED ITSELF INTO NEUTRAL--LEAVING ME NO ALTERNATIVE BUT TO CRUISE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD UNTIL THE GAS PEDAL 'POPS' ITSELF UP AND I REGAIN CONTROL OF THE CAR.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10034173August 15, 2003
POWER TRAIN
VEHICLE DOWNSHIFTING WITHOUT WARNING WHILE TRAVELING AT A CONSTANT SPEED. *MR THIS HAPPENED RANDOMLY. THE DEALER WAS UNWILLING TO FIX THE UNIT THEY COULD VERIFY THE PROBLEM. EVENTUALLY THE TRANSMISSION FAILED WHILE THE CONSUMER WAS ON THE HIGHWAY, WHERE HE/SHE WAS ABLE TO COAST TO THE BERM WITH NO INCIDENT. THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED. THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL OTHER REPORTS OF THIS PROBLEM. *SCC *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10031982August 1, 2003
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS
VEHICLE'S TIMING BELT BROKE RESULTING IN ENGINE DAMAGE. WHEN TAKEN TO SERVICE DEALER FOR 15,000.00 MILE CHECKUP THE DEALER DID NOT MAKE THE CONSUMER AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE CAR HAS BEEN REPAIRED SINCE AND OFFER A 22,000.00 MILE CHECK UP FREE OF CHARGE. THE CONSUMER FELLS THAT IT IS NOT ENOUGH COMPENSATION FOR THE ANGUISH POSSIBILITY THAT IT COULD HAVE BEEN A SERIOUS ACCIDENT.*MR *CB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10029261July 26, 2003
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TRANSMISSION DOWNSHIFTS WITHOUT WARNING WHEN TRAVELING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, AND CAUSES OCCUPANTS TO BE JERKED BACKWARDS. PROBLEM OCCURS RANDOMLY, AND ACURA REFUSES TO FIX WITHOUT DEALER DUPLICATION - DESPITE ISSUING A WARRANTY EXTENSION FOR THE TRANSMISSION.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10022901July 22, 2003
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:HIGH/LOW BEAM DIMMER SWITCH, SEAT BELTS, STRUCTURE
HIGH BEAMS REFLECT LIGHT TO VERTICAL OBJECTS AT THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, SUCH AS TREES, STRUCTURE, ETC, CAUSING DISTRACTING FLASHES OF LIGHT, AND MOMENTARY DIVERSION OF DRIVER'S ATTENTION. LOW BEAMS DO NOW SEEM TO GO OUT FAR ENOUGH TO GIVE A GOOD VIEW OF THE DARKENED ROAD WITHOUT USING HIGH BEAMS. THE HEADLIGHTS ON 2001 AND EARLIER MODELS WERE EXCELLENT AND DID/DO NOT PRESENT THE SAME PROBLEMS. I DO NOT KNOW OF HEADLIGHTS USED ON 2002 MODELS WERE THE SAME AS MINE. DEALER STATES PROBLEMS NOT CORRECTABLE IN THAT LIGHTS OPERATE AS DESIGNED BY MANUFACTURER. *AK THERE WAS A RATTLE IN THE FRONT SEAT BELT HOUSING, THE CENTER CONSOLE WAS HARD TO OPEN, AND THE SILL PLATE WAS LOOSE. *SCC *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10029729July 21, 2003
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
CONSUMER CALLED COMPLAINING ABOUT AIR BAGS STATED THAT HER SON WAS DRIVING AND WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONT COLLISION, AND THE AIR BAG ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE DID NOT DEPLOY. THE ONLY AIR BAG THAT DID DEPLOY WAS THE FRONT PASSANGER'S SIDE.MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED AT THE TIME OF THIS CALL.DEALER WAS CONTACTED, AND STATED THAT THEY WILL SEND SOMEBODY TO SEE THE CAR ACCIDENT WAS ON JULY 6, 2003.*AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10024116July 11, 2003
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS
TIMING BELT TENSIONER WAS DEFECTIVE. THE VEHICLE MADE A "GRINDING" SOUND WHEN DRIVING. THE DEALER REPLACED THE TENSIONER. *AK THE DEALER THOUGHT AT FIRST, THE PROBLEM WAS THE A-PIPE AND REPLACED IT. THE SECOND TIME THE DEALER THOUGHT THE PROBLEM WAS THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER AND IT WAS REPLACED. THE THIRD TIME THE TIMING BELT TENSIONER WAS REPLACED, WHICH SOLVED THE PROBLEM. *SCC *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10024119July 11, 2003
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
CONSUMER ATTEMPTED TO STOP FOR A TRAFFIC LIGHT, BUT CAR CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE WITH FOOT APPLIED TO THE BRAKE PEDAL. CONSUMER HAD TO PLACE VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL IN ORDER TO STOP. DEALER DIAGNOSED FAILURE OF "IAC VALVE", PART NO. 121187.*AK *TS *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10024121July 11, 2003
