Reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers, shown in full
Data refreshed
Our database holds 391 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2003 Acura TL. Each one is a report filed by an owner or driver and published by NHTSA without most of them being verified. A complaint is not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. Narratives are shown exactly as filed.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Showing 1–25 of 391 · page 1 of 16
It's like when my transmission gets warmed up the RPM's will rev up and then it will come out of gear. Then I have to pull over put it in park and turn the car off. Let it sit for a minute or two then it will drive fine for 10 to 15 minutes before doing it again.
This complaint relates to safety recall campaigns work regarding my 2003 Acura TL car's SRS (air bags). I took my car to the Acura Service Center in Guaynabo, PR, for recall related repairs at various times during 2022 and 2023. The last time was [XXX]. The PROBLEM is that the Acura center's initial recall-related repair may have been faulty, thus causing the SRS warning light to turn on and stay on while I drive the car. The SRS warning came on a few days after the initial Acura service was performed. I was told during the second visit that they just had to reset something in the car's computer to turn off the SRS warning. But the SRS warning light would turn on again a few days after each service visit. The last time I took the car to Acura regarding this problem was on [XXX]. At that time, I requested a thorough diagnosis of the SRS problem. After that visit , the Acura service center sent me a video of the inspection work performed. However, that video and the $144.95 invoice paid, do not show that any SRS diagnosis work was done. They just did a "multi point" car mechanical condition inspection. Regarding the SRS problem, they again turned off the SRS warning light but did not indicate that in the video or the invoice. A few days later, the SRS warning came back on again. I called the national Honda HQ offices in the California, a few months ago. I expressed my frustration with the Acura dealer's failure to resolve this safety problem. They told me that they could not do anything, that I have to go back to the Acura dealer in PR (something that I already did, various times.) This is why I am now submitting this complaint to NHTSA. I present this complaint as a failure of the Acura corporation to satisfactorily perform the SRS safety recall work. They must re-do the work adequately on my Acura TL 2003 automobile. Please help. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Driving on Highway going 65mph vehicle suddenly jerked and dropped to 20 mph. Causing my entire body to collide with the steering wheel. Luckily there no cars behind me. Was on my way to work when this happened too far from home. So when I got at work which is thirty minutes from where I live I had to get a tow truck to get my car home. That’s how bad it was. My mom had this car for about ten years. I’ve had it now for three years. Never had this problem before. We’ve had the car in the family for almost fifteen years. Only thing that’s had to change was a power steering line and front shocks. Almost sold it last week and I’m glad I didn’t. Has over 230,000 so I’m not upset. Just a bit sad that this happened to my TL. Needs A/T clutch pressure control solenoid valves A B.
This car is not safe. First, the Takata airbags are in it. I drove my daughter, my mother and my little dog in this car! I can’t believe the used car dealership did not let me know that. Then the car starts shifting funny. Also dangerous. There should be a recall for transmission. There are over 500 people affected by this. I’m trying to enter a highway and I need to pick up speed, because there is a tractor trailer in the right lane and heavy traffic. I try to accelerate and it goes nowhere. 30mph. And that was after I merged in and have traffic going 70 behind me. Scariest thing ever. They should not be allowed to sell these cars. It is not safe for the driver and their family and it is not safe for others on the road. I can’t believe the negligence. I will not be driving this death trap ever again.
The contact owns a 2003 Acura TL. The contact stated while driving from a complete stop, the vehicle failed to shift from second gear to third gear. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact stated that upon depressing the accelerator pedal, the RMP’s revved up but the vehicle failed to respond. The contact stated that the failure had been reoccurring while driving. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed and determined that the failure was related to NHTSA Campaign Number: 04V176000 (Power Train); however, the VIN was not included. The dealer and the manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 160,000.
The driver’s side seat belt is frayed. The area of concern on the belt goes through the upper guide loop and into the B-pillar trim panel. When in use it resides along my upper left torso. The amount of fraying is about twelve inches in length and the width is decreased by about a quarter of an inch in one area. The issue came to my attention on January 18, 2023. when a co-worker, who has worked in designing and engineering vehicle safety components, brought it to my attention. He informed me that that all safety features such as seat belts and air bags, are warrantied for the life of a vehicle as they work together as a safety system as an industry standard, and that the belt is compromised and may not work as designed in the event of a crash. On January 18, 2023, I spoke on the telephone with the service manager, Martin, of Acura of Troy in Troy, Michigan. Martin informed me that the belt was not a warranty item. I also contacted Acura by online chat on January 19, 2023, and received the same information. On January 27, 2023, I visited the Acura of Troy dealership and had a service representative review the component and received a written estimate to replace the defective parts at my expense, and not under warranty. I believe this to be a defective part caused by the components comprised in the system. I would like this matter to be elevated with Acura as a matter of record. My expectation is to confirm this is either not a safety concern or repair the belt as required under warranty.
Unknown
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.
