Problem Reports

Acura TL

Report: Automatic Transmission Issues

Acura TL Problem

101 Reports

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Model Years Affected: 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010

Drive Train Affected: Automatic Transmission

Average Mileage: 99,824 mi (22,000 mi - 210,000 mi)

The automatic transmission tends to malfunction more often than in similar models. The Check Engine Light may or may not illuminate.

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adrenaline, 2004 Acura TL, Automatic Transmission, 145,000 mi

Rookie
from highway speed when car slows down, it down shift itself from 4th gear to 2nd causing a slamming-on-brakes-feel.

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Visitor, 2001 Acura TL, 139,000 mi

Transmission is jerking. Check engine light is on.

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dvas, 1999 Acura TL

Rookie
while drivin in the city for about 30mins my car will start to jerk to get into 1st and 2nd its a hard kick back and when it does catch my tires squeel dont no whats wrong with it i let it sit for a while then its fine again.anyone have any ideas on what it might be.

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Visitor, 2006 Acura TL, Automatic Transmission, 115,000 mi

At 40 mph when going into 4th gear feels like you are running over rumble strips. Only happens after car warms up. Was told by dealer that they would replace with new or rebuilt transmission. Cost of up to $5,100.00. Would think a $34K Acura TL transmission would last longer than that!

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Visitor, 2004 Acura TL, Automatic Transmission, 65,000 mi

Around 20 mph and just before shifting into 2nd gear the car starts "jiggle"

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Visitor, 2003 Acura TL, 120,000 mi

Transmission failure. Replaced by Acura.

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Visitor, 2006 Acura TL, Automatic Transmission, 63,000 mi

bought car brand new from acura dealership..babied and well cared for car is mint!..all maintenance done per acura dealers recommendations..today transmission went..dealer say needs replacement..63k are you kidding me?? we'll see if the powertrain warranty takes care of this..update to follow...

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Visitor, 2003 Acura TL, 105,000 mi

Transmission skips gears and eventually gives out. This seems to be a known problem for Acura/Honda of this year

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Sugarbear1077, 2001 Acura TL, 110,000 mi

Rookie
The transmission malfunctioned and needed to be replaced. I was pleasantly surprised when the dealer agreed to replace it at no charge even when it was out of warranty.

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Visitor, 2003 Acura TL, 100,000 mi

My TL started slipping gears and almost immediately the check engine light came on. I took it to my mechanic and he said the torque converter, which relates to the transmission I guess, needs to be replaced. He quoted me about $2000 to fix it. I don't know if I will fix it or trade it in. This is my second TL and the first one had the transmission replaced twice under warranty. No more Acuras for me!

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Visitor, 2003 Acura TL, 121,000 mi

My car started slipping out of and between gears on the highway during rush hour traffic. Fortunately, I was able to coast to the side of the road for towing - obvious transmission issue. Acura dealer agreed after inspection/diagnosis and wanted $3800 to fix. No thanks, not on a car with TWO transmission recalls!!

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Visitor, 2004 Acura TL, Automatic Transmission, 87,000 mi

the transmission started to kick and then slipped after that very rough and acura wanted $5000 to fix it i am just parking it now and cant afford to fix.

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Visitor, 1999 Acura TL, 120,000 mi

At about 120K my TL would just neutral out when shifting between 1st and 2nd gear. The car is 13 years old, so I don't feel like investing money in a new transmission would be a smart move. One trick I learned is to move it over to smack shift and you can get it to jump from 1st to 3rd. Once the car is over 45 mph the transmission is fine. The odd thing is some days the car just shifts like a dream. Seems to shift good when the temp outside is around 50 anthing warmer or colder and it's back to it's usual problems!

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Visitor, 2005 Acura TL, Automatic Transmission, 121,500 mi

The Tranny slip out of gear when I was in middle of traffic tried to engage it back to D no luck. Also no response to any gear. No check engine light ... The car will engage back into gear when I restart the car after 5 mins. IMO probably either the torque Converter is bad or the clutch packs gave out... Either way Spoke to my mechanic and told me to rebuilt it. still waiting for an answer.. Also install a aftermarket Transmission cooler + better transmission fluids would be wise for 2000-2008 TL base models. Dont use the OEM DW-1 or Z1 !!!

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Visitor, 2003 Acura TL, 115,000 mi

Engine code p0740

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Visitor, 2004 Acura TL, Automatic Transmission, 84,000 mi

some time the car rev and feels like the tranmission stuck enguine light will come on but go off back by it self i was told its the SOLENOID not sure

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Visitor, 2001 Acura TL, 112,000 mi

My transmission began shifting extremely roughly and within two days, it would not shift out of second gear. I had a third-party mechanic replace the transmission with a rebuilt one which saved more $1,200 over the Acura price.

The warranty with this mechanic was only 24 months vs. Acura's 36 months. Also, the biggest difference I discovered (two years later) is that the rebuilt transmission is identical to the old one and does not have the 'fix' that Acura would have added which mitigates similar transmission failure in the future. When Acura replaces the transmission on this model, they include an injector which shoots transmission fluid on the upper gears to keep them lubricated and reduces chances of future failure. My third-party rebuilt transmission does not include this injector and troubles me that I could be more susceptible to future failure. I was told by Acura to just stay on top of my transmission flushes every 30,000 miles and I should be OK, but there are no guarantees.

Lesson learned; I should have done more homework before undergoing a repair of over $3,000.

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Visitor, 2008 Acura TL, Automatic Transmission, 26,898 mi

Transmission downshifts between 2nd and 3rd gear,slows car momentum to almost a stop. After 5 vists to dealerships, finally admitted it was annoying, but within Acura Specs. I was told they replaced transmission out of goodwill. Does not operate like new transmission. Car very sluggish when accelerating, climbing hills and start from stop. Problem has not been resolved downshifting not as pronounced. Test drove a couple cars with 37,000. They definitely drove better than my 27,000 mile TL. I had a 2004 that I loved. I hate to drive my 2008.

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Visitor, 2003 Acura TL, 125,000 mi

First transmission replaced under dealer warranty at 40,000 miles. Second transmission is out again and in the shop from replacement at 125,000 miles.

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Visitor, 2005 Acura TL, Automatic Transmission, 50,000 mi

Driving to the store, and the transmission just gave out, then the engine light went on, JAPANESE POS!

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Report: Automatic Transmission Issues

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