10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
1 / 2
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
89,000 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.

2004 Acura TL drivetrain problems

drivetrain problem

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2004 Acura TL Owner Comments (Page 1 of 2)

problem #29

Jun 282021

TL

  • miles

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

My "D" indicator light is blinking no matter changing the transmission fluid, cleaning the solenoids, etc. the car is not overheating, there are no apparent electrical problems and I do not even have any check engine lights or other codes. The light comes on blinking when I drive for a little while then goes off when I turn the car off and is fine. Then when I start it up it doesn't blink anymore. But then when I drive again for a while it blinks again. I've had transmission shuddering, jerky shifting, delayed shifting, etc.

- Everett, WA, USA

problem #28

Apr 052021

TL

  • 196,000 miles
Torque converter has difference of 200rpm or greater than causing trans to over heat and fail power steering line allowing air into system. System locked up while driving air bag sensor won't sent code

- Flowery Branch, GA, USA

problem #27

Jan 012021

TL

  • miles
My power steering has gone out I think hose busted hard to steer and transmission is slipping reverse is going out

- San Diego, CA, USA

problem #26

Dec 142020

TL

  • 150,000 miles

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

After having my car in the shop for 2 weeks trying to figure out why the power steering won't stop freaking exploding when there is nothing wrong with any of the parts except the hoses going bad. I once again was left in the middle of a busy street with no power steering trying to muscle my way back to the shop. This is ridiculousssssss. Why are they not telling us their cars have issues!!!!!

- Wichita, KS, USA

problem #25

Jun 282020

TL 6-cyl

  • miles
I am texting you because there was a recall on the transmission and it broke down on me when I went out of town so it is still sitting in the town I went to and the recall was on power train automatic transmission recall number 08V091000 on 2/7/2008 and I would like to know when I can get my vehicle repaired.

- Canal Winchester, OH, USA

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problem #24

Dec 022019

TL

  • 119,000 miles
The transmission is lacking at any moment that happens to me in the middle of the street. No safe another car almost hit me. No safe.... my dash is horrible completely cracke and this definitely is going to affect the airbags in my Acura 2004 TL. Sorry is the wors of worst.yes I was driving going in to the gas station and car just lack I couldn't do anything after about 20 minutes. The car gets on gear again and I get in gas station

- Kissimmee, FL, USA

problem #23

Oct 032018

TL

  • 152,000 miles

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

My 2004 Acura TL is my first car owned. When I put the car in drive I can only accelerate to 20-30mph on the highway. Because, the car would not accelerate on a straight way or up hills. This is a dangerous manufacture malfunction with Acura transmissions for the consumers financially and physcially. I would appreciate a recall being done on my 2004 Acura TL because I love this car and would love to keep it. I am a college student and do not have the money to install another transmission and the same thing happens again. I have read many reviews about transmissins failures on Honda/Acura transmissions. I thought Acura was a great brand, but Acura CEO and headquaraters have to know that consumers are frustrated and angry regarding transmissions and other related issues due to the transmissions.

- Cheltenham, MD, USA

problem #22

Sep 112018

TL

  • 193,000 miles
Power steering spit out oil everywhere

- West Palm Beach, FL, USA

problem #21

Jul 262018

TL

  • 130,000 miles
The contact owns a 2004 Acura TL. While driving 40 mph, the vehicle failed to shift into another gear even with the engine revving. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the gears failed because the second or third gear was not getting enough lubrication to shift properly. The contact stated that the vehicle exhibited the same symptoms as listed in NHTSA campaign number: 04V176000 (power train). The vehicle was not taken to a dealer. The manufacturer stated that the vehicle was not included in any recalls. The failure mileage was 130,000.

- Flower Mound, TX, USA

problem #20

May 192018

TL

  • 170,000 miles
Last weekend I was driving in the highway all sudden my car lose power and the transmission became not engaged with engine and almost got into a major accident. The car was performed perfectly before that. I kept the car in top condition never had any issues. So the car was towed home and I tried to diagnose the issue and found out that the tramission filter was bad and the loose filter components got stuck in the after filter hose bolt. According to the owners manual transmission filter does not have any maintenance scheduled to change the filter. My car has about 170,000 miles. When the filter gets old and become brittle and breaks apart and block the fluid passage causes my tramission to fail. Please see attached for the pictures with filter material stuck in the filter bolt.

