3rd Dec 2008, 09:37
OK, I guess I am just another unhappy transmission Acura customer. I fixed the transmission about 8 months ago, but it was never back to normal. It just failed again and will probably cost me a lot. The mechanic says it is an electrical problem; I don't believe him.
Was there a legal suit against Acura? If so, how can we participate?
Thanks.
5th Mar 2009, 19:52
My mother's 2000 Acura TL has 55K miles and is now having the tranny issue. We were told that it is out of the extended warranty period by 1 year and that Acura was willing to pay for 75% of it for goodwill.
Frankly, that's crap. Has anybody out of the extended warranty had their tranny replaced for free?
Also, if I can't get this resolved I'd also like to jump on the sue Acura wagon. This was our 4th Honda and will be our last if they don't treat us right.
Eugene Kim (eugenekim2006@yahoo.com)
6th Mar 2009, 18:25
The 7year/100.000 was the result of the class action lawsuit. You admit that the car is out of warranty, they will pay 75% of the bill and you still aren't happy?
15th Apr 2009, 15:34
We purchased our 2000 TL new and loved it; no problems at all until after 100,000 miles when the transmission began slipping, hesitating, etc. Of course, we were past 100,000 miles, which we only found out was the Acura-created milestone after the fact. Rebuilt that trans for $2000. Now it's doing the same thing again.
I've owned four other Hondas before this one. One of them had a problem that Honda fixed, even though the car was out of warranty, because they said the part in question didn't meet their standards. They reimbursed me for all my expenses in a voluntary recall. I guess the "new" Honda doesn't have any standards, since this clearly defective transmission problem on the TL's is not being handled with the same sense of responsibility as my 1990 Honda was. What a shame! The most expensive car we've ever purchased turned out to be the biggest piece of junk, and Honda will bear no responsibility for it. No more Hondas or Acuras for me; my new car is a Mazda.
20th Apr 2009, 14:40
2000 Acura TL.
At 77k the transmission went out. My friend is the service manager at the dealership and replaced my transmission for $300. Great deal, but if it wasn't for him it would have cost me $3500. He says that's the main reason Acura's come to the dealership. The 4th generation models of the TL (2004-2008) have rectified the problem.
He also said that the oil system on the 2nd gear recall was something that was forced by consumers complaining. It doesn't do anything to prevent the problem.
I love Acuras, but before you buy any car, conduct your research. Every car make and model has their specific problems and gripes. Doesn't matter if it's a Honda, Toyota, Benz or a Bimmer. And we all know that American vehicles have their problems. Do your homework and never buy a first year model.
24th Apr 2009, 18:43
Common to most problems posted here, I share the same transmission issue with near death experience downshifting out of nowhere and lights flashing across the dash.
Can anyone verify with fact the 7 year-100K mile coverage, or supporting coverage?
Thanks!
4th May 2009, 11:32
Let me join the ranks of the unhappy Acura owners. I've owned Acura's since 1990 and have been a loyal customer. Recently at 135K miles the transmission on my 2000 TL started slipping. I called Acura who stated there was a 7 year, 114K mile warranty (which obviously expired). I brought the car to them several years ago with the recall at which time they inserted the "oil jet".
Brought it to a relative's repair shop and paid $1700. It's now a week later and it's starting to slip again when I'm first starting out in the morning. Performs normally after that.
I too am totally disgusted with Acura to have such a blatant major malfunction and not fully stand behind it.
What could we do?
Leon...
4th May 2009, 14:09
Another one bites the dust. 2003 TL type S, 110k miles on it. Warning lights all over, transmission refuses to do anything other than 2nd gear, other than an occasional 1st with a balky and violent upshift to 2nd. $3000 to replace.
In all of these posts of similar, sudden failures, it is interesting that nowhere can I find what is really going wrong with them, at the mechanical level... they just "go out". Do these transmissions get made on another planet and get shipped to us in a box? Someone somewhere MUST know what component (s) in there is failing, but nobody is talking. Either that, or it's too complicated to explain.
As a mechanical engineer, I'd like to know this kind of thing.
Update: it was explained to me that when the control system detects certain types of errors (such as clutch slippage), the transmission will go to "limp mode", which is second gear, to allow mobility but prevent the transmission from damaging itself further. Thus the sudden appearance of a violent change.
27th May 2009, 22:29
I have a 2001 TL, the transmission went in 2006 when I had about 85,000 miles. The dealership replace the transmission for free and even have me a rental car. They said it was covered under the warranty because of the recall. I now have 181,000 miles.
29th May 2009, 15:43
My experience: 2000 TL... Transmission had recall fix at 20K miles. Finally failed at 96K miles (7.5 yrs). Replaced with shared cost of $350 but got additional 3 yr; 36K warranty on replacement transmission. Failed again at 106K miles. No charge this time but warranty down to 26K remaining... I am concerned that someday I will have to bear full expense myself. Wondering if anyone has long term experiences that were "good"...?
Osemet@aol.com.
29th May 2009, 17:45
We found the simple solution; sell it... $34000 TL Type S car sold it for $10,000 disclosing the trans issues on CarFax with only 40,000 miles. Having trans failures is unacceptable and there is a future... another brand. The worse resale I ever had.
30th May 2009, 12:48
This is all very interesting and amazing.
Here's my story: I have a 2000 Acura TL and I refuse to part with the car, ever. It's by far the most comfortable car I've ever owned.
I recently (this past Thursday) eclipsed 315,000 miles on the car. Yes, 315,000 miles.
I had the same transmission issues as many others here, but mine went out at 163,000 miles. I paid $3500.00 to get a rebuilt transmission. This rebuilt has now lasted 152,000 miles.
I use a simple rule for my cars: I think I've got a great car if I can own it for 10 cents per mile. Paying $3500. for another transmission, and expecting to get another 35,000 (let alone 152,000) miles makes it a good investment.
My car gets a steady 30 mpg (combine condition driving) and has gotten a best of 35.3 mpg on a straight through trip from Ohio to NJ last year.
I have 315,000 miles on my car and I have no fear still of simply getting into the car and heading out to New England, Ohio or the Carolina's on a lark. I've done this dozens of times through the years.
If my cars does go at some point, I would begin my search to replace it with another 2000 TL, even if I have to immediately invest into a rebuilt transmission.
I'm sorry many others have not enjoyed their TL as much as I have mine.
Steve
South Jersey.
22nd Nov 2008, 11:05
We bought our 2000 TL about three years ago with over 100,000 miles from the original owner. The car was well maintained, had the "oil jet" installed to the tranny, along with annual fluid changes. Now at 150,000 miles, we appear to have no real issues with the original tranny. The dealership claims overheating and "spinning" the front drive wheels as the TCS locks up causes most of the tranny failures. The Acura's V-6 seems to have too much torque for the apparently "weak" tranny to handle under load. So, driving it gently along with faithful fluid changes appears to be working for us. The transmission was poorly engineered and would've been better if designed with a serviceable filter and some sort of fluid cooler.