2003 Acura TL engine problems

Filed Oct 21, 2023 · Engine, Fuel system · NY

This car is not safe. First, the Takata airbags are in it. I drove my daughter, my mother and my little dog in this car! I can’t believe the used car dealership did not let me know that. Then the car starts shifting funny. Also dangerous. There should be a recall for transmission. There are over 500 people affected by this. I’m trying to enter a highway and I need to pick up speed, because there is a tractor trailer in the right lane and heavy traffic. I try to accelerate and it goes nowhere. 30mph. And that was after I merged in and have traffic going 70 behind me. Scariest thing ever. They should not be allowed to sell these cars. It is not safe for the driver and their family and it is not safe for others on the road. I can’t believe the negligence. I will not be driving this death trap ever again.

Filed Mar 19, 2018 · Engine, Transmission · 215,000 miles · MD

'tamara recall' before taking off the car had trouble going into gear. Once the car was in motion it began to have a hard shift then once I gained speed of 45 on the highway it wouldn't accelerate any more it actually started to slow down so I pulled off the road I put the car in park and heard a fast clicking noise turned the car off turned it back on tried put it in gear and it wouldn't move

Filed Sep 1, 2016 · Engine, Transmission · 202,134 miles · NC

My car's check engine light and tcs light came on. Had my car scanned at my local obii service center and recieved code p1676. Still experiencing same problem after, I then took my car to the local honda dealership service center to get a verification of this code and saw a flyer for recalls. I review the information, (I own an acura, honda was unable to provide the recall repair service) and found that recalls pertaining to the code generated from the initial scan for when the check engine light came on pertained to the code. I called in reference to the recalls posted on the website. I was informed that a recall repair for the transmission/power-train (04v176000) and timing belt (02v226000) were made to my vehicle however I am still having the same problem including excessive vibration & hesitation during acceleration especially between 50-60mph), cruise control has shut off without warning/notice while driving , and inability to pass nc emissions inspections. I contacted the federal safety agency and was informed with 2 different reasons why my vehicle was not eligible for repair. (1) vehicle batch number was not affected and then (2) the repair had already been made in feb 2005 by previous owner. All these problem started occurring after I took my car to leith acura of cary, nc for the recall on the tarkata airbags(15v320000). I have been denied safety repairs to my vehicle. Leith acura of cary, nc is requiring me to pay $131.00 inorder to do a diagnostic scan only that I already have proof from several ase certified inspection stations (which were free of charge). I does not include the amount that may be required to fix the problem pending it is not totally a recall repair. I believe that the repair was done incorrectly or the current transmission is not the one that replaced the original transmission after the recall repair. If so, I should be allowed repairs.

Filed Mar 4, 2016 · Engine, Steering · 161,000 miles · AZ

Power steering pressure hose leaking and power steering pump leak. Years 2004-27 have been recalled for this; 2003should be, as well. Right engine mount and rear engine mounts cracked or broken.

Filed Aug 8, 2015 · Engine · 102,500 miles · WI

The accelerator stuck when pulling into my driveway then accelerating. The engine stuck in the accelerated mode. I had to brake with 2 feet and put the transmission in neutral, then turned the ignition to off. I was fortunate that I did not drive through the garage door. Examination of the engine's throttle body showed the breakage of the plastic cruise control "pulley" on the throttle body actuator shaft, causing the cruise control cable to hold the throttle open. The plastic part cracked at the cable retention notch. I have noted that other acura owners have also experienced this problem. Ref: acurazine.com/forums/second-generation-tl-1999-2003-98/cruise-control-repair-suggestion-833196/

Filed Jun 4, 2014 · Airbags, Body · 120,000 miles · GA · crash

My daughter died in a accident on november 7, 2013 in the acura tl 2003. She had been telling me that it felt like the ignition was sticking and would speed up. I would check with my local mechanic and he told me acuras are known to idle high. I believe that her car problem was the cause of the accident and the police could not give me a reason for the accident. She was 19 and a senior in high school and was a good child.

Filed Apr 25, 2014 · Acceleration, Engine · 130,000 miles · SC

I was pulling off the interstate and came to a red light on a hill right before haywood road. I had to stop because the light was red and when the light turned green I pulled onto haywood road and the car went through 1st gear, 2nd gear and right before it went into 3rd it slipped out of gear and just revved to around 4000 RPM. When the car went into 3rd and started sipping I had a pile of cars that bunched on my behind. I had two guys in a truck scream and yell obscene gestures.

Filed Dec 4, 2013 · Engine, Transmission · 161,200 miles · TX

Upon driving on a freeway going around 50 MPH my transmission suddenly pulled my car to a quick slowing down motion as if being moved from gear down to first or second. Luckily, there were no vehicles behind me as I was in a far right line. It is an older vehicle however it is a recurring issue it appears as there was a recall on it already before. The dealerships have given me conflicting stories on the vehicle history as far repairs and recalls on the vehicle and I do wish to have the federal safety agency look into the history of this recall as well as warn the current owners of the vehicle of this issue as I had not had a problem with the transmission since becoming the owner and was not told of the recall upon multiple visits to the dealership.

Filed Jul 13, 2011 · Engine, Suspension · 73,000 miles · CO

Upon a normal recall invitation for the air bag inflator ( per manufacturer requirement) a separate normal inspection was done to vehicle. The mechanic found the front and right front motor mounts have collapsed. I know several other owners of honda and acura of the same year and SUV models with the same failure.

Filed Mar 20, 2009 · Engine · 99,300 miles · VA

Engine started idling at about 3000 RPM unexpectedly, could not make it stop. It was hard to control the vehicle when it would not go under 3000 RPM. Fortunately it stopped after about 10 minutes. Took to dealer, found problem was idle control mechanism on top of engine, it was replaced.