2002 Acura TL 3.2 TLS from North America - Comments

I have a 2003 TL Type S. if the car is not covered under the extended warranty, does that mean the car is OK? Why is Acura ignoring the problem? Peoples lives are at risk!!!

I have been an acura fan for a very long time and have had 6 acura vehicles. I had a 1999 3.2 TL bad transmission at 150000 kms. Replaced transmission and sold the car. 2002 Acura MDX 65000kms transmission replace, 95000kms again transmission replaced. This all was under warranty, but there is a definite problem with the acura vehicles. I got a 2002 TLS which had the transmission replaced at 150000kms and now with 209000kms is gone again. Called Acura customer service and they said that they will call back as its out of warranty on the 3.2TLS, but they better replace it as they put in a re-manufactured tranny in this car. In the last 3 years on these 2 cars I have had including the original 6 transmissions. There is a real problem here and I will make sure acura does something about it.

Bought a Rebuilt Salvage Title 2002 TL with 60,000, and the second I get it, the tranny slips and revs... Florida Dealer had replaced at 46,000, and is shipping me one this week. The local dealer here told me that my car with its title history would not be eligible for a new tranny... I felt lucky, but not happy with the prospects of another tranny. Someone had mentioned something about dealers using used tranny fluid and that is bad... it that true??

Thanks, Mike.

I'm an owner of a 2002 TLS and my car is at the dealership with the same transmission issue everyone's been talking about. I got the car used at an acura dealership in january of 06 with 38k miles. this is the first time that the tranny has slipped under my ownership. now the car has roughly 62k miles, but I'm assuming they'll be inserting the newer 06 transmission. should I feel safe with the newer tranny?

I think I would talk to the dealership extensively before assuming they are putting in the newer transmission. The cars were redesigned in 04 and I hope that means the transmission was redesigned. But does that mean they can be retrofitted into the older TLs? I don't know.

When my trans was replaced in Jan 06 the mechanic himself - the one with dirt under his nails, not the polo wearing guys who work in the air-conditioning - assured me this should solve the problem. But from reading the experiences of other folks on this board I'm not so sure. I guess the question I should have asked was "Would you let your wife and kids drive this car for the next 10 years?"

That being said I'm still planning on getting rid of this beloved car next year when the powertrain warranty runs out.

It appears the replacement transmissions being installed have the same defective components. Keep all records of repairs and attempted repairs.

10:24 I put financial losses way behind the safety of my wife and 2 young children. Sure it was a great driving vehicle... but I gladly took a third of what it cost new without hesitation. I could not wait and feel responsible for putting them in danger on the interstate as there is no guarantee it would not happen again and again. This was the worst financial loss however I ever had on a vehicle in 27 years of driving. I now drive new high end domestics.

Hello everyone.

Just picked up a 2002 TL 3.2 and have the same problem with the transmission. Brought it to a dealer and the guy took me out for a test run, where the tranny did not slip. I have driven it for about 400 miles, and there was not one time that the idle did not rev. Anyways, I took it to the dealer with 87,310 miles; they are replacing it for free. I am the second owner of this car; I sure hope this is the end of the transmission problems.

I should have checked for all the recalls and posts before purchasing this darn car!... good helpful tips and problems from every owner means a lot.

THANKS FOR THE INFO>>>

I was pleased to stumble onto this site, as I have a 2000 Acura TL with 180,000 miles on the odometer. This is my wife's car, which we bought after owning four Honda products beginning in the late 80's. We tend to keep cars about ten years, and we have put well over 200,000 miles on a couple of Accords with no problems. This Acura has been just like the Hondas except for the transmission. Unfortunately (fortunately?), ours began missing the 2nd to 3rd shift and jerking during acceleration somewhat after the 100,000 mile mark. It had been serviced for another transmission issue under a recall prior to 100,000 miles. Took it for the shift problems and the technician said the transmission had to be replaced, with no acknowledgement that this was very un-Honda reliability.

I'm not able to spend $4000 to have the transmission replaced and sure can't afford a new car right now. I'm certain Honda/Acura realizes the size of this problem. The same basic transmission is on Odysseys, MDX's, Pilots, Ridgelines, and V-6 Accords. I've seen some posts here where people had the transmissions replaced even out of warranty for a reduced cost. Our dealership doesn't even admit there's a problem, so I don't think they'll offer any help in that regard. Are there any specific dealerships or regional offices that might be more sympathetic to our problem? Also, it sounds like some transmissions have been replaced three or four times. What type of guarantee would we have that a replacement would be reliable?

I know 200,000 miles sounds unreal to some folks, but I don't understand why Honda's "up-level" product should turn out to be less reliable than the average Civic. We paid over $28,000 for what we thought would be a superior product.

