2003 Acura TL Electrical Problems

IN FORWARD MOTION, FREEWAY. ELECTRICAL. TRANNY. CAR CURRENTLY READS 138,356 MILES. AROUND ROUGHLY 134,000 MILES THE VEHICLE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT BEGAN TO FLASH AS A RESULT FROM RPMS REACHING ABOUT 6 ON THE CLUSTER RPM DISPLAY DUE WHAT FELT LIKE SLIPPING INTO TO 3RD OR 4TH GEAR. SLIPPING HOWEVER USUALLY RESULTS WITH WHAT I WOULD CONSIDER A SLAMMING EXPERIENCE FROM EVENTUALLY CATCHING AND SHIFTING INTO THE CORRECT GEAR. THIS HAPPENED AS I WAS MERGING ONTO FREEWAY. CAR DID NOT CATCH GEAR BUT NUETRALIZED UNTIL I SWITCHED TO SPORT SHIFT MODE AND DISPLAYED 4 GEAR AND THE VEHICLE JETTED OFF. CEL HAS REMAINED ON AND 3RD GEAR STILL A ISSUE. DID MUCH MAINTENANCE, REPLACEMENT OF SOLENOIDS,FLUID FLUSH, ETC. PROBLEM SOLVES THEN RETURNS. THIS HAS WENT ON FOR ABOUT 6MON THIS LAST MONTH SEEMED ISSUE HAD RESOLVED ITSELF AFTER TWO MORE ATF FLUSHES IN THE PRIOR MONTH. THIS LAST WEEK MY LADY AND I COMING HOME FROM OUR DATE NIGHT, LUCKILY THATS WEDNESDAY(HUMP DAY) FOR US, SO FREEWAYS AT 12:30-1AM IN SAN DIEGO HOLD FEW TRAFFIC.I SAY LUCKILY BECAUSE GOING ABOUT 70-75 MPH THE CAR SUDDENLY FELT LIKE WHAT SLAMMING INTO A WALL HEAD ON AT 75 MPH MUST FEEL LIKE. JERKING US FORWARD, UNINJURED DUE TO SEATBELTS, THANK GOD. THE SCARIEST THING HOWEVER WAS THE FACT THAT IN THE FAR RIGHT LANE AT THAT SPEED AFTER THE JOLT CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO NEUTRALIZE AND ANY ACCELARATION THAT WOULD OCCUR WOULD INSTANTLY GIVE A LESS INTENSE JOLT BUT RAPIDLY SLOWED THE VEHICLE DOWN MAKING IT EXTREMELY DIFFICULT AND DRASTICALLY INCREASING OUR LEVELS OF DANGER OF SOMETHING WORSE ,AS I MADE MY WAY OVER TO FAR LEFT SIDE OF FREEWAY. REACHING SAFETY I EXAMINED VEHICLE FOUND NOTHING VISUALLY WRONG. AFTER LETTING CAR COOL AND LETTING WARM TO NORMAL OP.TEMP I PUT VEHICLE IN SPORT MODE EXITED FREEWAY AND TOOK CITY STREETS HOME ONLY USING D2,NO PROBLEMS OCCURRED. TODAY REPEATED THE MAINTENANCE AS BEFORE. RUNS OKAY BUT I'M NERVOUS

NHTSA ID

11081151

Incident

Mar 21, 2018

Mileage

138,000 mi

BY ACCIDENT, I AM ABLE TO TURN OFF THE ENGINE AND REMOVE THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION WITH THE TRANSMISSION STILL IN GEAR. CAMPAIGN #10V364000 COVERS HONDA VERSION OF MY CAR, #12V573000 COVERS ACURA MDX ONLY, NOTHING FOR MY ACURA VERSION OF THE HONDA SEDANS.

