2005 Acura TL Powertrain (other) Problems

While I was driving 55 mph, on the throttle, the transmission acted as it was in Neutral but all indicators verified it was in Drive. The RPMs were fluctuating during this & my car wouldn't accelerate. I was in the middle of a busy highway, the car came to a stop, I shifted it into Park, then tried to engage back into Drive with no success. In the middle of oncoming & ongoing HWY traffic, I turned the car off, back on & the car acted as if it was in limp mode. The VSA light & Triangle appeared. I had to pay get a towing service to get me & my car. It never had any transmission issues before & all of a sudden it did all of the above, erratic shifting, flare up shifts, won't move. It was then put on a diagnostic scanner which showed a code for Torque Converter Clutch Solenoid but was cleared & didn't reappear. After the car has been sitting for a while (days) you can crank it, put it into drive & it is hesitant to go & will drive ONLY for a few minutes. After the transmission heats up, it stops pulling. I have read numerous complaints, safety concerns, bulletins, etc. I am devastated & lost on what's going on with the car & what can be done. I purchased my '05 TL in 2022 & haven't been able to drive it but for one & a half years. I've put so much money into the repairs & maintenance. I replaced the rear & front motor mounts, transmission speed sensor, transmission position sensor, etc. I am now disabled & don't have the means to put into it anymore. I pray there's an investigation behind these Drive train safety concerns!

NHTSA ID

11698295

Incident

May 22, 2025

Transmission locked up while attempting to backup. Very loud grinding noise. Could not place back in park. Had to shut off engine to free shifter to move back to park. Tried again but this time placed in drive. Exact same results. Checked internet and apparently transmission on this year and others before and after are know problems. Googleand you will see this. POSSIBLE CATASTROPHIC INCIDENT - What would have been the end result having the transmission fail while on the freeway going 60 mph. Possibly could loose control of the vehicle with wheels locking up, cashing into another vehicle or a wall? This should be investigated! THE CONSUMER REQUESTED TO REMOVE COMPLAINT, BUT STATED THE DIAGNOSTIC REVEALED THE FRONT AXLE WAS BROKEN.

NHTSA ID

11435610

Incident

Oct 5, 2021

I WAS DRIVING MY CAR OUT OF NOWHERE IT LOST POWER THIS THE THIRD TIME IT HAPPENS. ITS REALLY SCARY BECAUSE THE LAST TIME I HAD MY BABY WITH ME AND THAT HAPPENED. I HAD TO PARK AND TURN OFF THE CAR ALSO WHEN I REVERSE IT TAKES LONG TO CHANGE GEAR.

NHTSA ID

11302152

Incident

Jan 3, 2020

Mileage

158,000 mi

I WAS BACKING OUT OF A SPOT, AS I USUALLY DO, THE CAR TOOK LONGER THAN USUAL TO SHIFT FROM PARK INTO DRIVE (ABOUT 3-4 SEC). DROVE NORMALLY FOR ABOUT A HALF-MILE, STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT, WENT TO ACCELERATE, AND THEN THE TRANSMISSION WOULDN'T COME OUT OF 1ST GEAR AND REVVED SUPER HIGH. PULLED OVER, THEN DROVE TO MY MECHANIC ABOUT A HALF-MILE BACK AT ABOUT 8-10 MPH WITH MY CAUTION LIGHTS ON. HE TOOK IT FOR A TEST DRIVE AND SAID IT SEEMED FINE (I.E. THE TRANSMISSION DIDN'T SLIP), BUT WHAT I EXPLAINED TO HIM SOUNDED LIKE THE ONSET OF TRANSMISSION FAILURE). HE SUGGESTED SOMETHING COULD HAVE GOTTEN LODGED IN THERE AND BLOCKED FLUID FLOW, AND WHEN I TURNED MY CAR OFF AND HE STARTED IT, THAT IT COULD HAVE FALLEN OUT BEFORE HIS TEST DRIVE. EVER SINCE "THE INCIDENT" THE TRANSMISSION IS VERY SLOW UP-SHIFTING FROM 1ST TO 2ND AND MAKES A NOISE WHEN DOING SO, AND ALSO IS VERY SLOW SHIFTING FROM PARK TO DRIVE, OR REVERSE TO DRIVE. MY CAR HAS ABOUT 162,000 MILES ON IT. AS OF NOW, NOTHING HAS BEEN REPAIRED ON IT, AND WAS ADVISED NOT TO CHANGE THE TRANSMISSION FLUID AS THIS OFTEN CAUSES TRANSMISSION FAILURE IN THESE VEHICLES AROUND THIS MILEAGE.

