NHTSA — Power Train: Automatic Transmission Problems

2001 Acura TL (Page 4 of 5)

CarComplaints.com Seal Of Avoid Like The Plague

CarComplaints.com Notes: The 1999-2003 Acura TL has a known & widespread defect with the transmission.

Honda fixed some vehicles with a recall in 2004 by changing the oil cooler return line. To settle a class action lawsuit in 2006, Honda extended the transmission warranty on some of these Acura TL's to 93 months / 109,000 miles.

Now these vehicles are past the warranty limit, so buyer beware.

10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
2 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
2 / 0
Average Mileage:
40,840 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2001 Acura TL transmission problems

transmission problem

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2001 Acura TL Owner Comments (Page 4 of 5)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #27

Jan 212003

(reported on)

TL

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Consumer was involved on a collision caused by the transmission. Dealer was contacted and stated that wanted to see the car to look at it, but consumer did not know where the vehicle was towed to.

- Montgomery, AL, USA

problem #26

Jan 082003

TL 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 27,186 miles
At 26,0000 miles, 2001 Acura 3.2tl automatic transmission failed. While passing a very slow car, transimission suddenly did not engage and engine rpms soared while power to wheels ceased. Tc and engine lights came on. Went to dealer immediately without stopping and adivised it was ok to continue driving carefully, one week out appointmment given to me. At appointment, informed of at failure, covered under warranty. Returned one week later.

- Gig Harbor, WA, USA

problem #25

Jan 102003

(reported on)

TL

  • miles
Consumer stated while driving at any speed, and without warning the vehicle would shift gears on its own.

- Katy, TX, USA

problem #24

Oct 042002

TL 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 28,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

2001 Acura TL transmition fails

- Boca Raton, FL, USA

problem #23

Dec 062002

TL

  • miles
No summary.

- Stevenson Ranch, CA, USA

problem #22

Dec 062002

TL

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
Automatic transmission has failed with a wining sound and no response from accelerator depressed. The vehicle had to be towed to the dealership due to the system failing. The mechanics going to replace the entire transmission without identifying the actual cause.

- Stevenson Ranch, CA, USA

problem #21

Oct 212002

TL

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Transmission failed on major interstate was towed to dealership.

- Atlanta, GA, USA

problem #20

Sep 172002

TL

  • miles
While traveling on highway vehicle will stall and hesitate. When taking foot off brakes tires made a squeaking noise. Dealership is aware of problem.

- Parlin, NJ, USA

problem #19

Jul 202002

TL

  • miles
None

- Astoria, NY, USA

problem #18

Jun 292002

TL

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
I took my 2001 Acura 3.5 TL to Acura of riverside complaining of the transmission slipping. Initially, they could not document but totally popped out of gear the following day. They were able to get a code & replaced the transmission at 12,500 miles. My complaint is (1)the dealer tried to tell me that this was an extremely unusual occurrence & that these kinds of thing happen to all makes of cars (2) after ordering the replacement transmission, they tried to give me back the car until the replacement transmission came in. I refused and told them that I felt the car was not safe. After I refused to take the car back until the transmission was replaced, they decided to place me a rental car. Their daily allowance for the rental was $30 per day which meant I had to pay more for a bigger, safer car as that amount would only pay for a small car. Today in the L.a. times is an article discussing the failure of transmissions on the Acura 3.5 Tls and the refusal of Honda to recall these cars because no one has been seriously injured yet. My concern is, that in my situation, the dealer would not be honest about the problems Honda is experiencing with these cars. Moreover, I was basically lied too & told that they hadn't heard of any other transmission problems with 2001 Acura. As previously stated, they also tried to give the car back, unrepaired, while waiting for a replacement transmission. I am extremely unhappy with the dealership & Acura over the transmission problem. This car is leased & I would like to give the car back (although the transmission has been replaced) as I don't feel that the car is the quality vehicle that I felt I was purchasing. I do not trust the safety of the car considering how dangerous the transmission failure could have been had I been on a busy S. California freeway.

- Riverside, CA, USA

problem #17

Jun 012002

TL

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Every now and then gear does not engage, sometimes on the highway vehicle loses power. Problem intermittent. Consumer feels this is very dangerous. Dealer has been contacted.

