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Acura TL Transmission Questions

144 messages,  Last post on Oct 08, 2012 at 4:46 PM

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What is this discussion about? Acura TL, Sedan

Messages Page 12 of 15

#104 of 144 Re: Acura/Honda junk transmissions [2233] by mikesmurano

Sep 09, 2010 (5:50 am)

Replying to: 2233 (Sep 07, 2010 11:40 am)
I can appreciate your irritations about the transmission and the cost.
 
I had some horrible experiences with a Nissan Murano and have sworn never to buy a Nissan product for the rest of time. I had to replace a transmission (CVT) at 121,000 miles (1000 miles out of warranty $6400).
 
I sold the car after repairs. The car was always maintained properly.
 
At least Acura offered you something. I got nothing. I actually purchased a 2005 TL recently and totally love the car. I got the 6 spd. manual.
 
I can say from experience that if you don't change the fluid (and filter if needed) every 12 months you will set yourself up for failure. If you didn't maintain your Acura tranny it won't last. I have a 1999 4Runner (4WD) with 240,000 miles on the original tranny. I change the fluid annually. I know though it will eventually go.
 
Front wheel drive cars are more prone to transmission failure due to their design and the compact area they sit in (they retain a lot of heat).
 
Count your blessings on the Acura. You could have owned a crappy newer Nissan Murano.

#105 of 144 Re: Acura/Honda junk transmissions [collins15] by smarty666

Sep 09, 2010 (7:43 am)

Replying to: collins15 (Sep 08, 2010 8:34 pm)
agree completely, plus he has post in multiple threads on edmunds his repeat whinning complaints about a 10yr old Acura TL that had its transmission go after the warranty period was over!
 
unfortunately, with any car you get, no matter what manufacturer, once your out of warranty, you are at their mercy and they technically don't have to do anything for you!
 
For anyone else, don't let him deter you from getting an Acura or Honda product! If you look at CR reliability history chart for the TL, the last model year for widespread transmission issues was 2004. Since then, they have gotten above avg or much above avg scores for their transmissions! they are no longer a problem
 
I have had a 2006 TL and now a 2008 and I have had no transmission issues with almost 90k combined miles on those cars nor do I know of anyone of my countless friends and family members who have Honda and Acura products have transmission issues
 
He likes to complain about Acura day and night, but what he doesn't tell you is that, I have had the same exact trouble with Infiniti that he has had with Acura, just regarding a different issue. All the manufacturers treat you like dirt, and there is no brand loyalty with any of them. I've found that out the hard way over the years. Nissan has had terrible trouble with the 1st Gen CVT which is one of the reasons why they extended the warranty to 10yrs/120k miles on the CVT and connecting parts to the transmission. They also did it to avoid lawsuits b/c people were having their transmissions blow out at 50k, 60k, and 70k+ miles and having to spend $5-10k out of pocket for replacements which Nissan would not reimbursed. Nissan is still giving people trouble who had their transmissions go out before they extended the warranty coverage and needing tons of papers which the customer does not have and not reimbursing them still. Thankfully, the 2nd Gen CVT from 2009+ has thus far seen much much fewer CVT issues and less intensity compared to the 1st Gen. That is why I waited to get the Maxima until 2010 once I saw how the 2nd Gen CVT faired. So far, after 12k miles, it has performed flawlessly and no problems what so ever yet.

#107 of 144 Re: Acura/Honda junk transmissions [smarty666] by kirstie_h HOST

Sep 09, 2010 (9:25 am)

Replying to: smarty666 (Sep 09, 2010 7:43 am)
Let's knock off the comments about other members and focus on the comments themselves, please. It's easy enough to respond to the points in the post rather than making personally-directed remarks about the person posting the points, and that's what we expect.

#108 of 144 Re: Acura/Honda junk transmissions [kirstie_h] by smarty666

Sep 09, 2010 (10:58 am)

Replying to: kirstie_h (Sep 09, 2010 9:25 am)
I was just trying to put things into perspective since he has gone on multiple threads warning people that an entire car brand is bad b/c of his one bad experience. My point was that multiple brands, besides Acura and Honda, have had transmission issues and it kind of is a chance thing whether you will or will not have a problem.
 
I'm agreeing it was a terrible experience to have to go through but I don't think it is appropriate to tell people that an entire car brand is terrible. I had a terrible problem with brake/rotor issues on my Infiniti FX, but I don't go on the Infiniti threads and tell people not to buy their products and that all Infiniti's are bad and should not be bought b/c I had one negative experience with my vehicle.
 
I did not curse or personally attack him. I think I did pretty well addressing his warnings and problems with Honda/Acura transmission and staying at the transmission issues at hand. I have both Acura and Infiniti vehicles so I think I can offer a good perspective on the issue.

