Acura TL Complaints (2003)

391 consumer complaints on file.

#10575699March 30, 2014
SUSPENSION
I HAVE ENCOUNTERED AN UNSAFE CONDITION ON MY 2003 ACURA TL (MADE BY HONDA). THIS CONDITION WAS SHOWN TO ME BY MECHANIC WHO INDICATED THAT THE VEHICLE IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE DUE THE FRONT PASSENGER CROSS FRAME MEMBER IS COMPLETELY RUSTED THROUGH (PHOTOS ARE AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST). THE CONDITION WAS FOUND AFTER 96,746 MILES DURING A REPAIR AFTER A ROUTINE OIL CHECK. THE APPARENT CAUSE IS THE HOSE LINE CONNECTED TO THE AIR CONDITIONING UNIT IS POSITIONED IN SUCH A WAY THAT IT LEAKS ONTO THE SUB-FRAME, CAUSING IT TO RUST OUT. THE COST FOR THE FRAME REPAIR WAS $ 2,052.970, BUT WHAT IS MORE DISTURBING IS THAT I WAS DRIVING THIS CAR WITH MY GRANDCHILDREN AND FAMILY UNDER THE RISK OF AN ACCIDENT WITHOUT MY KNOWLEDGE OF THE CONDITION. ALSO, DISTURBING IS TO KNOW THERE MAY BE OTHER CARS WITH THE SAME ISSUE BEING DRIVEN TODAY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10565975February 26, 2014
AIR BAGS
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*LJ
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10562118January 29, 2014
POWER TRAIN
I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AND MY CAR ALMOST STOPPED. IT WAS LIKE I HAD PUSHED THE BRAKE PEDAL TO THE FLOOR AND HELD IT. IT THEN WOULDN'T SHIFT INTO GEAR AND THE RPM WENT UP TO 6000. IT IS NOW UNSAFE TO DRIVE AS IT DOESN'T SHIFT INTO GEAR AND "BUCKS" AS I TRY TO GO DOWN THE ROAD. I WENT TO AN ACURA DEALER AND THEY TOLD ME IT WOULD COST ME $4500 TO REPLACE TRANSMISSION WITHOUT LOOKING AT IT SO THEY ARE VERY AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. I CALLED ANOTHER DEALER AND LEFT MESSAGE AND THEY NEVER CALLED ME BACK. IN RESEARCHING THIS ISSUE I FOUND THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THE EXACT ISSUE I WAS HAVING. MY CAR DID HAVE THE SO CALLED "FIX" COMPLETED IN 2004. I TOOK GREAT CARE OF THIS CAR AND CHANGED MY TRANSMISSION FLUID APPROXIMATELY EVERY 30000 MILES. I CALLED AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR COMPANY AND THEY TOLD ME I WOULD HAVE TO PAY TO HAVE IT DIAGNOSED BY THE SAME DEALER WHO QUOTED ME $4500 WITHOUT LOOKING AT IT OR THE DEALER WHO NEVER CALLED ME BACK. THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH MY MODEL TRANSMISSION AND THE FACT THAT I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AND WAS ALMOST REAR ENDED BECAUSE MY CAR BASICALLY STOPPED IS UNACCEPTABLE. IT'S SAD THAT HONDA WILL NOT TAKE CARE OF THE PROBLEM. AMERICAN HONDA HAS CHOSEN PROFIT OVER CUSTOMER SATISFACTION AND SAFETY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10554790December 4, 2013
POWER TRAIN, ENGINE
UPON DRIVING ON A FREEWAY GOING AROUND 50 MPH MY TRANSMISSION SUDDENLY PULLED MY CAR TO A QUICK SLOWING DOWN MOTION AS IF BEING MOVED FROM GEAR DOWN TO FIRST OR SECOND. LUCKILY, THERE WERE NO VEHICLES BEHIND ME AS I WAS IN A FAR RIGHT LINE. IT IS AN OLDER VEHICLE HOWEVER IT IS A RECURRING ISSUE IT APPEARS AS THERE WAS A RECALL ON IT ALREADY BEFORE. THE DEALERSHIPS HAVE GIVEN ME CONFLICTING STORIES ON THE VEHICLE HISTORY AS FAR REPAIRS AND RECALLS ON THE VEHICLE AND I DO WISH TO HAVE THE NHTSA LOOK INTO THE HISTORY OF THIS RECALL AS WELL AS WARN THE CURRENT OWNERS OF THE VEHICLE OF THIS ISSUE AS I HAD NOT HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSION SINCE BECOMING THE OWNER AND WAS NOT TOLD OF THE RECALL UPON MULTIPLE VISITS TO THE DEALERSHIP. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10554277December 1, 2013
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, POWER TRAIN
DEAR SAFERCAR.GOV, I HAVE A 2003 ACURA 3.2 TL NAVI. IT HAS APPROXIMATELY 132,800 MILES ON IT AS OF 30 NOVEMBER 2013 (CAR IS IN SHOP, SO I CAN'T VERIFY EXACT MILEAGE). ON SATURDAY, 30 NOV 2013, I TOOK IT IN TO ACURA, BECAUSE THE ENGINE CHECK LIGHT IS ON. I ALSO ASKED THAT THE TRANSMISSION BE CHECKED, BECAUSE IT DIDN'T SEEM TO BE ENGAGING CORRECTLY. THIS MODEL AS WELL AS OTHER ACURA MODEL VEHICLES, ETC, HAD A PREVIOUS RECALL ON THE TRANSMISSION (2004). I ALSO PREVIOUSLY HAD TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED (26 AUG 2004) TO ACURA BECAUSE THE TRANSMISSION FAILED WHILE DRIVING AND THE CAR BROKE DOWN. THE CAR HAS BEEN WELL-MAINTAINED - BODY AND MECHANICALLY, I HAD THE 120K SERVICE PERFORMED ON 22 OCTOBER 2012, WHERE MILEAGE WAS 125,226. ON 11 MARCH 2011, I HAD THE TRANSMISSION FLUID FLUSH SERVICE PERFORMED. THE SERVICE RECORD STATES "FLUSH ENTIRE UNIT OF ALL OLD AND SUSPENDED DEBRIS USING A SAFE AND EFFECTIVE CLEANER TO DISSOLVE THE VARNISH AND GUMS IN THE TRANSMISSION & TORQUE CONVERTER. INSTALL NEW TRANSMISSION FLUID TO FACTORY SPECIFICATION. TODAY (01 DEC 2013), I WAS TOLD THAT THE ENTIRE TRANSMISSION AND SOME ASSOCIATED PARTS NEED TO BE REPLACED AND WILL COST ME BETWEEN $4000 TO $5000 (ESTIMATED NOW, BUT COULD GO UP). IT'S DIFFICULT FOR ME TO FATHOM THAT THIS TRANSMISSION WAS VERIFIED TO MANUFACTURER SPECS IN 2011 AND NOW A COMPLETE FAILURE AT 132800. I BELIEVE THIS TRANSMISSION FAILURE IS THE RESULT OF THE PREVIOUS PROBLEMS, AS STATED IN THE RECALL. THE RECALL I'M CITING IS FROM NHTSA IN APRIL 2004. THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER IS: 04V176000; RECALL DATE: 13 APRIL 2004; COMPONENT: POWER TRAIN: AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION; POTENTIAL NUMBER OF UNITS AFFECTED: 1,099,796. AS A RESULT OF THE HISTORY OF PROBLEMS WITH THIS TRANSMISSION, AND THE RECALL, I'M REQUESTING ASSISTANCE IN HAVING THIS TRANSMISSION REPLACED BY ACURA AT NO COST TO ME. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10553729November 25, 2013
POWER TRAIN
TRANSMISSION LOCKED UP AT 40 MILES AN HOUR. TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN LOCKING UP AND ALSO SLIPPING RECENTLY. HAD ENGINE LIGHT ON - WENT TO JIFFY LUBE...GAVE ME CODE TCC CIRCUIT MALFUNCTION P0740 ABD P1740 DTC DEFINITION NOT FOUND...SPOKE WITH MANGER[XXX] AT NIELLO HONDA AND AGREED NEED NEW TRANSMISSION - COST IS $3400. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10551569November 8, 2013
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
CAN REMOVE KEY FROM IGNITION WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN D (DRIVE). *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10524451July 11, 2013
POWER TRAIN
THE CAR STARTED SHUTTERING OR BUCKING AS I TAKE OFF AND THE CAR SHIFTS INTO ANOTHER GEAR. I HAVE HAD THE CAR SERVICED PREVIOUSLY FOR A TRANSMISSION RECALL. WHEN I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP THEY SAID THERE WAS A KNOWN DEFECT WITH THE TRANSMISSION. ACURA NEEDS TO STEP UP AND FIX THIS PROBLEM BEFORE SOMEONE GETS HURT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10521845June 26, 2013
STRUCTURE:BODY
I GOT MY ACURA 2003 TL TYPE S BACK FROM MY LOCAL DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THAT THE SUBFRAME ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE WAS COMPLETLY RUSTED AND THAT THE VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THE CAR'S A/C DRAIN IS RIGHT ABOVE THE AREA OF THE SUBFRAME RUST. THIS A MAJOR DEFECT IN THE CAR THAT IS CAUSING THE SUBFRAME TO BE ROTTED THROUGH AND UNSAFE. I ALSO FOUND THAT THE HONDA ACCORD 1999-2002 HAS THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE SUBFRAME RUST FROM THE A/C DRAIN. I NOTIFIED THE CAR MANUFACTURER OF THIS PROBELM AND THEY ARE DENYING THAT THERE IS ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR'S CRAFTSMANSHIP. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10521079June 21, 2013
AIR BAGS
TL* 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.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10506099June 17, 2013
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
2003 ACURA TL. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE SUDDEN ACCELERATION. *SMD THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO PUT THE VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL AND CAME TO A STOP AFTER A FEW MORE MILES. BOTH OF THE FRONT ROTORS WERE WARPED FROM BRAKING. THE PLASTIC BUSHING ON THE THROTTLE CABLE HAD BROKEN AND WEDGED THE THROTTLE PLATE OPEN.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10519500June 12, 2013
POWER TRAIN
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 ACURA TL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER MAKING A STOP AND ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE, THE VEHICLE HESITATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, WHO STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE WAS REPORTED TO THE MANUFACTURER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 73,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 73,592. UPDATED 7/8/13 *CN THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN ACCELERATING, THE VEHICLE WOULD SURGE FORWARD BEFORE GOING INTO GEAR. UPDATED 07/18/13
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10514419May 31, 2013
POWER TRAIN
I OWNED A 02 TL FIRST AND REPLACED THE TRANS IN IT 3 TIMES WHEN ACURA SUPPOSEDLY FIXED IT WELL THEY DIDN'T AND WOULDN'T HONOR THEIR WORK SO I PAID $3500 FOR ANOTHER TRANS THEN SOMEONE HIT ME TOTALED IT 3 WKS LATER! SO WE BOUGHT A 2003 ACURA TL THAT ALREADY HAD THE RECALL DONE IN JULY 2005 LITERALLY LESS THEN 24 HOURS OF PURCHASING THE CAR I WAS PICKING UP MY DAUGHTER FROM SCHOOL ON WAY HOME THE TRANSMISSION WENT!! IT STARTED JERKING REAL BAD LIKE SOMEONE WAS SLAMMING THE BRAKES ON WHICH WAS SCAREY AS HELL BECAUSE I DIDN'T WANT TO GET REAR ENDED OR CAUSE OTHERS TO BE IN ACCIDENT! HAD TO KEEP PULLING OVER SHUTTING IT OFF TO TRY TO MAKE IT HOME BUT GEARS GOT WORSE AND WORSE THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON!! I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THEY JUST DON'T FIX THE THINGS RIGHT THE FIRST TIME AND IF NOT HONOR YOUR LUXURY REPUTATION AND STAND BY YOUR WORKMAN SHIP!! NOW I HAVE TO PAY TO TOW IT TO ACURA DEALER TO SEE IF THEY WILL CONSIDER FIXING IT. THERE SHOULD NEVER BE ANY DOUBT WHEN THOUSANDS UPON THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE HAVE HAD SAME PROBLEM TIME AND TIME AGAIN THEY SHOULD PAY FOR ALL REPAIRS GIVE US ALL A RENTAL TO DRIVE AND REIMBURSE FOR TOWING EXPENSES!! I AM TRULY SURPRISED THAT THERE IS NOT A HUGE CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT AGAINST ACURA FOR ALL OF US THAT HAVE BEEN AFFECTED BY THIS! IF SOMETHING WOULD HAVE HAPPENED WHEN MY KIDS WERE IN THE CAR GOD HELP ACURA. I TRULY HOPE ACURA GETS SOME KIND OF REPERCUSSIONS FOR ALL THIS CUZ ITS JUST RIDICULOUS AND NOW I CAN'T GET TO WORK GET TO STORE NOTHING STRANDED YET AGAIN THANKS ACURA. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10510695May 5, 2013
POWER TRAIN
I AM NOW FAMILIAR WITH THE 2004 WORK DONE ON THE TRANSMISSION. IN 2008, WITH 70K MILES, ACURA HAD TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION UNDER THE WARRANTY. NOW, AT 132K MILES, THE TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REPLACED AGAIN. ACURA GAVE ME A 10% DISCOUNT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10499435February 20, 2013
POWER TRAIN, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
MY CAR BEGIN TO IDLE TO 5 RPM AND NOT CHANGE GEARS WHILE DRIVING. PULLED OVER AND CONTACTED LOCAL MECHANIC. I WAS INSTRUCTED TO BRING CAR INTO HONDA DEALERSHIP IN LAKE CITY, FL. THE RESULT WAS NEED A TRANSMISSION FLUSH AND HAD IT DONE. AFTER TEST DRIVING, THE CAR CONTINUED TO PERFORM POORLY. AT THIS POINT I CONSIDER THE CAR SHOULD GO TO THE ACURA DEALERSHIP. MY CAR WAS TOWED TO GATORLAND ACURA OF GAINESVILLE, FL. AFTER DIAGNOSTICS COMPLETED A TRANSMISSION WAS NEEDED. A VEHICLE ODOMETER READING AT 80533, SHOULD NOT REQUIRE A NEW TRANSMISSION WAS MY FIRST RESPONSE. I GAVE THEM NO ANSWER AT THIS TIME AS TO WHAT TO DO BECAUSE I AM THINKING THIS IS ABSURD. AFTER TWO DAYS OF SEEKING ADVICE AND RESEARCH,I FOUND A RECALL WAS SUBMITTED FOR TRANSMISSION ISSUE. UPON CONTACTING THE DEALER, I WAS GIVEN THE PRICE FOR REPAIRS. REGARDLESS OF INFORMING AND DEBATING THIS SHOULD NOT BE A COST FOR CONSUMER. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT STAFF AND MANAGER WAS NOT VERY HELPFUL NOR PROFESSIONAL. THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN COMPLETELY COVERED BY WARRANTY/HIGHWAY SAFETY RECALL. I WROTE A LETTER TO HONDA HEADQUARTERS AND CONTACTED THE DEPARTMENT BY PHONE. ALMOST TWO WEEKS LATER, GATORLAND ACURA OFFERED TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION AND I WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE LABOR. I WAS NOT PLEASED WITH THE OUTCOME BUT NEEDED TRANSPORTATION BECAUSE THERE WAS NONE OFFERED TO ME. TO THIS DAY, I HAVE NOT RETURNED THERE TO PAY FOR MAINTENANCE BECAUSE OF THE TRUSTWORTHINESS OF GATORLAND ACURA OR HONDA HEADQUARTERS. THE RECALL ISSUE WAS POSTED AROUND FEBRUARY 2008 AND MY CAR WAS IN FOR THE EXACT ISSUE MAY 2008. CONTINUOUSLY UNHAPPY CONSUMER. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10487907December 10, 2012
STRUCTURE:BODY, AIR BAGS, SERVICE BRAKES, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
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." *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10485845November 23, 2012
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 ACURA TL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO BRAKE, THE VEHICLE ERRONEOUSLY ACCELERATED. THE CONTACT SHUT OFF AND RESTARTED THE VEHICLE AS IT BEGAN TO FUNCTION PROPERLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHERE THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE REPLICATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED ABOUT THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 103,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10483511November 6, 2012
POWER TRAIN
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 ACURA TL. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION BEGAN TO SLIP GEARS WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER THREE SEPARATE TIMES WHERE THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED EACH TIME. ON NOVEMBER 5, 2012, THE FAILURE RECURRED WITH BOTH THE VSA AND ENGINE WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO DRIVE CAUTIOUSLY WITH THE TRANSMISSION RESPONDING AT A REDUCED SPEED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 44,619.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10474741September 5, 2012
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
CPSC#1280657A. 2003 ACURA TL. CONSUMER STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG WAS LEAKING A STICKY SUBSTANCE AROUND THE PERIMETER OF THE HOUSING. *LN
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10472808August 28, 2012
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 ACURA TL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAG WAS LEAKING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 66,000. ..UPDATED 10/03/12 *BF UPDATED 10/04/12
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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