Well, I went for my 7500 mile service today, and I had the dealer check a squeak and clunk I had in the front end. I figured that it was probably something simple (like a swaybar bushing), 'cause the squeak went away when it was raining out. Turns out that one of the engine tensioners (motor mount?) had worked it's way loose (ok, it's a 6spd, I can deal w/ that), but more importantly there were loose bolts and missing bolts... (at least that's what the service manager told me).

Long story short... My new lower control arm will be in on Thursday

So in 7000 miles I've had to bring my car in twice for non regular service stuff. The first time (hadn't even broken the engine in yet) was for the parking brake electrical switch not being connected (which f'ed up the memory seats). Ok, minor build issue, shit happens, no big deal. Since the control arm is on order, I'll have to bring the car back again next week, which will be the third time now. I don't know about you, but 3 strikes and you're out, from where I come from.

With the latest round of "issues", I'm beginning to wonder about Acura Quality. I came from driving a FORD and assumed that I'd be stepping up in build quality not down. Sure my Tbird had some issues (belt tensioner broke @60k, covered under warranty, AC compressor and 'puter @120K), but heck, at least I got to put some miles on the car before things went wrong.

Did I expect my Acura to have less problems, heck yeah, but I guess that if a Honda/Acura vehicle is not made in the deep woods of Japan by magic elfs that only come out at night, then H/A quality is just as bad than the domestic automakers.

So, not only did I get porked for $151 for the 7500 service (rotate tires and change oil), they found some other problems. BTW, $151 is the dealership's standard price for the 7500 service. In comparision, my brother paid $49 for oil and tire rotation on his new Toyota. But, hey, they changed the wiper blades, filled my washer fluid, and rebalanced the tires for that price. WTF, rebalance the tires ?? Didn't they do that at the factory 7000 miles ago ?? Quess not that well, so now I know that the vibration I was feeling when the tires were cold wasn't just caused by the shitty michelins.

I'm not even going to mention the dashboard rattle, as it only happens @ certain temps and rpms. Once I figure out how to replicate the rattle on demand, I'll be back at the dealer again.

To top it off, I go to pick up the car, and the service manager says it's been washed and vacuumed. Nice wash, but they forgot to vacuume it. If the SM hadn't mentioned the vacuume part, I would be ok w/ it, but don't tell me about something that someone forgot to do.

Oh, yeah, They had a 03 CLS auto for 28,995 (asking price w/ close to zero miles), so don't get me started about resale value...

Overall I am pleased w/ the way the dealership handled the service although I think their prices are a little high. (Toyota Echo for a loaner this time, which is better then a Dodge Neon, I guess).

I can't wait to get the phone call from Acura Customer satisfaction tho'. I think they'll regret asking me how "feel" about having my car "serviced"

Don't get me wrong, I still love my CLS, it's just that I wonder about other issues down the road. Hopefully, once they work out these initial build quality issues, the car will be ok

Ok, I feel much better now

 

why would you be so silly as to pay $151 for a tire rotation and oil change? in 35,000 mi. the only thing i've had done is a tranny flush. the rest of the stuff is for suckers (in most cases).

btw, my car has been in for warranty repair way more times than yours, but :whocares:, not me i guess.

 

Ok, let me see if I understand:

1) I have an unreasonably high expectation of quality in an Acura.
2) I should expect to have to bring my car into the dealer for warranty work way more then I already have.
3) I should stop pissing and moaning, 'cause alot of people have more warranty work done on their Acuras then I have, and no one gives a fuck

Doesn't this kind of adititude just confirm that people's perception of Acura high quality is different then the quality they end up receiving ??

I just figured that the initial quality would be a little better. I had 1 warranty repair on my Ford Tbird in the first 60,000 miles (about 4 years). I'll be scheduling my 3rd trip for warranty work @ 7000 miles for a six month old Acura (and from what your saying, I should expect to have more warranty work done). I'm just not used to having to take the a car to the dealer that often. I assumed that I would be buying a better quality vehicle when buying an Acura, and I guess I assumed wrong.

