Here's the actual article referred to by other thread.. check it out:

http://www.latimes.com/classified/au...tos%2Dhighway1

 

Good find. I'll be sure to refer to this problem when my tranny goes...and I'm sure it will soon. Good thing they found the problem. Hopefully future replacement will last and put an end to this 2nd/3rd tranny replacement sega.

 

""Veno said. "It was the scariest time I've ever had in a car. If the traction control hadn't been on, I would have lost it.""


What is that all about? Does the Type-S's traction control extend past 18MPH??? I know on our 2000 TL that after like 18MPH it disengages. He says " at 80 the car started swerving from side to side on a 2 lane highway, i almost slammed into a contruction barrior, it was the scariest time i've ever had in a car, if the traction control hadn't been on i would have lost it" can some one clear this up for me.. traction control at 80mph???

 

Good story. I think one thing they can do is to extend the warranties on the tranny. Maybe 7 to 10 years. Since they don't think a recall is warranted. At least it is in the open now from a large newspaper. The Canadian dealer I take my car to doesn't believe there are issues. Maybe I can bring this with me now... especially with a Honda rep speaking up about it.

 

It's about time!

 

So the tranny has nothing to do with heat or by adding a tranny cooler will resolved the problem? The part that troubles me is that, if the tranny don't do what was described from the article, Honda/Acura won't replace them. That basically just means they know the problem, but they won't do anything about it until there's a law suit IMO.

 

I think you're right, traction control is only for low speeds to reduce the likelyhood of spinning tires on a slick surface when starting from the line. If I remember right, the TL-S has an anti-skid option where the car will adjust power to the wheels when it detects a skid in progress - basically helps to keep the car doing the direction you have the wheel turned.

 

but he said..he have a 2002 TL-S.

 

i know, but still, 80MPH traction control? i'm glad the guy is alright, hopefull now that this stuff is in the media, HONDA will stop giving us a hard time about it.. and by the way.. there was a part about an 'Acura forum' is that us??

 

The "traction control" meant by Veno is actually the VSA (only available on type-S). If the car swerves from side to side = oversteer or understeer, VSA will activate to apply brakes appropiately and reduce engine power if needed, thereby enabling the drive to maintain control of the car. The VSA functions as a high speed traction control system in addition to the stability control system.

 

This is a huge PR blunder on Honda's part. ...and to think they are advertising the use of the TL's 5spd transmission in the 2003 Accords

 

thats just wrong...Honda knows that there is a faulty design problem and yet, they claim that there is no need for a recall. gee, sounds a lot like a certain tire incident that happened recently

 

There will be no recall...mainly because of cost...unethical, unmoral or whatever u might call it...the probably of a recall is nil. Say a brand new tranny costs Honda $1000 plus around $500 to pull out the old one and replace it and may be they have to reimburse car rental costs to the daeler...But say $1500 for every car..now if Honda has to recall all that 1 millions car, that 1,500 MILLION dollars going out...it aint' going to happen. Hell a lawsuit is cheaper. May be an exaggerating here but you get the point.
You best bet right now is hopefully the **** will break before warranty expires so you can get the "good" part in and hopefully that will last for awhile.

 

wow....this may not seem like a lot when compared the number of cars sold, but still:

<b>"Of 1 million vehicles sold in the U.S. with those transmissions, Spencer said, Honda has replaced the transmissions in about 16,000, or 1.6%."</b>

If you factor in all the people that never go over 50mph and all the people that drive extremely short distances to work and such that percentage rises significantly...

I often drive at 80mph+ on the parkways an I could only imagine if my car suddenly downshifted from 5th to 2nd....I would definately be dead because like everyone else I don't always hold the steering wheel at 10 & 2 (rarely do). I usually have on hand on the steering wheel and one on the shifter (SS) or one hand holding a beverage (NOT beer ), etc.....

Honda could have themselves up for a serious class action lawsuit here. The only thing I think was biased about the report is the statement regarding the fact that Type-S models are used for racing and higher speeds.....I've seen plenty of older people driving Type-S models.....

