2000 Acura TL Visibility Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 ACURA TL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REARVIEW MIRROR LEAKED A TOXIC SUBSTANCE (OVER SIX MONTHS AGO) OVER THE SEAT AND ONTO THE PLASTIC SURROUNDING THE GEAR SHIFTER. THERE WAS AN ODOR IN THE VEHICLE AND THE SUBSTANCE LEFT A BURN MARK ON THE CONTACT. THE SUBSTANCE ALSO BURNED A HOLE THROUGH THE PLASTIC NEXT TO THE GEAR SHIFT AND ON THE LEATHER SEAT. ACURA STATED THAT THEY WOULD NOT BE RESPONSIBLE BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS OLDER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE MIRROR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, BUT WOULD NOT DO THE REPAIR FOR FREE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 197,000.

NHTSA ID

10925324

Incident

Jun 1, 2016

Mileage

197,000 mi

YESTERDAY, 8/18/13, OUR AUTO DARKENING REAR VIEW MIRROR LEAKED A BLACK LIQUID THAT MELTED THE PLASTIC CONSOLE UNDER IT. THE LIQUID COULD NOT HAVE BEEN ON THE CONSOLE FOR MORE THAN 45 MINUTES AS THE REAR VIEW MIRROR WENT FROM BEING CLEAR WHEN WE ARRIVED TO A SHOPPING CENTER, TO A DISTORTED VIEW WHEN WE WERE LEAVING. SEARCHING GOOGLE, ??2000 ACURA TL REAR VIEW MIRROR LEAK,?? I FOUND MANY INSTANCES OF THIS HAPPENING TO OTHERS. I ALSO FOUND THAT THE SUBSTANCE IS TOXIC (PERHAPS AS MANY AS 6 COMPOUNDS INCLUDING MERCURY). IN SOME CASES THESE MIRRORS HAVE EXPLODED THROWING BLACK TOXIC GOO ON PASSENGERS AND THE INTERIOR. SOME HAVE REPORTED GETTING ILL FROM EXPOSURE. NEEDLESS TO SAY, I REMOVED THE MIRROR. WHAT I CAN??T UNDERSTAND IS THAT THESE MIRRORS HAVE NOT BEEN RECALLED, NOT JUST BECAUSE THE LIQUID RUINS THE INTERIOR OF THE CAR, BUT IT??S DANGEROUS AS A HEALTH HAZARD WELL. I BELIEVE THIS TYPE MIRROR WAS USED FOR MANY YEARS BEFORE AND AFTER MY CAR WAS MANUFACTURED. YES, THIS IS A 13 YEAR OLD CAR. WE PURCHASED IT NEW AND IT REMAINS IN NEAR PERFECT CONDITION WITH UNDER 30,000 MILES ON IT. IT NOW HAS PARTIALLY DISSOLVED CONSOLE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10536226

Incident

Aug 18, 2013

Mileage

29,500 mi

REAR VIEW MIRROR IMAGE DISTORTED, BLURRED, AND NOT REFLECTIVE OF THE ACTUAL DISTANCE/SEPARATION FROM FOLLOWING VEHICLES. ALSO OCCURRED ON MY 1999 ACURA 3.2TL. *TR

NHTSA ID

10465788

Incident

Jul 15, 2005

Mileage

40,000 mi

TOXIC FLUID LEAKING FROM REAR VIEW MIRROR, DRIPPED ONTO CENTER CONSOLE AND MELTED PLASTIC PARTS IN THE INTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10418479

Incident

Aug 9, 2011

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 ACURA 3.2 TL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN ACTIVATING THE AIR CONDITIONER, NO AIR WOULD BLOW FROM THE VENTS. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION, HE FOUND THAT THE ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR WAS MELTED AND CAUSING THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT REPAIRED THE VEHICLE BY REPLACING THE CONNECTOR AND BLOWER MOTOR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 140,000. UPDATED 9/27/11 *CN THE CONSUMER STATED THE ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR BURNED AND MELTED AS WELL AS THE FAN. UPDATED 10/07/11