- West Lafayette, IN, USA

problem #19

Apr 152018

TL

  • 122,000 miles

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

One of the front axles sheared (broke in half). This happened when the car started moving forward when the light turned green. An accident didn't result but if this had happened while the car was moving it would have been very bad. The mechanic suggested the axle was made with weak metal. The car had 122,000 miles on it and has since been sold to carmax. The other front axle has not been replaced but likely is made of the same weak metal. I have the broken axle and will save it for another month.

- Rockville, MD, USA

problem #18

Mar 152018

TL

  • 173,000 miles
I bought a used 2004 Acura TL that has run fine for 6 months so far. Just last night, when stationary and trying to move forward my transmission started slipping, stalling out and ramping up to 5000 RPM. After a green light with cars behind me and I can't move an inch. I take my car to a transmissions specialist to learn that there is coolant mixing with my transmission fluid. There was a NHTSA recall on the automatic transmissions for Acura TL's in 2004. Recall number 04V176000. The transmissions specialist said that in 23 years working he couldn't remember the last time he saw this problem in a Honda, he thought they called back those coolers. Anyway, calling my local Acura dealer, they just looked up my VIN and told me there is no recall assigned to my car, and therefore they can't do the recall work. Yet I have the exact problem described in the recall! I read that manufacturers are only required to do recall work for 10 years but they might do older work (14 yrs) in this case since there are so many old cars still on the road, or if it poses a risk to the road (which in this case it certainly does). I'm looking at a $2600 fix that I feel should be addressed by the manufacturer and I'm being blown off. 'on some vehicles, certain operating conditions can result in heat build-up between the countershaft and secondary shaft second gears in the automatic transmission, eventually leading to gear tooth chipping or gear breakage.'

- Marietta, GA, USA

problem #17

Oct 052015

TL

  • miles
Previous recall on the power steering hose leaking, mine is leaking when in motion and stationary, previous recall on internal transmission fault, previous recall on wiper motor housing, current recall on ball joints, was told by mechanic I have a ball joint problem, current problem with passenger side headlight going out. Replaced ballast with new one and head light worked for a couple of weeks and went out again, notice while in motion and stationary.

- Jacksonville, FL, USA

problem #16

Feb 152018

TL

  • miles
My 2004 Acura TL is experiencing transmission issues. I was driving down a city street when my car suddenly began slipping gears. The engine would rev when I pressed the gas, however, the car was acting like it was in neutral. I was driving in traffic so this could have potentially caused a crash. I am thankful that this did not happen while I was on the highway just moments before the problem started happening. I was able to steer the car to the side of the road and put it into park. The car would not properly shift into drive or reverse. I had to get my car towed to a mechanic. He stated that something in the transmission was overheating and that some serious damage could have occurred. The transmission problems that I am experiencing are identical to the problems outlined in recall #04V176000.

- Union, NJ, USA

problem #15

Jan 012018

TL

  • 130,000 miles
Bought used on 1/1 /2018, drove fine for about 10 minutes and then it felt like car went into neutral and car wouldn't move. We were about an hour from my house from where we bought car. We then had to pull over, shut the car off, wait 5 minutes and start car for it not even go a mile and we would have to repeat. We were traveling on busy parkway and this became a traffic hazard due to the amount of traffic.the car will shift into any gear and has 130,000 miles on it.

- Ancram, NY, USA

problem #14

Jul 122017

TL

  • 140,000 miles
Vehicle transmission is shifting hard and feels like it's slipping

- San Antonio, TX, USA

problem #13

Sep 122016

TL

  • miles
Recall number 04V176000 power train:automatic transmission I have noticed that when you type in your make and model this is the recall that shows up, but when I use my VIN it does not show this recall but it shows the same symptoms/ issues that are on this recall. My car whines after certain RPM. I called Acura and explained the same and they said it is not specific to my VIN. I asked a dealer and the employee explained that this was common and people have driven their cars with same issues up to 400K miles. Is this safe for me to drive when I know the problem exists. How can the manufacturer get away not honor when the exact problem exists. I have read a few complains that other people have expressed on the web. Is there anything I can do so Acura can honor this issue?

- Cheyenne, WY, USA

problem #12

Mar 042015

TL

  • 180,000 miles
The contact owns a 2004 Acura TL. While driving 35 mph, the gear shifter tooth failed. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the gear shifter tooth fractured and the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 180,000.

- Woolwich, NJ, USA

problem #11

Apr 012016

TL

  • miles
Drive axle broke in side torque convertor while I was driving 45 speed I had no trans when axle broke steer car over to side of road so another vehicle didnot hit

- Feasterville, PA, USA

problem #10

Nov 072013

TL

  • miles
Top of my dash where the glovebox is all crack where the the takata inflators our

- Feasterville, PA, USA

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