2003 Acura TL Body & structure Problems

This complaint is in regards to the 2003 Acura model TL, which is made by Honda and seems to have a notorious car frame rust/rot problem due to designing the AC compressor drain line to dump water directly onto the cars front subframe/engine cradle causing it/them to be compromised to a serious extent that could lead to major injury and or death if not spotted and dealt with. All complaints clearly indicate the problem is on the right/passenger side of certain Hondas and Acuras in the early 2000's. There is no major issues in regards to driver side frame rott. How is that? Because it's a problem created by a variable located there and that is explained here in this complaint. By the grace of God, I had a sway bar link issue making a ticking noise and asked my mechanic to get It onto the lift a take a look. He told me that I should, "Drive it home, park it and start looking for another car. Put it this way, if you were to hit a bad pothole you could have been in a serious situation." Honda has had an innumerable amt of complaints regarding the same issue and it should have been recalled and redirected the drain line, and ppl suffering this issue should have been compensated for the repair (if even possible to do). I will attach photos if permitted to show the extent of the rust on the front frame of the vehicle. Sad nobody has done anything to remedy this. Disgusting.

NHTSA ID

11481669

Incident

Jun 20, 2022

THE PAINT ON ALL 2003 ACURA TL THE PAINT FAILS BADLY. THE TRANSMISSION ALSO WENT OUT ON ME SOON AS MY CAR HIT 100,000 MILES WHICH SAD FOR AN ACURA. I OWNED A 96 TL AND NEVER HAD ANY OF THESE ISSUES. *TR

NHTSA ID

11323382

Incident

May 20, 2014

Mileage

100,000 mi

******* DELETE VOQ ******* THIS COMPLAINT IS BEING MARKED FOR DELETION BECAUSE THE CONSUMER PLACED THE REQUEST.*DJR ******* DELETE VOQ *******

NHTSA ID

11112881

Incident

Mar 29, 2018

Mileage

88,000 mi

THE PASSENGER SIDE SUBFRAME HAS RUST DAMAGE. THE DRIVER SIDE SUBFRAME DOES NOT HAVE RUST DAMAGE. THE RUST DAMAGE IS OCCURRING FROM THE TOP OF THE FRAME, CAUSED BY THE AIR CONDITIONER DRAINAGE LINE DRIPPING ON TOP OF THE FRAME. ACURA DEALERSHIPS ARE SEEING MORE AND MORE OF THE OLDER VEHICLES COMING INTO SHOPS WITH THIS DEFECT. THE 2000 HONDA ACCORD HAS THE SAME PROBLEM AND WAS REPORTED IN 2009. SO FAR MY CAR HAS NOT FALLEN APART, AND WILL SOON HAVE PROBLEM REPAIRED. I EXPECT HONDA/ACURA TO DO THE RIGHT THING AND REPAIR/RECALL AND FIX THE PROBLEM. REFERENCE THE CHANNEL 5 INVESTIGATIONS IN CLEVELAND OHIO ON YOU TUBE FOR HONDA RUST PROBLEM.

NHTSA ID

11109696

Incident

Jun 27, 2018

SUBFRAME RUSTED OUT. $2600 TO REPAIR. GARAGE KEPT VEHICLE. UNDERSTAND THERE HAVE BEEN SIMILAR COMPLAINTS AND THE ROOT CAUSE IS KNOWN. UNBELIEVABLE THAT SUCH A LARGE AND SUPPOSEDLY REPUTABLE MANUFACTURER CAN NOT ASSUME ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR A DESIGN FLAW. LAST ACURA OR HONDA I WILL EVER PURCHASE.

NHTSA ID

11055582

Incident

Dec 19, 2017

Mileage

112,000 mi

CLEAR COAT IS PEELING OFF OF THE TRUNK, SIDES OF THE CAR, AND ROOF.

NHTSA ID

10846214

Incident

Feb 6, 2016

Mileage

125,000 mi

!!!WARNING THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED!!! "CRUISE CONTROL CONTROL BOX DEFECT!" 2003 TL TYPE S AUTOMATIC 4 DOOR WITHOUT CRUISE CONTROL ON CAR ENGINE BEGAN TO REV OUT OF CONTROL WHILE DRIVING, TRIED TO APPLY BRAKES BUT ENGINE IS TOO STRONG, ONCE VEHICLE HIT 80 MPH FROM THIS ON HIGHWAY I CALMLY TURNED IGNITION OFF ONE CLICK SO STEERING WHEEL WOULD NOT LOCK AND COASTED TO SAFETY. I HAD TO DETACH MODULE AS WELL AS SPEED CONTROL WIRE GOING TO THE IDLE CONTROL OF ENGINE. IF I WAS INEXPERIENCED I COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED EITHER BY GETTING INTO AN ACCIDENT OR BY MY AIRBACK BEING DEPLOYED AND KILLED FROM THE TAKATA INFLATOR. "CLEAR COAT" 2003 TL TYPE S BLACK CLEAR COAT PAINT FLAKING OFF AND MASSIVELY DISCOLORED DUE TO THE DRY WINTER COLD AND THE UV HEAT DURING SUMMER. "INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTING PROBLEM" 2003 TL TYPE S PROBLEM WITH PART OF INSTRUMENT PANEL WHERE ODOMETER IS AS WELL AS OUTSIDE TEMP NOT ILLUMINATING.