- Anaheim, CA, USA

problem #16

Aug 222002

TL

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
I also have had some major transmission failures. My orginal transmission failed on the freeway while going apprx. 65 mph, the transmission appeared to down shift into park or first gear. This problem came without any warning. At those speeds you can only emagine what my back and neck felt like, not to mention all the cars that were skidding behind me attemping to avoid an accident. When this failure occurs there are no brake lights to indicate your slowing down or stopping. The transmission was replaced (no questions asked) than, around 1200 miles later another massive failure. Again back to the dealer for them to replace the transmission and try again. This car should be removed from the streets and I should be paid back the money I've invested. These transmissions are a huge safty problem. Could this problem get any worse "?????"

- La Mirada, CA, USA

problem #15

Aug 162002

TL

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
First noticed the failure after parking the car and then putting it into reverse to back out of the parking lot. Proceeded to drive normally, put the car in D5 (automatic mode) and noticed hard abrupt shifts from 1st gear to 2nd gear. 3rd gear seemed like neutral, car just revved and then caught 4th or 5th gear. Once in high gear and up to around 60mph on the highway the car suddenly downshifts to what seemed like 1st gear causing the tires to lock up for about a second and then went back into 5th gear. Fortunately there was no one behind me following to closely. Continued to drive, only slower this time and it did it again at about 45 mph this time. I pulled over and called the local dealership(Acura of baton rouge, la) and had the car dropped off for repairs. Solenoid replacement didn't solve the problem so he informed me that they would replace it with a remanufactured transmission. Car would be ready in about a week and a half.

- Austin, TX, USA

problem #14

Aug 012002

TL

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
Transmission shows a pattern of major slippage and extremely hard shifting between gears D1 and D2. I have been contacted by many other 2001 Acura cl owners with the same problem.

- Windsor Hills, CA, USA

problem #13

Dec 022001

TL

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
While driving vehicle hesitates to shift gears.then it will jerk into gear, causing vehicle to launch forward. Also does this in reverse gear. Contacted dealer. Had transmission replaced 2 twice, problem reoccurred.

- Plano, TX, USA

problem #12

Aug 012002

TL

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
This same problem occurred with parent's 2002 Acura TL type S and their transmission was replaced at 22000 miles (last week); additionally, there are identical complaints of this online - same car, same problem, same gear, etc.; this is very dangerous and people could easily be injured or killed.

- Houston, TX, USA

problem #11

Jul 292002

TL

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
The transmission started siezing up. It will not shift to the next gear while the engine kept revving up. It would eventually jerk badly and shift to next gear. Dealer says that the car needs a new transmission. The car only has 34000 miles and it appears that there is a rash of transmission problems with this year and model. How do I know that this will not happen again in another 1.5 years? I was thinking of buying a Acura MDX. I have second thoughts now.

- Martinsville, NJ, USA

problem #10

May 312002

TL

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
No summary listed for above vehicle.

- Southern Pines, NC, USA

problem #9

Jul 052001

TL

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
I was passing a vehicle in my 3.2tl when suddenly the wheels seemed to have locked and my car came almost to a screeching halt. The next day I found out that the transmission failed. This is a very dangerous situation. The vehicles behind me could have easily rear-ended me and caused a chain reaction pile-up. Luckily the car did not stop completely, so I was able to recover from the incident without personal injury and/or property damage. It angers me that Acura is not owning up to the aparent transmission troubles that have been occurring. Just a few weeks ago, my supervisor informed me that his transmission failed on his 3.2cl at only 18K miles. Another concern is that the warranty is 4 years/50K miles and Acura needs to extend the warranty until they figure out the problem with these transmissions. What am I supposed to do when the warranty ends? Acura needs to be held accountable.

- Springdale, MD, USA

problem #8

May 012002

TL

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
Acura has made many defective transmission for the 2001 and 2002 TL and cl. I think Acura should warn their customer of these failures before someone gets hurt for the failure of a transmission. Luckly, I noticed mines before taking the car out of park. Something has to be done, we are spending to much money for a car that can not stay out of the shop under 50,000 miles. And to add to it all of this Acura is doing nothing to my knowledge to contact the owners and help the situation.

- Glenndale, MD, USA

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