I have a 2000 TL with 165,000 miles on it. The transmission was replaced at 110,000 because of the recall. A few weeks ago, we noticed transmission fluid leaking on the garage floor. I took it to the Acura dealer we bought it from and he said the transmission needed to be replaced and it would cost about $4,000. He referred me to a local independent transmission re-builder. After reading the comments on this board, and a conversation with a local independent Acura specialist, I called Acura Customer Care. They were very polite, and said they would call me back about it. A half hour later, they called back and agreed to replace the transmission at no charge. The Acura dealer got the transmission in, and within 3 days, I had the car back.

So the message here is--keep trying--they will fix them even if they have high mileage. The rebuilt tranny is warrantied for 12 months/12,000 miles. The only complaint I have is that my local dealer didn't tell me to call Customer Care.

My wife is off delivering my daughter to college in the car--a 1600 mile round trip. We plan to keep the car another 100,000 miles, so I hope they have fixed the problems for good.

Get ready, folks, I am on my 5th transmission.

I am the first owner of a 2002 TL Type S, and we had our first transmission replaced at under 30,000. That transmission was replaced at a little over 60,000, and then again at 104,000 miles. All these transmissions were warrantied and we love the car, other than this lemon transmission.

WE are loyal to Honda and have a 2004 Acura TL in the garage, along with purchasing Civics for all four children when each turned 16.

My car is in the shop again, and this time they are balking at paying. I am entering into negotiations tomorrow morning, and I cannot believe I came upon this web site. I am going to ask about the class action, and see if we can get one more transmission out of them.

I am stunned to see all the problems, and Acura's lack of leadership. I was going to replace this Acura with a new one when this gave up, but I was expecting that would be at least 200,000- 225,00 miles. Oh well, wish me luck.

Frustrated in Indy.

I bought a used '03 3.2TL Type "S" in December of 2006...it has operated perfectly until yesterday... same thing everyone else is saying... slipping between 2nd and 3rd gear... I had it towed to a local transmission shop and am now wondering if I should have them put it back together and take it to the local dealer... it had 54000 miles when I bought it and now has 67500...would the dealer repair it for labor only or at best for free??? Again, I am not the original owner and have no warranty, but Acura has to know they have put out a faulty product and the more people that see sites like this, the fewer people that will buy Acura/Honda...I have been a huge believer in Honda products since my first Honda in 1987 and never even gave it a second thought that I might be looking at a $3000-$4500 repair expense in a 2003 model Acura...I expected to drive it for a few years and get a full return on my "luxury car" investment. I will contact the local dealer and see what they say...

Thanks for a great site and an open forum to discuss these issues!

I put in the comment on August 20th and thanks to this forum Acura of Memphis will be replacing my transmission under warranty even though I did not buy the car from them and I bought it used. They will aslo be including a 3 year/36,000 mile warranty on the new transmission. This is great news!!! They are doing all of this at no charge to me!

I only wish I had done the research first and found this site... I did have to tell the transmission shop I originally had it towed to, to put it back together and had to pay them $700 to do it, but that is much better than having to pay for a new transmission!!!

My suggestion to anyone that is having a transmission problem: TAKE IT TO THE DEALER, TALK TO THE SERVICE MANAGER AND IF HE WON'T FIX IT UNDER Warranty, TALK TO THE DISTRICT MANAGER... IT WILL HAPPEN. ACURA IS STANDING BEHIND THEIR PROBLEM AND THEIR PRODUCT!!!

Acura of Memphis is very good. I bought my car from them and they have honored every warranty - no problems, no hassles whatsoever. I'll certainly consider buying from them again, but it probably won't be another Acura (don't care for the newer models). I'm waiting for the powertrain warranty on my TL to expire next summer and then I'll purchase something else.

I was shopping the other day and as I was getting in my car a Mercedes CLK pulled in the space beside me. She got out and looked at my car and said "Nice car" referring to my 02 Acura TL (which was sparkling clean at the time and looking pretty good if I do say so). I was a bit surprised and said "Thank you, I like yours, too." She said "I used to have one like that and I miss it so much.". I mentioned how much I enjoyed this car, but the transmission problems I'd had with it. She responded that is exactly why she got rid of hers.

I mention this story because 1) someone in a cool Mercedes complimented my car :) and 2) this is the third person I've talked to (in the city I live in, not online) that has loved this car, but had to trade it in because of these persistant transmission problems.

I'm just so put out with the idea of getting another car. My TL is running well, but I know I have to get something else within a year or so, but I don't want to. I've looked everywhere (foreign, domestic, high-end, mid-range) and nothing seems to compare. Cars and the way they ride and perform are so subjective. Others may have no problem finding a car that is a great substitute, but I can't find anything I like as well as this Acura (the new Acura's don't even compare, might as well have been made on another planet). Sorry if this is a bit off topic, but just thought I'd share my misery with those who love/have loved this car. If you have a suggestion for something that handles and performs like this car, but has the same sporty-smooth ride and safety features as these TLs (and less than $35k, new or used), I'm listening.