Owner-reported complaints naming the transmission system, filed with NHTSA
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Reports naming the automatic or manual transmission, including shifting behaviour, shudder, slipping and transmission control modules. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2005 Acura TL submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 17 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.
Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed
DRIVING NORMAL ON THE HIGHWAY @ ~65MPH, TRANSMISSION BEGINS TO SLIP AND THEN SUFFERS FROM A LOSE OF ALL ACCELERATION POWER, CAR ACTS LIKE IT IS IN NEUTRAL. COULD HAVE BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT IF IT HAPPENED WHILE MERGING ONTO THE HIGHWAY. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 ACURA TL. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY BETWEEN 40-45 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS AND SUDDENLY, THERE WAS A SLOW POWER RESPONSE AND THE TRANSMISSION FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE FAILURE WAS CONTRIBUTED TO THE TRANSMISSION WHICH REQUIRED REPLACEMENT. THE VEHICLE IS THE PROCESS OF THE BEING REPAIRED AT A TRANSMISSION AUTO SHOP WITH A REBUILT TRANSMISSION. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 91,000.
ON 9/15/09, WHILE PULLING INTO A PARKING LOT IN A PARKING GARAGE AT WORK, MY 2005 ACURA TL ACCELERATED (ON ITS OWN) AND CRASHED INTO THE CONCRETE BARRIER CAUSING THE AIR BAG TO DEPLOY. I DID NOT HAVE MY FOOT ON THE GAS PEDAL AND THE CAR MAT WAS NOT STUCK UNDER THE GAS PEDAL. I WAS COASTING INTO THE PARKING SPACE WHEN THE CAR "TOOK OFF" AND ACCELERATED INTO THE BARRIER IN FRONT OF THE GARAGE WALL. FOR ABOUT THE LAST TWO YEARS OR SO, THE TRANSMISSION ON MY CAR WOULD REGULARLY CAUSE THE CAR TO ACCELERATE FOR A SHORT TIME RIGHT AFTER THE GAS PEDAL IS PUSHED. IT "JERKS' FORWARD WHEN GOING AT LOW SPEEDS. IT HAPPENS REGULARLY/DAILY. I BROUGHT THIS TO THE ATTENTION OF MY ACURA DEALER ON TWO OCCASIONS WHEN I BROUGHT MY CAR IN FOR SERVICE. THEY TOLD ME THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG. AFTER THE ACCIDENT ABOVE, I TOLD THEM TO CHECK OUT THE PROBLEM AND THEY TOLD ME NOTHING IS WRONG. I AM STILL WAITING FOR MY CAR TO BE REPAIRED FROM THE ACCIDENT AND I AM CONCERNED THAT IT IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THE IMPACT OF THE INCIDENT RESULTED IN BRUISES AND NECK AND SHOULDER INJURIES. *TR
WE'VE SERVICED OUR VEHICLE REGULARLY AND AS RECENTLY AS 2 TIMES IN THE LAST YEAR AT THE DEALERSHIP (ONCE FOR SERVICE AND THE OTHER FOR A RECALL) AND 1 TIME AT AN INDEPENDENT TRANSMISSION SHOP. THE SERVICE PEOPLE AT HONDA FOUND THE FLUID TO BE GOOD AND SAID "THE TRANSMISSION DOES NOT NEED SERVICE... HAVE IT CHECKED AT APPROXIMATELY 62,000MILES, WHICH WE DID. WE HAD THE TRANSMISSION COMPLETELY FLUSHED AND THE FLUID REPLACED AT APPROXIMATELY 62,000 MILES. THE CAR IS A 2005 ACURA TL. IT WAS OUT OF WARRANTY WITH APPROXIMATELY 75,000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE. WE WERE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY WHEN A NEARBY MOTORIST DIRECTED US TO PULL OVER. APPARENTLY THERE WAS SMOKE FUMING FROM THE VEHICLE. AT THAT POINT THERE WERE SEVERE POWER FLUCTUATIONS AND THE CAR REV'D OVER 5000 RPMS. THE TRANSMISSION HAD DISCHARGED A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF FLUID AND NEARLY CAUGHT ON FIRE. WE HAD THE VEHICLE ASSESSED INDEPENDENTLY AND THEN AT THE ACURA DEALERSHIP IN MONTCLAIR. BOTH FOUND THE TRANSMISSION TO BE COMPLETELY BURNT AND INOPERABLE. THERE IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM WITH THE DESIGN OF THE ACURA TL TRANSMISSION THAT CAN LEAD TO ACCIDENTS AND/OR CAR FIRES. *TR
