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2 New Transmissions for my 2001 Acura TL - Help

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  • junebug56junebug56 Member Posts: 35
    Has anyone had a transmission failure on an '03 Premium TL, and if so at what mileage did it occur? Also, what state do you live in?? Thanks for the info!
  • mcjonesmcjones Member Posts: 2
    I have written to the NHTSA regarding the Acura transmission failures. I described my theory and asked if they could get a response from Honda/Acura. So far, I have not heard from them either.
  • acur8acur8 Member Posts: 9
    Found this on another website---comments?

    the reason for the honda failures is simple, the auto tranny is simply a manual tranny with a set of clutch packs and servos added, each gear shift once off the showroom floor, clashes gears and knocks off metal, which circulates and imbeds in the clutch pack seals, inviting failure.

    PS - this website also said recent Preludes had a 25% tranny failure rate.....?
  • zueslewiszueslewis Member Posts: 2,353
    the "gussied up manual" and the Prelude transmission failure rate, are ridiculous.
  • acuratl24acuratl24 Member Posts: 2
    The transmission in my TL was replaced at 49K miles. The problem started with rough shifts from 2nd-3rd gear. I took the car to a dealer in suburban Philly, and they told me the AT Fluid was "filthy." Told them to change the fluid (at my expense)... Two weeks later the car was back in for a replacement. Shifting was rough in all gears, and I experienced the sudden downshift (very scary!) - drove the car straight to the dealer. Dealer gave me a POS Mitsubishi Galant for a loaner because my TL was not expected to be repaired for 5 days. Replacement transmission seems OK so far, but have lots of reservations about Acura's handling of this problem. Service advisor told me three TL's arrived same day as mine for transmission replacement.
  • krzysskrzyss Member Posts: 849
    calling "POS" Mitsu Gallant when your car is for transmission service (quite early in its life - I must say) is untactful.

    Krzys
  • zueslewiszueslewis Member Posts: 2,353
    drop me an e-mail. I have a question for you.

    And yeah, the Galant thing - at least the Galant was running/driving, huh?
  • acuratl24acuratl24 Member Posts: 2
    you're right - at least the Galant had a transmission that worked properly! I take the POS back...
  • zueslewiszueslewis Member Posts: 2,353
    I may have a way to resolve your problem.
  • bigbabyjesusbigbabyjesus Member Posts: 2
    I have a question: Do the people with tranmission problems use the sportshift feature on their cars? Maybe they are using it incorrectly and therefore damaging the transmission? Just a thought.
    My friend has a BMW 3-series with sportshift and has gone through 2 transmissions already as well. I have no doubt that his driving style and poor shifting skills are to blame.

    My brother owns a 2001 TL and it runs perfect.
  • heymistaheymista Member Posts: 22
    Mine went out at 25k miles. I used SS the first week I bought the car, but none since. Much of my mileage was highway mileage as I make a 65 mile trip(each way) twice per week. There are many TL/CL owners whose transmissions failed well under 10k. Acura/Honda knew there was a bad production run as I received a letter just 2 weeks prior to my tranny failing stating they are extending my warranty to 100k. Other owners did not receive this letter indicating they knew of the VIN#s affected. They should have recalled these VIN#S in addition to extending the warranty. I had my 3 year old girl in the car when the transmission failed. Wait until some of these vehicles (2000-2002) age in mileage and you will see even more failures.
  • ruskiruski Member Posts: 1,566
    Maybe NOT

    even if the drivers damage the tranny by using SS, it is still Acura's fault for designing it so badly that it would allow itself to be damaged.

    In general though, there are plenty of people who baby their car, don't drive it hard, don't use SS, and the tranny still failed on them.

    Go check the http://www.acura-tl.com and http://www.acura-cl.com forums. The CL board even has a separate forum dedicated to tranny failures.

    P.S. my TL-S' tranny failed at 6,100 miles.
  • bodble2bodble2 Member Posts: 4,514
    I know it has been documented that TL/CL trannies have failed regardless of whether SS is used, but is it not plausible that the use of SS would HASTEN the onset of problems. What I'm thinking of in particular is drivers who like to go back and forth constantly between auto and SS (while the car is in motion). Could that accelerate the failure process? Perhaps that's why some fail with very low mileage while some last 60,000+ miles.
  • ruskiruski Member Posts: 1,566
    I don't think so. Going from D5 to SS does nothing - the car stays in whatever gear that it was in prior to pushing the shift lever into SS.

    And if it is the case - then it is a bad design.
  • bodble2bodble2 Member Posts: 4,514
    You're probably right on both counts.
  • hazmat1hazmat1 Member Posts: 1
    I HAD THE SAME TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS WITH MY 99 TL . THEY TELL YOU THE SAME LINE " ACURA DOES NOT REBUILD TRANSMISSIONS THEY SEND YOUR OUT ON A TRUCK TO THE FACTORY AND BRING YOU NEW ONE FROM THE FACTORY " YEAH SURE I WONDER WERE ALL THOSE CHANGED OUT ACURA 3.2 TL TRANSMISSIONS ARE ? OR THEY SAY " YOU KNOW MOST OF THE PROBLEMS COME FROM PEOPLE NOT KNOWING HOW TO USE THE SEQUENTIAL SPORT SHIFTING CORRECTLY . COME ON UP AND DOWN HOW DIFFICULT COULD IT BE . MY ACURA DEALER EVEN GIVES YOU A CLASS ON YOUR CARS FEATURES AND HOW TO USE THEM . THIS IS JUST ANOTHER MECHANICALLY POORLY DESIGNED TRANSMISSION AND OR VEHICLE LIKE WHEN AUDI SCREWED UP THEIR REPUTATION BACK IN THE DAYS . IF YOU GO INTO THE ACURA OWNERS LINK WEBSITE THEY EVEN SAY THAT FROM 200 - 2003 AND SONE TL ' S THE TRANSMISSION WARRANTIES GOES UP TO 100, 000 MILES . FOR ALL OF YOU WITH EXTENDED WARRANTIES GET YOUR MONEY BACK FROM THE WARRANTY COMAPANY AND THE GAP INSURANCE COMPANY IF YOU PURCHASED IT , IT IS FULLY REFUNDABLE AS LONG AS YOU ASK FOR IT BEFORE THE MANUFACTUER OR CERTIFICATION WARRANTY RUNS OUT , AND ON THE GAP YOU CAN GET IT BACK BEFORE THE MATURITY DATE ON YOUR LOAN . MY ACURA DEALER GIVES ME THE RUN AROUND ALL THE TIME TO FOR WARRANTY CLAIMS AND IN MY OPINION AFTER READING THE POSTINGS ALL THE ACURA DEALERS DO , THEY ALL GET THE SAME TRAINING . YOUR BETTE OFF CALLING ACURA 'S CLIENT CARE AND REGISTERING A COMPLAINT ABOUT YOUR DEALER , THEY ARE VERY GOOD ABOUT INVETIGATING BUT HTEIR IS VERY LITTLE THEY CAN DO , I WAS TOLD THE MOST THEY COULD DO IS TAKE AWAY THE DEALER'S CERTIFICATION TO CERTIFY THEIR VEHICLES . SOMETHING IS BETTETHAN NOTHING .
  • maldorfmaldorf Member Posts: 31
    I am now about to end the lease of a 99 TL with which the transmission went out at about 30k miles and left me stranded on the highway on the way to work. It took honda two months to replace my transmission, and when they did they gave me a rebuilt tranny. Here we were paying the bucks to lease a TL and I was driving around in a Ford Focus as a loaner. I complained and Honda did refund me the value for the 2 months of the lease.
      Well, i told myself that it was a fluke and purchased an 03 TL which my wife now drives. Now it is starting to show the same symptoms that the 99 did. Looks like things haven't changed. I am keeping my fingers crossed that this transmission will be ok, but it doesn't make me feel good when my pregnant wife is driving around in a time bomb. When that transmission goes out you feel like you're gonna die for sure! I had a string of cars behind me on a busy highway and when I suddenly dropped from 65 mph to 30mph or less they all almost rear ended me. Sure was an experience, not to mention the whiplash I got from the dozen or more lurches it made.
       Anyone out there looking to get a TL, don't do it! Buying one is like gambling in a casino. Will yours have this same problem? Ask yourself, do you feel lucky today punk!
  • maldorfmaldorf Member Posts: 31
    same guy that posted the last message about the 99 and 03 tls. My 03 TL had a recall when it only had 669 miles on it. Had to have a new waterpump and T-Belt installed. Looks like the belt could come loose and do some major damage to the engine. The fun contiues!
  • maldorfmaldorf Member Posts: 31
    I have never used the sport shift in the 99 TL and it still went out at about 30k miles
  • maldorfmaldorf Member Posts: 31
    http://www.detnews.com/2002/autosinsider/0209/22/autos-593168.htm

    http://www.petitiononline.com/mod_perl/signed.cgi?acura

    http://www.acuraworld.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=2- 4415

    Here are a couple of links about the tranny problem. One is the announcement of the extended warranty offered to only some of the affected customers. The other link is an online petition. The last link is about the law suit that is underway now as we speak. If you are having problems, you should get involved so that Honda realizes their mistake and makes it right.
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