2001 Acura CL: jerking or lurching

Filed Mar 13, 2015 · Acceleration, Brakes · 139,000 miles · MI · crash · 1 injury

Acura 2001 was parked on the 3rd floor of a parking structure. Owner(driver) backed car out of its parking spot at 5:00 p,m, when the temp. Was 13 degrees above zero. At first owner was unable to get any acceleration when stepping on the gas pedal to go forward in drive, gear 5. Tapped on gas pedal for accelerating and the car lurched forward with engine racing at a high rate of speed. Driver was trying to decelerate the car while steering car through the descending levels of the ramp. Slammed on the brakes and they did not hold the car tried throwing it into reverse and nothing changed. On the first floor driver with foot on the brakes sheared off the front of a pick-up truck before smashing in to the wall, which stopped the car. Driver suffered a broken sternum, collar bone and l-3 vertebrae fracture in the back. Spent two days in the hospital and 4 weeks in brace off work.

Filed Aug 22, 2011 · Transmission · 100,000 miles · CO

Tl* the contact owns a 2001 acura 3.2 cl. While driving 55 MPH, the contact stated that the vehicle jerked and stalled. A local mechanic diagnosed that the transmission would need to be replaced. The dealer and manufacturer denied any assistance with repairs to the vehicle. The failure was not remedied. The failure and current mileage was 100,000.

Filed May 9, 2010 · Transmission · 69,500 miles · NJ

2001 acura cls (VIN [xxx]). When pulling out onto a major road (55mph) with oncoming traffic the car paused as the trans slipped, the engine revved to 5000 RPM, the trans then locked into gear, the tires squealed and the car lurched forward. Thank god that my wife didn't run into someone or lose control of the vehicle. Now I read that this is common with this model year and transmission. The federal safety agency knew of the problem and a class action settlement was offered. However nothing was done to make owners and the general public safer. It seems to me that at a minimum the federal safety agency should have mandated acura to warn owners, and mandate acura to perform more routine inspections on this poorly designed transmission, and perhaps more frequent fluid changes. I read that the federal safety agency was considering additional action on this issue and hope you do. This incident occurred with no prior warning. Allowing a 240 hp car on the road with this type of known failure is unsafe to owners and the general public in my view. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6).

Filed Jun 2, 2009 · Transmission · 136,000 miles · NC

Purchased 2001 acura cl-3.2 on 12/02 as second owner from acura dealership with 46,570 on the odometer. Noticed slight transmission slippage 02/03. Had vehicle serviced and transmission replaced under warranty with. Received letter dated summer 2004 of transmission recall. Took vehicle to dealer on accordance to recall letter. Dealer installed oil jet kit. On 05/23/09 (136,000 on the odometer), traveling approx. 70 MPH on interstate, d5 started flashing. Minutes later, the vehicle downshifted and the tcs indicated came on. The vehicle repeated this downshifting again while attempting to move from the center lane to the far right lane causing the wheels to lock experiencing violent jerking motions. The rear vehicle approaching had to maneuver to the center lane to avoid rear end collision. Proceeded to roadside and parked the vehicle. Vehicle was taken to home address and parked. Called and informed dealer of transmission issue which had symptoms of prior recall. Also contacted acura corporate headquarters and was referred to the dealership for servicing due to the prior recall. Dealer serviced vehicle on 05/28/09 (inv# 291814) and determined by diagnostic, the solenoids malfunctioned. Solenoids were replaced by dealer at owner expense and test driven by service center technicians resulting in no resolution and prompting another diagnostic error code. It was determined by the technicians that the transmission was experiencing unknown symptoms and recommended the transmission be replaced for a second time. Due to vehicle being out of warranty and extended warranty, dealer will not offer good faith gesture or goodwill dealer replacement. Vehicle was serviced at recommended manufactures intervals. Service history was provided to dealer by owner.

Filed Oct 31, 2004 · Transmission · 48,700 miles · NE

I was driving on the freeway going about 55 MPH. I pressed on the gas pedal to increase speed to get in the other lane. My car suddenly slipped from fifth gear into first gear causing the car to lurch forward then backwards. I was shocked and my hands left the steering wheel but I regained control. It felt like I ran into a barrier. I had whip-lash but did not report that. My 2001 acura, cl 3.2 type s had started to "stumble" between gears just lately so I was going to take it into the dealer. When this experience occurred on the interstate, it was very unsettling. That is a dangerous defect. My car is at the dealership waiting for a "new" transmission. I hope this never happens again. I only have 48,700 miles on the car.

Filed Oct 5, 2004 · Transmission · OR

Sudden jerk on the highway, jerk in changing gears and sometimes does not change to the 5th gear. A delayed and hard gear change between 2-3, 3-4. Driving on the freeway at 65 MPH and sudden down gear change may cause to lose control of car. Probelm reported to acura, and a refurbished transmission was replaced. Month and half later the same problem occured. Acura then again replaced with another refurbished transmission. And again similar problems occured at this moment. Acura is looking at the car. I hope that the federal safety agency force acura to recall the car for the public safety. This problem remains uncorrected and can cause injury or death. Acura should replace with new cars.

Filed Oct 30, 2003 · Transmission · 56,000 miles · NY

Transmission abruptly failed at 56,000. This caused a dangerous driving condition as the engine would rev until the transmission would suddenly drop into gear causing the car to jerk wildly.

Filed Oct 2, 2003 · Transmission · 57,000 miles · CA

My 2001 acura cl s type has transmission problems. It would suddenly jerk when going from 1st to 2nd gear. When it goes into 3rd gear there is a loss of power. The engine d5 light blinks.

Filed Sep 26, 2003 · Transmission · CA

While driving on the highway transmission would slip and jerk, causing the consumer to pull off the road. The consumer has made contact with the tire manufacturer.

Filed Aug 27, 2003 · Transmission · DC

Automatic transmissin failed to upshift properly while driving.this caused vehicle to jerk forward as if down shifting on its own. Would shift out of 2nd gear with rpms running very high.

Filed Aug 6, 2003 · Acceleration, Transmission · DC

The automatic transmission fails to shift properly. Would jerk forward as if it was down shifting on its own. Transmission will not shift out of 2nd gear. Also, rpms would run very high. Recently was not able to shift in to reverse. Felt as if the brakes were on. The drive indicator started flashing. Traction light had came on with the engine light and stayed on. Problem had started on 7/7/03. Had taken the vehicle to dealership on 7/11, and had picked up vehicle on 7/18. Mechanic indicated the problem was not able to be duplicated. The problems with the automatic transmission still exists.*ak

Filed Mar 28, 2003 · Transmission · 32,000 miles · NY

2001 acura cl, 32000 miles,5 speed auto trans. While driving in heavy traffic at 45 MPH, the transmission violently and erratically shifted from 5th speed into 1st or 2nd and back into 5th. This unexpected shifting caused the car to rapidly slow down, then accelerate. I turned off the highway onto a less crowded street and continued driving towards my destination. The problem recurred 5 or 6 times in the next 3 miles. Previously, the only indication of transmission trouble was earlier that day. There was some slippage when shifting between 2nd and 3rd speed. The acura dealer examined the car and told me I needed a new transmission. Acura informed owners by letter that there are problems with some transmissions and extended the warranty on them, but I had no idea of what to expect. This was a frightening experience! It is fortunate that I had my seat belts on as the sudden lurching would have thrown me against the steering wheel with considerable force. I think there should be a recall on these cars to replace the transmissions.