NHTSA ID

10414723

Incident

Jan 1, 2011

Mileage

145,000 mi

MY CAR WAS PARKED IN THE SUN AT WHICH TIME THE AUTOMATIC REAR VIEW MIRROR PROCEEDED TO LEAK CAUSTIC FLUID FROM THE PHOTO CELL UNTO THE MIDDLE OF MY CAR'S INTERIOR CONSOLE ESPECIALLY ALL OVER THE GEAR SHIFTER AREA. THIS FLUID WAS CORROSIVE TO THE POINT THAT IT MELTED A HOLE IN THE BOTTOM OF MY REARVIEW MIRROR AND DAMAGED THE PLASTIC PIECES IN THE CENTER OF THE CONSOLE INCLUDING THE GEAR INDICATOR AND ITS TRIM RING. THE REARVIEW MIRROR IS NOW CLOUDY AND SOMEWHAT DAMAGED. SOME OF THE FLUID GOT ON THE BACK OF MY HAND WHEN I PUT MY CAR IN GEAR AND CAUSED A SLIGHT BURNING SENSATION UNTIL I WASHED IT OFF. I'M NOT SURE IF THERE'S MORE FLUID YET TO LEAK FROM THE DAMAGED MIRROR THE NEXT TIME THE INTERIOR OF THE CAR GETS HOT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10412093

Incident

Jun 28, 2011

Mileage

62,121 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 ACURA TL. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PARK THE VEHICLE THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR VIEW MIRROR SUDDENLY EXPLODED. THE DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED OR REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000.

NHTSA ID

10410870

Incident

Jun 30, 2011

Mileage

50,000 mi

MY 2000 ACURA 3.2 TL HAS A FAILING REAR VIEW MIRROR, LEAKING FLUID INTO THE INTERIOR OF THE CAR. FROM SEARCHING I UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE AUTO DIMMING MIRRORS MANUFACTURED BY MAGNA DONNELLY CORP INSTALLED ON VARIOUS MAKES AND MODELS OF CARS. IT ALSO APPEARS THAT THE CHEMICALS LEAKING MAY BE TOXIC, THOUGH THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT RELEASED THE INGREDIENT CONTENTS PUBLICLY. IF YOU SEARCH GOOGLE FOR "LEAKING REAR VIEW MIRROR" YOU CAN SEE THIS IS A FAIRLY COMMON PROBLEM. I BELIEVE THE HEALTH CONSEQUENCES NEED TO BE EXAMINED AND IF DETRIMENTAL TO HEALTH A FORCED RECALL SHOULD BE ISSUED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10336635

Incident

Jun 3, 2010

Mileage

130,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 ACURA 3.2 TL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE CLEANING THE REAR VIEW MIRROR WITH A GLASS CLEANING SOLUTION, SHE NOTICED THAT THE MIRROR BEGAN LEAKING UNUSUAL FLUIDS. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED WITH THE POTENTIAL HEALTH RISKS OF THE UNKNOWN FLUIDS. THE CONTACT CONFIRMED THAT THE OWNERS MANUAL RECOMMENDED CLEANING THE MIRROR WITH WATER ONLY. NO REPAIRS WERE MADE TO THE VEHICLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE UNKNOWN. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

10321812

Incident

Jul 15, 2004

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS 2000 ACURA TL. THE VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED RATE. THE CONTACT OBSERVED THAT THE INTERIOR REAR MIRROR WAS COVERED THREE QUARTERS WITH A BLACK RESIDUE. THE AUTHORIZED DEALER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED AT THIS TIME. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE 150,000.

NHTSA ID

10313320

Incident

Feb 1, 2007

Mileage

90,000 mi

2000 ACURA TL MIRROR LEAKED FLUID ON INTERIOR OF MY VEHICLE'S CONSOLE. NOT SURE WHAT CAUSED THE PROBLEM BUT MY MIRROR IS NOW BLURRY. NOW FOR SOME REASON EVERYTIME I GET IN MY CAR AND DRIVE MY RIGHT EYE STARTS TO HURTING. ONCE I'M OUT AND IN FRESH AIR IT FEELS FINE. I'VE NOTICED ON FORUMS ONLINE THAT THIS SEEMS TO BE A RECURRING PROBLEM AND SOME HAVE COMPLAINED OF DIFFERENT HEALTH ISSUES ALSO. *TR

NHTSA ID

10289257

Incident

Jul 24, 2009

2000 ACURA 3.2 TL REAR VIEW MIRROR DEFECT. THE 2000 ACURA 3.2 TL COMES EQUIPPED WITH A AUTO-DIMMING REARVIEW MIRROR MANUFACTURED BY THE MAGNA DONNELLY CORPORATION. THIS MIRROR BEGAN LEAKING A DARK FLUID RECENTLY WHICH HAS BEEN KNOWN TO BE TOXIC. FROM MY RESEARCH THIS APPEARS TO BE A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM IN WHICH MIRRORS EVENTUALLY EXPLODE AND CAN SPRAY THIS TOXIC FLUID INTO THE EYES AND MOUTH. *TR

