RoadVitals

2003 Acura TL Driver assistance Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the driver-assistance system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Driver assistance reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
21
Latest Oct 15, 2016
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
5%
of 391 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
4
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2003 Acura TL submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 21 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming driver-assistance

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

Driver assistance
Filed Oct 15, 2016

SUMMER OF 2014 I CAN TO A STOP LIGHT AT A COMPLETE STOP. MY TL TYPE S KEPT IDLE AT 3500 - 3700 RPM. DROVE THE CAR ABOUT QUARTER OF A MILE BEFORE HAVING TO SHUT OF THE ENGINE. THAT FIX THE PROBLEM FOR THE TIME BEING. THIS WOULD HAPPEN 2-5 TIMES A WEEK FOR THREE WEEKS UNTIL I FIGURED OUT THE CAUSE. COME TO FIND OUT IT WAS THE CRUISE CONTROL LEVER AT THE THROTTLE THAT WAS GETTING STUCK. EVENTUALLY JUST UNHOOKED THE CABLE FOR THE CRUISE CONTROL. HASN'T BEEN FIX SINCE.

NHTSA ID
10916266
Incident
Jun 6, 2014
Mileage
90,000 mi
Driver assistanceElectrical
Filed Mar 25, 2016

MY BROTHER WAS DRIVING MY CAR ONE THEN IT ALL THE SUDDEN CAR JUST STOPPED WHEN WAS GOING AND BAD PART WAS IT STOPPED IN TRAFFIC HE ALMOST GOT HIT IT WAS SCARY. I GOT LOTS OF PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR PLEASE HELP!

NHTSA ID
10851525
Incident
May 9, 2014
Mileage
55,000 mi
Body & structureDriver assistanceExterior lighting
Filed Feb 14, 2016

!!!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
Driver assistanceEnginePowertrain (other)
Filed Apr 25, 2014

I WAS PULLING OFF THE INTERSTATE AND CAME TO A RED LIGHT ON A HILL RIGHT BEFORE HAYWOOD ROAD. I HAD TO STOP BECAUSE THE LIGHT WAS RED AND WHEN THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN I PULLED ONTO HAYWOOD ROAD AND THE CAR WENT THROUGH 1ST GEAR, 2ND GEAR AND RIGHT BEFORE IT WENT INTO 3RD IT SLIPPED OUT OF GEAR AND JUST REVVED TO AROUND 4000 RPM. WHEN THE CAR WENT INTO 3RD AND STARTED SIPPING I HAD A PILE OF CARS THAT BUNCHED ON MY BEHIND. I HAD TWO GUYS IN A TRUCK SCREAM AND YELL OBSCENE GESTURES. *TR

NHTSA ID
10585022
Incident
Apr 2, 2014
Mileage
130,000 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Jun 17, 2013

2003 ACURA TL. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE SUDDEN ACCELERATION. *SMD THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO PUT THE VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL AND CAME TO A STOP AFTER A FEW MORE MILES. BOTH OF THE FRONT ROTORS WERE WARPED FROM BRAKING. THE PLASTIC BUSHING ON THE THROTTLE CABLE HAD BROKEN AND WEDGED THE THROTTLE PLATE OPEN.

NHTSA ID
10506099
Incident
Mar 4, 2013
Driver assistancePowertrain (other)
Filed Feb 20, 2013

