Welp, after about 40k miles of first feeling my transmission not acting right; slow shifts, hesitation, rough shifts 2-3 and 3-4, jolt every now and then. I'm finally getting a new transmission. I've brought my car to two dealerships over the past 2 years, for a potential fix and each time was a TCM/PCM update + idle relearn. It would fix the issue for a few weeks, but it would go back to feeling like a sluggish transmission. I really noticed it recently and on Wednesday when the revs hung at 3800rpm and finally upshifted, I decided to bring my car in. Welp brought it in Thursday and talked to an advisor who was pretty understanding of my situation. I told him I have brought it in a handful of times to another dealership and they did their tests and updates which only provided temporary relief. I told him I have the extended power train warranty which Acura sent out to many 2015 and 2016 owners. He wanted to get a tech to test drive it with me, but I said "welp, I've done this 4 times already and each time it couldn't be emulated. If it wasn't a bother or didn't exist, why would I continue to bring it to a dealership to get it diagnosed?" He understood, said it was necessary, etc. Few moments later a tech walks in and goes into the service manager's office, comes out in a minute and says "just put it as a 2-3 chirp, we'll get it done." My advisor said he would give me a call later in the day after the car was "officially" diagnosed. They had given me a 2019 TLX Advance and immediately I noticed how much more responsive and smooth that transmission is and immediately thought "well damn I should've pressed this issue quicker." Night and day difference.

Found out this morning they had placed the order for a new transmission yesterday and that my car should be done by the end of next week. I'm still really happy and loving my car, but I grew complacent with it and it's Achille's heel, that damn ZF9. Welp, driving the 2019 has given me hope I could have a new appreciation for the car. I hope that my new transmission will be as responsive as this one. The best way I could describe it is that in normal mode this 2019 responds better than my 2015 does in sport mode. The shifting is buttery smooth and I really had to pay attention to realize when the car shifted.

I am still a fan of Acura, even after this. I wish the dealerships had handled things better and quicker, but it is what it is. I now had a tech and advisor who agree that I needed a new transmission and will be getting one soon.

I did realize I left my VCM muzzler on there after dropping off the car, but they didn't mention anything or even notice I bet, so it's all good. Looking forward to getting my car back at the end of the week and crossing my fingers it'll feel like a new car.

 

Congratulations! Glad to hear Acura's finally getting this done for you. Fortunately for me, I've got an early build '16 model (Oct '15), and I've never had the issues that I've read about the '15s having. I don't think my transmission is perfect but in 95% of my driving, I never even think about it. When I'm getting ready to pass someone is about the only time I think about it and typically, I'll switch to Sport+ and then back to Sport after I've passed. Am looking forward to your review of the new transmission. Hopefully, it will resolve all of your concerns and make you like your TLX that much more. Best wishes!

 

Yeah I got so used to my car that it just needed to jolt me one more time before heading back to the dealership. It's honestly been awhile, last visit was Oct 2019 for the transmission I think. I heard the earlier build 16s have had issues as well, but guess I was wrong.

Still love my TLX, but I really want that feel from the transmission that I'm currently getting in the 2019. It's just such a refined drive in comparison and feels like it has more power to offer than what my 15 does.

Keep y'all posted.

 

I should have replied here instead. Congrats! Please report back how you like your new unit. I'll never forget the relief I felt when my replacement was approved. I thought it would be the silver bullet to making my TLX great and being done under warranty meant not having to pay $4000 for it. I hope yours turns out that way. I know you already did the VCMuzzler, which far and away is the best thing any TLX owner can do and should be the first thing they do after purchase.

Ultimately, the jerkiness was almost eliminated after replacement - no more stiffening my torso for shifts or slapping my head against the headrest - which was good. But the slushbox itself must have some physical limitations, because it still did wonky stuff like late/early shifts, riding the tourque converter or delaying acceleration. Ugh. I don't miss my TLX one bit. Worst car I've ever owned and still hate Acura for the car, the dealership and the whole experience. On the other hand, my TSX before it was awesome and my Lexus after it has been remarkable. I still get compliments on my GS and it's amazingly fun to drive.

 

Hah for sure, VCM Muzzler made a difference for sure. Driving this 2019 around, it honestly feels like VCM never really kicks in, it's that much more responsive than my 2015. VCM Muzzler helped a lot for highway passes, but at the end of the day the transmission was just lagging. I really am hoping that the new transmission will feel like this 2019.

 

I want to share my thoughts of the 2019 while I have it and its fresh on my mind. So a bit of a review just for fun.