NHTSA ID

10904919

Incident

Sep 9, 2016

Mileage

220,000 mi

INTERLOCK OPERATION OF IGNITION SWITCH DOES NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY ALLOWING IGNITION KEY TO BE TURNED OFF AND THE KEY REMOVED WITHOUT SHIFTING THE TRANSMISSION TO "PARK." THIS IS THE SAME DEFECT DESCRIBED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NO. 05V025000, ALTHOUGH THAT CAMPAIGN WAS FOR ACURA TL MODEL YEARS 1999-2000, AND DID NOT INCLUDE MODEL YEAR 2003. I HAVE RECENTLY EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM WHERE THE CAR ROLLED BACK AFTER I EXITED THE VEHICLE REQUIRING THAT I OPEN THE DRIVER'S DOOR, JUMP INTO THE CAR WHILE IN MOTION AND DEPRESS THE BRAKE. I UNDERSTAND THAT THERE HAVE BEEN SIMILAR DEFECTS THAT HAVE CAUSED SERIOUS INJURIES AND DEATHS. I REPORTED THIS TO ACURA TODAY (CASE NO. 05011338) BUT WAS TOLD THAT MY CAR WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE PRIOR RECALL AND NO REPAIRS WOULD BE COVERED BY ACURA.

NHTSA ID

10903329

Incident

Sep 2, 2016

Mileage

119,500 mi

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

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

CAN REMOVE KEY FROM IGNITION WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN D (DRIVE). *TR

NHTSA ID

10551569

Incident

Oct 15, 2013

Mileage

125,000 mi

A ROUTINE SERVICE DIAGNOSTIC SHOWED HIGH RESISTANCE POINTS IN THE IGNITION SWITCH DUE TO THE CONDITION OF THE SOLDER JOINTS IN THE SWITCH. THE HIGHER CURRENT DRAW IS A POTENTIAL FIRE HAZARD. I ASKED THE SERVICE ADVISOR WHETHER THERE WAS A RECALL IN EFFECT FOR THE SWITCH, AND WAS TOLD THERE WAS NOT AT THE PRESENT TIME. REPLACEMENT OF THE IGNITION SWITCH REMEDIED THE PROBLEM. *JS

NHTSA ID

10461002

Incident

Jun 4, 2012

Mileage

61,521 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 ACURA TL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN TURNING ON THE AIR CONDITIONER, IT DID NOT DISPENSE ANY AIR. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A DEALER WHO ADVISED HER THAT WIRING HARNESS BURNED WHICH CAUSED THE BLOWER TO FAIL. THE WIRING HARNESS AND THE BLOWER WERE REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 158,000.

NHTSA ID

10410527

Incident

Jul 4, 2011

Mileage

158,000 mi

THERE IS A KNOWN TRANSMISSION ISSUE WITH ACURA 2003TL VERSION, EVEN THOUGH ACURA HAVE PUT IT IN RECALL, TO DO THE WORK THE DEALER CHARGE ANYWHERE FROM $350-600. THE VEHICLE CHOKES UP IN BETWEEN THE ROAD BECAUSE OF OVERHEATING IN TRANSMISSION. THE HEADLIGHTS FLICKERING IS ONE ANOTHER ISSUE WHICH WHEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER CALLED IT AS COMPUTER SYSTEM MESS UP IN THE CAR AND THIS IS NOT IN THE RECALL, THE DEALER CHARGES ABOUT $800 FOR SUCH REPAIR WHICH IS NOT REASONABLE FOR THE FAULTY EQUIPMENT OF ACURA. *TR

