I don’t understand how cars built in the same plant at approximately the same time can vary so widely in quality. Several TL-S owners have reported a variety of minor problems with their new cars:
Hood hard to close and has a metal on metal sound, tail pipes different heights, material around windows cracked, rattles, creaking seats, etc. My Black TL-S is flawless - hood closes easily with a solid “thunk,” tail pipes are even, windows are fine, not a rattle anywhere, I can’t make the seats creak even if I try to, and a thorough inspection shows workmanship to be impeccable throughout. But I’m beginning to worry that there’s a problem somewhere that I’m missing. Can anyone explain?

 

For some reason, the black cars seem to have the least amount of problems, right IndyJenks?

:-jon

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02 TL-S NAV w/Spoiler, Body Kit and Bowling Ball Wheel!
01 TOYOTA MR-2 Yellow
98 MAZDA B4000 4-DR PickUp

 

From reading earlier posts, it sounds like Acura started building the 2002's TL's in January and stored them at the factory in preperation for the March launch. Perhaps some of the cars with quality issues were part of the initial run. My TL-S VIN is in the 5000's while others on the same truck that came in this week were in the 1,000's. Even though the 2001 and 2002 are pretty much the same, model year change-over can create all sorts of production issues. I have an MDX also, and the posts on the MDX board by people with low VIN numbers talk about problems that those with later VIN's never experienced. My guess anyway...

 

check your car's build date and day - Monday and Friday - are the worst quality days while Wed. is the best. This car in not completely built by automated machines - people take part in that too. And first and last day of the week is when there is always a shortage of available labor on the plants. This is a known fact I learned in my Management class.

 

How do you check the cars build date?

 

I have been driving my TL for close to one year....absolutely flawless - no creaks, faults or other un-pleasantness. We have even gone on an extended trip ( >2500 miles) with 4-people and light luggage....still did not encounter any creaks or rattles.

My in-laws who have a 2000 Mercedes S500, have a squeak from the dash and a couple of other rattles that we have not been able to pinpoint the source. Whenever they sit in our 3.2TL, they are amazed at the fit and finish and the cost for which I got the car.

just my 2c

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2000 Naples Gold 3.2TL/Navi - Factory Stock but with up-graded tires

<FONT COLOR="#800080" SIZE="1" FACE="Verdana, Arial">[This message has been edited by hunter001 on March 30, 2001 @ ]</font>

 

BarryH

My VIN # is in the 5,000s also. Maybe you're on to something.

 

Mine (VIN) is under 800! And it's in great shape. No rattles or weird stuff.

:-jon

 

I hope those owners who are experiencing rattles are checking the side pockets, ashtrays, sunglasses case and glove compartments. I heard my first rattle yesterday and then realized it was casued by my shades!

 

My VIN is in the 1000's ..and I'm running solid. The only issue I had was uneven mufflers -- the rattles WAS my sunglasses -- oh jeez -- they should have used an all-felt holder like they use in the RL. No big deal.

I don't think the VIN # is really relevant to any quality issues -- nor the color of the car -- there are three black ones in the dealer showroom from where i purchased mine, and they have small issues w/ quality that I don't notice on mine -- such as creaking exterior door handles .. center armrest that squeeks when i put my arm on it -- wood trim not quite secure.

Just my $0.02

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2002 TL Type S
White Diamond Pearl
Parchment

 

dropped by the Acura dealership to look at the TL-S, the tail exhausts are also uneven....

the one in the right is lover than the one on the left


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2000,ACURA TL, NAPLES GOLD METALLIC, REAR SPOILER

 

The tail pipes on my black TLS (SN mid-1000's) are also uneven, right lower than the left. Frankly this doesn't bother me much, as long as I don't run into some of the other problems mentioned in here (creaking dashboards and cracked side panels!!)

Regarding the Serial No. debate I would hope that Acura got their act together right from the beginning of their first production run.

And oh yeah, the transmission does make a (mild) noise when I shift from D to N to R. According to the service manager at the Acura shop this is normal. I checked out a couple of other TLS's in the shop and they made the same noise so I guess he was right.