The contact owns a 2003 Acura TL. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle jerked and hesitated to accelerate. The check engine, third and fourth gear, ESP fault, and VSA system warning lights were illuminated. The contact self-diagnosed the vehicle with a code reader and the code P1750 appeared. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but informed the contact that there was no recall associated with the VIN. The failure mileage was approximately 160,000.
The contact owns a 2003 Acura TL. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, there was an abnormal sound coming from the vehicle. The vehicle then lost motive power. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic and diagnosed with transmission failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 04V176000 (Power Train) however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The failure mileage was approximately 200,000.
Unknown but transmission is slipping in and out of gear even while going down the road
The contact owns a 2003 Acura TL. The contact stated while driving 65 MPH, the SRS warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and the contact was informed that the front driver's side air bag PODS control unit and sensor needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that he contacted the manufacturer who confirmed that there was a manufacturer recall for the front driver's side PODS control unit and sensor. The VIN was included in the recall however, the vehicle was not serviced under the recall because the recall had expired. The contact stated that the manufacturer representative stated that the PODS control unit and sensor recall should have been remedied under NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V182000 (Air Bags). The contact stated that a case was opened. The approximate failure mileage was 220,000.
REAR SUBFRAME RUSTED
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 ACURA TL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, WITH THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL DEPRESSED, THE VEHICLE JERKED AND HESITATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO SHIFT ABOVE THIRD GEAR. THERE WAS NO WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT REFERENCED THE FAILURE TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 04V176000 (POWER TRAIN). THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THE VEHICLE WITH A DEFECTIVE SPEED SENSOR. THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER HAD BEEN NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 230,000.
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
SRS LIGHT IS ON
2003 ACURA T.L WAS IN MOTION WHEN THE VEHICLE STARTED SLIPPING ON 2ND GEAR. THEN WHEN VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY IT WOULD NOT MOVE IN REVERSE GEAR. AS I WAS ON HIGHWAY THE CAR STARTED JERKING OUT OF CONTROL, I COULD NOT ACCELERATE, VEHICLE BARELY WANTED TO MOVE SO I PUT IT IN #2 GEAR SO IT WORK CATCH AND I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE TO SAFETY WITHOUT ANYONE GETTING HURT. VERY FRIGHTENING AND DANGEROUS. PROBLEM MUST BE ADDRESSED IMMEDIATELY.
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 ACURA TL. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V182000 (AIR BAGS). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE BRAKES SQUEAKED. THE DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE, BUT WAS NOT ABLE TO CONFIRM WHEN THE PARTS WERE TO BECOME AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 ACURA TL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE GEAR DID NOT SHIFT PROPERLY AND THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO ACURA OF LAUREL (301-498-3322, LOCATED AT 3506 LAUREL FORT MEADE RD, LAUREL, MD 20724) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT THE CONTACT'S EXPENSE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 04V176000 (POWER TRAIN). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 111,000. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.
I NEED TO MAKE A COMPLAINT AGAINST AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC. THIS ENTITY HAS BEEN SENDING ME LETTERS, CALLING ME AND KNOCKING ON MY DOOR FOR THE LAST TWO YEARS ABOUT AN AIRBAG INFLATOR RECALL. EACH TYPE THEY CONTACT ME I TELL THEM I NO LONGER OWN THIS VEHICLE. IT WAS TRADED IN OVER TWO YEARS AGO. EVEN THOUGH I MAY STILL BE REGISTERED AS THE OWNER, I HAVE NO IDEA WHO TRULY OWNS THIS VEHICLE AS IT WAS TRADED IN AT A DEALERSHIP. I FILLED OUT A VEHICLE TRANSFER NOTICE OVER TWO YEARS AGO BUT HONDA ACURA KEEPS CONTACTING ME ABOUT THIS RECALL ON A MONTHLY BASIS, TO THE DATE! SOMEONE PLEASE GET THEM TO STOP OR FURTHER ADVISE ME IF I SHOULD JUST IGNORE THEIR LETTERS. THANK YOU!
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 ACURA TL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE HEADLIGHTS FAILED TO ILLUMINATE WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT. ALSO, THE PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY RETAINED STEAM. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO JOE RIZZA ACURA (LOCATED AT 8150 W 159TH ST, ORLAND PARK, IL 60462, (708) 403-7770) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE HEADLIGHT UNITS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED DUE TO THE REPAIR FEES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE INTERMITTENTLY OCCURRED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 76,000.