NHTSA ID

10305848

Incident

Oct 10, 2009

Mileage

52,900 mi

2003 ACURA 3.2 TL ON DECEMBER 5, 2008 A FAULTY IGNITION SWITCH ON OUR 2003 ACURA 3.2 TL ALLOWED THE KEY TO BE REMOVED IN ANY GEAR, RESULTING IN A ROLLAWAY ACCIDENT CAUSING HEAD, FOOT AND HIP INJURIES TO OUR DAUGHTER AFTER SHE PARKED THE CAR IN OUR SLIGHTLY INCLINED DRIVEWAY. DEALER AGREED IGNITION SWITCH WAS DEFINITELY FAULTY. KEY SHOULD NEVER COME OUT IN ANY GEAR BUT PARK. OUR MILEAGE ON THE DATE OF ACCIDENT WAS 82,430 MILES. SHORTLY AFTER WE BOUGHT THIS CAR NEW, IT STARTED HAVING INTERMITTENT NO START/NO CRANK PROBLEMS, AND SOMETIMES IT WOULD START 5 OR 10 MINUTES LATER. EACH TIME THE DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE PROBLEM AND ASSURED US THEY CHECKED EVERYTHING AND COULDN'T FIND ANY PROBLEM. THE CAR WOULD BE FINE UNTIL IT HAPPENED AGAIN. THIS PROBLEM CONTINUED UP UNTIL JUST A FEW MONTHS AGO. IT HAS BEEN WELL MAINTAINED AND TAKEN TO DEALER MANY TIMES FOR SAME PROBLEM . THEY PROBABLY NEVER INSPECTED THE IGNITION SWITCH BECAUSE OUR YEAR CAR WAS NEVER INCLUDED IN PREVIOUS RECALLS OF IGNITION SWITCHES, AS IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN. A FAULTY TRANSMISSION ON THIS SAME CAR WENT OUT ON OUR DAUGHTER ONCE ABOUT 5 MONTHS AGO WHEN SHE WAS DRIVING. IT WAS REPLACED UNDER THE EXTENDED WARRANTY DUE TO PREVIOUS TRANSMISSION RECALL. *TR

NHTSA ID

10254465

Incident

Dec 5, 2008

Mileage

82,430 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 ACURA TL. AFTER PARKING THE VEHICLE AND WALKING APPROXIMATELY TWO FEET, THE VEHICLE BEGAN ROLLING BACKWARDS ON ITS OWN. THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED WHEN IT CRASHED INTO THE PASSENGER DOOR OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO PASSENGERS IN EITHER VEHICLE AT THE TIME OF THE CRASH. THE OTHER VEHICLE WAS DAMAGED AND THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE SUSTAINED SCRATCHES TO THE REAR BUMPER. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE IGNITION INTERLOCK WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 70,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 68,088. UPDATED 12/12/08 *CN UPDATED 12/15/08. *JB

NHTSA ID

10249022

Incident

Jul 24, 2008

Mileage

68,088 mi

IGNITION LOCK FAILED ALLOWING KEY TO BE REMOVED IN ANY POSITION AND NOT SECURING THE AUTO IN A PARKED CONDITION. HENCE THE VEHICLE ROLLED BACK INTO ANOTHER CAR. THE VEHICLE IN QUESTION HAS ONLY 87243 MILES ON IT AND THIS PART SHOULD NOT FAIL, ESPECIALLY AS IT DID TO ALLOW THE CAR TO MOVE WHEN IT WAS SUPPOSEDLY TURNED OFF, AND IN PARK. THIS VEHICLE HAS HAD PREVIOUS TRANSMISSION ISSUES AS WELL AND WAS THE SUBJECT OF A RECALL. *JB

NHTSA ID

10179233

Incident

Jan 6, 2007

Mileage

87,243 mi

I WAS SLOWING DOWN TO MAKE A LEFT TURN. THE STEERING FAILED. I WRESTLED THE CAR -- BRUISING MY HAND -- INTO THE TURN AND ENDED UP ON THE CURB. THE ENGINE APPARENTLY HAD STALLED, CAUSING THE STEERING FAILURE. I WAS ABLE TO RESTART AND GO ON MY WAY, AFTER BACKING OFF THE CURB.

NHTSA ID

10112274

Incident

Feb 26, 2005

Mileage

40,000 mi

VEHICLE TYPE: ACURA 3.2TL MODEL YEAR: 2003. VEHICLE PERIODICALLY FAILED TO START. VEHICLE PERIODICALLY STALLS IN TRAFFIC. *AK

NHTSA ID

10053196

Incident

Apr 1, 2002

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT THE SPEED OF 65 MPH THE ENGINE STALLS. DEALER MENTIONED THAT THE TIMING BELT WAS BROKE. MR CONSUMER STATED THAT THE CD UNIT WAS BROKE AFTER A FEW DAYS. THE VEHICLE TOOK TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIR, BUT THE REPAIR WAS NOT DONE DUE TO BACK ORDER OF THE CD UNIT. *YH

NHTSA ID

8020564

Incident

Sep 11, 2002