NHTSA ID

10281676

Incident

Aug 24, 2009

Mileage

135,000 mi

INSIDE REARVIEW MIRROR LEAKED FLUID ON CONSOLE AND CLOTHING. FLUID RESEMBLES TAR BUT DESTROYED THE PLASTIC CONSOLE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10242237

Incident

Sep 14, 2008

Mileage

61,000 mi

CAME OUT TO MY CAR THIS A.M. TO FIND THAT REARVIEW MIRROR HAS GONE BLACK/DARK GREY, OBSTRUCTING REAR VISION. ONLY SMALL OVAL AREA REMAINS CLEAR. *TR

NHTSA ID

10242189

Incident

Sep 15, 2008

Mileage

94,500 mi

I HAVE THE DEFECTIVE INTERIOR REAR VIEW MIRROR AS REPORTED BY MANY OTHERS. A LARGE CLEAR BUBBLE APPEARED AT THE TOP OF THE MIRROR GLASS AND THE REST OF THE MIRROR WAS TINTED FOR A DAY, AND THE VISION DISTORTED. AFTER READING MANY COMPLAINTS OF OTHER OWNERS EXPERIENCING THIS PROBLEM I CONTACTED ACURA. THEY INFORMED ME THAT THIS PROBLEM WAS THE FAULT OF THE OEM EQUIPMENT MANUFACTURER, MAGNA DONNELLY. I CONTACTED THEM AND THEY INFORMED ME BY EMAIL THAT THEY ARE NO LONGER REPLACING THESE DEFECTIVE MIRRORS AS OF JAN 1, 2008. I MAY HAVE INJESTED THE FLUID THAT LEAKED FROM THE MIRROR, AS MY COFFEE CUP WAS IN THE HOLDER, NEAR WEAR THE FLUID DESTROYED DRIPPED ONTO AND DESTROYED MY CONSOLE. I AM WORRIED THAT THE FLUID IS TOXIC, SOME REPORTS ON ACURA'S ENGINE STATE THAT IT CONTAINS MERCURY. NOBODY WILL TELL ME WHAT THE FLUID CONSISTS OF. I BELIEVE A RECALL SHOULD BE INACTED TO REPLACE THESE DANGEROUS MIRRORS WITH THE SOLID (NON-LEAK) REPLACEMENT. THE FLUID DOES NOT WASH OFF HANDS EASILY, AND STAINS LEATHER AS WELL. I SEEM TO HAVE DEVELOPED COLD/FLU-LIKE SYMPTOMS SINCE THE INCIDENT - COULD JUST BE A COLD BUT WHO KNOWS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10237930

Incident

Aug 7, 2008

Mileage

75,600 mi

I HAVE THE DEFECTIVE INTERIOR REAR VIEW MIRROR AS REPORTED BY MANY OTHERS. A LARGE CLEAR BUBBLE APPEARED AT THE TOP OF THE MIRROR GLASS AND THE REST OF THE MIRROR IS TINTED AND THE VISION DISTORTED. AFTER READING MANY COMPLAINTS OF OTHER OWNERS EXPERIENCING THIS PROBLEM I CONTACTED ACURA. THEY INFORMED ME THAT THIS PROBLEM WAS THE FAULT OF THE OEM EQUIPMENT MANUFACTURER, MAGNA DONNELLY. I CONTACTED THEM AND THEY INFORMED ME THAT THEY ARE NO LONGER REPLACING THESE DEFECTIVE MIRRORS. I ALSO LEARNED FROM RESEARCH THAT THE FLUID THAT LEAKS FROM THESE MIRRORS CAN CAUSE SERIOUS HEALTH PROBLEMS. I BELIEVE A RECALL SHOULD BE IN EFFECT TO REPLACE THESE DANGEROUS MIRRORS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10236246