#109 of 144 Re: Acura/Honda junk transmissions [collins15] by 2233

Sep 11, 2010 (7:50 am)

Replying to: collins15 (Sep 08, 2010 8:34 pm)
You apparently didn't read in my posts that I repeatedly asked for a new transmission at around 60,000, 70,000 and repeatedly afterwards when the transmission constantly slipped in and out of gear. This was well within the 100,000 k warranty.
 
Acura took 11 days to notify me of their decision. Very inconsiderate.
 
Don't worry - they are rid of me and my extended family. Their actions cost them 3 sales in the past month with more to come.
 
Please post and let us know if you still have a working transmission in a year or two.
I'll wager that your "D5" light will be flashing soon.
 
Good luck - you'll need it.

#110 of 144 Re: Acura/Honda junk transmissions [smarty666] by 2233

Sep 11, 2010 (8:03 am)

Replying to: smarty666 (Sep 09, 2010 10:58 am)
Smarty,
 
I never referred to your rants about your Infiniti as whining as you did with me. Please by civil and professional to other members. Show some class.
 
Hopefully you'll never go through what I experienced with Acura. They could have called me two days after my request and inform me in a reasonable manner why they did not wish to contribute more to the repair of the transmission. 11 days is what it took for a decision.
 
As I previously posted, this car was totally nervewracking to drive from around 60k to the end. I flushed it regularly. I brought this transmission to their attention and went on record of the problem at 60K plus. The constant daily slipping had my daughter wonder is the D-5 light going to flash today? Is today the day the transmission goes out? She drove to her college and her special education assignments each day about 40 miles and was fearful of being stranded somewhere.
 
Acura never did anything. It was like just wait for the other shoe to drop.
 
My family had 3 transmissions go out on MDX, TL and an Accord. I don't call that "whining" my man - I call that "facts."
 
Hopefully you never see the dreaded "D5" flash.

#111 of 144 Re: Acura/Honda junk transmissions [2233] by smarty666

Sep 11, 2010 (3:19 pm)

Replying to: 2233 (Sep 11, 2010 8:03 am)
Oh I do agree, that Acura treated you badly on the customer service front and that I was surprise of that b/c I have had the opposite experience and in fact have had problems of them being up my butt and constantly calling to see if my service experience, recall, warranty fix, etc has worked or not and what they could do for me.
 
What you went through with Acura is exactly how Infiniti and Nissan have treated me so I can understand how you feel with being treated like that, just with a different brand obviously.
 
I hope your happy with your new vehicles and they are problem free for you!

#112 of 144 Re: Acura/Honda junk transmissions [smarty666] by jspargo

Nov 22, 2010 (2:32 pm)

Replying to: smarty666 (Sep 11, 2010 3:19 pm)
I have a question with respect to the cost of a transmission replacement. I have a 2002 TL with 51,000 miles on it. The well-known transmission slippage problem started occurring a few months ago and I took it into my local repair shop (where I get all my service done). They identified the transmission problem and gave me a copy of the service bulleting and warranty extension (02-027). They said they could do the work, but advised me to talk to the nearest Acura dealer to see if warranty accommodation could be made, which might get me a lower bill than what they (the independent shop) would charge. They advised me not to be confrontational and not to demand full free replacement.
 
So I did as they advised and just got the estimate from the dealer. They said that a full transmission replacement was advised, and with a full replacement the ECU would also have to be replaced because the shift points will all be different for a new transmission. The estimated total cost is $6100. They have talked to the district manager and have authorization to do the replacement for a cost to me of $2100.
 
Except-- My independent shop gave me an (admittedly off-the-cuff) estimate of about $2000 for the job. This is a major disconnect, and I think the actions of the independent shop in pointing me to a dealer instead of just quoting a replacement speaks to their integrity. I'm also a little suspicious that the reduced cost I'm getting is just about dead on what my independent shop quoted.
 
So my question is: Is $6100 in the ballpark of replacement of transmission and ECU for an 02 TL (so maybe my independent repair guy just didn't take into account into account) and is it really necessary to replace the ECU?
 
I could use some informed opinions. Thanks

#113 of 144 Re: Acura/Honda junk transmissions [jspargo] by Mr_Shiftright HOST

Nov 22, 2010 (2:38 pm)

Replying to: jspargo (Nov 22, 2010 2:32 pm)
Are these quotes for the same thing? The dealer's quote suggests that this is a new or factory reman transmission, while the shop's quote suggests an in-house rebuild of yours. Maybe you need to clarify this before you make a decision. Also carefully compare warranties from each of the two outlets.

Messages Page 12 of 15

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