1. Transmission: Night and day difference compared to my 2015. Again, it feels like it responds better than sport mode in my 2015. I've been driving it since last Thu and I've put plenty of miles and I am still surprised at how effortlessly the car puts down power. Its the exact same engine with an updated transmission, but it actually feels like it has more horsepower than mine. Amazing what difference the transmission makes. And I can't even feel VCM kick in!
2. Seats: I feel the seats are comfier than my 2015 and they look better. The piping around the edges really makes a big difference in look and feel. Speaking of feel, I need the leg extender in my car! I'm 6ft and the extra extension on the bottom of the seat makes the car much comfier than it already was for me. I think I'm going to hunt around for used interior seats now.
3. Infotainment: The upgraded infotainment works alright. I'm not sure if its this specific unit, but it seems to save settings I didn't input when I saved the driving seat to mine. Also an annoyance with the HVAC, when I open any setting for HVAC it seems to default to another one than what's already actively on, so that's annoying. I also feel the buttons on the touchscreen are a bit too small now.
3a. Android auto: I have a GROM unit coming at the end of the month so I'm excited, but for the stock setup I'm a bit bugged by some of it. For one, it is buggy, sometimes when I've plugged my phone in, it doesn't work, it won't read. Other times it will read, but Spotify will cut out 2 seconds into a song and just stop so I have to either unplug my phone or switch playlists, very annoying. Could be a phone issue, but I made sure to have the latest update for AA.
4. Camera: Camera quality is still trash, its usable, but feels like the quality is from 2010. The added angles and the 360 camera is a nice touch, and must be really nice for those who live in the city and have to park on the streets, I was impressed with the technology of the camera. I just wish image quality was also upgraded.
5. Gear selector: This was a very subtle change Acura made, but one that I immediately noticed. The reverse button sticks out much more and has a completely different shape to it. The drive button also has a different feel where they've made an indent in the button. They feel more solid and less squishy compared to my 2015, but it doesn't make a big difference to me at all.
6. Ambient lighting: What an elegant touch to the car, it makes a huge difference. I really have enjoyed driving it at night and the lights just make the cabin a bit nicer to be in. Wish my 2015 had them.

Overall, very subtle differences that wouldn't warrant an "upgrade" to me. However, if my new transmission in my 2015 doesn't feel as smooth as this one then I admit I will be disappointed. The 2019 TLX is what I feel like the TLX should've felt like since the beginning, it feels almost like a completely different car because of that transmission. I personally prefer the styling before MMC, but really do love the seats in this loaner. Think I will need to look around for 2018+ espresso seats....

 

I think the later TLXs are going to become a commodity in the used car segment in the years to come. I did have the privilege to drive a 2018 Odyssey with the ZF-9 and I actually really had a lot of fun it it. The short gears really pumped out the power and it would take off like a bat out of hell.

 

Those Odysseys have been deceptively quick since 2011 lol. I used to shuttle drive a bit during my days working at a Honda dealership.

 

Update:

So coming up on 2 weeks without my car tomorrow, but I'm getting a new transmission AND a new radiator + hoses. The advisor found another TSB so they'll be replacing the radiator as well. Hopefully get my car back by Friday....

 

LOL I couldn't resist stop light racing it and spinning the tires at 30 mph. It averaged 24 mpg too and had the shortest turning circle of anything I've ever driven which is definitely surprising.

 

Yeah those things are deceptively quick and feel pretty light.

 

Glad you're finally getting a replacement transmission and hope it solves your problems. It's unfortunate that they've continued to use this transmission in a variety of vehicles though. There's been many times I've walked into my local Acura dealership with all the issues my 2.4 TLX has had, and I can tell the service manager is frustrated with all of it. I've known these people for nearly 13 years and they've always treated me well. But I've also overheard them talk about how to deal with the lemon process and how they are unsure how to repair this other than just through transmissions at them and make up something so Acura will accept the replacement bill. Truly sucks and would not want to be in their shoes.

 

That's a bad spot to be in for a dealership, but seems it's worked if the guys you know are still there.

 

Finally got my car back!

Right off the bat I notice the transmission shifts much smoother and is a bit quicker to respond, but not as quick as the 2019 I've been driving, so a little disappointed in that....

Am happy I got my car back and will be driving it more of course, but it feels smoother and more responsive. Just not sure what else was changed for the newer 2019s? Maybe because the engines don't have miles on them, but even then my car only has about 72,600 miles.

I'll give more of my impressions once I drive it around more.

 

Drove the car for a good hour in both stop and go and freeway driving. This shifts so much smoother compared to my old transmission, world of difference. However, I did notice that I was almost anticipating for a jerkiness to come up or a rough shift, I'll have to "relearn" my car that way.

One thing I do notice is it is not as responsive as the 2019s, that's for sure. Which again, is a bit disappointing, but a night and day difference from old. So I'm curious what's different between my current transmission and the new ones. Even freeway pulls felt less powerful than the 2019 which had VCM on too, I have VCM muzzler on mine.

Really enjoy having my car back and it feels like it drives better so I am happy. Most of all, I am happy to get rid of that jerkiness. I can still feel shifts, especially since I am looking for them right now, but they're smooth. It feels like it shifts like a newer TLX. Just feels a little bit down on power/responsiveness.