1) IT HAPPENS WHEN THE CAR IS AT 105,000 MILES. 2) THE FAILURE OF TRANSMISSION OF ACURA TL 2005. 3) PART REPAIRED AND COST $4000 FROM ACURA DEALER. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 ACURA TL. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD POPPING AND GRINDING NOISE. HE EXITED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE WHEEL WAS BENT OUTWARDS FROM THE HOOD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE LOWER BALL JOINT FAILED AND CAUSED THE WHEEL TO COME OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THE CONTACT TO CALL THE DEALER TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. AFTER FURTHER INVESTIGATION, IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE DEALER WAS THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE AND NO COMPENSATION WOULD BE MADE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 21,000. UPDATED 04/24/09.*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE UPON DELIVERY OF THE VEHICLE, IT PULLED STRONGLY TO THE RIGHT WHILE DRIVING. THE DEALER DIGNAOSED THE VEHICLE WITHOUT EVEN LOOKING AT IT, BY SAYING IT WAS THE TORQUE STEER. ON ONE OCCASION, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE CONSUMER STILL CONTINED TO COMPLAIN ABOUT THE VEHICLE PULLING TO THE RIGHT. AT TIMES THE VEHICLE WOULD POP OUT OF OR GRIND INTO THIRD GEAR. THE LOWER BALL JOINT HAD FAILED. IT RIPPED OUT THE DRIVE SHAFT, BENT THE LOWER CONTROL ARM, DAMAGED THE BODY AND LEAKED TRANSMISSION FLUID ALL OVER THE ROAD. UPDATED 04/29/09.*JB
I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY (684SOUTH), AND MY CAR'S AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILED ON MY 2005 ACURA TL. AS I STEPPED ON THE ACCELERATOR, THE CAR HAD NO MOTION. I PULLED OVER IMMEDIATELY, AND I CALLED AAA TO TOW MY CAR. THE COMPANY THAT TOWED MY CAR HAD INSPECTED MY CAR THE FOLLOWING DAY AND INFORMED ME THAT I WAS IN NEED OF A NEW TRANSMISSION. I HAD THEN CALLED AAMCO IN MAHOPAC, NY, THAT SPECIALIZES IN TRANSMISSIONS, TO GET A SECOND OPINION. AFTER MAKING A TRANSCAN, THEY INFORMED ME THAT THE TORQUE CONVERTER FAILED, WHERE IT CAUSED A GREAT AMOUNT OF HEAT AFFECTING THE TURBINE ASSEMBLY CAUSING THE GEARS AND CONVERTER CLUTCH TO BREAK DOWN. I WAS INFORMED THAT THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM IN MANY CARS MADE BY HONDA AND ACURA. THEREFORE, I AM RESPECTFULLY ASKING YOUR ORGANIZATION TO INVESTIGATE IF THERE ARE OTHER COMPLAINTS SIMILAR TO MINE. I AM THE SECOND OWNER OF THE CAR, WHICH I PURCHASED AT 25,000 MILES, AND WHEN THIS PROBLEM OCCURRED, IT HAPPENED AT 75,000, WHERE I WAS DRIVING FOR APPROXIMATELY FOR ABOUT ONE HOUR ON THE HIGHWAY. *TR
PURCHASED A 2005 ACURA TL A-SPEC 6-SPEED MANUAL IN 2007. CURRENT MILEAGE IS 42,000. SINCE DATE OF PURCHASE TRANSMISSION WILL POP OUT OF 3RD GEAR SEVERAL TIMES EACH WEEK WHILE DRIVING. *TR
THE AUTOMOBILE HAS A MANUAL TRANSMISSION WITH AN INTERMITTENT SHIFTING PROBLEM. SHIFTING INTO 3RD GEAR CAN RESULT IN PARTIAL ENGAGEMENT AND "POP OUT" OF THE SHIFT RESULTING IN LOSS OF POWER AND DECELERATION. WHEN THIS OCCURS ON ACCELERATION IN TRAFFIC, A NEAR ACCIDENT HAS OCCURRED AS THE CAR HAS SLOWED DOWN IN MERGING TRAFFIC. THE AUTOMOBILE MANUFACTURER HAS A SERVICE BULLETIN (08-018) THAT REQUIRES THE DEALER/SERVICE PROVIDER TO "DRIVE A KNOWN-GOOD VEHICLE" AND COMPARE WITH THE CLIENT'S VEHICLE, AND REPLACE TRANSMISSION PARTS IF NOTICEABLE SHIFT QUALITY DIFFERENCES. REPEATED EFFORTS TO GET THE DEALER TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE DEFECT (FAULTY SYNCHRONIZER) HAVE RESULTED IN "NO PROBLEM FOUND". *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 ACURA TL. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH AND SHIFTING INTO THIRD GEAR, THE VEHICLE POPPED OUT OF GEAR AND APPROXIMATELY 15% OF THE TIME IT WOULD NOT SHIFT AT ALL. THE DEALER CHANGED THE TRANSMISSION FLUID WHICH REMEDIED THE ISSUE FOR A MONTH. HE WAS ALSO TOLD THAT THERE WAS NO SERVICE BULLETIN RELATED TO THE ISSUE. THE MANUFACTURER ALSO REFUSED TO ASSIST HIM. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 27,000 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 3,000. UPDATED 07/15/08 *BF THE GEAR BOX DID NOT ENGAGE PROPERLY INTO 3RD GEAR. THE CONSUMER BELIEVED THERE WAS A DEFECT WITH THE SYNCHRO WHICH WAS A DEFECT IN THE TRANSMISSION. UPDATED 07/15/08 *JB
