Wow, this is probably my tenth time bringing in my TSX (an 04 and now an 06) to the dealer for service and it never ceases to amaze me how ridiculously incompetent they are.

I brought it in for the following problems:

- Seat Belt Adjusters rattling at highway speeds
- Cracking/Popping/buzzing from front drivers door speaker
- A-Pillar/Dash/Center console Creak
- Squeeky Brakes
- Rattle from passengers seat (near armrest and passenger seat belt)
- Exposed Felt Tape on dash between Nav/Dash (1/4" high piece about an inch long)

When I dropped my car off Monday morning I did the routine of driving it with a tech for him to hear/see all the problems.

The GOOD: I get a prompt call on my cell and at my office letting me know the car will be ready anytime Tuesday.

The BAD: Now when I go to pick it up Tuesday afternoon, I notice the tape of the dash was merely cut off, looking frayed and worse than it did before as well as a nice 3" long scratch on my drivers seat and several 'greasy areas' on the armrest and center console. To top that off, I ride around with the tech again, and all the rattles are still there - as well as new rattles sound coming from the dash and drivers window swith area.

Worse still, is the guy I rode around with wasn't even the guy that worked on my car, so he had to verbally explain the problems to another guy for him to fix it when I dropped it off Monday.

The UGLY: So finally this other tech comes out and I am told I need to drive the car around with him. He insists on driving and we are off. After about 2 seconds I realize what a mistake that was as this guy can't drive stick for @#$%^&! Plus he keeps blabbing and isn't focused on listening for the rattles. (I get the story about how 10 years ago I wouldn't hear any rattles 'cause the engine was so loud and that $50K BMWs and Benz have rattles) After about 10 minutes, he doesn't hear anything (I, of course hear them all, despite him trolling along in 4th gear constantly at 4500 rpms on the loud tarmac oregon highway 217) Several times I suggest stopping so I can drive and maybe my driving style / him sitting in the passenger seat focused on HEARING the sounds might help. After another 10 minutes he finally pulls over and the minute I start driving the car normal, he hears the rattles. But, then he proceeds to bang an all the areas of the dash, as well as open the window and bang on the outside mirror. This makes all the sounds considerably worse.

When we get back to the dealer, I am informed they need to order some parts, and the second tech guy is off Wed and Thurs, so It will not be ready until Friday.

I have my fingers crossed that it will be fixed, but I have severe doubts after meeting the person working on my car.

He admitted he just tore the felt tape off the dash instead or removing it and that it looked pretty bad. He also thought some of the rattles were "normal manual trasmission sounds" and that the seat belt adjusters were supposed to make noise. He then told me I brake too 'lightly' which causes the brake rotors to squeek (I find that hard to believe considering I've owned 7 different Acuras/Hondas and never heard the brakes squeek before on any of them)
The icing on the cake was him telling me I should consider myself lucky because the TSX was the worst Acura product when it came to rattles and that the '03' model was the most rattle-free.

 

would this be Ron Tonkin or Acura of Portland? I heard that Acura of Portland has WAY better techs and customer service. I haven't gone in myself, but my oil change is coming up, and these stories worry me more.

 

Make sure the acura rep who calls you later for the survey hears about it. If they don't call you within 3 days call acura customer relations yourself and complain.

 

Hahahah rattle free 03

 

Dang that really sucks. I hope they get everything resolved. I would try a different dealer if i were you. I wouldn't let htose guys that can't even drive a stick touch my car witha 10 foot pole.

 

Yeah, it's Ron Tonkin. I agree that Acura of Portland is better, they fixed a scratch on my wheel no problem back in February. But they are much further away and I have to deal with traffic.
We will see how it goes on Friday.

 

Yes. I have rattling on my dashboard and my seat belts. It's so annoying!! I get so pissed at times.

 

Picked up my car today and I still have a creaking noise in the center console a rattle in the passenger seat area and exposed felt tape on the dash. They did replace both seat belt adjusters and the window switches on the drivers side. Also, they cleaned the brake rotors and stated I should brake hard from 50 mph to a stop twice a month to keep the rotors from being 'polished', which they said caused the squeeking.

To top that off, there are 4 nice size grease stains on the headliner material, all around the seat belt adjusters / A-pilar ares.

Supposedly the service manger is going to 'tack care off everything' on Monday. We will see.

 

that sucks man. I got my car delivered to Ron Tonkin last week. I came to pick it up without a hitch Now I know for sure not to bring my car to them to get anything fixed. Knock on wood I won't have any problem down the road. I haven't taken my car to the freeway that much so can't really tell if I'm gonna have the same rattling problem or not. So far so good. The car runs pretty strong and I'm enjoying every minute of it