Incident

Jul 29, 2008

Mileage

137,812 mi

THE REARVIEW MIRROR IN MY 2000 ACURA TL EXPLODED AND A BLACK LIQUID SPRAYED THROUGHOUT THE INTERIOR OF MY CAR. IT CORRODED A LARGE HOLE THROUGH MY CENTER CONSOLE (WHICH WAS REPLACED BY ACURA/HONDA AT NO CHARGE), DAMAGED MY LEATHER SEATS AND CARPET (WHICH ACURA/HONDA REFUSED TO REPLACE, BUT DID PERFORM A THOROUGH CLEANING OF BOTH...THE DEALER INVOICE STATED MERCURY LEAK), AND ALSO PROMPTED THE REPLACEMENT OF MY REARVIEW MIRROR (WHICH WAS ALSO REPLACED BY ACURA/HONDA AT NO CHARGE). JUST IMAGINE...IF CHEMICALS ARE TOXIC ENOUGH TO CORRODE A HOLE THROUGH YOUR CENTER CONSOLE, WHAT EFFECT DO THOSE CHEMICALS HAVE ON YOU WHEN INHALED? *TR

NHTSA ID

10232689

Incident

Jun 26, 2008

Mileage

160,000 mi

REAR VIEW MIRROR LEAK THE REAR VIEW MIRROR RUPTURED AND LEAKED A BLACK CORROSIVE LIQUID THAT ATE INTO THE CONSOLE PLASTIC. THEIR SEAMS TO BE A WEIRD CHEMICAL SMELL IN THE CAR NOW FROM THE LEAK. *TR

NHTSA ID

10232352

Incident

Jun 24, 2008

Mileage

85,000 mi

THE REAR VIEW MIRROR IN 2000 ACURA TL FAILED. WHEN IT FAILED, IT LEAKED SOME CORROSIVE LIQUID ONTO THE GEAR SHIFT OF MY CAR. AS FAR AS I CAN TELL, THIS FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY HEAT AS IT OCCURRED ON A HOT DAY. ACURA HAS DONE NOTHING TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM AND IT SEEMS TO BE HAPPENING TO QUITE A FEW CARS (HTTP://TL.ACURAZINE.COM/FORUMS/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?T=78061&HIGHLIGHT=REAR+VIEW+MIRROR). *TR

NHTSA ID

10231659

Incident

Jun 18, 2008

Mileage

112,000 mi

I TOOK MY 2000 ACURA TL INTO THE DEALERSHIP TO HAVE THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED UNDER THE EXTENDED WARRANTY. WHEN I PICKED IT UP FROM THE DEALERSHIP 3 DAYS LATER THERE WAS A DIVIDING LINE IN THE TOP OF THE MIRROR. ABOVE THE LINE AND THE MIRROR IS CLEAR, BELOW THE LINE THE MIRROR IS TINTED. THERE APPEARS TO BE FLUID THAT HAS LEAKED OUT FROM IN BETWEEN TWO PIECES OF GLASS (ONE BEING THE ACTUALLY MIRROR GLASS AND THE OTHER BEING A SECOND LAYER A GLASS THAT TRAPS THIS FLUID. I HAVE TO KEEP SOMETHING IN THE CAR TO KEEP THE LIQUID FROM DRIPPING ON THE INTERIOR OF THE CAR, BECAUSE IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THIS FLUID WILL DESTROY PLASTIC AND LEATHER. I HAVE CONTACTED THE MIRROR'S MANUFACTURER MAGNA-DONNELLY, INC. I HOPE THEY WILL SEND ME A FREE REPLACEMENT MIRROR AND THAT MY INTERIOR IS NOT RUINED BEFORE THE REPLACEMENT ARRIVES. *JB

NHTSA ID

10202269

Incident

Sep 1, 2007

Mileage

75,268 mi

ON A VERY HOT DAY, I ENTERED MY CAR TO DISCOVER A BLACK OIL SUBSTANCE THAT MELTED AROUND MY GEAR SHIFT. LOOKED IN MY REAR-VIEW MIRROR AND IT WAS VERY BLURRY, THEN LOOKED UNDERNEATH AND SAW WHERE THE SUBSTANCE CAME OUT OF THE MIRROR. IT ALSO SPLASH ON MY LEATHER SEATS. ACURA DEALERSHIP SAID IT WAS LIQUID CRYSTAL THAT IS USED TO DIM THE MIRROR. HE SAID IT WOULD NOT BE COVERED DUE TO THE MILEAGE AND YEAR. (MAYBE IF IT WAS 50K MILES OR LESS) WHICH DIDN'T MAKE MUCH SENSE TO ME. HE SAID NORMALLY IT WILL MAKE A BROWN LINE AT THE BOTTOM OF THE MIRROR (WHICH MINE HAS).. THIS LEAD ME TO BELIEVE THIS PROBLEM IS NOT SO UNCOMMON.

