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It's a real issue in a 35k car!
I'll never buy another car in its first year of production ....I've learned my lesson...
I've also filed a lemon lawsuit against Acura.
I contacted Acura to see if they would like to resolve this issue without lawyers and they did not even return my calls really tough people to deal with they just do not care!
I've not noticed any unusual vibration but then again I might have stayed at 50 mph too often. Does it have to be 45-55 mph? What about 70 mph? The vibration is mainly felt from your body with seat contact and not from steering wheel? Can you hear the vibration too?
I'm not sure if this affects all 04 models.
Mine starts to vibrate at 45 miles per hour just as the transmission shifts into 5th gear. It continues to vibrate until about 60 mph. You can get rid of the vibration by downshifting to 4th gear.
An acura should not do this...
The Acura case manager told me that the vibration has been corrected in the 05 model.
Can someone with a 05 TL please confirm that this problem has been corrected in the 05?
I stand corrected...{by 3 mph}...It shifts into 5th gear at 48 mph not 45 mph.
The point is .....it shifts too early and lugs and therefore causes a vibration. The Acura case manager said they are trying to develop a fix by changing the transmission shift point.
By the way... Acura acknowledges the vibration but will not admit it's a problem. They call it a harmonic vibration They are trying to fix it but its not a problem......... go figure!
I'm glad yours does not vibrate...
I had my hearing earlier this month. After my defense and a test drive the arbitrator ruled in my favor and awarded me a replacement or repurchase. Please review my previous not to see the description of my problems but ultimately the days out of service (30) and numerous repair attempts substanially impaired the use of the vehicle. The poor quality leather grade, phone being inoperable (it did not work on the test drive from land line or cell phones) and the paint issue substanially devalued the car. The power window impaired the safety as it went down by itself... the dealer did not have an answer for the phone said well aah we will need to look into the window going down by itself and offered to repaint the bumper... the vibrations could not be duplicated but it was noted the car was dealer serviced the the tire (crappy bridgestones) were severely balding and prematurely wearing... All this yielded the arbitrator to agree with me.
Despite me getting a repurchase, i like the TL but am changing my approach.. I will be using my refund and i will be getting an 2005 Acura TL A SPEC automatic w/navi(the full complete a spec kit tops out at 6k added) The car will now feature ground effects, a wing spoiler, 18in chrome rims on yokomana tires, brembo brakes/calipers, a sport wheel, A SPEC badging plus i am getting back up sensors....
Why u say did I choose this? well the TL offers the best overall value in its class and i believ some of the biggest problems on this car are the first year jitters plus I got an amazing deal on the TL aspec MSRP 42,988 as stated above. I am paying 39k...Audi and Beamer can't touch that not even lexus and with the car kit and it being under the factory warranty I was sold.
Nonetheless my biggest concerns were the paint lthr seats tires/vibrations and phone. In 2005 the bridgestone tires r dropped in place of michelins..regardless ia m getting a modified suspenion 18in tires and performance tires so I hope this problem is nullifed....Those of you that have the never failing bubbling leather seats? 2004 look at 05 models...they added the stitching to prevent this...guess acura was tired of bitchy people like me! hehe Phone I pray i have better luck. Nontheless Now i am proud to say I will have the sharpest TL on the road and it will be lowered and areo'd out and all under the factory warranty...cross your fingers for me!
During my weekly commute of 50/50 highway/local road driving, I'm averaging 20-21mpg using 93 octane. On my last mostly highway trip (180 miles @ ~80% highway) I averaged 27mpg @ average of 54mph.
So far, I believe this to be a great car and value. Long term tests I've read (this month's Motor Trend, an '04 model, for example) back this up. Hopefully, I'll feel this way in two or three years! I feel for those that didn't get a better example of the Honda/Acura marque.
'21 Dark Blue/Black Audi A7 PHEV (mine); '22 White/Beige BMW X3 (hers); '20 Estoril Blue/Oyster BMW M240xi 'Vert (Ours, read: hers in 'vert weather; mine during Nor'easters...)
2005 models have modified shift points this is to correct the vibration issue...early 05 models may not have the modified shift points...ask the dealer for more info...I have become the guru on this cars quirks but the few big common ones on the 2004 models have been mainly cured on the 2005 model, guess acura listened to complaints however do little for those ginea pigs...i would avoid 2004 models at all costs unless u can live with such flaws that become annoying in due time.