MY CAR BEGIN TO IDLE TO 5 RPM AND NOT CHANGE GEARS WHILE DRIVING. PULLED OVER AND CONTACTED LOCAL MECHANIC. I WAS INSTRUCTED TO BRING CAR INTO HONDA DEALERSHIP IN LAKE CITY, FL. THE RESULT WAS NEED A TRANSMISSION FLUSH AND HAD IT DONE. AFTER TEST DRIVING, THE CAR CONTINUED TO PERFORM POORLY. AT THIS POINT I CONSIDER THE CAR SHOULD GO TO THE ACURA DEALERSHIP. MY CAR WAS TOWED TO GATORLAND ACURA OF GAINESVILLE, FL. AFTER DIAGNOSTICS COMPLETED A TRANSMISSION WAS NEEDED. A VEHICLE ODOMETER READING AT 80533, SHOULD NOT REQUIRE A NEW TRANSMISSION WAS MY FIRST RESPONSE. I GAVE THEM NO ANSWER AT THIS TIME AS TO WHAT TO DO BECAUSE I AM THINKING THIS IS ABSURD. AFTER TWO DAYS OF SEEKING ADVICE AND RESEARCH,I FOUND A RECALL WAS SUBMITTED FOR TRANSMISSION ISSUE. UPON CONTACTING THE DEALER, I WAS GIVEN THE PRICE FOR REPAIRS. REGARDLESS OF INFORMING AND DEBATING THIS SHOULD NOT BE A COST FOR CONSUMER. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT STAFF AND MANAGER WAS NOT VERY HELPFUL NOR PROFESSIONAL. THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN COMPLETELY COVERED BY WARRANTY/HIGHWAY SAFETY RECALL. I WROTE A LETTER TO HONDA HEADQUARTERS AND CONTACTED THE DEPARTMENT BY PHONE. ALMOST TWO WEEKS LATER, GATORLAND ACURA OFFERED TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION AND I WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE LABOR. I WAS NOT PLEASED WITH THE OUTCOME BUT NEEDED TRANSPORTATION BECAUSE THERE WAS NONE OFFERED TO ME. TO THIS DAY, I HAVE NOT RETURNED THERE TO PAY FOR MAINTENANCE BECAUSE OF THE TRUSTWORTHINESS OF GATORLAND ACURA OR HONDA HEADQUARTERS. THE RECALL ISSUE WAS POSTED AROUND FEBRUARY 2008 AND MY CAR WAS IN FOR THE EXACT ISSUE MAY 2008. CONTINUOUSLY UNHAPPY CONSUMER. *TR

NHTSA ID
10499435
Incident
May 30, 2008
Mileage
80,533 mi
AirbagsBody & structureBrakes+1 more
Filed Dec 10, 2012
Crash reported

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
Driver assistance
Filed Nov 23, 2012

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 ACURA TL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO BRAKE, THE VEHICLE ERRONEOUSLY ACCELERATED. THE CONTACT SHUT OFF AND RESTARTED THE VEHICLE AS IT BEGAN TO FUNCTION PROPERLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHERE THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE REPLICATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED ABOUT THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 103,000.

NHTSA ID
10485845
Incident
Nov 9, 2012
Mileage
103,000 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Dec 8, 2011

TRANSMISSION BROKE ON 2003 ACURA TL S. SUCKS AS I HAVE ALWAYS CHANGED N MAINTAINED SERVICES. *TR

NHTSA ID
10438957
Incident
Dec 7, 2011
Driver assistanceFuel system
Filed Oct 15, 2011

AS I WAS ACCELERATING ONTO THE HIGHWAY, THE CAR CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE. AT 89MPH I HIT THE BRAKES HARD TO SEE IF I COULD SLOW DOWN. WOULD NOT HAPPEN. PUT THE TRANSMISSION INTO NEUTRAL AND SHUT OFF THE ENGINE AND BRAKED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. WHEN THE DEALER EXAMINED THE THROTTLE BODY THEY FOUND THE PLASTIC CAM FOR THE CRUISE CONTROL HAD BROKEN AND THE CABLE FOR THE CRUISE HAD JAMMED THE THROTTLE WIDE OPEN. WHEN ASKED IF THAT PART WAS REPLACEABLE I WAS INFORMED THE WHOLE THROTTLE BODY WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED AT ~$500. THE ALTERNATIVE WAS TO REMOVE THE CRUISE CABLE AND TIE IT UP AWAY FROM THE THROTTLE BODY. SINCE THE DEALER TOLD ME THIS WAS THE SECOND ONE THEY HAVE HAD WITH THIS PROBLEM, IT WAS RARE. OOPS IF THIS WOULD HAVE HAPPENED IN TOWN I WOULD HAVE HIT SEVERAL CARS BEFORE GETTING IT SHUT DOWN. THE THROTTLE CAM IS MADE OF METAL WHERE THE CRUISE CAM IS PLASTIC AND BOTH ARE ON THE SAME BUTTERFLY SHAFT. JUST TO SAVE A FEW CENTS MAKES FOR A VERY HAIR RAISING RIDE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10430320
Incident
Sep 26, 2011
Mileage
122,000 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Nov 5, 2009