NHTSA ID

10826034

Incident

Mar 11, 2015

Mileage

135,000 mi

THE PASSENGER-SIDE SUBFRAME HAS MAJOR RUST AND SOME PARTS ARE RUSTED THROUGH. A MECHANIC AND FURTHER RESEARCH HAS NARROWED THE PROBLEM ON THE A/C CONDENSER HOSE DRIPPING ONTO THE METAL. THE DRIVER-SIDE PART OF THE SUBFRAME HAS MINIMAL SURFACE RUST. THIS PROBLEM IS COMMON AMONG HONDA ACCORDS AND ACURA TLS ALIKE, ACCORDING TO THE MECHANIC. $1500 TO REPLACE SUBFRAME WITH A USED PART, OR $2500 AT THE DEALERSHIP. WAS TOLD BY THE DEALERSHIP THE VEHICLE IS TOO DANGEROUS TO DRIVE.

NHTSA ID

10809146

Incident

Dec 1, 2015

Mileage

90,000 mi

MY DAUGHTER DIED IN A ACCIDENT ON NOVEMBER 7, 2013 IN THE ACURA TL 2003. SHE HAD BEEN TELLING ME THAT IT FELT LIKE THE IGNITION WAS STICKING AND WOULD SPEED UP. I WOULD CHECK WITH MY LOCAL MECHANIC AND HE TOLD ME ACURAS ARE KNOWN TO IDLE HIGH. I BELIEVE THAT HER CAR PROBLEM WAS THE CAUSE OF THE ACCIDENT AND THE POLICE COULD NOT GIVE ME A REASON FOR THE ACCIDENT. SHE WAS 19 AND A SENIOR IN HIGH SCHOOL AND WAS A GOOD CHILD. *TR

NHTSA ID

10595989

Incident

Nov 7, 2013

Mileage

120,000 mi

I GOT MY ACURA 2003 TL TYPE S BACK FROM MY LOCAL DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THAT THE SUBFRAME ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE WAS COMPLETLY RUSTED AND THAT THE VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THE CAR'S A/C DRAIN IS RIGHT ABOVE THE AREA OF THE SUBFRAME RUST. THIS A MAJOR DEFECT IN THE CAR THAT IS CAUSING THE SUBFRAME TO BE ROTTED THROUGH AND UNSAFE. I ALSO FOUND THAT THE HONDA ACCORD 1999-2002 HAS THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE SUBFRAME RUST FROM THE A/C DRAIN. I NOTIFIED THE CAR MANUFACTURER OF THIS PROBELM AND THEY ARE DENYING THAT THERE IS ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR'S CRAFTSMANSHIP. *TR

NHTSA ID

10521845

Incident

Jun 18, 2013

Mileage

135,000 mi

I WAS APPLYING THE BRAKE DUE TO STOPPED TRAFFIC AHEAD OF MY CAR. AS I DID SO, THE CAR ACCELERATED RATHER THAN SLOWED DOWN. MY CAR CONTACTED THE LEFT REAR OF THE CAR IN FRONT OF MINE, AND AS I TRIED TO STRAIGHTEN OUT THE CAR, IT AGAIN ACCELERATED. VEERED TO THE RIGHT, AND STRUCK THE STONE WALL OF THE BRIDGE ON THE SHOULDER OF THE HIGHWAY. ACCORDING TO THE POLICE REPORT, THERE WAS A MALFUNCTION WITH THE THROTTLE MECHANISM. "OFFICERS WITNESSED, WHEN STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE RPM INDICATOR QUICKLY RISE TO APPROXIMATELY 5,000/5,500 WITHOUT ANY PRESSURE APPLIED ON THE GAS PEDAL. THE FLOOR AREA DID NOT EXHIBIT ITEMS, INCLUDING THE FLOOR MAT, WHICH WOULD POTENTIALLY BE THE CAUSE." *TR

NHTSA ID

10487907

Incident

Sep 12, 2012

Mileage

97,000 mi

MY CAR MAKES A LOUD CLUNK WHEN I AM BACKING OUT OF A PARKING PLACE OR DRIVEWAY AND TURN THE WHEEL AND APPLY THE BRAKES. I BROUGHT THE CAR INTO THE ACURA DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT THEY WERE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND THAT IT IS CHARACTERISTIC OF THIS MODEL AND ALSO THE MDX THAT WAS MADE THAT YEAR. I WAS TOLD THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH MY CAR, HOWEVER, HOW DO I RESELL THE CAR WITH SUCH A NOISE PRESENT? I FEEL THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL AND THE PROBLEM FIXED. *JB

NHTSA ID

10138488

Incident

Aug 18, 2005

Mileage

15,151 mi

A PLUG FELL OUT OF THE PASSENGER SIDE REAR WHEEL WELL HOLDING THE PLASTIC BODY MATERIAL TO THE FENDER. IT FELL OUT AND CAUSED ME TO FIND A METAL SCREW TO HOLD IT IN PLACE, I WENT TO THE DEALER TO SEE IF THEY WOULD REPAIR/GIVE ME A NEW PLUG, I WAS TOLD THAT IT WOULD COST ME $254,00 & LABOR AND AN AUTO BDY SHOP TO PUT IT ON. HOW LUDICROUS CAN THAT BE. AM I WRONG IT MY CHALLENGE TO THE DEALER.*AK

NHTSA ID

10096491

Incident

Sep 19, 2004

PAINT ON REAR TRUNK LID EXTREMELY THIN AND PEELING WHEN CAR IS WASHED. DESPITE HAVING 5 COATS OF WAX ON THE CAR, WASHING THE CAR (BY HAND WITH MAGUIAR'S SOFT CAR SOAP AND SOFT TERRY TOWELING) PEELED SECTIONS OF THE PAINT OFF THE TRUNK LID. CAR HAD SAT FOR TWO WEEKS (STANDARD WASH INTERVAL FOR THE CAR DUE TO MY WORK SCHEDULE) OUTSIDE (CAR IS COVERED WHEN FIRST CLEANED). NO REASON FOR THE PAINT TO HAVE COME OFF. NO RESPONSE TO MY LETTERS FROM MANUFACTURER. DEALER REFERRED ME TO ACURA CUSTOMER CARE SO NO HELP THERE. *CB

NHTSA ID

10054439

Incident

Aug 1, 2003

Mileage

7,000 mi

"YAW RATE SENSOR" FOR THE VEHICLE STABILITY ASSIST (VDS) SYSTEM MAY BE IMPROPERLY MOUNTED. THIS CAN CAUSE EITHER OF THE FRONT WHEEL BRAKES TO BE SUDDENLY AND FIRMLY APPLIED WITHOUT WARNING FOR UP TO ONE SECOND. A POSSIBLE RESULT IS LOST OF CONTROL OR REAR END COLLISION (BRAKE LIGHTS ARE NOT ACTIVATED). IMPROPERLY MOUNTED SENSOR WILL ALSO CAUSE THE VDS TO DEACTIVATE UNTIL ENGINE RESTART, ACTIVATE VSA SYSTEM INDICATOR WARNING LIGHT ON THE TACHOMETER FACE, AND SET A YAW RATE SENSOR DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE. HONDA HAS STARTED SUPPLYING YAW RATE SENSORS WITH A LOCATING PIN WHICH PREVENTS IMPROPER MOUNTING. BUT THERE IS NO INDICATION THAT HONDA HAS RECALLED TO CHECK THOSE VEHICLES BUILT OR REPAIRED WITH UNITS LACKING THE LOCATING PINS. THE UNIT IS EASILY ACCESSIBLE TO CHECK FOR PROPER MOUNTING. THIS PROBLEM PERTAINS TO 2003 & 2002 TYPE-S VERSIONS OF BOTH THE 3.2TL AND 3.2CL MODELS. *LA

NHTSA ID

10043222

Incident

Sep 1, 2003

Mileage

5 mi

HIGH BEAMS REFLECT LIGHT TO VERTICAL OBJECTS AT THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, SUCH AS TREES, STRUCTURE, ETC, CAUSING DISTRACTING FLASHES OF LIGHT, AND MOMENTARY DIVERSION OF DRIVER'S ATTENTION. LOW BEAMS DO NOW SEEM TO GO OUT FAR ENOUGH TO GIVE A GOOD VIEW OF THE DARKENED ROAD WITHOUT USING HIGH BEAMS. THE HEADLIGHTS ON 2001 AND EARLIER MODELS WERE EXCELLENT AND DID/DO NOT PRESENT THE SAME PROBLEMS. I DO NOT KNOW OF HEADLIGHTS USED ON 2002 MODELS WERE THE SAME AS MINE. DEALER STATES PROBLEMS NOT CORRECTABLE IN THAT LIGHTS OPERATE AS DESIGNED BY MANUFACTURER. *AK THERE WAS A RATTLE IN THE FRONT SEAT BELT HOUSING, THE CENTER CONSOLE WAS HARD TO OPEN, AND THE SILL PLATE WAS LOOSE. *SCC *JB

NHTSA ID

10022901

Incident

Feb 16, 2003