Hi everyone. I'm a , and just purchased a used Black '02 TL - S w/navi and factory body kit (55,000 mi). I'm truely in LOVE with this amazing machine. Speed, cornering, luxury, looks and Honda reliablity to top it all off (at least I hope). What more could anyone ask for in a vehicle! Then I come across this freakin transmission failure problem which I had no idea of before I purchased. I've read enough of these transmission threads and posts before I decided to post this one, so hope I'm not beating on a dead horse by asking members for some positive transmission feedback, which I've tried searching for.

I'm freaking out thinking my beautiful vehicle maybe a transmission nightmare waiting to happen. We've all heard stories of trannys goin out at anywhere from 10k-50k, sometimes having 3-4 transmissions replaced in that short time frame! PLEASE link me to a thread that shows some freakin positive feedbacks or will some members share their positive experience with us all. I.E. "I just passed 80k and no tranny problems" Hope there are some of you out there.

Obviously there is a problem, but I'm hoping it's not as widespread as this community makes it sound. I'm thinking I should have went for the '03 CL - S manual, or do the manual transmissions have the same problems as well? Just a side note that I wouldn't mind hearing about.

 

First, welcome to AZ.

Second, there's no need to 'freak out', that wont solve anything.

Third, no offense, but you are beating on a dead horse. This same question has been asked and answered dozens of times. You aren't the first person to find out about the transmission problem after purchase.

There's nothing anyone on AZ can do to make you feel better about your purchase. If you've been on the Internet for more than 10 minutes, then you know that people are much more likely to post complaints than compliments. Having said that, yes, all second generation TLs have transmission problems. 1999s less so because they have a 4 speed, the 5 speeds more so.

AZ represents a small portion of TL owners and, as I said, you're more likely to see complaints here. So, there's a greater percentage of people on AZ with tranny problems. However, Acura has 'stepped up to the plate' and offered an extended warranty of 7 years and 100,000 miles. (Ignore the whiners who rant about lawsuits). Since Acura doesn't release numbers, no one knows how widespread the problem is. However, it's not as 'widepread' as AZ makes it sound.

If this information isn't enough to make you feel better (since you're already 'freaking out' something tells me it wont be) and if you can't live with the unlikely possibility that your tranny will fail, trade the car in. Sorry to be so blunt, but that's reality. There's no way to predict if yours will fail. Some have over 100,000 miles without a failure. Others have had four or five failures. And, no, the manual transmission does not have the same problem, afterall they're manual not automatics.

In summary, it's not as widespread as AZ makes it sound, but widespread enough for Acura to offer a 100,000 mile/7 year replacement policy. Two choices, drive the car, enjoy it and forget about the tranny problem or trade it in.

 

Forgot to add this...there are plenty of threads where people have posted how many miles they have on their first transmission. But the posts aren't as long and involved as the ones where people describe in great detail how and where their tranny failed. When they start a thread, almost everyone else who's had a tranny failure, chimes in with 'been there, done that' stories. Add in the 'sue Acura' posters and pretty soon, you have another long, redundant thread that scares noobs.

My advice is drive and enjoy the car. If, in the statistically unlikely event, the tranny goes, it's covered. When you get close to 100,000 miles or 7 years, trade the car if you can't handle the 'suspense'. But remember, almost all cars have their problems, the one you pick might not have a tranny problem, but it will probably have another type.

 

For what it's worth, 26000 miles on original tranny, no problems yet.

 

Thanks for the reply Mike. This site does make it seem like there is a rather large percentile of bad transmissions out there. I'm sure every car will have their problems, but my '93 Civic seemed to take a lickin and still manage to putt along without something major like the tranny poopin out. I don't know about you, but I purchased a Honda/Acura expecting that same reliablility.

I know about the 7yr/100,000k warranty Honda put out, and I know people are more prone to bitch about the bad things rather than praise the good about their vehicles, but, I posted this thread to hear from people that have had a good experience rather than the bad ones that clutter this site. Not necessarily for my benefit and ease of mind, I'm just curious to see how many members didn't get a lemon.

So, hope people keep this thead free of negative feedback and stick to the positive. If there already is a thread dedicated to good things about this transmission, by all means, link me up. Like I said, not wanting to beat a dead horse with my newbieness!!!

An additional note, I've checked to see if my TLS has ever had it's tranny replaced, and it hasen't. Just the jet kit installed at 44k, so far so gooda

 

The new 2G members directory is actually answering the question to this thread, since most people are including their mileage and if the tranny is original or not. No need to post anymore replies, thanks!

 

I am at 95k+ on my original tranny.

99 TL with lots of mods.

 

reality of tranny failure, is only maybe 10% has it happen...........So far so good for me,as I am still on my original tranny .............But like you,I too was very worried at first.But now I figure hell if it happens it happens,I make sure just to enjoy the Car as much as possible......

 

i had 82k on the original tranny before i had it replace last week

 

119k here and tranny is all good

I have changed the trans fluid every other oil change for the past 3 years, guess it works

 

99 TL with 160k km on it, still original tranny

 

My mom's 00 has 45K miles and there are no issues as of yet....my '02 has 41K miles and I've noticed the transmission slipping going from 2->3 and 3->4.