I'm planning on doing most of the routine maintenance myself (especially after seeing the bill). After driving up to Maine for a funeral this past weekend, I just didn't feel like changing the oil and rotating the tires when I got back. I had to bring the car in for warranty work, and had them do the 7500 service while it was there. I probably should have done some comparison shopping before I brought it in, but I definitely won't be getting porked again. I've got a couple of floor jacks, about 6 jack stands , and my 15qt oil recycling jug in the garage, so it's probably time to buy a Helms service manual, and put all of them to use

 

Greenmonster - I'm with you! I have been very disappointed w/ the quality of levels of the CL (love the ride, performance and value, but HATE the quality)!! In 18.5K miles I have had the rotors resurfaced 2x, new rotors 1x, passenger side airbag replaced, engine seal blow, paint that is terrible and now working on tranny #2!! This will be the last Acura / Honda product I own. I have never had this many problems with any car I have owned (most of which were driven to 100K+ miles).

 

Couldn't agree more with Haus and Greenmonster....this is my 4th Acura and it's an absolute piece of shit compared to my previous Integras.....so why do I love it so much?

 

Made in America. Sad but true.

 

The TSX makes HoA look like suckers in terms of building cars.

 

It guess it helps if the person in question has had a good, or great level of quility before in another car. All I had was domestic POS's so I never experienced a great quailty car. Things like loose panels, or gaps in the hood, or trunk don't bother me at all. I get them adjusted for free, & all is fine. I have had only the engine problem to deal with, & that seems to be ok now, & some gaps.

 

I think part of whats going on here is that once upon a time all Japanese cars were made in Japan. I've owned four of those (honda, nissan and toyota). There were ZERO new car issues with those four cars! NONE. Now Japanese cars (most of them) are assembled in Ohio, Tennessee etc. Hmmmmmmmmm

 

Damnit I was hoping there weren't too many of these kind of stories...here goes mine.

I got mine dealer demo with 4k on it, a 03 3.2-s 6-spd/nav. First, I check the maintenance log to find that there's no signiture on initial inspection.

I take my car in for some vibrating rear brakes and have them inspect it at the same time, no big deal, right? WRONG!

I need new rotors, there's a rattle on my passenger side visor(that they taped up), driver side window sticks and shudders when auto-down(they lube it and say it's fine).

ok so at 7500 I go in for maintenance. 85 bucks...not too bad...but they tell me my CV boot on right front is leaking. another service trip after part arrives(3 total in 6k miles).

I got a free sunroof visor out of it all. and I did get pretty good service from an apologetic SA.

Only thing left is a loud ass whistling/buffering noise when I have drivers side window down past 2 inches. They said that's normal.

and yes, just like the rest of you, I still love my damn car, it's the best car in the world

My rocket sled (just got hid aux lights woot)

 

The Quality is one of the reasons why I got rid of the car. I owned it and after 2 years, it just didn't feel like it would last as long as I expected an Acura to last.

At ~30,000 miles on it, rotors warped once, replaced, starting to feel warped again; Tranny on it's last legs; so many rattles the radio couldn't cover them; Leather cracking on my drivers seat; AC compressor making some strange noises, etc...

 

get rid of the CLS and get a Real japanese car =)

 

Just remember that one of the only things in our car that is Japanese is the trannies. So where is your argument now!!!!!!

 

____________
ok... haha get rid of Honda and get something else =)

 

I think you guys have "Friday" cars....... built right before the weekend starts. You know how they party in Marysville! Seriously, I have not had any problems at all...... now that's not to say that I am totally happy but no defects that weren't corrected early on. Now from a design issue there are someproblems.....
1. No handbrake
2. Mirrors do not adjust out far enough
3. Ebony Bowling Ball interiors
but those are nit picking....... drive fast, stay low.

 

Yeah, that's what I think, but I would have hoped that even the worst Acura "friday" car would be better then a Ford "wednesday" car

oonowindoo, didn't you buy a 350Z ?? I bought my CLS 'cause I thought I needed a backseat. Only had more then 2 people in the CLS once. I was going to upgrade to a 3 gen CLS when it came out, but now that the CL is being discontinued, I might be forced to buy a Nissan/Infiniti product instead

I have to start paying attention to where cars are actually made... Japan is a good thing, Maryville is bad...

 

I was sitting in one the other day in the showroom and couldn't get over how nice the interior is.

Is the RSX made in USA or Japan?

