2002 Acura TL Brakes Problems

My car has been automatically shutting off while driving. Bringing my car to a halt, not a full on stop but to the point my wheels lock up. Sort of like im slamming on my brake but I can't press my brake. I lose power steering, the entire car shuts off. Then I have to try and restart it, but it won't turn over. Sometimes its just for a few minutes. Other times Im stranded for hours. A few times its been days. After it dies and i turn the key off and then back on but not over ill have power. I have a kid and we've been stranded on an on ramp with cars going 60 all around us. The car just randomly shut off in the middle of the road. There's a lot of traffic around these parts and we were stuck, not even being able to get out of the vehicle with the cars going on each side of us. Ive done some research and ive seen thousands of other complaints about this issue since 2002. Ive had 3 different mechanics try to figure out what the issue was. Have had my car at the shop for weeks at a time. A few times even the mechanics couldn't get it started, and it had to sit for 3 days before it would start up again. The check engine light is on and all 3 different mechanics have fixed everything thats came up. After this started happening ive had to replace brakes and rotors several times. My car started shifting way to late. And feels like its starting to slip. This is a safety hazzard. Especially in larger cities.

NHTSA ID

11418115

Incident

Dec 4, 2020

WE GOT AN APRIL 2019 LETTER FOR AN IMPORTANT SAFETY RECALL WHICH CAME TOO LATE! MY CAR WAS TOTALED IN A ACCIDENT IN WHICH BOTH AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. IT DID CAUSE HURTFUL PRESSURE ON MY GRANDSON'S CHEST WITH AN EMERGENCY BILL OVER $500 AND 2 DAYS OF LOSSES WAGES. OK FOR WHICH WE HAD NO COMPENSATION. CAR WAS IN MOTION ON HIGHWAY STREET IN WHICH THE OTHER PARTY WAS TICKETED ON AN ILLEGAL U TURN.

NHTSA ID

11197014

Incident

Dec 17, 2018

Mileage

154,000 mi

TAKATA RECALL

NHTSA ID

11090199

Incident

Apr 25, 2018

CAR WILL NO LONGER FUNCTION PROPERLY/ POOR DRIVING.

NHTSA ID

11063877

Incident

Jun 2, 2015

2002 ACURA TLS: INTERMITTENT SEVER RIGHT FRONT WHEEL BRAKING CAUSING VEHICLE TO LEAVE LANE OF TRAVEL AT VARIOUS SPEEDS (25-55 MPH). REPLACED YAW SENSOR, NO CHANGE. REPLACED FRONT WHEEL SENSORS, NO CHANGE. SCANNED FOR CODES WITHOUT RESULT. TECHNICIAN CONTACTED TECH LINE AND SENT SNAPSHOT OF VSA. ALL TESTS NORMAL INCLUDING VOLTAGES AND CONNECTOR PIN FIT AT VSA CONTROL UNIT, LATERAL ACCELERATION SENSOR CONNECTOR AND CONNECTOR 204. CONTACTED ACURA CUSTOMER SERVICE, BUT WE'RE NOT WILLING TO PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL ASSISTANCE DUE TO MILEAGE OF VEHICLE. THE ONLY WAY TO DRIVE THE CAR SAFELY IS TO DEACTIVATE THE VSA MANUALLY AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE EACH TIME. LAST OPTION IS TO REPLACE VSA CONTROL MODULE (QUOTE FOR NEW PART #39780-S0K-A01 VSA UNIT $1,031.46, PLUS LABOR). *TR

NHTSA ID

10651594

Incident

Aug 21, 2013

Mileage

134,919 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 ACURA TL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED AND THERE WAS SMOKE RISING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THERE WAS A VISIBLE POWER STEERING LEAK AND THE BRAKE LIGHTS ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE STEERING HOSE AND BRAKE SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 96,000.

