Well, alrighty then. Nothing like a direct answer. For the record, I'm at 47K miles and haven't noticed any transmission issues or symptoms (probably in part because I'm pushing 50 and drive like it). Hope I'm not jinxing myself.

 

start knocking on wood! you just inxed your self

i wasnt trying to be rude, just trying to help clear things up. sorry if it sounded that way.

 

No offense taken. I just registered on this forum today and am trying to get caught up. Even if it does happen to me, I won't be able to complain - I got the car for 5-6K under market and knew the original owner, who treated the car better than he treats his kids. I literally couldn't afford not to buy it, so if a tranny goes at some point, I'm probably still coming out ahead in the long run.

 

Welcome to the forum!

 

Mine hit 85K before it died; it's really just plain luck (or lack thereof).

 

aight folks, I just past the 20k mark on my third tranny. The test starts now on if it will fail. Wish me luck.

 

Holy crap. I'm not sure I buy the "it's a small percentage" argument. It seems like that "small percentage" incures many failures.

Love the car but reliability questionable. Pain in the ass to have it replaced and the idiots don't always have loaner cars.

 

things are also exagerated on forums. it makes it seem like everyone has teh issue.

and hondas small percentage that they state is accurate. its for the 2nd gear shaft failure, not our 3rd gear clutchpack failure

 

True, but you have gone through 3 and on your 4th lol. How much time was lost in dealing with the tranny (e.g. getting it to a dealer, finding transportation while it's being fixed, picking it up) etc.

I mean it seems inevitable that it'll fail again. Is this not true? Mine did fail once already btw. Yesterday it seemed to lunge, feel weird but it wasn't slippage so maybe just a harmless anamoly.

 

I agreee with most people when they say it is a small percentage. Mathematically, It has been determined to be a small percentage that is greater than normal, which has caused the recall from Honda in the first place. A "small percentage" according to Acura is a number which is greater than abnormal, but still less than "significant"--meaning 1/4 to 1/2 of the population. I think most people who have had tranny failures are on this forum. This forum is not a fair way to measure the rate of tranny failures. Think of the people who drive cars without ever visiting forums---they either have had failures and we don't know or haven't had any failures at all. Ask a local friend who drives a TL...they'll tell you if they haven't had a failure yet.

I have 64K Miles on my 01 TL....Nothing yet. *Knock on wood*

 

99 Acura3.2TL @124000. My transmission has started slipping from the past two and the TCS light has come on. I took it to a local transmission shop ( COttman Transmissions), they checked the codes and confirmed it to be a Transmission problem. What should I do at this stage
a) to take it to the dealer and get the tranny replaced at a heavy price ( my car wont be covered under warranty)
b) get the transmission repaired/rebuilt by Cottmans Transmissions
c) Call up Acura Customer service and request to replace the transmission by good will gesture
d) Buy a reliable aftermarket tranny. Any one knows which company makes reliable tranny for the TL ?

 

with the first 2 i had less than a week down time combined. the 3rd was longer while explored my options

 

contact acura and see what they say, other wise id spend half of what acura wants and get it rebuilt somewhere else

 

I just hit 38k on my 2003 TLS. I noticed that while cruising at about 35mph, the tranny seems to slip. I took it into the dealership and within a few hours, I got a call saying "we've ordered you a new transmission".
I've only had the car a month, and while I'm not crazy about it needing a new transmission, I half expected it. Also, I know that any issues with the new one won't be from previous owner abuse. I like that.
Also, kudos to Acura. They reserved a rental for me, and gave zero pushback when I told them about my problem.

 

I'm sorry but this is neither exaggerated nor a small issue. If this was a "small" issue, they would not have extended the warranties to 100,000 miles on FOUR model years, and they would not be replacing my transmission on my '99 TL with 118,000 miles on it.

Acura knows this is a BIG problem, which is why they have bent over backwards to try and make it right by the consumer.

 

'03 TL-S with 46K miles. Got off the freeway after a 25 miles commute. Took off from a light, as it shifted from 2nd to 3rd, tranny slipped and engine reved up about 1000rpms. It did the same thing taking off from the next three stop signs. This was the first sign of tranny issues since I bought the car two years ago with 15k miles.

