Well, it's been awhile since I posted. Here is why... but don't worry, I'll be gone for awhile again so everybody can continue the warm and fuzzies love fest with this car...

1. Center channel popped out of its mount, wtf, no screws to hold it down?!?!? How is it Honda bolts everything down but Acura uses cheap clips, velcro or nothing at all....

2. Left tweeter has been worked on 3 times, it's still loose and bounces in its mount...

3. Headliner, who the frig designed this pile of crap anyway, velcro, they used velcro, for the forum old timers this is old news, not even KIA is this cheap...

4. Vanity mirrors rattle, what could possibly be in these damn things that can rattle? Good God who knows but they do...

5. Rear deck rattle, seems they can get a good month out of it after it gets worked on then the rattles back there are back...

6. Window frame rattles in driver and passenger doors, depending on the temp that day the rattle/squeaks can be very bad or just a pain.

7. Center inside dash sounds like someone left two screw-drivers metal to metal, the twang this rattle gives off can drive a man insane...

8. Speech Rec, no matter how hard you try, the speech recognition never ever works the first time and rarely the second time, thankfully it usually gets it right the third time. Great job Honda...

9. It's getting colder so of course the tires have gone from being a flat spotting pain for 10 miles to worse as it gets colder to acting like tires that Flinstone would use....

Take this post as it is intended, I needed to vent after a very loud rattle drive home...

Yes this car is still nice to look at and there are worse cars out there. Unfortunately in my view Acura took the cheap road with how this interior was put together. Acura's stance on the flat spotting issues is pathetic and as a company should be ashamed of themselves.

 

this is the first time the tl was assembled in the USA if iam correct and unfortunately it shows. i dont understand how this mess passed through acura's inspection. I also want to add the poor leather seat quality. The seats in my 6 yr old Infiniti Q45 looks nicer to be honest.

 

I am not sure, but I think Gen2 was also built here.

 

i dont understand does your radio not work? i can only hear a slight rattle in my tl but when the radio is on no rattles are heard. you do have an incredible factory sound system. i suggest you head over to circuit city and pick up some dvdas.

 

I only had ONE rattle, and the dealer fixed it.

I currently have no rattles at 5k, miles. perhaps you just got one of the first ones, and it was unrefined

 

I hear ya. Same problems here. Everytime I drive I hear loud cracking noises and rattles. I think the car's stiff suspension contributes to a lot of the noises. Nowadays I just keep the music on. The next car I get will be a Lexus. Probably gonna trade the TL in for the next GS. What do you guys think?

 

Have lots of DVD-A's, one saving grace of this car is the sound system.

 

Depends if you want a sporty or plush ride. I do like the TL (don't have one) but you're right about the suspension, on my Accord once I stiffened the suspension I heard much more creaks.

However, my couson's G35 coupe is heavy, steady, stiff suspension and no creaks.

 

As a customer it doesn't matter when it was built, and they still use velcro for the headliner....

 

Yeah, Lexus is very nice and known for tight interiors. I'll be giving it a lot of thought...

 

This is baloney - the 2G was made there, and the Marysville plant has been cited by outsiders and Honda's own quality audits as being in the top tier of Honda mfg worldwide. This xenophobia of things American really gets old, and starts to have the odor of reverse cultural bias. The weakest point of the 2 and 3G cars has been the automatic transmission - the 100% Made in Japan transmission. The Made in America engines have been bulletproof. So let's be fair, and be real.

As to the buzzes - every car I have ever owned had a few, and I fixed nearly all of mine (except the glovebox) with $.50 worth of felt discs from McMaster-Carr, plus two hours of my time. I have made the discs available fee of charge to anyone who asked for them.

 

I'm not sure what in the vanity mirror housing rattles either, but mine buzzes from time to time. I've even had the driver one replaced because no matter in what position it was in it would cause a bad tingling/ratting sound.

 

Boy, norse, if I was as unhappy with my car as you appear to be with yours, I would sure unload it in a hurry. You may have an early build, which as I understand, had some quality problems. Mine was built in late Sept 2004 and has no rattles or buzzes or things disintegrating. Maybe I'm lucky, (so far). Your dealer should be able to fix all the things you have identified, except maybe the voice identification issue. I do share the crappy tire problem with you, though.

 

i got the center channel rattle (very annoying when the radio is off)
headliner was fixed but obviouslly its fed up again
rear deck rattle is getting louder and louder when i have the volume above 20

everycar has its problems the reason why we can every little rattle is cuz the cabin is very quiet with the windows rolled up and radio off.

ive seen your posts on this forum, you seem very disappointed....if i was you i would give up and get another car..

 

SORRY CHARLIE BUT ANYTHING MADE IN AMERICA SUCKS ASS. You of all people saying something like this? you may be a genius at tons of other things but in my opinion, us americans don't know our ass from out elbows when it comes to engineering and assembly

 

I don't think American engineering is the problem look at our areospace industry and the computer industry. However our Car industries seem to have been geared to the lowest price point. I do think the Japenese Car companies understood Demming and TQI much sooner then America did. They are also more innovative in adding value by including a lot of small well thougt out amenities. Japanese cars have always had small storage areas coin holders which were revolutionary compared to Detroit Iron.

