2004 Acura TL Transmission Problems

MY SON PURCHASED A NEW 2004 ACURA TL FROM THE ELK GROVE CA DEALERSHIP WITH MONEY HE SAVED WHILE IN THE NAVY. HE HAS HAD THE CAR AND MAINTAINED IT THROUGH THE END OF LAST YEAR BUT HAS BEEN AWARE FOR AWHILE THAT THE TRANSMISSION IS IN NEED OF REPLACING. THERE WAS A NHTSA RECALL (04V176000) APRIL 15, 2004 FOR POWER TRAIN TRANSMISSIONS LIKE THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION IN MY SON'S CAR AND MOTOR TREND MAGAZINE POSTED THAT IT POTENTIALLY 1,000,796. WE BELIEVE THAT OUR SON'S CAR HAS THE SAME PROBLEM, WHETHER OR NOT THE VIN WAS IN THE EXACT LOT SELECTED FOR THE OFFICIAL RECALL. WHEN MY SON GOT OUT OF THE NAVY, HE MOVED AROUND QUITE A BIT WHILE FINISHING HIS BACHELOR'S DEGREE AND DID NOT RECEIVE ANY INFORMATION REGARDING THIS MATTER FROM ACURA AND DID NOT HEAR ABOUT IT OTHERWISE. WE HAVE TAKEN THE CAR TO THE FREMONT, CA ACURA DEALERSHIP BUT THEY ARE REFUSING TO ACKNOWLEDGE ANY CULPABILITY OR REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION, THOUGH THERE ARE OBVIOUS, WELL-KNOWN, HISTORICAL TRANSMISSION ISSUES WITH ACURAS. REFUSAL IS, OF COURSE, THE FIRST LINE OF DEFENSE IN CORPORATE AMERICA, BUT WE HATE TO SEE HIS HARD EARNED MONEY ($30K+) SPENT ON WHAT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE A HIGH-PERFORMING, LUXURY VEHICLE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10578647

Incident

Apr 8, 2014

Mileage

145,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 ACURA TL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE AND HE WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS A TRANSMISSION LEAK ON BOTH SIDES OF THE MOUNT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO INSPECTED THE FAILURE AND ADVISED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000. UPDATED 04/30/13*LJ THE DEALER DISCOVERED THE LEAK WAS COMING FROM BOTH SIDE OF THE DIFFERENTIAL AND THE AXLE WAS LOOSE. UPDATED 05/20/13

NHTSA ID

10502792

Incident

Dec 14, 2012

Mileage

80,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 ACURA TL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT DASHBOARD CRACK UNDER THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG. THE CONTACT STATED THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG HAD BECOME EXPOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE SINCE THE DASHBOARD WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 125,000. . ..UPDATED 12/03/12 *BF UPDATED 12/06/2012 *JS

NHTSA ID

10480673

Incident

Aug 9, 2010

Mileage

80,000 mi

DRIVING HIGHWAY SPEED, AND THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. ENGINE WAS REVVING, BUT THERE WAS NO RESPONSE AT THE WHEELS. THE CAR IS NOW WITH A TRANSMISSION SPECIALIST WHERE I HAVE BEEN TO,D IT WILL REQUIRE A COMPLETE REBUILD OF THE FAILED TRANSMISSION SYSTEM. *TR

NHTSA ID

10395556

Incident

Apr 8, 2011

Mileage

109,500 mi

SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER TO THE WHEELS WHILE DRIVING. WHEN I PRESSED ON THE ACCELERATOR THE ENGINE RPMS WOULD INCREASE BUT THE CAR WOULD NOT MOVE FORWARD OR SPEED UP. THIS FIRST HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING DOWN A RESIDENTIAL STREET. HAD I BEEN MAKING A LEFT TURN WITH ON-COMING TRAFFIC IT COULD HAVE BEEN DANGEROUS. THIS APPEARED TO BE CAUSED BY A SLIPPING TRANSMISSION. IT OCCURRED UNEXPECTEDLY WHEN THE TRANSMISSION AND ENGINE WERE WARM (AFTER DRIVING SEVERAL MILES). I LATER FOUND THAT AFTER THE CAR HAD COOLED, THE TRANSMISSION WOULD BEHAVE NORMALLY UNTIL IT GOT WARM AGAIN. FIRST THEY SAID MY TRANSMISSION FLUID NEEDED TO BE CHANGED. THEY DID THAT AND SAID THE CAR WAS RUNNING NORMALLY AGAIN. I LEFT THE DEALERSHIP AND HAD THE SAME LOSS OF POWER WITHIN A FEW MILES. I LET THE CAR COOL DOWN AND THEN RETURNED TO THE DEALER. THEY THEN DIAGNOSED IT AS TRANSMISSION FAILURE. I HAD THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED WITH A FACTORY REBUILT TRANSMISSION AT THE DEALERSHIP AT MY EXPENSE. MY WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED 3,000 MILES EARLIER. *TR

NHTSA ID

10379383

Incident

Dec 14, 2010

Mileage

103,500 mi

LETTER TO THE ADMINISTRATOR FROM RE PROBLEMS WITH HIS 2004 ACURA TL *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED HIS VEHICLE RECENTLY STARTED SPUTTERING DURING ACCELERATION AT LOW SPEEDS. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND WAS LATER INFORMED THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONSUMER LATER DISCOVERED A RECALL HAD BEEN ISSUED FOR THE 2ND GEAR. THE CONSUMER INQUIRED ABOUT HAVING THE WORK PERFORMED UNDER THE RECALL. HOWEVER, THE DEALER STATED THE RECALL HAD ALREADY BEEN PERFORMED PREVIOUSLY. THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN HE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE, IT HAD 30,394 MILES ON IT AND IF THE RECALL WAS PERFORMED PRIOR TO HIM PURCHASING THE VEHICLE, IT WASN'T DONE PROPERLY. *JB

NHTSA ID

10376140

Incident

Nov 30, 2010

AT SIX YEARS AND 60K MILES, THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION ON MY 2004 TL HAD TO BE REBUILT AT A COST OF $3,200. THE CAR WAS OUT OF WARRANTY AND ACURA WOULD NOT EXTEND THE WARRANTY. I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED. I EXPECTED GREATER LONGEVITY FROM THIS TRANSMISSION. *TR

NHTSA ID

10349893

Incident

Jun 27, 2010

Mileage

60,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING HOME FROM A DOCTORS VISIT, MY 2004 ACURA 3.2TL WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO 2ND GEAR, THE ENGINE WOULD REV UP BUT THE CAR WOULD NOT MOVE, RPM'S WOULD JUST JUMP UP AND DOWN LIKE IT WAS STUCK IN NEUTRAL. I SHUT THE CAR OFF, TURNED IT BACK ON AND IT WORKED FINE FOR ANOTHER TWO MILES BEFORE ACTING UP AGAIN. I TOOK THE CAR TO HARPER ACURA OF KNOXVILLE AND THEY SUGGESTED I GET A POWER FLUSH OF THE TRANSMISSION AND THAT WOULD MOST LIKELY SOLVE THE PROBLEM, SO I AGREED. LATER THAT DAY I PICKED UP THE CAR, (RICHARD, SERVICE MANAGER) SAID THEY FLUSHED THE SYSTEM, ADDED SOME TYPE OF GEL ADDITIVE TO LOCK IN WHATEVER WAS LOSE INSIDE THE TRANSMISSION AND THAT THE MORE I DROVE IT THE BETTER IT WILL BE. WELL I TOOK IT HOME, DROVE IT AROUND AND IT KEPT ACTING UP, I DIDN'T THINK ANYTHING OF IT AND KEPT DRIVING PER RICHARDS SUGGESTION. CAR STILL SLIPS OUT OF SECOND GEAR GOING UP HILLS OR AT TRAFFIC LIGHT. I'M HAVING TO SHUT THE CAR OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC AND THEN RE-START AND DRIVE OFF, BUT I'M AFRAID IF I KEEP DRIVING LIKE THIS, TRANSMISSION WILL COMPLETELY FAIL. ACCORDING TO NHTSA THERE IS A RECALL ON THE POWER TRANSMISSION FOR THIS YEAR AND MODEL CAR HOWEVER ACCORDING TO ACURA, IT DOESN'T APPLY TO MY VIN NUMBER EVEN THOUGH THE CAR WAS MANUFACTURED IN 2004. ACURA CORPORATE OFFICE WONT EXPLAIN WHY MY TRANSMISSION IS NOT RECALLED,HOWEVER OTHERS ARE AND THEIR FROM THE SAME YEAR, MODEL AND MANUFACTURING PLANT. NOW I HAVE TO FIGURE OUT HOW TAKE MY TWO YEAR OLD DAUGHTER TO SCHOOL EVERY MORNING AND RISK HER SAFETY AS WELL AS MINE IN A CAR WITH FAULTY TRANSMISSION THAT ACURA DOESN'T WANT TO TAKE ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR. MY CAR ONLY HAS 83,000 MILES ON IT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10282172