NHTSA ID

11288699

Incident

Dec 5, 2019

Mileage

162,000 mi

TAKATA RECALL CAR MAKING NOISE WHILE DRIVING AND REVERSING. WINDSHIELD WIPERS SPRAYER STOP WORKING. RADIO WON'T TURN ON

NHTSA ID

11222836

Incident

May 8, 2019

Mileage

243,260 mi

TAKATA RECALL - MY DRIVE IS FLASHING WHICH IS TO DO WITH MY TRANSMISSION AND I'M HAVING WIRING PROBLEMS ALSO. ALSO I HAVE NO BRIGHT HEADLIGHTS THEY JUST COMPLETELY STOPPED WORKING AND IT'S A WIRING PROBLEM.

NHTSA ID

11131743

Incident

May 1, 2018

Mileage

167,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 ACURA TL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED, SLIPPED OUT OF GEAR, AND OPERATED ABNORMALLY. UPON INSPECTION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FILTER FRACTURED AND DETACHED AND THE DEBRIS CLOGGED THE TRANSMISSION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT IT WAS UP TO THE CONSUMER TO CHANGE THAT SPECIFIC PART OUT, EVEN THOUGH IT WAS NOT LISTED AS A RECOMMENDED PART TO REPLACE IN THE MANUAL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 188,000.

NHTSA ID

10979054

Incident

Apr 17, 2017

Mileage

188,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 ACURA TL. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING AND SHIFTED OUT OF GEAR WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED, BUT IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.

NHTSA ID

10874687

Incident

Jun 12, 2016

Mileage

120,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 ACURA TL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION INADVERTENTLY SHIFTED AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO BECOME INOPERABLE WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.

NHTSA ID

10874650

Incident

Jun 12, 2016

Mileage

120,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 ACURA TL. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE FROM A STOP LIGHT, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND THE RPMS INCREASED, BUT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE. THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FILTER SYSTEM IN THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000.

NHTSA ID

10817236

Incident

Dec 29, 2015

Mileage

140,000 mi

THE VEHICLE WAS ACCELERATED AT APPROXIMATELY 65 MILES AN HOUR, THEN ALL OF SUDDEN THE TRANSMISSION OF THE VEHICLE DOWN SHIFTED COMING TO ABRUPTLY SPEED TO 20 MILES AN HOUR, AND WOULD NOT ACCELERATE ABOVE THAT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10586295

Incident

Sep 19, 2009

Mileage

86,000 mi

I LEFT MY CAR TO GET MY PHONE WHILE CAR WAS PARKED ON THE DRIVEWAY WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING, TRANSMISSION IN PARKING AND DOOR ON THE DRIVER SIDE OPEN. LESS THAN 2 MINUTES LATER WHEN I RETURNED MY CAR WAS GONE. LOOKING AROUND, I SAW MY CAR AT LEAST 30 YARDS DOWNHILL FROM THE DRIVEWAY LODGED AGAINST AN F450 TRUCK. MY CAR - I ASSUME IN PARKING MODE - CLIMBED UP ON THE DRIVEWAY INCLINE, HIT A GARBAGE BIN ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE ROAD, MADE A 180 DEGREE RIGHT TURN, TRAVELING IN REVERSE DIRECTION CRUSHED IN TO THE PARKED TRUCK'S LEFT SIDE FENDER AND BUMPER (THE TRUCK WAS PARKED ON THE ONCOMING SIDE OF THE ROAD).. THE DAMAGE TO THE TRUCKS FENDER WAS A SMALL DENT AND SCRAPED OFF PAINT ON THE BUMPER. I FOUND MY CAR'S TRUNK LID SEVERELY DENTED, AND THE REAR BUMPER ALSO DENTED AND SLID TO THE SIDE. THE CRYSTAL OF THE PASSENGER SIDE REAR LIGHT ASSEMBLY BROKE. THR DAMAGETO MY CAR WAS ESTIMATED TO BE BETWEEN $3-4,000. PHOTOS OF DAMAGE ARE AVAILABLE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10584673

Incident

Apr 22, 2014

Mileage

114,110 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 ACURA TL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE AS THE VSA WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO RECUR INTERMITTENTLY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000. *JB

NHTSA ID

10538615

Incident

May 1, 2013

Mileage

120,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 ACURA TL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 69,000. *TR