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 ACURA TL. THE ACCELERATOR WOULD REPEATEDLY GET STUCK, WHICH CAUSED UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP, AND THE ACCELERATOR WAS REPLACED. HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RESURFACED. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO ANOTHER DEALER, AND THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE ACCELERATOR WAS INSTALLED TOO TIGHTLY. HE THEN RE-INSTALLED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. THE REPAIR REMEDIED THE FAILURE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 85,000. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 1,000. UPDATED 12/07/09 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE PROBLEM WAS THE ACCELERATOR UNDER THE HOOD. THE THROTTLE CABLE WAS ADJUSTED. UPDATED 12/09/09.*JB

NHTSA ID
10291059
Incident
May 10, 2004
Mileage
30,209 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Dec 13, 2006
Crash reported

I WAS ON THE HIGHWAY WITH HEAVY TRAFFIC AND I WAS AT A FULL STOP ON THE RIGHT LANE WHEN MY CAR LUNGED FORWARD. I PRESSED THE BRAKES HARDER AND WHEN NOTHING HAPPENED I TRIED TO GET INTO THE EXIT LANE WHICH LUCKILY WAS RIGHT NEXT TO ME. UNFORTUNATLEY I HIT THE REAR RIGHT HAND SIDE OF THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME AND THE CAR STILL DID NOT STOP. IT KEPT GOING AT WHICH TIME I RELEASED THE BRAKE AND PRESSED IT AGAIN THINKING MAYBE IT LOCKED UP OR SOMETHING. THE VEHICLE STILL DID NOT STOP. I WAS ALMOST OUT OF THE HIGHWAY WHEN I PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL AND IT FINALLY SLOWED DOWN. I PUT IT IN PARK AND TURNED OFF THE ENGINE. NEEDLESS TO SAY I WAS IN SHOCK AND TREMBLING UNCONTROLLABLY. THE CAR WENT OFF SO FAR IT TOOK THE OTHER DRIVER APPROXIMATELY 5 MINUTES TO REACH ME. I READ ABOUT 7 COMPLAINTS OF THE SAME THING HAPPENING AND NOTHING WAS DONE IN 5 INCIDENTS. TWO OF THE VEHICLES HAD AN IDLE AIR CONTROL VAVLE REPLACED WHICH I HOPE SOLVED THE PROBLEM. I SENT THESE COMPLAINTS TO MY INSURANCE COMPANY AND TO THE REPAIR SHOP. I THINK THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED BY ACURA IMMEDIATELY. THIS IS NOT A FAULTY HEAD LIGHT, IT'S A SAFETY ISSUE. HAD I BEEN JUST A LITTLE CLOSER TO THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME, THE ACCIDENT COULD HAVE BEEN WORSE AND INVOLVED MORE VEHICLES. THE OFFICER SAID I MIGHT HAVE HAD MY FOOT ON BOTH THE BRAKES AND THE GAS PEDAL BUT I AM 120% POSITIVE THAT MY FOOT WAS ONLY ON THE BRAKES. THIS WAS ALSO NOT HUMAN ERROR. I WAS FULLY STOPPED AND AWARE, I WAS NOT PLAYING WITH THE RADIO OR ON THE PHONE. IF THIS IS NOT RESOLVED I DO NOT WANT THIS CAR. *NM

NHTSA ID
10176024
Incident
Dec 6, 2006
Mileage
44,565 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Apr 30, 2005
Crash reported

WHILE SLOWLY PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE AT MY LOCAL FITNESS CLUB VEHICLE SUDDENLY MADE A ROARING NOISE, ACCELERATED, PLUNGED FORWARD, AND STRUCK TWO PARKED VEHICLES. THIS HAPPENED IN A MATTER OF SECONDS. AFTER THE CAR STOPPED, I PUT IT IN PARK AND TURNED OFF THE ENGINE. I NOTIFIED THE OWNERS OF THE OTHER VEHICLES, AND PROMPTLY CALLED THE POLICE. WHEN THE POLICE OFFICER ARRIVED, HE COMPLETED EXCHANGE OF INFORMATION FORMS FOR ALL INVOLVED PARTIES. HE ALSO TOLD ME TO BE SURE TO HAVE THE CAR CHECKED OUT MECHANICALLY. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO A BODY SHOP FOR REPAIRS. THEN, IT WAS TAKEN TO THE CAR DEALER SERVICE DEPARTMENT TO HAVE IT CHECKED FOR INTERNAL MECHANICAL MALFUNCTIONS. THE SERVICE MANAGER SAID THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR. HE SAID THERE WERE NO ERROR MESSAGES OR INDICATIONS OF MALFUNCTION. HOWEVER, LATER I NOTICED THAT THE CRUISE CONTROL BUTTONS MAY HAVE BEEN REPLACED WITH A NEW SET. I AM POSITIVE THAT THE CAR MALFUNCTIONED DUE TO AN ACCELERATION PROBLEM.*AK