Incident

Aug 26, 2009

Mileage

83,886 mi

I WAS SATISFIED WITH THIS CAR UNTIL RECENTLY. PRESENTLY HAVING A PROBLEM WITH FRONT END VIBRATION. CHANGED AND BALANCED TIRES, PLUS ALIGNMENT. PROBLEM STILL CONTINUES. RETURNED CAR TO DEALER FOR RECHECK AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE VIBRATION IS MY TRANSMISSION GOING BAD. APPROX. 66000 MILES ON THE CAR. IF THIS IS THE CASE SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10275305

Incident

Jun 26, 2009

Mileage

66,755 mi

2004 ACURA 3.2TL- TRANSMISSION SLIPPED WHILE I WAS DRIVING THE CAR ON THE HIGHWAY. *TR

NHTSA ID

10269134

Incident

May 4, 2009

Mileage

98,000 mi

2004 ACURA TL-TRANSMISSION FAILURE- WELL THIS HAS NOT HAPPENED TO MY CAR AS OF YET BUT I CAN FEEL THE SLIPPING OF THE TRANSMISSION AND IM POSITIVE IT WILL GO OUT AT ANYTIME, AND FROM WHAT IT STATES IN YOUR LIST ACURA HAS AN ACKNOWLEDGEMENT THAT THIS IS HAPPENING ON 2004-2005 TL'S TRANSMISSION. AS IT STATES IN THE REVIEW IT COULD CAUSE A CRASH IF IT LOCKS UP WHICH COULD BE FATAL OR NON-FATAL. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHY THIS ISN'T A RECALL SINCE SO MANY HAVE BEEN AFFECTED BY THIS ISSUE AND IF ITS POSSIBLE TO GET THEM TO BECAUSE ITS INVOLVING MY SAFETY AS WELL AS OTHERS IF IT OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING. THANKS, WILLIAM OSBORNE *TR

NHTSA ID

10248840

Incident

Sep 14, 2008

TRANSMISSION SHUDDER AT 35-50 M.P.H WHILE TRANSMISSION IS SHIFTING THROUGH GEARS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10248298

Incident

Oct 2, 2008

Mileage

73,000 mi

SUDDEN TRANSMISSION FAILURE, WITHOUT ANY WARNING OR PREVIOUS NOISE. SIMILAR SYMPTOMS OF A PREVIOUS RECALL, BUT HONDA INSISTS IT DOES NOT AFFECT MY VIN. *TR

NHTSA ID

10241183

Incident

Sep 5, 2008

Mileage

122,500 mi

AS I WAS DRIVING ON INTERSTATE 8 WEST BOUND ON CRUISE CONTROL ABOUT 65MPH. I GET A SMELL OF OIL BURNING, AS I LOOK AT MY DASH I SEE THE RPM AT 4K. SO I TURN OFF MY CRUISE CONTROL AS I STEP ON THE GAS, NOTHING HAPPENS. SO I CONTINUE TO ROLL AND PULL OVER. WHEN I OPEN MY HOOD ALOT OF OIL ON MY ENGINE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10225862

Incident

Apr 26, 2008

Mileage

66,501 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 ACURA 3.2TL. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO ACCELERATE, BUT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO MOVE. THE DEALER PERFORMED AN OIL CHANGE ON THE VEHICLE THE DAY PRIOR TO THE FAILURE AND THEY STATED THAT EVERYTHING LOOKED FINE. WHEN A TOW TRUCK WAS CALLED, THE VEHICLE WOULD SHIFT INTO DRIVE, BUT NOT INTO REVERSE. THE VEHICLE WOULD THEN ONLY DRIVE IN REVERSE REGARDLESS OF THE GEAR. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED A NEW TRANSMISSION. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 90,000. UPDATED 01/07/08. *LJ ACURA AGREED TO COVER A PORTION OF THE CONSUMERS RENTAL EXPENSES. UPDATED 12/12/07

NHTSA ID

10202752

Incident

Aug 31, 2007

Mileage

90,000 mi

2001 ACURA TL CUSTOMER STATES THAT HE WAS NOT HAPPY WITH THE SERVICE RECEIVED AND THE WORK WAS NOT DONE CORRECTLY**CC THE CONSUMER TOOK HIS VEHICLE TO HAVE THE RECALL PERFORMED REGARDING THE TRANSMISSION, HOWEVER WHEN HE RECEIVED HIS VEHICLE BACK, IT WAS IN WORSE SHAPE THAN WHEN HE BROUGHT IN. THE SEATS WERE COVERED WITH FOOTPRINTS AND DIRT, THE WINDSHIELD HAD A LAYER OF GREASY SMOKE FILM ON THE INSIDE, THE WIRING WAS DANGLING BENEATH THE GLOVE COMPARTMENT AND THE BRAKE LIGHT WOULDN'T TURN OFF FOR SEVERAL MINUTES. *JB

NHTSA ID

10189026

Incident

Jan 1, 1901

VIBRATION AT 50-55 MPH. SOMETIMES WORSE THAN OTHERS. CAN MAKE CAR FEEL UNSTABLE. CHANGING TIRES DID NOT HELP. *JB

NHTSA ID

10156433

Incident

Nov 1, 2004

Mileage

1 mi

VIBRATION LEADING TO A SHUDDER IN THE FRONT END OF A 2004 ACURA TL. VIBRATION STARTS AT 1500 RPM UP THROUGH 2000 RPM AT 45 MPH THROUGH 60 MPH. VIBRATION AND SHUDDER IS INTERMITTENT IN NATURE AND CAN BE QUITE SEVERE CAUSING YOU TO SLOW DOWN. CAR HAS BEEN BACK TO THE DEALER 3 TIMES SINCE I PURCHASED IT IN OCTOBER 2004. THEY HAVE ALIGNED THE MOTOR MOUNTS, BALANCED THE TIRES, ADJUSTED THE SOLENOID ON THE TRANSMISSION AND ADJUSTED A HEAT SHIELD . STILL HAVE THE PROBLEM. SPOKE WITH ACURA CLIENT SERVICE AND WAS TOLD THIS IS A DRIVING CHARACTERISTIC OF THE CAR BUT THEIR ENGINEERS ARE WORKING ON IT. THEY ASSIGNED A CASE # TO IT B01-2004-11-1100593, MY CASE MANAGERS NAME IS ED. AT PRESENT THEY HAVE NO FIX FOR THE PROBLEM AND I DON'T FEEL THEY KNOW WHAT THE PROBLEM IS. I HAVE NOTICED MANY POSTINGS ON THE INTERNET FROM OTHER ACURA TL OWNERS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. *JB

NHTSA ID

10104361

Incident

Oct 15, 2004

Mileage

458 mi

HAVE OWNED THE CAR LESS THAN 1 WEEK, AND UPON DELIVERY OF THE CAR NOTICED A HIGH-PITCHED WHINE AT ABOUT 35 TO 40 MPH. THE WHINE CONTINUES UP THROUGH HIGHER SPEEDS, AND CONTINUES THROUGHOUT DECELERATION DOWN TO ABOUT 15 TO 20 MPH. TOOK INTO THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT WHO CONTACTED ACURA USA ABOUT THE PROBLEM. THEY ISOLATED THE WHINE COMING FROM THE TRANSMISSION, AND THEY ARE SENDING A NEW (?) TRANSMISSION AS A REPLACEMENT. I FEEL THAT THIS IS TERRIBLE THAT THE CAR WAS NOT DIAGNOSED WITH A PROBLEM AND THEN ALLOWED TO BE SOLD WITH A TRANSMISSION DEFECT. I WANT NOTHING SHORT OF A TOTAL REPLACEMENT. *JB

NHTSA ID

10091115

Incident

Sep 10, 2004

I HAVE A 2004 ACURA TL WITH 2000 MILES ON IT. IT HAS BEEN AT THE DEALER TWICE FOR 7 TOTAL DAYS, TRYING TO CORRECT A VIBRATION BETWEEN 45 AND 60. IT IS ALSO EVIDENT AT 75-80. VIBRATION IS FELT IN SEAT, STEERING WHEEL AND PEDALS DEALER REPLACED FRONT TIRES TWICE AND FRONT RIMS ONCE. WE STILL EXPERIENCE THE VIBRATION FREQUENTLY. I CONTACTED HONDA OF AMERICA. THE REPRESENTATIVE INFORMED ME THAT THIS WAS A TORQUE CONVERTER PROBLEM KNOWN FOR APPROXIMATEL 4 MONTHS. I ASKED ABOUT RETURNING THE CAR AND WAS TOLD I WAS NOT GOING TO GET MY MONEY BACK. HE STATED THAT ENGINEERING IS LOOKING AT MODIFYING ENGINE MOUNTS. I TOLD HIM THAT WAS ONLY MASKING THE PROBLEM. HE STATED ALL 04 AND 05 MODELS HAVE THE PROBLEM! I WAS FLOORED THEY KNEW IT AND WERE STILL PUSHING CARS OUT THE DOOR AND THE DEALERSHIP WAS BLAMING THE PROBLEM ON TIRES. I ASKED ABOUT INHERENT VIBRATION IMPACT ON THE LIFE EXPECTANCY TO THE DRIVER TRAIN SEALS AND BEARINGS. THE HONDA OF AMERICA REPRESENTATIVE BECAME VERY RUDE. I GOT HIS NAME AND HUNG UP. NOT WHAT YOU WOULD EXPECT FROM HONDA OR A $35K CAR! THE DEALERSHIP SERVICE CENTERWAS APPALLED THAT HONDA AMERICA STATED THERE WAS WIDESPREAD PROBLEMS WITH THE TORQUE CONVERTER, STATED THEY NEVER HEARD OF IT AND INSISTED THIS IS A TIRE ISSUE! IT IS DESHEARTENING TO GET TWO DIFFERENT STORIES. I BELIEVE THE TIRE STORY GIVES THE HONDA CORPORATE OFFICES SOME RELIEF OF LIABILITY BY LEVERAGING OFF OF FIRESTONE FOR DEFECTS. SHOULD THE TORQUE CONVERTER BE OPENLY PURSUED AS THE CULPRIT AND JOHNQ. PUBLIC KNOWING ABOUT IT, THIS COULD BE A DRIVE A COSTLY RECALL FUNDED FROM THE POCKETS OF HONDA OF AMERICA! *AK

NHTSA ID

10090857

Incident

Sep 9, 2004

Mileage

3 mi

RECENTLY PURCHASED AN ACCURA 2004 TL.CAR CURRENTLY HAS 600 MILES.NOTICED A VIBRATIONS BETWEEN THE SPEEDS OF 45 TO 55 MPH.TOOK THE CAR BACK TO DEALER(RICK CASE) TWICE TO HAVE THE WHEELS REBALANCED.DID NOT REMOVE THE VIBRATION.THE THIRD TIME BACK TO THE DEALER I WAS TOLD THAT ACURA IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND THAT ALL TL'S HAVE THIS ISSUE.I CALLED HONDA.THEY SAID THERE IS NOTHING THEY INTEND TO DO REGARDING THE PROBLEM AND THAT THE VIBRATION IS NORMAL FOR THE 2004'S AS IT GOES INTO 5TH GEAR. *AK

NHTSA ID

10086195

Incident

Aug 4, 2004

Mileage

675 mi

NO ACCIDENT TIRES, OVER DRIVE, QUICK TO PULL TO THE RIGHT IS A BIG SAFTEY FAULT. I FEEL THERE ARE ALL PROBLEMS RELATED TO THE HORSEPOWER, FRONT WHEEL DRIVE, TRANSMISSION, AND HUMMING AND VIBRATION THROUGH OUT THE CAR AND MOST NOTABLE AT SPEEDS BETWEEN 50-60MPH. *JB

NHTSA ID

10078366

Incident

Feb 15, 2004

Mileage

50 mi

NEW ACURA TL. VIBRATION AT MOST SPEEDS; ODD SHIFTING OF THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. REPORTED TO ED VOYLES (DEALER). ONE SERVICE (REBALANCE TIRES) DIDN'T HELP. TALKED W/ FRED AT ACURA CARLAND (FRIEND'S DEALER), WHO SUPSECTS A FIX FOR THIS AND MANY OTHER ISSUES. FRED REPORTS THAT MOST OWNERS REPORT SIMILAR (AND ADDITIONAL) PROBLEMS.*AK

NHTSA ID

10068319

Incident

Mar 25, 2004

SEVERE VIBRATION AT MOST SPEEDS, PARTICULARLY IN THE 40 - 60 MPH RANGE. *AK

NHTSA ID

10058824

Incident

Feb 12, 2004

Mileage

6 mi

VEHICLE VIBRATION AT CONSTANT SPEEDS IN THE RANGE A) 30-40 MPH; AND B) 50-60 MPH; THIS VIBRATION IN THE VEHICLE CREATES AN AVERSION TO DRIVE WITH THE VIBRATION AND THEREFORE EXCEED THESE SPEED LIMITS ALTHOUGH THE LOCAL SPEED LIMITS POSTED MAY BE LOWER. *JB

NHTSA ID

10058372

Incident

Feb 16, 2004

Mileage

500 mi