"TAKATA RECALL" LAST FEW DIGITS OF VIN 002098, IM CONTACTING YOU BECAUSE WE HAD OUT RECALL FIXED OVER A WEEK AND THE VIN STILL COMES UP AS INCOMPLETE THIS IS HINDERING ME FROM STARTING MY JOB WITH UBER IVE CONTACTED HOMDA ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS JUST TEO DAYS AGO I SPOKE WITH A LADY (CAN'T REMEMBER HER NAME) WHOM WAS EXTREMELY RUDE BY OVERTALKING ME AND BECAME VERY ARGUMENTATIVE AS O TRIED TO EXPLAIN MY SITUATION AND LET HER KNOW THAT I NEEDED HONDA TO UPDATE THIS REPAIR WITH NHTSA IN ORDER TO START MY JON WITH UBER, AND THAT THE PAPERWORK WOULD DO ME NO JUSTICE, UBER NEEDED THE UPDATE SPECIFICALLY IN THE SYSTEM AS REPAIRED AND NOT INCOMPLETE SHE BASICLY TOLD ME, IT WASNT THEIR ("HONDAS") PROBLEM, EVEN THO THEY FIXED IT SHE SAID IT WAS ACURA'S PROBLEM LEAVING ME EVEN MORE CONFUSED AND FRUSTRATED AS I'VE BEEN INCONVENIENTLY, AND UNWILLING UNWILLING PLACED INN THIS SITUATION, THIS HAS CIST ME TOME AND LOTS OF MONEY FROM NOT BEING ABLE TO WORK AND NOT EVEN MY FAULT TO BEGAN WITH. ALL I WANT IS THIS ISSUE TO BE RESOLVED SO I CAN START WORK, TO TOP EVREYTHING OFF, THEY DIDN'T GIVE US ANY PAPERWORK MY HUSBAND WAS TOLD TO SIGN A DOCUMENT THAT THE REPAIR WAS FIXED AND HE WAS SMART ENOUGH TO TAKE A PICTURE WHICH I WILL TRY TO ATTACH TO THIS COMPLAINT AND I PRAY YOU ARE ABLE TO RESOLVE THIS AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE. I ALSO SHOWED THIS DOCUMENT TO UBER AND THEY SPECIFICALLY SAID, THEY COULD NOT EXCEPT IT BECAUSE IT NEEDS TO SHOW IN THE SYSTEM ONLINE THAT THE RECALL ATTACHED TO MY VIN HAS BEEN COMPLETED/REPAIRED, AND AGAIN UNFORTUNATELY AFTER BLOOD SWEAT TEARS AND MOUNTS OF FRUSTRATION , INCONVENIENCE, AND LOSS WAGES IT STILL HAS NOT BEEN RESOLVED. PLEASE HELP US!!
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 ACURA TL. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V320000 (AIR BAGS). THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO ESSERMAN INTERNATIONAL ACURA (305-477-6666, LOCATED AT 10455 NW 12TH ST SUITE A, DORAL, FL 33172) WHERE THE RECALL REPAIR WAS PERFORMED; HOWEVER, THE AIR BAG INDICATOR FLASHED ON AND OFF. A COUPLE OF YEARS LATER, THE CONTACT RECEIVED ANOTHER NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V182000 (AIR BAGS). THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE SAME DEALER AND THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT A DIAGNOSTIC TEST NEEDED TO BE PERFORMED AT THE CONTACT'S EXPENSE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AFTER THE INITIAL REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT PROVIDED.
WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND DOING ABOUT 60 MPH MY CAR SUDDENLY DOWN SHIFTED INTO 2ND GEAR. I NEARLY LOST CONTROL OF THE CAR AND CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. THERE WAS NO PRIOR INDICATION THAT SOMETHING WAS WRONG WITH THE CAR. I'M A MECHANIC, AND HAVE BEEN ONE FOR OVER 20 YEARS AND I HAVE NEVER SEEN OR HAD A TRANSMISSION GIVE OUT ON ME IN SUCH A WAY. CALLED THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT THE CAR WAS NOT COVERED ANYMORE BY THE RECALL. RECALLS FOR THIS MODEL AND YEAR ACURA. NOW, I THINK, NO I KNOW THAT THIS IS A REAL SAFETY CONCERN THAT SOMEONE MIGHT POSSIBLY LOSE THEIR LIFE OVER. UPON DOING SOME RESEARCH ON MY OWN I LEARNED THAT THE TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS THAT THIS 2000 TO 2003 HONDA'S AND ACURA HAS IS DUE TO SHODDY WORKMANSHIP. NOW I'M IF THE MANUFACTURER KNOWS THIS AND THEY SHOULD COVER ANY AND ALL VEHICLES STILL ON THE ROAD WITH RECALLS THAT THEY SHOULD HONOR.
MOTOR FRAMES OR ENGINE CRADLE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE IS BADLY RUSTED, AND IT ABOUT TO FALL APART. I HAVE BEEN LOOKING FOR REPLACEMENT PART, AND EVERYONE OF THEM THAT THAT I HAVE FOUND HAS THE SAME PROBLEM. I FOUND OUT THE PROBLEM WHEN I WAS TRYING TO REPLACE THE FRONT ROTORS BACK IN JUNE OF THIS YEAR 2018 AND I HAVE NOT BEEN DRIVING IT BECAUSE I ALSO NEED TO REPLACE THE DRIVE AXLE AND I COULDN'T FIND THE ENGINE CRADLE FOR REPLACEMENT, I COULDN'T DO ANYTHING WITH IT.
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
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