Transmission aside, the only things I miss about that 2019 are the seats which are comfier and Android Auto. But I have a GROM Vline on the way so that'll be remedied soon.

 

Again, congrats on your new tranny. I agree completely - it's smoother, quicker and more normal than whatever vintage 15-16 original ZF9 design was rolled out. I also agree that the loaner TLXs I got like 18-19 were, dare I say, almost "normal" as far as shifting goes. I think it was still a wonky slushbox. It still did some funny things. But that was a long time ago and I may not remember the details. I also agree that the new seats, updated tech and the pinstripes/interior lighting were missed every time I got my old TLX back.

Basically, my TLX V6 AWD Advance was awful. Based on hanging out on this forum, many would say the 15-17 was a huge mistake. If you're like I used to be and intent on buying Hondacura, no ifs ands or buts, refusing to buy anything else, I would say 18+ post-MMR is an absolute must, as that is the "decentest" tranny... and my god, if interested in the AWD version, I implore you to test drive the specific one you want to buy at length to feel for vibrations before you sign.

 

I would go as far as avoiding the V6 all together. Coming from a 3G TL, I thought I'd miss the V6 but really don't with how light and nimble the 2.4 feels. When I decided to get a TLX, I knew going in the 9spd was going to be trouble based on all the reviews here and all over the internet. The multiple test drives confirmed my belief. Unfortunately, my 2.4 turned out to have its own reliability issues but that's another story. There's just so many long time Acura owners that have gotten stung by the 9spd here, even on later 2018+ versions, that I just can't recommend it.

 

I see that you're in the Bay Area. Would you mind sharing which dealership you ended up getting this done at?

 

Acura of Fremont. Will Liu was my advisor. I brought it in and spoke to another advisor, Justin, and he wasn't professional at all. I would avoid that guy tbh. Will on the other hand is great.

 

I thought they had fixed the ZF9 in the 2018+ MY. I'm very seriously considering getting a new V6 FWD sometime this year. The 4 cylinder doesn't have enough power for me, and I like the front seats better in the V6 Tech with thigh extension and passenger height.

I have never test driven a 2018+ ZF TLX but I have had a 2019 MDX ZF loaner for 2 weeks and thought it was fine. I can keep it in Sport mode for city driving and stop and go traffic if it helps. I could also do Sport Plus for the left turns across oncoming traffic if that helps. I dont mind learning tricks as long as they work. I have to put our MDX Sport Hybrid in Sport Plus or "sequential" mode to get it to behave for left turns across oncoming traffic, but it works well.

Any advice for the test drives? Anything specific to check?

Is the ELS system still good in the 2020 MYs?

 

For the ZF9, if I were to test drive I would actually drive like a senior lol. When you're driving a bit slower, that's why you can really feel the shifts and see how smooth the transmission really is. Or just put it in Eco mode and drive normally. Gears 1-4 you may be able to feel the shifts.

Sound system is so subjective. Many trash the ELS and many praise, but also many are fine with it. Myself, I am happy with it. I'm not some audiophile and it sounds good enough to me

 

So after driving my car for a few days I want to jump back in here and give a bit of a comparison between my old transmission, the 2019 I was driving around for 2 weeks, and now my new transmission. I had extensive time with that rental for 16 days and about 700 miles lol.

1. Welp both are smooth as can be compared to my old transmission. In the 2019, I still noticed the shifts, but I had to watch out for them and they were just slight shifts, would still move your body (especially if you're a passenger), but it wouldn't jolt like my old transmission.
2. My new transmission I can still feel shifts and I think I anticipate them and tense up a bit still, but they are smooth. So whatever revisions were made (and with no coolant in the ATF) it shifts great.
3. I still feel the 2019 shifts much faster and a bit smoother than my new transmission.
4. It may be placebo, but I feel the 2019 was more responsive and therefore felt like it had more power. My 2015 feels like it has more power than my old transmission as it responds faster, but also doesn't feel like it responds as fast as the 2019.
5. VCM - I absolutely could not feel when VCM kicked in on the 2019. Before the VCM Muzzler and my old transmission, I could feel VCM kick in with vibration and my transmission being slow as molasses to shift down. I may remove VCM muzzler just to test this with the new transmission, but I would say the transmission response in the 2019 even with VCM responds just as fast, if not faster, than my new transmission with VCM Muzzler.

Overall I am happy with my new transmission and it feels quicker and definitely smoother. I do wish it felt a bit more responsive like the 2019 I was driving, but hey this is a night and day difference still. It really does feel like I got my car on Day 1 again, but with an even better transmission.

 

I'm glad the new transmission is much smoother. Do keep us updated if it starts to degrade again though after a few thousand miles.

 

Just as a side note, the thigh extenders are not available on the Tech package. I believe only the Advanced and A-spec versions have those. Otherwise the seats in the 4cyl and the V6 are identical.

 

I really like this type of comparison you have done.

Glad you're happy with your early 1G TLX again!