What is going on at Acura
 

I own a 2010 RL and looking to buy a used RLX or a new TLX. I have been reading these two forums and really have concerns over some major problems that these new cars are giving buyers. The RLX has this suspension problem that just does not seem to be able to be fixed. The TLX now among other problems has the 9 speed transmission recall. I have bought 14 new Acura's and never returned one with an initial problem of any kind. In dependability for 2014, Acura ranks fourth by J D Power but initial quality 25th. The three previous years initial quality was 2013 6th, 2012 3rd and 2011 3rd. This really states Acura has a problem with rolling out new cars. Something has obviously changed at Acura. Lexus is #1 in 2014 for both dependability and initial quality. Would entertain someone from Acura commenting about 25th. We are behind Volkswagen and Land Rover WHAT!!!!

2014 U.S. Initial Quality Study (IQS) | J.D. Power

2014 Vehicle Dependability Study Press Release | J.D. Power

This is a more appropriate topic for Car Talk, where this issue has been raised before. Moving....

Welcome to the Thunder Dome!

LOL!

Be nice...... :angel:

So a thread about Acura, RLX's and TLX's is better placed in a general car forum where the threads right below it are referencing a Challenger and a GT-R. Really!!!

When a thread is moved, a link remains in the original forum.

While it will eventually fall out of sight, it is likely you will still cause the regular daily readers to see it, and those are probably the readers whom you intended to attract. That is how I noticed it.

I didn't even know about the 9 ZF recall, but I'll go find out more about it before I comment.

George is right about the thread movement and what is left behind.

George - recall / stop sale is in very early stages. Dealers were notified on 12/4. I don't believe the VIN range has even been determined. Issue is with the parking pawl not engaging and not drivability.

Wow, I haven't been to the TLX forum in a couple days. A tranny recall already? Holy smokes!

Fred's thread is definitely timely.

That is exactly what I just found out.

It's hard for me to have an opinion about it when we don't know the number of vehicles affected, and it could very well turn out to be an overabundance of caution.

Momentous, nonetheless, to have to stop selling all six cylinder models of your best selling line of cars, though.

Dealers are probably hopping mad. They were finally getting ahead and finally had something to sell that people appeared to want.

Dealers can still sell the four cylinder models :shrug:

Overall not good news. Hopefully they determine a narrow VIN range and get it resolved in short order.

Yup.

So the transmissions they built themselves, the 8 DCT and 7 DCT, and 6 AT are just fine.

Ironically, it is the one they thought they'd better outsource that turned out to have a problem.

The 9ZF has been problematic for many manufacturers.

Ours has been good "knock on wood" in our Cherokee...but some Cherokee owners had ones that grenaded.

Others complain about the way they shift.

The 9ZF basically has its own computer...so Im not shocked it has problems to suss out.

The problem with the way it shifts is that it has an unusual lockup in three gears. I think it is 5, 8 and 9 that do not use a clutch for the hard lockup, but use a kind of hard lockup that makes two dog toothed gears have to line up before the shift can happen.

This can make for a slight but perceivable delay, and once there is a lockup, it can be a harder lockup than the driver might expect.

My daily driver has the 7 DCT, and I've driven the TLX-4's 8 DCT, and I look forward to Honda's finding a way to make a DCT for the six cylinder TLX at some point. The 9 ZF should have been a logical decision, considering its reputation among other manufacturers, but you know how Honda and Acura people will pick on everything that people give us to pick on...so they might end up replacing it.

The 9 ZF was being talked about as a successor to the Honda 6 AT for a FWD MMC RLX in 2016 MY. I wonder if they're changing their minds about that.

In the Cherokee shift to 2,3,4 tend to be rough and jerky. That's what I'm talking about.

Acura's just continuing with their tradition of having :turd: transmissions :teef:

this is what happens when you get comfortable.

Honda/Acura always needs to be on their toes.

The ZF in my 200 is fine (knock on wood). It does have some delayed shifts though, and some shifts are hard. Most are fine though. I love going 80 @ under 1750 RPM. Makes you feel like you're on a cloud!

TFLcom is reporting between 9 and 10K cars affected

Yes, they should be on their toes... but I don't think Acura is comfortable at all. Otherwise you would see things like wide spread SH-AWD options among all models and Type S trim offered in their sedans. Right now, they are a lost puppy and have been in that position for several years now.

You mean the ones that were sent to an outside vendor to save money? That worked well for Lexus too!

I've seen a few complaints of long shift delays on cherokeeforums. Then we tell them to post it in the right forum because the XJ guys can't help with that.

and how did they become lost?
they got comfortable/complacent/rested on their laurels and stopped innovating which lead to being lost.

sounds like a whole lot of nothing to me.

I think it has more to do with them telling customers what they want instead of listening to what their customers want. Acura didn't realize people likes the cars they made, not necessarily the company itself.

:werd: i was wondering how long it would take for these news trannies to have issues.

No, their inhouse 8DCT is having teething issues too.

https://acurazine.com/forums/problem...issues-920749/

https://acurazine.com/forums/problem...eutral-920706/

From my understanding the problem with the 9 speed is just the parking pawl not actually going fully into position when put in park due to apparent contamination during assembly.

TFL Exclusive: The 2015 Acura TLX V6 is Under Stop Sale and Recall Notice Due to 9-Speed Transmission Problem | TFLCar.com: Automotive News, Views and ReviewsThe Fast Lane Car: Auto News, Views, and Reviews

Go buy a Lexus instead. No transmission issues and it's a better car anyway.

/thread.

Depends on the model :chuckle:

First they'll have to get off their knees before they get on their toes :tongue:

with the exception of Lexus DBW gas pedals and ECU F/W issues :tomato:

Hopefully Acura will correct these problems soon

All auto manufacturers deal with recalls :2cents:

Still a better car, regardless of model. (except for ES which I anticipate them killing off sometime soon)

You're kidding right? The ES is Lexus' bread and butter, same with the RX. Look at the sales numbers. The ES won't be going anywhere anytime soon.

I stand corrected, and am astonished at how many they sell. I hardly see any on the roads here and see far more IS/GS models. Figured they'd want to trim down to just the cars that directly compete with ze Germans.

I know the RX is a sales gem because of how many rich soccer moms/cougars love driving them around.

ES is a souped up Camry. It's not going anywhere anytime soon.

:werd:

Avalon, now. But the point still stands.

Didn't know that :thumbsup:

I thought the Avalon was the GS?

Avalon is FWD, GS is RWD platform

Now that you're looking for them, you might surprise yourself.

They don't necessarily stand out in a crowd, even with the redesigned, sporty nose.