Well my tranny just went on Sunday. 2nd tranny and I don't think I can go through this again. Out of warranty and I'm sure Acura won't do anything about it. I'm at 140,000 miles. I think I might just fix it and sell the car because the last thing I want to have are tranny problems!

 

mine was replaced twice before 50k and now mine is not under the recall or warranty... found one for 250 of a 03 type s 20k crossing my fingers it will hold out.....

 

first tranny done at 42k miles. dead on feb. 2nd 2007

 

How did you get your "later" Acura 2003 covered? I have a TL-S, transmission failed at 70,000 miles, and my VIN number was too high to be covered. So I had to pay $2700 and would like to recoup at least some of that money. Was going to write a letter to Acura but if anyone can offer advice please pass it on. Thanks

 

Any luck getting coverage for the "late" 2003 TL transmission repairs? I am in the same boat, out $2700 for a failure at 70,000 miles.

 

Just got off the phone with the dealer today and at 79,000 miles, Acura will pay for a replacement and pay for the towing. I had a VIN number that was out of the range for coverage 080,251

 

About all you can do is contact acura client services and talk to them.

There is no guarantee, but worth trying.

BY PHONE
Monday through Friday, 6:00 AM to 5:00 PM Pacific Standard time at the toll-free number (800) 382-2238.
BY FAX
(310) 783-3535
BY MAIL
Acura Client Services
1919 Torrance Blvd.
Torrance, CA 90501-2746

 

Hey all,

Had my transmission (1999 TL Navi just rolled 136k) diagnosed at my "local" dealer (live about 1.5 hrs from any dealer, such is the life in the military), and they quoted me 2616 + tax for USED transmission and 3616 + tax for remanufactured, aftermarket non-Honda/Acura transmission. The local tranny shop quoted 3400 approx to rebuild my transmission. Anyways, given the number of posts on here suggesting I talk to Client Services, I gave them a call tonight. The first lady suggested that the "new" transmission should cost close to 5k, and that the dealer WAS giving me a deal, so why should client services step in? Anyone have any thoughts on that?

Secondly, I kindly stated that it didn't feel like a deal considering my local shop's quote, and I mentioned the numerous posts on this forum by people even outside of the extended warranty who were able to work at least a deal (Acura pays for the tranny, owner pays labor, or what not) with Acura to help them replace their transmissions. She said she was createa case file and pass me on to a case manager.

Long story short, does any one have any good tips/strategy for working with this case manager to come to an amicable option (as a military member, I can't really afford a 3k+ tranny, and I REALLY DON'T want to give up this car). Thoughts?

(Thanks in advance!)

 

Only info is to be nice to them that price for a used one is outrageous, and the other price should be a reman Honda unit, not aftermarket. Press the client services and stuff on how you bought this car for the honda reliability and you are rather unsatisfied of this failure and even more so reading of about all the failures on the forums.

 

1st tranny dead at 61,400 on 2-22-07.

 

My 1st tranny done at 68K on 2-17-07..

 

Hello, I'm new to the forum but will be coming back (although not necessarily to this particular section...I own an MDX). Anyway, I'm considering buying a used 02 TL type S w/Navi with 88,000 miles for around $12K but wanted to research the transmission issues. After reading all 30+ pages, I'm a little skeptical and having doubts about buying the car. My question is what are the chances I will have transmission problems?? I know that's a tough question to answer and the VIN is covered by the warranty but I guess I'm just looking for a little piece of mind before I buy. I'm just a little worried cuz this car, if I buy it, will have to last me at least 4 more years and I can't afford to shell out $4000 for a new tranny.

Any feedback would be appreciated.
Thanks

 

Other than the tranny problems I have only replaced my disc brakes and the car has 108,oo miles They're a great vehicle and very reliable . I get 30 on hiway and 22 in town so that helps also except that it takes premium gas...ouch

 

So have they got the transmission sorted out yet? I know before even replacement trannys were failing...is that still a problem? My TL went in Monday- transmission died in traffic

...I got a loaded '06 TSX as a loaner though..decent little car.

 

they replaced 3 trannys and we kept the loaner cars about 10 to 12 days each time and there were no charges and i guess the last one was a good one .

 

Even though a larger than normal percentage of 2nd generation TL's has transmission problems, there is no one who can predict that a used 02 TL-S will or won't have future transmission problems. On the safe side, skip it and go for the 3rd generation ('04 and up) TL's which don't have a history of bad transmissions.

 

I've been interested in buying a 2002 tl-s with around 40-50k but i just came upon the rediculous transmission problems that these acuras are having. has acura come up with a reliable answer to these problems or are the warranties covering the transmission problems until the warranty expires??

 

Everyone who is having failures "lately", did you have the latest revision transmission ?

 

No

 

Got me worried a little, but thats a relief.

 

Thanks, I found out that the TL that I'm looking at had the tranny replaced in Sept. 2004 (also motor mounts, and some other stuff). Would that be the updated transmission that seems to not have as much problems? Either way, I'm seriously considering buying this now that I know the service history. It just looks too nice with the Navi and all. We'll see though...

 

No. the transmission update occurred in February of 2005. So the car you're looking at would not have that.

One thing to consider with a 2002 TL with 88,000 miles is that you'll only have 21,000 miles left on the transmission warranty. Depending on how much you drive, you could be out of warranty pretty quickly.

Bob

 

Mine died a few days ago at 58k (2002 TL). I'm hoping this remanufactured one last longer. this car's been paid off and I want to get all my money worth out of this crap until the warranty expires. I don't want to re-sell or trade it in since it will be some other folks' night mare as well. I'll just donate it to local community college or something.

My older sister's MDX died as well a month ago. Her MDX was 2006 and only had 12k on it. She will trade it in with Lexus. It's just too risky for her and her new born son.

Only reason I bought mine was a sales guy from Infiniti wouln't give a deal on I-35 so I walked across the street and bought a TL.

I've learned my lesson now.... research reasrch research...

 

jj

The TL is an awesome car with few real problems - and the big one covered by warranty

You got a new trans with all the updates for free and a loaner car right?

Enjoy- your car will last 250k.
Most of us are grateful to get a new $4000 trans at 60k-for free- thats half a new car- just change spark plugs and drive

What actually happened with the MDX- trans failure?

 

Anyone buying a used TL should immediatly have the trans fluid changed as per the procedure found on this board.

You always help yourself keeping fluids fresh

 

Yep you're right. They DID have a loaner but refused to give it to me because I didn't purchase my car there.
I purchased my car in California (South Coast Acura) and relocated to NY 2 years ago.

The person at the service told me " we can't offer you a loaner since you didn't purchase a car from us and you don't have an extended warranty".
They even couldn't give me a ride to home either since it was 11 miles away from the dealer.

I's too exhuasted to fight for a loaner since I had 3 visits already spend most of all 3 days there just to get them to notice my transmission failure. They kept resetting my computer without admitting the tranny was indeed failing.

So I drove my car at 20 mph all the way to my home with Check Engine Light on. They did warn me though by saying " it might stop running on the way~"..

They called me up later that day and told me pick up the loaner. No explanation was given why they've changed their mind. It was snowing outside so I declined. Anyway I had to drive my car to the dealer yesterday to put a new tranny.

Regarding my sister's MDX, she's in California so I only know the transmission stop working on the busy I-405 freeway with her baby in it. The dealer replaced it but i don't think it's good idea to keep that car.

My disappoint is not about Acura/honda cars. it's about Acura Dealers. It's really hard to find a decent Acura dealer in new york city.
I've been 3 acura dealers and none of them were nice/professional as Acura dealer I used to go in California.

 

The problems that I'm still grappling with are over all this are:
1/ what is the denominator? I haven't been able to find this out. The service manager at my dealer said that they see "lots" of them.
2/ considering what a pubic-relations boondoggle this could be, and that people have even floated the idea of class-action suits, you would think that Honda would be bending over backwards to make everything right, even if it meant swallowing a loss. They can afford it, it's their error, they need to accept responsibility for it, and in any case in which there's even the slightest doubt in which a transmission failure might be related to a design flaw, everything - but everything - should be looked after expeditiously and at no cost to the customer. That's just good business.

My dealer has been good. A bit busy, can't see me right away, but good. A year after my new transmission, I had a temperature sensor fail, and they charged me hundreds of dollars (when the local Honda dealer had said to drive the hour to an Acura dealer and get it fixed under warranty), and after playing telephone tag with Honda customer service for a while, they have dropped it. That's not good enough.

If local dealers are not pulling out all the stops to keep their justifiably-disgruntled customers happy - whether you bought your car on the other side of the country or not - the Honda Customer Service needs to know and should be dealing with that aggressively and immediately.

The sad truth behind all that is that they easily sell every car they make, or so it seems to me, so although they do try to be corporately responsible, they really don't have a big financial incentive to do so.

I really love my (used) 2003 TL, and, despite having loved other cars before, for the first time was thinking of eventually getting another. But now I'm thinking (used) Lexus E330.

 

I have a 2003 tl type s and the vin is not covered by the extended trans. warranty. I am also not covered by the 4 yr 50,000 mile warranty as car has 54,000 miles. I am just curious as to how many owners of 03 tls in my situation have had their tranny fail and has dealership replaced tranny free, charged them labor only or have they had to pay the full amount for tranny replacement? I bought my tl used and not from the local dealer so don't have any relationship with them.

 

One very important tip is to contact the national/corporate Acura Customer Service folks before talking to your local dealer.

See the helpful post by forum member "recklessdriver" in this thread:

https://acurazine.com/forums/showthread.php?t=153481

This will increase the odds that you will get some amount of out of warranty coverage since the corporate level folks might be more inclined to help. On the other side of the same coin, they're apparently less likely to override a local decision that's already been made.

Bob

 

I am in this exact situation. I have an '03 with a VIN outside of the coverage. I called and let them know that I bought this car for reliability and wasn't happy about having the tranny replaced (Twice). My positions was that my car obviously has the same tranny issues so I want the same warranty extension that was given to the in range VIN '03s. They agreed and sent me a letter stating that my trans warranty was extended to 100K.

 

That's great news! Did you call the corporate Acura Customer Care group?

Bob

 

That is wonderful ! I tryed to do the same thing with Acura customer Service , called , wrote a letter ... nothing . " Your car is in the VIN group with no problems " ... BS. I just want to know that my '03 TL-S is covered up to 100 k.
What did U do ? Who did U talk to ? How can I get the same result ?
Thanks.

 

Search Acura Owners Link

 

Its a lil late for me to reply to this but I have an 00TL-P and it failed at 118k

 

damn....my tranny blew this past weekend. i'm at 55K mile (out of warranty by 5K) and my 03 tl-s vin is not included in the extended warranty.

i just called a local dealer and service manager said that they won't fix it under warranty. i can bring it down to them for some testing ($160 diagnosed) and they will contact acura to see if they can help.

what should i do? bring it down or contact corporate acura??

 

I say call acura before getting the test done. It never hurts to call even if they say no. And if they say yes you just saved 160 bucks at least.

 

Add my new used car to the list of failed transmission. I had 44,000 miles on it and I didn't thoroughly test drive the car. Later in the day I bougt it, I noticed the problem the car had but I was hoping that it wasn't the transmission problem.

Anyway I just went to the acura dealer today and it appears, my transmission is about to go south. One of my co workers was nice enough to get me connected to one of his friends who works at one of the acura dealers. I told him the problem I was having and he told me to bring it in. He said it sounded like my transmission was going.

Well I finally got to the dealer, located him and he decided to go for a test drive. He was really pushing the car hard. He wanted to get the transmission really hot. Well we got on the highway and nothing happened for the first 5 minutes of driving. Then he started to think maybe it's not as bad as he thought. We get off the next ramp and get back on to head back to the dealer. He decidees to give it once last punch and then the transmission freaked out and we were skidding on the highway like crazy. The transmission slipped 3 times in a row and the wheels locked up.

Anyway I kind of got spooked myself. It's not something I'd want to be doing as a job. Luckily he told me that he would get my transmission replaced for free out of good will. I got a loaner tsx for the time being and I should be getting the car back by this weekend.

I just hope the 2nd transmission survives for a long time. I hated driving in fear.

BTW, I didn't even buy the car from the dealer that is servicing my car. I asked the service guy and he told me he gets about 18-20 tl's that have failing transmissions a month.

 

TrannY jUS wEnT OUT.........79,000....i dunno if im not covered under the extended war.....called HQ......but i dunno whats goin on....getin da car dis....any suggestions ppllz???? help....wht should i do???

 

Read the last few pages of this thread for some ideas.

Register your car online with Acura to see if your transmission is covered.

Good luck!

Bob

 

lost my first tranny wit oil jet alredy installed.....tranny jus stoped responding at around 60 milez a hour..........had it towed cause couldnt drive...to dealer...carz not covered under warr....any suggestions on how i could get da trans fixed in "good will"....from acura....has 79,000 milez on it