 

yeah you'll have that, i also noticed in the article, those people talk like we are complete idiots, did u notice that, the terms they use, and how they explain things, it makes me mad.

 

and at least, according to the article:


.We are definitely keeping an eye on this, and if it looks like the issue is growing, we'll take other steps" that could include extending warranties for replacement transmissions that now are covered only by the remainder of the original new-car powertrain warranty of five years or 50,000 miles, Spencer said.

Still, you're waiting for it to go out... and maybe the first person injured by this.

 

I bet you they will say that the tranny problem is only for US, and does not apply to Canadian TL. An Acura rep somewhat implied this when I asked her about potential tranny problems. What bull!

 

It seems like Canadians always get the short end of the stick on everything.............

 

Acura/Honda should issue a "lifetime warranty" to cover their tranny with faulty parts....that's the LEAST I think they can do to keep customer loyalty. Since right now, the dealer will NOT swap out the faulty designed parts (yet not broken), you basically have to wait until it break to get the "redesigned" parts in...what if it breaks at 51K ? Are you f*cked?? I would hate to break the damn tranny myself at around 40k to get the "good" parts in myself (if the damn thing even lasts that long).

 

If anyone from Honda is reading this I want to remind you of what happened to Firestone/Ford with the exploding tires on the Ford Explorer. Let's just hope in the future nobody gets hurt with this KNOWN problem.

 

If things get too much worse (accidents, etc.), there will be a class action against Honda/Acura & everyone here will be part of that class.

 

Yeah, I can always use some unearn money.

 

With all the threads on different boards about this article I missed this one somehow :o

Like others noted, yes it was the VSA, vehicle stability assistant or something. On the dash is a very visible triangle with an exclamation point which flashes when VSA engages.

As soon as the tires started to loose grip as a result of the quick swerve left and my compensation pulling right I noticed the flashing icon. Once the car stopped fish-tailing and I was stuck in 2nd going about 20mph the VSA light stopped flashing.

VSA goes further than traction control in being able to control power and braking to front left/right tires independently (as I understand it, please correct me if wrong)

Overall, a scary situation I never want to be in again. As soon (maybe sooner) as my 100k warrantee runs out, so will this car. I can't afford the risk or cost of this type of a failure out of warrantee.

Very disturbing

-copland007

 

Make sure you save this article so you can pull it out if they give you a problem at the dealership.

I bought my TL as a long term purchase. It's the first time I bought a car with an automatic transmission because I was always fearful of a transmission failure. I thought I couldn't go wrong with a Honda automatic.

 

It is bull... considering the cars come from the same factory. I think it is worth the fight if it happens to us in Canada.

 

I agree. Must a horrible tragedy occur before anything is done about it?!? Extending warranties will not prevent people from getting hurt. I was convinced I made the best choice in choosing an Acura but I'm beginning to doubt that now.

 

too bad the article wasnt in USA Today, that way a lot more readers...

 

Here's article scan

 

Now its on the paper, its even better cuz my tranny is slipping like crazy. i almost always have to skip third gear by using the SS and shift into fourth, going from stop light to stop light. The tranny is so bad that its getting to the pint where it chirps in thirdgoing into fourth.

im hoping Hond/Acura can find a solution to this

ps notice Veno's TLS was lowered, with kit and tints....lol

 

Bring that **** to the dealer, you need new tranny

I am lowered with kit, but no tint yet

 

For what it is worth, I just spoke to Acura customer service. According to them, my 2003 TL-S has the tranny with the updated clutch pack. The last digits of my VIN are 027844. Of course, this only helps me if the clutch pack is really the sourse of the problem.

 

oh you're the guy from the paper.. Thank god ur ok. I dont think i would want to experience that. Im trying to find time to go to the dealer. But the thing im worried about is the loaner car. since i live in Trenton and Princeton area, i might not be able to get a loaner car. due to the amount of people that have problems with the car.

Good luck with the car. And hope they will find a solution to this.

 

Hope they be tellin the truth.. I'm 0349XX. TL-S purchased last month.. manufactured in July/2002.

Good tidbit though!