NHTSA ID

10524442

Incident

Jul 1, 2013

Mileage

69,000 mi

> ON THURSDAY 07/04/13 MY TRANSMISSION GAVE IN. I WAS ON THE FREEWAY WHEN THE CAR LOST POWER AND THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT CONNECT. THERE WAS NO CAR BEHIND ME OTHERWISE THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN A MAJOR CRASH. THERE WAS NO SIGNAL OR CHECK ENGINE LIGHT THAT CAME UP.THE CAR HAS 80 K MILES ON IT. THIS CAR HAS BEEN MAINTAINED BY THE LOCAL HONDA DEALER FOR EVERY THING INCLUDING OIL CHANGES ETC. THE CAR PER THE DEALER WAS DEAMED UN DRIVABLE AND UNSAFE TO DRIVE. > THIS CAR WAS MANUFACTURED IN 2005. PURCHASE DATE 11/14/05. I UNDERSTAND THAT THERE WAS A RECALL IN 2003 AND 2004 FOR SIMILAR ISSUE. THE CAR IS CURRENTLY AT THE HONDA DEALERSHIP IN FREMONT. AUTONATION HONDA. FOR ME THE ISSUE IS ABOUT ME AND MY FAMILY SAFTEY. IN THE CAR WAS MY 5 YEAR OLD SON. >

NHTSA ID

10524411

Incident

Jul 4, 2013

Mileage

81,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 ACURA TL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE STOPPED ACCELERATING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT TRANSMISSION SHOP AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE TORQUE CONVERTER FAILED AND THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 62,000.

NHTSA ID

10450620

Incident

Feb 13, 2012

Mileage

62,000 mi

ENGINE NOISE: A VIBRATION AND LOW BUZZING SOUND IN 5TH GEAR CAUSED BY NORMAL ENGINE VIBRATION AT AROUND 1,500 RPM, REQUIRING A VIBRATION DAMPER NEAR THE REAR MOTOR MOUNT. ALSO CAUSING VIBRATION ON STEERING WHEEL AT NORMAL HIGHWAYS SPEED LIMITS. AND CAUSING TIRES TO CUP AND GET BALD. VERY DANGEROUS TO DRIVE ON FREEWAY CAUSING STEERING TO BE VERY ERRATIC DUE TO VIBRATION FROM FRONT AND REAR BROKEN ENGINE MOUNTS. CHECK-ENGINE LIGHT: THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT MAY ILLUMINATE AND A TROUBLE CODE FOR THE COOLANT SENSOR MAY BE STORED, BUT THE PROBLEM IS MOST LIKELY A SOFTWARE GLITCH IN THE ENGINE CONTROL MODULE BRAKES: BRAKE PEDAL MAY FEEL SPONGY OR HAVE EXCESSIVE TRAVEL DUE TO AIR IN THE BRAKE LINES REQUIRING REPLACEMENT OF THE VSA MODULATOR. (2004-06) TOTAL REPAIR COST SO FAR... ITEM NAME REPAIR COST A/C COMPRESSOR $1,320 ALTERNATOR $780 AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION OR TRANSAXLE $3,460 BRAKES $1,320 EXHAUST SYSTEM $890 RADIATOR $920 SHOCKS AND/OR STRUTS $3,200 TIMING CHAIN OR BELT $1,050. *TR

NHTSA ID

10440650

Incident

Jul 16, 2009

Mileage

78,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 ACURA TL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED AND THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO ANY GEAR. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE WAS RESISTANT TO ACCELERATION ATTEMPTS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHO ADVISED THE CONTACT TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION. THE MANUFACTURER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT HER WARRANTY DID NOT COVER THE FAILURE AND OFFERED NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE. NO REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 76,000.

NHTSA ID

10429093

Incident

Sep 26, 2011

Mileage

76,000 mi

I RECENTLY PURCHASED A 2005 ACURA TL FROM THE ORIGINAL OWNER AND HAVE NOTICED A FRONT END VIBRATION WHEN DRIVING ON THE HWY BETWEEN 65-80 MPH. THE ORIGINAL OWNER PUT ON THE VEHICLE NEW TIRES AND NEW BRAKES AT 62,000 MILES. I JUST PUT ON NEW ROTORS AND I EVEN HAD A HIGH SPEED WHEEL BALANCE ON ALL TIRES WHEN I STARTED TO FEEL THE VIBRATION AT 62,500 MILES. WHEN THE VIBRATION STARTS I CALL FEEL IT IN THE STEERING WHEEL, BRAKE AND GAS PEDALS AND HEAVY IN THE FRONT END. ONCE I START TO SLOW DOWN, THE VIBRATION WILL STOP. *TR

NHTSA ID

10365544

Incident

Sep 21, 2010

Mileage

62,000 mi