Thank you for the words of encouragement. I did have an arbitration hearing scheduled but cancelled the hearing in favor of a private attorney. About a week ago channel six did a piece on arbitration hearings and said they were bias against the consumer so I opted for an attorney.
I agree with you, most Acura’s are great cars but when you get a bad one the company just has a bad attitude.
Are you going to keep the car? What is Acuras position?
You must be an eternal optimist....
Good Luck with the 05.....be sure to test drive the car before you sign the papers
It sounds like the vibration problem may have been corrected on the 05 models.
Perhaps they will come out with a fix for the 04 model...hope so
Buying any first model year car is a gamble. I took the gamble with (of all things!) a Chrysler 300M. Loved the car. It did have some first model year issues (incl. window motors and tranny electronics) but all were fixed quickly and under warranty. The 2000 model year addressed most issues.
The TL is a great car!
'21 Dark Blue/Black Audi A7 PHEV (mine); '22 White/Beige BMW X3 (hers); '20 Estoril Blue/Oyster BMW M240xi 'Vert (Ours, read: hers in 'vert weather; mine during Nor'easters...)
Wait, are you saying using 89 actually gives you better mpg than 93?
What's your mph? I found mpg to be related to mpg closely. They raise together and drop together. My mph has been lower than 30 from mixed driving and mpg on low 20's from that. But mpg gets closer to 30 when mph is around 50. Pct of highway/local can be misleading as few miles on stop and go local can cost mpg real quick.
As far as the octane... If your car seems to run rough or you are noticing your fuel economy drop switch to 91, or in my case alternate with 93, 91 and 89 at times (yes 89) My fuel economy is at what they state it should be or better on hwy driving... have found the mixture doesn't create any issue on my Tl even though it was deemed a lemon for other reasons...and at 23k miles she is scheduled to depart in 2-3 weeks and the ASPEC awaits...anyone have the ASPEC pkg here?
The people at Acura are really great until you have a problem........then they don't return phone calls.
Any idea? Bad Struts or bushings?
I'm sorry to hear about so many issues with the new TL; this has me looking at the new Avalon.
good luck to all
Stickyman
Granted, I've only had my TL for a couple of months, but no issues to report. A neighbor has an '04, he traded in his '99 TL and has no issues or complaints. He loves TLs.
Just give the TL a good, long test drive or two (or more?) and then decide.
'21 Dark Blue/Black Audi A7 PHEV (mine); '22 White/Beige BMW X3 (hers); '20 Estoril Blue/Oyster BMW M240xi 'Vert (Ours, read: hers in 'vert weather; mine during Nor'easters...)
Even my smoothie ES can give me squeaks, granted only on a really rough surface. TL is more sensitive to bumps, and the harder interior materials seem to bring some squeaks more easily on bumpy roads.
I've have owned the car for about 8 days now and I have not experienced any vibrations. The only reason I'm posting is that I'm sure many potential TL buyers read the posts on this forum. So for what it's worth I have put the car through its paces and detect no vibration.
BTW, I mentioned the vibration issue to the salesman and, of course, he seemed genuinely surprised. But he let me test drive the car for over 25 minutes on many surfaces. During the test drive once I reached 65 I dropped the speed down to 35 numerous times and then accelerated to see if I noticed a vibration. No vibs...so I bought it.
Rogjah.
(BTW, I am not obese or hard on things and have never had a prior seat wear issue on over 30 cars in the last 10-15 years.)
I have a 04 TL and have had nothing but aggravation with the car. To date I have had the following problems:
Poor Tires
Defective leather seat, which they replaced.
Drivers seat is now showing wear after 10k miles
Defective Seat memory
Badly designed Transmission (2nd gear and oil pump)
Sagging Headliner
Harmonic vibration in drive train
Creaks and rattles
Rattles from glove box (had to buy and install foam to stop the rattles)
Constant lies and deceitful conduct from salesman and service representatives stating that they never even heard of the cars problems according to them the car is perfect and no one except me is having problems.
I finally got fed up and asked for an arbitration hearing. Before I could get to a hearing I spoke to an attorney friend and he advised me to get a lemon law lawyer. He said the arbitration hearing was a joke.
I’ve sent all my documentation to a prominent Philadelphia lawyer to see if I have a case. His initial comment was that Acura does not have to provide you with a perfect car. As far as the vibration is concerned, it’s a touch and go situation. If the vibration is pronounced and very noticeable you have a case. If the vibration is minor you may not have a case. My lawyer is going to have a car expert drive the car to determine if the vibration is bad enough to file suit.
Bottom line is that I may be stuck with this piece of Junk.