NHTSA ID
10118752
Incident
Apr 13, 2005
Mileage
16,400 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Mar 7, 2005

WHILE DRIVING ACCELERATOR STUCK. CONSUMER HIT THE BRAKES IN ORDEER TO STOP. TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF. CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER WHERE THE ACCELERATOR CABLE WAS REPLACED.*AK THE COSUMER STATED THAT THE DEALER REPLACED THE ENTIRE THROTTLE BODY. *TC

NHTSA ID
10110944
Incident
Jan 22, 2005
Mileage
25,000 mi
Driver assistancePowertrain (other)
Filed Jan 15, 2004

2003 ACURA TL TYPE S EXPERIENCING TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. *MR THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTED ROUGHLY IN ADDITION TO MISSING WHEN THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS ENGAGED. WHEN THE CONSUMER PRESSED THE CRUISE CONTROL TO INCREASE THE SPEED THE ENGINE SURGED ON TWO OCCASIONS BACK TO BACK AS THE CONSUMER TRIED TO DISENGAGE THE CRUISE CONTROL. (FAULTY TL TRANSMISSIONS WERE A WIDELY KNOWN PROBLEM FOR ACURA) *SC

NHTSA ID
10055328
Incident
Nov 29, 2003
Mileage
22,500 mi
Driver assistancePowertrain (other)
Filed Jan 6, 2004

TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS WITH 2003 ACURA TL TYPE S. *PH THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTED ROUGHLY IN ADDITION TO A MISSING CRUISE CONTROL. THERE WAS ALSO A TIME WHERE THE VEHICLE HAD NO REVERSE GEAR. *SC

NHTSA ID
10055548
Incident
Nov 29, 2003
Driver assistance
Filed Oct 13, 2003

'03 ACURA TL3 ENGINE RACED AT FULL THROTTLE (TACH RED ZONE), THREATENING DRIVER, PEDESTRIANS, AND OTHER VEHICLES. REQUIRED DRIVER TO PUT FULL WEIGHT ON BRAKE TO STOP CAR, THEN DOWNSHIFT AND SHUT DOWN ENGINE. THIS OCCURRED TWICE. ACURA DEALER REPLACED IDLE AIR CONTROL VALVE. *LA

NHTSA ID
10041725
Incident
Sep 18, 2003
Mileage
10,000 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Sep 2, 2003

CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT GAS PEDAL PROBLEM. IT WOULD ACCELERATE ON ITS ON. THIS HAS HAPPENED FOUR DIFFERENT TIMES, WHERE THE VEHICLE SWITCHED BY ITSELF , AND IT ALMOST FELT LIKE GEARS WERRE SWITCHING INTO NEUTRAL. DEALER HAD BEEN CONTACTED, AND STATED THAT SINCE VEHICLE DID NOT DO IT WHEN THEY WERE DRIVING THERE WAS NOTHING THAT THEY COULD DO.*AK

NHTSA ID
10038038
Driver assistance
Filed Jul 11, 2003

CONSUMER ATTEMPTED TO STOP FOR A TRAFFIC LIGHT, BUT CAR CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE WITH FOOT APPLIED TO THE BRAKE PEDAL. CONSUMER HAD TO PLACE VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL IN ORDER TO STOP. DEALER DIAGNOSED FAILURE OF "IAC VALVE", PART NO. 121187.*AK *TS *JB

NHTSA ID
10024119
Incident
Apr 30, 2003
Mileage
9,050 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Jun 18, 2003

VEHICLE HAD AN ACCELERATION PROBLEM. DEALER WAS CONTACTED, AND STATED THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. CONSUMER HAD STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT AND VEHICLE ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN.*AK

NHTSA ID
10024356
Incident
Jun 13, 2003
Driver assistance
Filed Apr 22, 2003
Crash reported

CAR WAS IN PARK, WENT TO REMOVE KEYS. CAR ACCELERATED AT HIGH SPEED SLAMMING INTO WALL. *NLM

NHTSA ID
10016325
Incident
Apr 19, 2003
Mileage
6,000 mi

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.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .