I'm a soon to be TL owner and have been searching non-stop for the past two weeks. I see a lot of 04's with low miles but the first time I wrote on this thread someone had mentioned a problem with the auto transmissions in the 04's. Have a lot of people reported this? I'd rather have a 6 spd but the car HAS to have navi...which has been hard to find on both. Any help??

 

^ search around a little bit.. theres a search button. my dad owns a 06 auto, non-navi, bone stock and has has no transmission problems

 

i have an 04 auto.... had it for about 3 yrs now and has driven damn near all up n down the east coast and some points mid west, plus my daily driving around nyc.... no tran problems, maybe it was that persons particular car.... but for the most part i dont know any1 with tran problems

 

i also have an 04 with 72k miles. my service light to change the trans fluid has not shown up yet, and i haven't had one issue like those described here.

but i am keeping my eye on it very closely

 

^^ I wouldn't wait until the Service MID alerts you. Do the 3x3 transmission fluid change asap.

 

Ok well I had posted on here a week ago and someone had alerted me to that so it my search a little bit harder. Theres a green 05 TL auto with navi with 107000 miles about 15minutes away, has 1 blemish on the bumper but I was looking for something with less miles. Like I said I'd much rather have the 6 spd w/navi but its hard to find everything. So what do you think the 05 or an 04 with A LOT less miles?

 

If you're that worried about the tranny, you can always get a warranty to cover it...

I have an 04 auto and I'm not noticing any problems. It's just that people are more likely to complain when something goes wrong than when everything is ok so the impression you get from reading forums like this one is that every 04 auto TL is a disaster waiting to happen.

I would go with the lowest mileage car you can find.

 

There have been transmission problems, mainly in prior generation. Some here see it as a sign to stay away. FWIW if you are a Consumer Reports reader, all years of the 3G TL are recommended.

 

i just had my tranny fluid changed and the dealer said the fluid was burnt really bad..now from what i heard is changing the burnt fluid out going to cause more damage b/c the new fluid will degrade the seals faster?? car is at 61k right now...if i wanted to add a tranny cooler now and filters would that help or is it just a matter of time before it craps out??

 

04 tl here no tranny problems at all

 

automatic 04 and early 05 had tranny recalls.

 

I have an '04 AT w/Navi and it has 108,000 miles. My transmission went at 106,000 (long story). After fighting with my dealer it was replaced.
I did some research and it seems the '04 model has the older transmission while '05+ models have the newer transmission.
If you get an '04 just get the extended warranty.

Other than the tranny, it is a great car. I truly enjoy it.

 

yea i purchased the car in 11/03....so its one of the earliest 04 models...i kinda slacked on the warranty the time and mileage passed me by and i didnt even think about it