Tranny seemed to behaved on the 5 mile trip to Acura of Pleasanton until the last light when there was some slight slipping from 2nd to 3rd. Technician took it for a test drive - he detected serious slipping at 2-3 shift and some at 3-4 shift. They are replacing the tranny with a rebuilt one with all the current upgrades. I am driving a new Navi TSX with 400 miles.

Loaner agreement states that I will be charged $30 if I don't fill up the loaner. If I bring it back empty, the $30 would be the cheapest tank of gas I have had in CA in quite a while.

I have no complaints with Acura. They stand behind the product. This is the first issue I have had with the car.

 

It's a "small issue" until it happens to you. I thought it was greatly exaggerated until mine failed with 40,000 miles.
It seems like its an issue of when it's going to happen not if its going to happen!

 

Bingo!

I've owned two TL's and they have both had new transmissions put in. I had a 2001 TL that had to have a new transmission at 20,000 miles. Now my '99 is getting a new one at 118,000 miles.

I believe you've nailed it Jerry, its not a question of "if", but "when"?

 

if anyone has gotten their trannies replaced after 100k, please post your stories, what you did, and what happened

 

I have 122k on my 99 TL . My tranny started slipping 2 weeks back ( got it checked with a local shop and confirmed that tranny had gone bad) and it is sitting in my garage since then. Could any one post suggestions to get the tranny replaced free of cost by Acura for cars over 100K miles under the good will program?

 

I wonder how long Acura will allow people with > 100k miles to get free replacements.

 

How many have had multiple failures and at what milage?

 

damit... my tranny jus died...its gettin replaced this week.. jus bought the car 3 months ago too...how sad..

 

yea man ..same thing happen to mine ...droped it off at acura of pleasanton...they didnt give me a loner car cause im not 21...so frikkin mad...

 

yes there is a problem, but not every one is affected. why??? no one knows. there are many who have never had them. i know of 3 (2000 to 2003) have had no problems and all 3 have over 150k.

the about the only thing you/we can do iskeep hounding acura, keep on the nthsa, and let local news groups know.

i know of far worse trannies that the companies did nothing to reimburse the owners past teh 36k warranty

 

Dodge Ram rings a bell...


... hell any Dodge/Chrysler automatic

 

I got my "03 TL-S back from Acura of Pleasanton. Replaced my toasted tranny with a factory remanufactured one, 5 quarts of Jan-U-Wine Honda ATF and washed the car. Can't beat that.

 

They are cheap asses.

 

ay ..how many days did it take them to do the job....

 

Droped it of on Tuesday at 8AM and it was ready Thursday at 1PM.

 

DING DING DING we have a winner!!!!

 

WOW, thats fast!
does anyone here have a second tranny that lasts!!?????

 

my 2nd tranny lasted 10k within a 6 month range.. which is
and i will sell my car before 100k unless i cant afford another car

 

I think I am going to do the same.

 

mine did it in 1 day. i droped it off on a wed afternoon (about 3:30) and they called thurs afternoon saying it was done

so far chuckstl his hasnt died (his first one made it past 160k before it died)

ive been averaging 46k per tranny (first made it 79k)

 

im at about 53k and im feeling the car pulling into gears....

 

pulling into gears what you mean by that? the typicall symptoms are slipping between shifts of 2-3 and hard shifts and the sam 2-3 (since most never notice the slipping its subtle but they notice the hard shift)

 

by pulling, i meant that i feel it shift (slight jerk) and a lil shaking after the shift....it onces did this at around 30k, but after i changed my atf it was fine....but now its doing it again at 53k wich i think is a lil too soon

 

this is exactly how my car is........its pulls from 2nd into 3rd and then shakes a lil...does it only sometimes...could be a sign for a tranny failure? hey bkzjimmy, is this original tranny?

 

Mine did this as well. Then a few slight slips over the next month (maybe twice).
Triple flushed the tranny and no more symptoms (so far).