I took my 2012 26,000 miles back to the dealership on Friday for the issue I'm having with the transmission. Between 30-45 it starts surging RPM and then will sometimes get "stuck" shifting back and forth between two gears and starts shaking the car. The service adviser on the phone tried to talk me out of coming in telling me that it's a characteristic of the car and that it's hunting for gears. I insisted that this wasn't normal and if it was they should rethink their transmissions in the car. So I finally got an appointment. Tech test drove with me and confirmed the he felt it. So they took it and did the software update. Drove it back, didn't notice it. Start it up to go to work this am, same thing on my drive in it was doing. Call them back and say they have to follow the next step in Acuras diagnostics. Sounds like a run around to replacing the TC. I wouldn't car so much but they're the closest dealership and it's 3 hours round trip.

Sounds to me like the 2012's are having the same tranny issues the 5 speeds have. I hope they plan on extending the warranty on the 2012's like they did on the 09-11's.

 

UPDATE: Finally took it back to the dealer. They acknowledged that there is an issue with it and they could feel it trying to shift in between gears (rpm surging). I have a loaner until Tuesday. I got a voicemail from the dealership saying that they had it they were working on it (no specifics and by the time I listened to it they had closed). Will post what I get for final results when I get it back.

 

There are several threads on here discussing similar problems.
It sounds like you are having issues related to the lock up function of the torque converter. The lock up (when it is on) creates a mechanical connection between the engine and the trans like you have in a manual shift car. When the lock up is off, you have a fluid connection which is what allows the car to be stopped and in gear with the engine running.
Unfortunately if your dealer's techs are not well versed on the torque converter operation, you will have to persist and insist that there is areal problem and the car is not operating properly. Most likely the service advisors do not have any clue about any of this. Good luck, and let us know how it goes.

 

Got the phone call this afternoon, they replaced the torque converter finally! I'm getting it back tomorrow and they are delivering it all the way back and picking up the loaner (not bad in my opinion). Hoping this fixes the issues and that Acura has done something in response to all these failed tourque converters. It kind of bothers me that the 2012's are now having this problem with the 6spd auto.

 

UPDATE: As if this wasn't a big enough pain in the a**. They delivered the car back, this morning and traded off the rental car. Drove GREAT! Shifted so smoothly it was like a brand new car. However, I parked it and went into work then came out an hour later to a big puddle of transmission fluid under the car. Crawled under it and the entire undercarriage is covered in transmission fluid and it's dripping pretty much everywhere. Call the dealership and it has to be towed. They have me call Acura Roadside Assistance, which sends the tow truck driver to the wrong address. So finally get it to the dealership, they have to drop the transmission again because they "sliced" a seal installing the new torque converter. So the saga continues....

 

Oh man, that is sad! Sounds like a rookie tech on the job.
There is a seal where the TC neck enters the front of the transmission.
The may have damaged the original seal when installing the TC, or they may have replaced that seal and then messed up the install. In any event, if it's the front seal, they need to do the job over again, remove the trans and remove the TC and install the new seal. And install the TC properly this time. Sorry for your luck!

 

Thanks I do have awful luck and this is what I get for going with an automatic. Got it back earlier this week, just have been too busy to post. It was the left axle seal that failed according to Acura. They towed it all the way back to the dealership (74 miles) fixed it overnight and delivered it back the next day. The worst part is this torque converter is just going to fail again. This car shifts into 6th gear at 40 miles an hour and does not shift out easily what-so-ever. My '04 with the 6spd manual I never used 5th or 6th gear around town and this uses it all the time, it's a totally flawed design imo.

Anyways it will be going back, again, because it is now making the weird sound on start up that appears to be the remote transmission filter, and the steering wheel lock is making a screeching noise. I just wish they'd take this car back from me, in the 27,000 miles I now have on it I have been to the dealership 5 times more than my 04 that had 150k on it.

 

Sounds like they did not install the axle into the transaxle housing from what they told you. That is a common error. Bummer to have to deal with but not actually serious.
Regarding the shifting, that is apparently all controlled by the transmission computer so perhaps you need a software update.
I understand your frustration - this shit should not happen - but the 6MT guys have their own problems also.

 

They had claimed that they did the software update for the shift points the first time to fix the issue I was having before they replaced the tc. Installing the new tc shouldn't affect the software update right?

 

I dunno. Your only recourse is to keep taking it back to them and telling them you are unhappy. Compare it to a similar vehicle if you can.

 

Definitely. Only issue is its about 74 miles each way to the closest dealership. I'll just keep at it, appreciate all the advice.

 

^^^^^^holy cow...hope you are not driving that car to Grannies house for Turkey Day. No need to get stuck over there. Although, I'm sure she would love to have you spend the night.

 

I got an '09 AWD that the TC was replaced in as well with only 24k on the car...and the vibration is coming back with 48k on it. Would've though they worked the bugs out of the tranny when they went from a 5spd to a 6spd automatic.

 

"Would've though they worked the bugs out of the tranny when they went from a 5spd to a 6spd automatic. "


Yeah, one would hope so, however it seems that is not the case.
The 6AT is even more complicated and the torque converter is different and more complex in '12.

 

I'm driving an 2001 CL with high miles ..I was getting ready to search for a 2009-2011 TL automatic..After reading this and other posts,I'm having second thoughts.I have had these tranny issues with the second Gen acura and was hoping they corrected this...it appears they haven't..bummer.!

 

Sorry to hear about the transmission problems, at least they are standing behind the work.

 

Yah it's been quite an interesting journey. Only had my 04 to the dealer once in the 150k I owned her.