 

I just have about 1500 miles, and I love the car...but most people have a problem with the brakes which is the main reason I got the rotora big brake kit. However, when they were changing the rotors, my previous upgraded powerstop rotors were straped on the outer end of the rotor. Which means the front pads were not even touching the rotors, only the metal part of the caliphers. So if you guys having rotor problems, make sure you check your caliphers and the pads. I was kinda shocked! Brakes are important! Anyways, wish me good luck b/c I do not want any problems with my cars. All my cars went beyond 100k by only changing my oil and doing basic maintainence work.

 

________________________________________________
i need the backseats too so i got the G35C not 350Z =)

in Acura the only car i would buy is CLS because it s 2 door 4 seaters and pretty high class too. but it just disappointed me too much in terms of quality compare to other cars. so i didnt buy the 6 speed CLS after i got my car stolen.

 

I have trouble keeping all you Nissan/Infiniti defectors straight

 

I am just reaching 10,000 miles on my '03 Auto type-S and I have no mechanical issues or consistant rattles to complain about. The passenger side mirror whistles at 45mph and there is an occasional rear seat driver-side rattle when it gets below 40 degrees; I think thats about all I can whine about.
I must say this car is the best I've ever owned.

 

Consider yourself lucky. I have a 2001 with 65K miles on it and have had the following done:

1. When I picked up the car, my driver door panel needed to be immediately replaced. A week later they replaced it only to discover that it too was defective. So they had to order a third one.

2. Replaced wiper blades & windshield solvent within the first month becuase methanol content was too high and it melted the rubber of the wipers to the windshield.

3. Had to take the car to a body shop to remove excess paint in the first month because I discovered paint overspray on the lower black air itake on the car.

4. Had the moonroof fixed twice!

5. Brought the car in for rattle fixing four seperate times.

6. The tensioner that lifts up the trunk busted a weld and they had the rivet it back to the car.

7. Both rotors had to be resurfaced and pads replaced under a TSB.

8. Replaced tranny.

9. Link joining the rear sway bar to the frame snapped at the weld and had to be replaced.

10. The center hub logos on the wheels began to peel off on two of my wheels and had to be replaced.

Once again consider yourself lucky!

 

Again, I love the car, but it's crap.

 

Okay this really is beating a dead horse at this point...

Other than the trannies and broken sway bar links, in a minority of cases, aren't most of the issues listed basically cosmetic?

 

Except for a few of those rattles, i don't have any problems with my car. Well, warped rotors, but that might be my own fault - and i do have 60k miles on the car, after all. The biggest thing i've had done to it was front strut replacements that were caused by a spinout on the highway (and no, i wasn't driving ). Hell, i've even avoided the Tranny of Doom (knock on wood)!

I love my car.

 

i have had my cars for 2.5 years with 28k miles

Lets just list the complains i had:

NUMBER 1: Acura Customer Service with their fukedup attitude
2: 17k replaced tranny
3: 17k wrapped rotors
4: Broken auternator the 2nd week i bought my car
5: fixed my SRS light more than 5 times and it was still on when my car got stolen, Sierra Acura refused to fix it for me anymore because they have tried so many times???????????????
6: rattles in Front dash, rear dash, sunroof, left door.

These r the main ones... i still love CLS... but it s just made out of craps

 

The tranny in my car is just about fried, car is going in Thursday.

I can't say the car was crap, but it feels like what it is.....you get what you pay for (I'll leave it at that).

Just have to ride this one out until Sept-Oct.

 

You're right that a lot of issues with the CL are cosmetic, but the quantitiy of cosmetic issues with a car in this category is unaccaptable! My previous car was a Toyota Supra and I went back for NOTHING except normal maintenance until the car was 10 yrs old!!!!!! This is the first and last Honda product I'll buy ..........

 

No problems whatsoever on all 3 of my American made Acura's....but i still would never buy an American car....go figure

 

What's next? S60R, S4??

 

I've said it a number of times here, but I really believe the place of manufacture has a LOT to do with it. My '98 3.2 TL-P was nearly flawless, from delivery to trade-in (end of lease), and it was built in Japan. We all know where the CL-S was built.

BTW, tranny #3 began acting funny yesterday. We'll see what comes next.

 

Sticking with the S60R, I got an allocation today.....dealer called. I specified what I wanted and its going into the system, should have the car by mid-end of July. Didn't think I would get it so quick, my Acura is up in Oct (oh well).