NHTSA ID

10607155

Incident

Feb 5, 2010

Mileage

96,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING ON INTERSTATE 95 IN MARYLAND, ON A SMOOTH STRETCH OF ROAD, THE SCREW HOLDING THE MASTER CYLINDER BRACKET ONTO THE ROTOR CAME OFF OF THE BRACKET AND THE ENTIRE BRAKE UNIT CAME WEDGED INSIDE OF THE RIM PREVENTING THE CAR FROM STOPPING PROPERLY. WHEN THE CAR CAME TO A SLIDING STOP ON THE SIDE OF THE INTERSTATE IT WAS INOPERABLE AND HAD TO BE TOWED. WHEN THE TIRE WAS REMOVED TO INVESTIGATE THE DAMAGE IT WAS FOUND THAT THE THREADS ON THE INSIDE OF THE BRACKET THAT HOLD THE SCREW WERE GONE. THE ONE SCREW THAT DID STAY ATTACHED TO THE PIECE HAS THE INSIDE OF THE THREADS ATTACHED TO IT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10233290

Incident

Jul 5, 2008

Mileage

103,000 mi

THE FRONT DISC BRAKES ROTORS ON THE 2002 ACURA TL WEAR UNEVENLY OR SWELL IN THE HEAT. THIS CAUSES THE STEERING WHEEL OF THE CAR, AND THUS THE CAR, TO SHAKE DURING STOPS. THIS CONDITION HAPPENS WHILE STOPPING SLOWLY OR QUICKLY. THIS CONDITION IS UNSAFE. WE HAVE TAKEN OUR CAR IN 4 TIMES TO HAVE THE ROTORS GROUND AND EACH TIME THERE HAS BEEN SOMEONE ELSE WAITING IN THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. THE PROBLEM GOES AWAY AFTER SERVICING BUT ALWAYS RETURNS. ACURA HAS REFUSED TO ACKNOWLEDGE A PROBLEM WITH THESE ROTORS.

NHTSA ID

10129403

Incident

Jul 18, 2005

Mileage

15,000 mi

SUDDEN, LOUD GRINDING SOUND COMING FROM REAR DISC BRAKES. AT SAME TIME, SRS INDICATOR LIGHT CAME ON. CONTACTED ACURA DEALER, CLAIR ACURA OF WALPOLE MA, UNABLE TO SERVICE FOR AT LEAST A WEEK, DIDN'T APPEAR CONCERNED ABOUT SAFETY ISSUES. TOOK CAR TO TIRE/BREAK SPECIALIST WHO IMMEDIATLEY DIAGNOSED TOTAL BRAKE FAILURE, CALIPERS WERE LOCKED FROZEN. CALLED ACURA DEALER, STILL UNCONCERNED, KNEW NOTHING ABOUT OTHER VEHICLES WITH SIMILAR PROBLEMS. HAD CAR REPAIRED IMMEDIATLEY BY BREAK SPECIALIST - REPLACED CALIPERS, ROTORS, BRAKE FLUID, COMPLETE BRAKE PACKAGE.

NHTSA ID

10129269

Incident

Jul 18, 2005

Mileage

41,470 mi

I AM ON MY TENTH TRANSMISSION ON AN '02 ACURA TL TYPE S. ACURA IS WELL AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND WILL DO NOTHING BUT CONTINUE TO PUT IN BAD TRANNIES. SOMEONE NEEDS TO STOP THIS BEFORE SOMEONE GETS KILLED!

NHTSA ID

10126453

Incident

Jun 16, 2005

Mileage

70,100 mi

BRAKE FAILURE OCCURRED WITH SUCH LITTLE USAGE. THE FRONT AND REAR DISC BRAKES WERE REPLACED. *BF THE BRAKES WERE EXTREMELY WORN OUT PREMATURELY WHICH PROGRESSED TO METAL TO METAL CONTACT. THERE WAS SEVER PULSATION WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED. *SC

NHTSA ID

10103532

Incident

Nov 1, 2004

Mileage

18,000 mi

THIS INVOLVES MY 2002 ACURA TL TYPE S AND THE BRAKING SYSTEM. I HAVE APROX. 22,000 MILES ON MY CAR. ON A RECENT TRIP FROM LOS ANGELES TO LAS VEGAS I NOTICED AN UNUSUAL AMOUT OF VIBRATION WHEN BRAKING THE CAR FROM HIGH SPEEDS (70'S). I HAD THIS HAPPEN TO ME EARLIER AND THE DEALER TURNED AND RESURFACED THE ROTORS AND REPLACED THE PADS WITH "NON DESTRUCTIVE" NEW ONES. THE EARLEIR EVENT HAPPENED AROUND 15,000 MILES OR SO. LAST WEEK MY TRANSMISSION FAILED (HONDA IS NOW RECALLING) AND I INFORMED THE SERVICE TECH OF MY RECURRING BRAKING PROBLEM. I WAS TOLD TODAY, BY KEYS ACURA VAN NUYS, CA THAT THEY WEREN'T GOING TO FIX THE BRAKES AND I SHOULD PAY TO HAVE THE NOW WARPED ROTORS REPLACED WHEN THE PADS WEAR OUT! I COULDN'T BELIEVE THIS! THIS IS THE FIRST CAR I'VE OWNED THAT HAD 2 MAJOR BRAKING FAILEURES IN LESS THAN 20000 MILES AND THE DEALER REFUSED TO REPAIR IT. I BELIEVE THIS IS OF GREAT SAFTEY CONCERN AND NOT AT ALL NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR! I DON'T LIVE IN SAN FRANSISCO WHERE THE HILLS CAN TEAR UP YOUR BRAKES. I KNOW OTHER ACURA OWNERS HAVE THIS ISSUE WITH THE BREAKS AND I PERSONALLY THINK THEY ARE ENDANGERING PEOPLE BY NEGLECTING TO SERVICE THIS DANGEROUS FAILURE. I HOPE YOU CAN HELP GET THEM TO ACT RESPONSIBILITY. *AK

NHTSA ID

10079216

Incident

Jun 25, 2004

Mileage

22,000 mi

BRAKES FAIL EVERY 15,000 MILES ACCORDING TO HONDA CUSTOMER SERVICE THIS IS A NORMAL CONDITION. *AK

NHTSA ID

10063612

Incident

Mar 23, 2004

Mileage

15,000 mi

CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT A BRAKE PROBLEM. DEFECTIVE ROTORS ARE CAUSING THE STEERING WHEEL TO SHIMMY.*AK THE ROTORS WERE RESURFACED NO NUMEROUS OCCASIONS BUT THE PROBLEM PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALER ARE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM BUT HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO PROVIDE A PERMANENT REPAIR OR ADDITIONAL ASSISTANCE. *NM

NHTSA ID

10053641

Incident

Jan 1, 2004

Mileage

40,000 mi

INTERMITTENT CLICKING SOUND COMING FROM THE RADIO SYSTEM. NO PARTICULAR PATTERN EVEN WITH CD PLAYING OR RADIO PLAYING. DEALER DID NOT DETECT SOUND AND REFUSES TO INVESTIGATE. HAVE HAD OTHER WARRANTY ITEMS CORRECTED BY DEALER, INCLUDING WARPED ROTORS. *LA

NHTSA ID

10043456

Incident

Oct 18, 2003

CRACKED DRIVER'S SIDE FOG LENSE ON 2002 TL (LIGHT STILL WORKS). DEALER WILL ONLY REPLACE ENTIRE UNIT INSTEAD OF LENSE AT A COST OF OVER $220 - RIDICULOUS! OTHER PROBLEMS THAT HAVE BEEN FIXED UNDER WARRANTY - CUP HOLDER LID WOULD NOT OPERATE CORRECTLY, BAD SHUDDER WHEN APPLYING BRAKES, LOOSE SUNROOF. *LA

NHTSA ID

10043455

Incident

Apr 20, 2003

Mileage

20,000 mi

VEHICLE IS 2002 ACURA 3.2TL WITH 21000 MILES. DEALER ACKNOWLEDGES FRONT ROTORS ARE WARPED YET WILL NOT FIX UNDER WARRANTY . *NLM

NHTSA ID

10023295

Incident

Jun 18, 2003

CAR SHAKES & SHIMMIES WHEN I BRAKE, DEALER REPLACED BRAKES AND RESURFACED ROTORS 3 TIMES WITHIN 2 YEARS. NEVER HAD THAT PROBLEM WITH ANY OTHER CAR. DEFECTIVE ROTORS OR BRAKING SYSTEM. *JB

NHTSA ID

10013953

Incident

Mar 6, 2003

TRANSMISSION SLIPPING AND REPORTED AT 14823 DEALER SAID THAT THEY DID NOT FIND A PROBLEM, ROTORS WARPED AT 14823 MILES REPLACED PADS AND RESURFACED ROTORS, CD PLAYER REPLACED AT 14823 MILES, SQUEAK IN REAR SUSPENTION DUE TO A LEAK IN THE REAR RIGHT STRUT AT 18933 MILES, BOTH FRONT SEAT BACKPANELS LOOSE, TRANSMISSION REPLACED AT 20322 MILES CAR WAS AT THE DEALER FOR 25 DAYS, VSA AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT REMAINED ON AFTER TRANSMISSION REPLACED. REPLACED LOCK UPSHIFT SOLENOID VALVED ECU RESET, TRANSMISSION NOT SHIFTING PROPERLY AND SLIPS AT 23583 MILES, DOOR FRAME PEELING AT 23583 MILES REPLACED DOOR FRAME. CRUISE CONTROL NOT WORKING AT 23700 MILES, FONT SUSPENTION OR STEERING COLUMN MAKING SQUEAKY NOISES AT 23700 MILES. DT

NHTSA ID

770674

Incident

Jun 26, 2002

DANGEROUSLY FAULTY TRANSMISSION CAUSED ME TO CRASH VEHICLE, SLIPPED INTO "PARK" AT HIGH SPEEDS ON FREEWAY LOCKING-UP TIRES. FAULTY ROTORS/BRAKE PADS CAUSE STEERING WHEEL TO "SHIMMY" AT BRAKING.*AK

NHTSA ID

765673

Incident

Aug 1, 2002

I HAD A REAR END COLLISION IN MY ACURA 3.2 TL. I HAD BEEN TRAVELING AT A SPEED OF 20-25 MPH AND HAD MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE AS I WAS PREPARING TO MAKE A RIGHT HAND TURN WITHIN 400 FEET. WHEN MY VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP AND HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME, THE AIR BAGS EXPLODED BUT THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT WENT SLACK AND DIDN'T RESTRAIN ME. UPON EXITING THE CAR, THEIR WAS A POOL OF BELT ABOUT 5 FEET IN LENGTH THAT HAD COME OUT OF THE SEAT BELT HOLDER UPON IMPACT. ONCE I SAW THAT, I QUESTIONED THE DULUTH POLICE OFFICER ABOUT THE AMOUNT OF SEAT BELT HANGING OUT MY DOOR. HE ASKED ME TO PULL BACK THE SHIRT I WAS WEARING TO CHECK MY NECK FOR MARKS THAT THE SEAT BELT WOULD HAVE LEFT HAD IT HELD ME IN PLACE. I HAD NO MARKS ON MY NECK TO INDICATE THAT THE SEAT BELT IN ANYWAY RESTRAINED ME. UPON IMPACT I WENT FORWARD AND INTO THE AIR BAG. MY CAR WAS TOWED TO TAYLOR'S COLLISION CENTER IN DULUTH, GEORGIA AND THE NEXT DAY I WAS ASKED BY THE OWNER IF I KNEW THAT MY SEAT BELTS HAD NOT ENGAGED DURING THE ACCIDENT. I SAID I REALIZED IT AND HAD NOT MARKS FROM BEING RESTRAINED. I HAVE CALLED ACURA/AMERICAN HONDA AT THEIR CLIENT SERVICES LOCATION IN CALIFORNIA BUT HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO HAVE A RESOLUTION FROM THEM. I WAS TOLD BY ONE REPRESENTATIVE THAT IT IS "NORMAL AND COMMON" FOR THEIR SEAT BELTS TO GO SLACK IN AN ACCIDENT AND NOT RESTRAIN; THAT'S WHY I HAVE AIRBAGS. I DON'T THINK THAT IS CORRECT. ACURA WOULD LIKE TO TAKE THE SEATBELT FROM ME FOR INSPECTION. I WOULD PREFER SOMEONE INDEPENDENT OF ACURA, EITHER THE NTSB OR AN INDEPENDENT LAB THAT YOU SUGGEST TEST THESE FOR ENGAGEMENT. I REALIZE THAT I HAVE A 2002 AND ONE OF THE FIRST ON THE STREET. COULD YOU PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS MATTER AND ADVISE ME TO THE COURSE OF ACTION? MY TWIN SISTER DRIVES THE SAME CAR AND WE WOULD LIKE TO KNOW THAT THE SEATBELTS WORK PROPERLY. THE BODY SHOP TOLD ME I WAS LUCKY TO HAVE AIRBAGS; BASED ON THE IMPACT I WOULD HAVE BEEN HURT SINCE THE SEATBELT DIDN'T HOLD ME BACK.*AK

NHTSA ID

752377

Incident

Aug 30, 2001