 

Jeez, people, enough of the "made in America=crap" business. It is not true. Just because some have had to deal with as much crap as Norse has doesn't mean that statement is true.

Anyhoo....Norse, have you considered lemoning your car? Your car would meet the definition here in Ohio (8 things wrong with the car is one criterion). I know you've got an early build, but mine is earlier and well put together. You have been more than patient with the issues ongoing with your car almost since you bought it.

 

I CAN'T BELEIVE that you can't fiend those $.50 parts.

 

sorry, the 2nd Gen was also assembled in the US.

 

The 06 GS is pretty sweet. Love the looks and with lexus quality, I have more than enough reasons to trade in my TL.

 

i really am getting tired of these interior rattles as well !!.....problem # 3 also affects me.....my dealer spent over 10 hours trying to locate source of noise......everything-i mean everything was taken out in the rear......i am almost ready to trade in this my first and last Acura/Honda product.......

 

get real RR !!!.....ya i need to go to the local Wal-Mart and buy some felt pieces to fix my new 45k japanese car.....what do you think we're talkin' about here !??.....an '87 IROC-Z Chevy ???......maybe if your'e a redneck !

 

OK guys...I know you're upset and need to vent, but I'm on my 4th Acura starting with a Legend, and now my 3rd TL. Every one of these cars has been nearly perfect...and I never had to return the car during the first several weeks for any warranty work. Yes, I had the vanity mirror rattle, but fixed it with 4 small clear rubber dots on each mirror..and that took care of the intermettent rattle or buzz in that area. My headliner hasn't fallen down yet, but I don't drive at highway speeds with the sunroof open..which I believe is the cause of the problems. I know that's not an excuse, and anyone who wants to drive with the sunroof open at high speeds should not have problems, but it is something that should be fixed. As for the leather, the quality of the leather is not the problem..it's the seat design. We have very soft supple leather, and it stretches like all leather, leaving the buttprint. Acura fixed the design in the 05 model. All cars have problems, and anyone who has numerous rattles and other things that can't be fixed have a LEMON! Use the Lemon law. The vast majority of the TL's built are excellent cars. I have a friend who purchased a Mercedes, and it had more problems than I can list here, so yes, even a German car can have problems. He traded the car, end of problem. Mabe I'm lucky, but with 5 Acuras so far, I've had no significant problems, and that says a lot about the basic quality of the car's Acura built. The Legend was assembled in Japan, and other than the paint, was the poorest of the Acura's I've owned. It rattled, but with 85,000 miles on the OD...I'd expect a few. Every one of the TL's I've owned had almost no rattles..and the ones I did get, were fixed with no problem. If you can't get your car fixed properly, use the lemon law.

 

I understand exactly what RR is saying - at some point your peace of mind has a value over principles. If you can spend a little effort (and money) securing your own peace of mind with your car, then do it and vote with your wallet later by buying a different brand/make.

The best thing I ever did with my TL was to dump the EL42s at my own expense when my dealer and the district manager refused to replace them. I went from being mad at the car and Acura every time I drove it (because of the shaking steering wheel) to enjoying the car every time. If I'd waited for Acura to really fix the problem, I'd still be mad; life is too short to waste on anger and I'm glad I took care of it when it was apparent Acura wouldn't.

Mike

 

the new, well 06 GS looks like a maxima to me

i am personally excited to see who the 2006 lincoln zephyr will turn out (as far as production models)....the pre pro looks awsome imo! especially the interrior

 

I agree about where the car is built, I've owned mostly cars built in America and never had the interior issues found in this TL. As to every car having some interior noise, agreed, at some point every car has them, unfortunately this car seems endowed with them in spades. Also there is no forgiving the use of velcro to hold the headliner together and there is no excuse for the rear deck being so damn complicated and full of materials that can rattle and lack of bolts holding the dash speakers in place good grief who thought that up.

I shouldn't have to fix all the buzzes in the car, poor design/material choices like what I've found in this car are pathetic. Alas since the dealer seems incapable of fixing them I have taken this course of action on the glove-box and it no longer makes noise. No luck with the speakers or internal dash noise though.

Mechanically this car has been awesome, being fair the engine is butter smooth and uses zero oil between changes which tells me it backs up its ULEV moniker. I can't speak to the tranny, I've had no issues with mine but feel sorry for those who have. Unfortunately the interior drives me batty, I admit it shouldn't bother me so much but most of the time I get these damn rattles from 3 different places so forgive my attitude towards the whole car being biased by just the interior.

 

If I were rich I guess I could unload it, unfortunately the upside down Gods who make sure cars drop like rocks in value are the same guys who screw you at trade in time. I've had the car less than a year so will deal with it until it evens up enough so I don't need a jar of KY to ease the trade in.

That's what I get for leasing....