SUSPENSION:FRONT:WHEEL BEARING
WHILE DRIVING, THE CONSUMER HEARD A "WHIRRING" NOISE AND ASSUMED IT WAS ROAD NOISE. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, WHO DIAGNOSED THE WHEEL BEARINGS HAD FAILED. CONSUMER HAD TO PAY $26 FOR REPAIRS. *AK *CB *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10021862July 11, 2003
TIRES
WHILE DRIVING 10-15 MPH THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT TIRE RUPTURED AFTER IT STRUCK A SHALLOW POTHOLE. THE REPLACEMENT TIRE RUPTURED 2000 MILES LATER WHEN IT HIT A MANHOLE COVER. MICHELIN AGREED TO REIMBURSE THE CONSUMER FOR THE ONE TIRE. THE CONSUMER PLANS TO REPLACE ALL FOUR TIRES. *AK *CB *SCC *NLM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10026198June 30, 2003
EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
CONSUMER HAS PROBLEM WITH THE HEATER AND THE AIR CONDITIONER.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10024356June 18, 2003
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL
VEHICLE HAD AN ACCELERATION PROBLEM. DEALER WAS CONTACTED, AND STATED THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. CONSUMER HAD STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT AND VEHICLE ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10019243May 24, 2003
TIRES:SIDEWALL
TIRES- 4 TIRES IN 3 MONTHS DUE TO SIDEWALL BUBBLES. *NLM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10018855May 17, 2003
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TOOK DELIVERY OF NEW 2003 ACURA 3.2TL-TYPE S ON MAY 10, 2002. WAS UNAWARE THAT HONDA/ACURA HAD AN ON-GOING TRANSMISSION PROBLEM SINCE MODEL YEAR 1999. TRANSMISSION STARTED ACTING UP OVER THE PAST SEVERAL THOUSAND MILES. ON MAY 15, 2003, DEALER CONFIRMED TRANSMISSION PROBLEM AND HAS ORDERED NEW TRANSMISSION. HONDA HAS A MAJOR PROBLEM SINCE THIS HAS OCCURRED IN MODEL YEARS 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002 & 2003. WHILE THEY HAVE EXTENDED THE WARRANTY TO 7 YEARS / 100K MILES, THIS IS TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10018858May 17, 2003
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR
TOOK DELIVERY OF NEW ACURA 2003 3.2TL TYPE S ON MAY 10, 2002. WITH ABOUT 7,000 MILES ON VEHICLE STARTED TO NOTICE SLIGHT "SHIMMY" / "SHUTTER" WHEN APPLYING BRAKES...GREATER IMPACT AT SPEEDS 40 - 70MPH. THIS INDICATES WARPED BRAKE ROTORS. FINALLY INSISTED THAT DEALER ADDRESS ISSUE. DEALER FIRST OFFERED TO "TURN" ROTORS; I DECLINED AND ASKED THAT THEY CONTACT HONDA FOR REPLACEMENT OF ROTORS. HONDA AGREED ON, "GOOD-WILL ONE TIME BASIS." FURTURE WARRANTY COVERAGE WILL BE BY "TURNING" ROTORS. ROTORS AND BRAKE PADS REPLACED AT 9,675 MILES. I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THE CAUSE IS "OWNER DISTINCTIVE DRIVING HABITS." WHEN ASKED FOR A DEFINITION, I WAS TOLD THAT I MUST LIVE ON AND OR DRIVE ON LONG - STEEP HILLS WHICH NECESSITATES EXTENED USE OF BRAKES. THIS IS TOTALLY INCORRECT AND THEY WERE ADVISED OF THAT. IF NORMAL USE OF THE BRAKES WILL CAUSE WARPING, THEN THE BRAKES ARE NOT FIT FOR THEIR IMPLIED USAGE AS DEFINED UNDER THE UNIFORM COMMERICAL CODE-IMPLIED WARRANTY MECHANTABILITY. IN DISCUSSION WITH A MEMBER OF THE ACURA STAFF, IT WAS DISCLOSED THAT ABOUT 50% OF THE VEHICLES EXPERIENCE THIS PROBLEM. HONDA/ACURA TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETINS HAVE BEEN MADE UNAVAILABLE TO CONSUMERS; HOWEVER, I HAVE BEEN ADVISED THAT THE TSB ADDRESSING THIS ISSUE CALLS FOR ROTOR REPLACEMENT OR "TURNING" ROTORS. IT IS CLEAR THAT HONDA/ACURA IS IN IT'S NORMAL MODE OF DENIAL OF A PROBLEM. A PROBLEM WHICH IS MOST LIKELY CAUSED BY ENGINEERING DESIGN DEFECT AND/OR IMPROPER HEAT TREATMENT/HARDENING OF THE ROTOR MATERIAL IN CONJUNCITION WITH THE COMPOSITION OF THE BRAKE PAD MATERIAL. THIS IS A SERIOUS DEFECT AND SAFETY HAZARD.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10016325April 22, 2003
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
CAR WAS IN PARK, WENT TO REMOVE KEYS. CAR ACCELERATED AT HIGH SPEED SLAMMING INTO WALL. *NLM
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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