6 SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSION IS SYNCHRONIZED POORLY MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO SHIFT INTO 3RD & 4TH GEAR SMOOTHLY AND SOMETIMES WILL POP OUT OF GEAR WHEN YOU THINK YOU HAVE SHIFTED SUFFICIENTLY. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 ACURA TL. WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE GEAR SHIFTED FROM AUTOMATIC TO MANUAL WITHOUT WARNING. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE MODE SWITCH FAILED DUE TO SOMETHING BEING SPILLED ON THE SWITCH. THE DEALER REPLACED THE MODE SWITCH. THERE IS A SERVICE BULLETIN FOR THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION (NHTSA ITEM # 10014766). THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 20,552 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20,545. THE CONSUMER PROVIDED THE REPAIR INVOICE FOR THE VEHICLE. UPDATED 09/05/07 *TR
6 SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSION IS SYNCHRONIZED POORLY MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO SHIFT INTO 3RD GEAR SMOOTHLY AND SOMETIMES WILL POP OUT OF 3RD WHEN YOU THINK YOU HAVE CLUTCHED SUFFICIENTLY. DEALER CLAIMS THERE ISN'T A PROBLEM AND WILL NOT FIX THE ISSUE. *JB
I WISH TO REPORT THE CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF THE CLUTCH OF A 6-SHIFT STANDARD 2005 ACURA TL [XXX]. THE CAR HAS LESS THAN 6,000 MILES AND LESS THAN ONE YEAR OF MODERATE USE. WHILE GOING UP A HILL IN A THREE LANE EXPRESSWAY, I LOST THE TORQUE TO THE WHEELS AND THE CAR ENDED ON NEUTRAL, FORCING ME TO MAKE A DANGEROUS MANEUVER TO PARK THE CAR ON THE SHOULDER OF THE EXPRESSWAY. UPON OPENING THE HOOD, IT WAS EVIDENT THAT THE CLUTCH HAD BURNED OUT. I UNDERSTAND THAT FAILURE IN MATERIAL OR WORKMANSHIP WAS THE CAUSE OF THE CATASTROPHIC FAILURE. SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER AT EXPRESSWAY SPEEDS IS DANGEROUS AND COULD RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT. I REPORT THIS TO YOU SO THAT YOU CAN KEEP A RECORD OF THIS DEFECT OF THE 2005 ACURA TL (6-SHIFT STANDARD). *JB UPDATED 07/16/2012 *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
6 SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSION IS SYNCHRONIZED POORLY MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO SHIFT INTO 3RD GEAR SMOOTHLY AND SOMETIMES WILL POP OUT OF 3RD WHEN YOU THINK YOU HAVE CLUTCHED SUFFICIENTLY. NJ DEALER SAID ACURA HAS COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS AND MAY CHANGE TRANSMISSION IN FUTURE YEARS BUT WILL NOT DO ANYTHING FOR EXISTING VEHICLES. *NM
CENTER CONSOLE AUTOMATIC GEAR SHIFT WITHOUT A SHIFT LOCK/RELEASE BUTTON, MOVES FREELY FROM DRIVE POSITION INTO NEUTRAL/REVERSE UP TO PARK WITHOUT HAVING TO STEP ON THE BRAKE. IT HAPPENED TO ME TWICE AT SPEEDS BETWEEN 5-10 MILES PER HOUR. *NM
VIBRATIONS FELT FROM FLOOR BOARD AND STEERING WHEEL AND "BUZZ" NOISE HEARD FROM THE HOOD WHEN TRAVELING AT 50-55 MPH. CONDITION OBSERVED ONLY WHEN RPM IS AT 1500 MARK. CONDITION BECOMES MORE APPARENT WHEN THERE ARE MORE THAN 1 PERSON IN THE CAR OR WHEN CAR IS ON AN ASCENT HIGHWAY. *JB
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.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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