I own a 2006 TL MT with Navi. When it has run, it has been the most fun sedan I ever could hope to have driven. Many times, though, it has been undriveable.

At 12,000 miles, the clutch just fried. Turning right onto a busy street, I gunned it, and nothing happened. The burnt clutch smell told the whole story.

Before this time, I had owned only sticks, other than one vehicle. Many of these were Hondas. The shortest life span of any prior clutch was 80,000 miles.

I took the car to the dealership where I had first purchased the car, and was told that it was a wear and tear issue. After some complaints (I am a lawyer), the dealership covered it under warranty. Let's face it folks, even if I had been a neophyte to stick shifts, and ridden the clutch all 12,000 miles, the clutch should have lasted longer.

At 71,000 miles, the transmission went out (at least 2nd, 4th and 6th gears). Again, the dealerships fought me since the powertrain warranty supposedly had expired only 1,000 miles earlier at 70,000 miles. Thanks to suggestions from you folks on this website in answer to other issues, I tried Acura customer service. I was told that, due to a class action lawsuit (thank you much-despised lawyers), Acura had extended all powertrain warranties for 2006 TL's for 5%. I now was in warranty. The dealerships denied knowledge of this situation, but after providing them with Acura contact information, one relented and covered the transmission under warranty. This repair took over three weeks. I am told a transmission had to be ordered from Japan, but I do not know if that is true.

Anyway, after my prior experience with the clutch, I asked what it would cost for a new clutch. The replaced clutch actually had been performing acceptably. I was told that, since the transmission had been pulled, a new clutch could be installed at the cost of parts only. I thought, great, let's do it.

Now, 45,000 miles later, it appears the clutch has gone again. I took off out of a driveway onto a busy street today, and as soon as I hit the gas, there was no acceleration. I was stuck in the right lane of traffic of a 45 mph street. I got a tow to a local Honda dealer, but the dealer cannot look at it until Monday (it is Friday). By all accounts, it appears to be a clutch yet again. I could be wrong and will advise if I hear to the contrary.

I note from Consumer Reports that Transmission, Major seems to be an Acura TL weakpoint. Shame on me, the week prior I had planned on trading in my car on a new Acura or Honda (the new Accord Touring seems quick and nice, and much cheaper than a similarly equipped Acura). I did not do it.

I can say that I will never purchase another Acura unless somebody provides great evidence that my experience is unique. I have had many problems with the vehicle (4 or 5 CV joint replacements in addition to the above problems and a rickety driver's seat that the dealer would not fix even though I had been told it was the subject of a TSB), and have put over $5,000 into the car including tires.

As a statistician by education, I know that many satisfaction surveys are biased by those who are prone to like or dislike the subject of the survey. I can only surmise that is true of the high levels of satisfaction with Acura. Otherwise, my experience is only anecdotal (which I do not reject) and, perhaps, I purchased a lemon. I can only speak to my personal experience, however, and I must say ta-ta to Acura. If I can get a good price for my POS, I will ask for a reasonable trade-in and get a Honda. Hell, the Fusion is a much nicer looking car than the TL. Indeed, I might go American after never having bought a car make that did not end in "a" (Honda, Mazda, Toyota and Acura are the only cars I have owned in thirty years).

I have found this website of invaluable assistance in operating and maintaining my car, and, as I said, I have loved the car when it has been driveable. While another car may not be as much fun to drive, I can no longer afford such frivolity. Thank you all, and, barring some miracle, I must say good bye to Acura and this website.

 

sorry to hear you go! Come back and tell us what vehicle you chose to replace the TL.

 

I am so sorry to tell you this; but the TL is one of the HARDEST clutches to master.
I might not have the experience of driving stick shift as long as you have, but I can tell you that NO other car is like the TL.

I replaced my clutch at 31k miles and even till this day at 59k miles I can tell that I'm STILL slipping the clutch burning the pressure plate up.
its user error.

 

the new Fords coming out look real good. The Fusion looks great.

 

Is there the correct amount of free-play in the clutch pedal?

I find it hard to believe that two clutch kits wear out prematurely, without there being some user error involved or a functional problem with the flywheel or self-adjusting mechanism in the pressure plate.

Was the flywheel replaced with the clutch?

I guess a dealer could mess up the pressure plate install if they had no experience with the newer dual-mass flywheels and self-adjusting pressure plates.

Did you delete the clutch delay valve in the slave cylinder?

 

Gwiffer:

You raise several good points. I am not one who is sophisticated enough or experienced enough to address your questions. I will say that I received a great deal of grief from my auto-sophisticated buddies for having a dealer do the repairs of which I speak. They believe I could have saved a lot of money by having gone to an independent But, on the other hand, I would hope the dealer, as opposed to someone who is unaccustomed to the intricacies of the Acura vehicles, would be able to address the questions you ask.

As for user error, I will say I am not too proud to say that I am a fairly aggressive driver. That aggressiveness, however, does not address what appears to be either faulty installation of faulty parts.

The flywheel issue, by the way, is a good point. While I am not as knowledgeable about vehicles as you seem to be, I will say that I brought up the issue when the transmission was replaced (at the behest of my mechanic brother, not of my own intellect), and was told it was not an issue.

Perhaps what disturbs me most, in any event, is the shabby treatment I have received from the Acura dealers with which I have been involved. One of the reasons I purchased the vehicle, as opposed to just another Honda, is the supposed better warranty and service. But for pleadings and threats, however, I have received nothing but sub-par service from the dealerships. Acura, corporate, on the other hand, has been helpful.

 

Can't blame you for bailing. I would too. It's pretty crappy for an Acura dealer to be that big of a pain in the arse. Before you leave, get one last shot in and call out these schmuck dealers. Let the rest of us know so if we get the chance, we can pay them the proper respect they deserve....

 

Op- off topic, but did reverse go out also when 2nd 4th and 6th went?