NHTSA ID

10163109

Incident

Jul 3, 2006

THROUGHOUT THE LAST WEEK, I HAVE ATTEMPTED TO CONTACT SOMEONE AT MAGNA DONNELLY ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS REGARDING THE FOLLOWING MATTER. AS OF 1:33 PM (EST) ON SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2005, I HAVE NOT YET RECEIVED A RESPONSE FROM ANYONE AT MAGNA DONNELLY. ADDITIONALLY, EACH TIME THAT I HAVE CALLED MAGNA DONNELLY AT CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS IN TROY, MICHIGAN, AT (616) 786-7000, I AM ALWAYS PROMPTED TO A VOICE MAIL SELECTION. I HAVE LEFT NUMEROUS VOICE MAILS FOR VP'S CARLOS MAZZORIN AND LIAN LYNAM AND THE CORPORATE RELATIONS DEPT, AND SENT E-MAILS TO [email protected] AND [email protected]. I HAVE REPORTED TO THEM THAT MY 13-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER AND I WERE RECENTLY EXPOSED TO THE CHEMICAL SUBSTANCE USED IN MAGNA DONNELLY'S AUTO DIM REAR-VIEW MIRROR MANUFACTURED BETWEEN 1990-2000. THE REAR-VIEW MIRROR IN MY 2000 ACURA TL RECENTLY STOPPED WORKING AFTER A BLACK OIL-BASED SUBSTANCE (WITH A GREEN TINT TO IT) BEGAN LEAKING ALL OVER MY CENTER CONSOLE, FRONT LEATHER SEATS, AND CARPETED INTERIOR. THIS CHEMICAL SUBSTANCE HAS CORRODED MY CENTER CONSOLES WOODGRAIN INTERIOR AND THE SILVER PLATE SURROUNDING MY GEAR SHIFT. I LIVE IN SOUTH FLORIDA AND THE NATIONAL POISON CONTROL CENTER HAS INSTRUCTED ME TO SEEK INFORMATION FROM MAGNA DONNELLY ON THE CHEMICALS USED IN THEIR REAR-VIEW MIRRORS MANUFACTURED BETWEEN 1990-2000. ACCORDING TO THE NATIONAL POISON CONTROL CENTER, IF THIS SUBSTANCE IS, IN FACT, TOXIC, IT COULD BE QUITE LETHAL WHEN INHALED...ESPECIALLY, IN THE HOT FLORIDA SUN. I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN A VERY HEALTH, ATHLETIC FEMALE, BUT RECENTLY DEVELOPED A CONSTANT LOW-GRADE FEVER, A KIDNEY INFECTION, AND BLOOD IN MY URINE. IF THIS SUBSTANCE CAN BURN A HOLE THROUGH MY GEAR SHIFT PLATE, IS IT POSSIBLE THAT THE TOXIC FUMES HAVE AFFECTED MY HEALTH AND THE HEALTH OF MY DAUGHTER? ACURA'S HEADQUARTERS STATED THAT THIS INFORMATION IS NOT AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC. *JB

NHTSA ID

10142511

Incident

Nov 7, 2005

REAR VIEW MIRROR LEAKED CORROSIVE FLUID ON CENTER CONSOLE.

NHTSA ID

10126027

Incident

Jun 20, 2005

Mileage

78,000 mi

OIL IN REAR VIEW MIRROR EXPLODED AND SPLATTERED ON BOTH FRONT SEATS OF THE CAR. LUCKILY IT HAPPENED OVERNIGHT WHEN I WAS NOT DRIVING THE CAR OR IT COULD HAVE CREATED A TRAFFIC ACCIDENT. DEALER WAS NOT SURPRISED APPARENTLY HAPPENED IN QUITE A FEW INSTANCES.

NHTSA ID

10125195

Incident

May 14, 2005

Mileage

55,000 mi

CONSUMER STATES THAT THE WINDSHIELD WIPER ON THE DRIVER SIDE WOULD LEAVE A BLACK FILM ON THE WINDSHEILD WHEN USED. VEHICLE TAKEN TO THE DEALER ON THREE OCCASIONS. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *MR

NHTSA ID

8020277

Incident

Sep 20, 2002