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Acura TL jerking problems

110 of the 3,117 owner complaints about the Acura TL describe jerking or lurching, most of them for the 2003 model year.

owner complaints
110
worst model year
2003
typical repair cost reported
$4,000
typical mileage
89,000
Is there a fix? There are 2 recalls for this area of the car. See below

By model year

What owners say

Filed Jan 20, 2024 · Transmission · FL

Driving on Highway going 65mph vehicle suddenly jerked and dropped to 20 mph. Causing my entire body to collide with the steering wheel. Luckily there no cars behind me. Was on my way to work when this happened too far from home. So when I got at work which is thirty minutes from where I live I had to get a tow truck to get my car home. That’s how bad it was. My mom had this car for about ten years. I’ve had it now for three years. Never had this problem before. We’ve had the car in the family for almost fifteen years. Only thing that’s had to change was a power steering line and front shocks. Almost sold it last week and I’m glad I didn’t. Has over 230,000 so I’m not upset. Just a bit sad that this happened to my TL. Needs A/T clutch pressure control solenoid valves A B.

Filed Apr 12, 2023 · Transmission · GA

Slipping , shift feels like it’s losing power and jerks and sputter . Check engine lights is on now . Throwing a P0730 code .. transmission fluid level are where is supposed to be and clean

Filed Mar 22, 2022 · Transmission · 160,000 miles · CA

The contact owns a 2003 Acura TL. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle jerked and hesitated to accelerate. The check engine, third and fourth gear, ESP fault, and VSA system warning lights were illuminated. The contact self-diagnosed the vehicle with a code reader and the code P1750 appeared. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but informed the contact that there was no recall associated with the VIN. The failure mileage was approximately 160,000.

Filed Sep 24, 2021 · Transmission · WA

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.

Filed Jun 9, 2020 · Transmission · 230,000 miles · CA

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 acura tl. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, with the accelerator pedal depressed, the vehicle jerked and hesitated. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to shift above third gear. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact referenced the failure to the federal safety agency campaign number: 04v176000 (power train). The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed the vehicle with a defective speed sensor. The dealer nor the manufacturer had been notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 230,000.

Filed Feb 25, 2020 · Airbags, Transmission · 167,000 miles · TX

2003 acura t.l was in motion when the vehicle started slipping on 2nd gear. Then when vehicle was stationary it would not move in reverse gear. As I was on highway the car started jerking out of control, I could not accelerate, vehicle barely wanted to move so I put it in #2 gear so it work catch and I was able to drive to safety without anyone getting hurt. Very frightening and dangerous. Problem must be addressed immediately.

Filed Feb 10, 2020 · Transmission · 110,000 miles · PA

When parking my vehicle on an incline and placing my manual transmission into first and turning off the car, without applying the parking brake, the car would slowly jerk backwards down the hill.

Filed Jul 13, 2018 · Transmission · 80,000 miles · IL

Tl* the contact owns a 2010 acura tl. While driving 40 MPH, the vehicle began to shake and jerk. The vehicle also failed to accelerate. A dealer was not made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 80,000.

Filed Mar 25, 2018 · Electrical, Transmission · 138,000 miles · CA

In forward motion, freeway. Electrical. Tranny. Car currently reads 138,356 miles. Around roughly 134,000 miles the vehicle check engine light began to flash as a result from rpms reaching about 6 on the cluster RPM display due what felt like slipping into to 3rd or 4th gear. Slipping however usually results with what I would consider a slamming experience from eventually catching and shifting into the correct gear. This happened as I was merging onto freeway. Car did not catch gear but nuetralized until I switched to sport shift mode and displayed 4 gear and the vehicle jetted off. Cel has remained on and 3rd gear still a issue. Did much maintenance, replacement of solenoids,fluid flush, etc. Problem solves then returns. This has went on for about 6mon this last month seemed issue had resolved itself after two more atf flushes in the prior month. This last week my lady and I coming home from our date night, luckily thats wednesday(hump day) for us, so freeways at 12:30-1am in san diego hold few traffic.I say luckily because going about 70-75 MPH the car suddenly felt like what slamming into a wall head on at 75 MPH must feel like. Jerking us forward, uninjured due to seatbelts, thank god. The scariest thing however was the fact that in the far right lane at that speed after the jolt caused the vehicle to neutralize and any accelaration that would occur would instantly give a less intense jolt but rapidly slowed the vehicle down making it extremely difficult and drastically increasing our levels of danger of something worse ,as I made my way over to far left side of freeway. Reaching safety I examined vehicle found nothing visually wrong. After letting car cool and letting warm to normal op.temp I put vehicle in sport mode exited freeway and took city streets home only using d2,no problems occurred. Today repeated the maintenance as before. Runs okay but I'm nervous

Filed Jul 3, 2017 · Engine, Steering · 250,000 miles · CA · crash · 5 injuries

Vehical slips out of gears while driving on the hwy also feels like the car wheels or maybe even the transmission locks up while on the hwy . A very bad jerk , it seems like the gears are locking up for a quick second after the jerk it will proceed on . The jerks. These jerks are starting to damage my suspension and also my gears.. There was asafety recall for the transmissoion gears .I have taken my vhical to acura of cerrittos and they refused to inspect and notify me of my vehical transmission gears status they said there was a oil line that was added but they cant show me where the work was done. While driving my vehical home from the dealership acura of cerritos this transmission gears started locking up so bad that the jerks injured me my girlfriend and 3 of our kids and damaged my steering and suspension. Please help

Related recalls

Power train: automatic transmissionReported April 15, 2004 · 1,099,796 vehicles affected
What is wrong
On some mini vans, sport utility and passenger 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.
Risk
Gear failure could result in transmission lockup, which could result in a crash.
Remedy
On vehicles with 15,000 miles or less, the dealer will update the transmission with a simple revision to the oil cooler return line to increase lubrication to the second gear. On vehicles with more than 15,000 miles, the dealer will inspect the transmission to identify gears that have already experienced discoloration due to overheating. If discoloration exists, the transmission will be replaced if discoloration is not present, the dealer will perform the revision to the oil cooler return line. The recall began on april 21, 2004, for pilot, odyssey, and mdx owners. Owners of the accord vehicles will start receiving letters on june 28, 2004, and on june 29, 2004, for owners of the tl and cl vehicles. Owners should contact honda at 1‑800‑999‑1009 or acura at 1‑800‑382‑2238.

Recall number 04V176000 · Recall details

Power train: automatic transmissionReported August 19, 1999 · 96,518 vehicles affected
What is wrong
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. A transmission case bolt can loosen and fall out allowing the transmission to disengage from the differential.
Risk
The vehicle could lose power to the drive wheels without warning. Also, shifting the transmission into the park position would not lock the wheels, and a parked vehicle could move unexpectedly if the parking brake is not set.
Remedy
Dealers will install a redesigned bolt.

Recall number 99V227000 · Recall details

Questions about the Acura TL jerking

Which Acura TL years have jerking or lurching problems?

The model years with the most reports are 2003 (39 complaints), 2002 (21 complaints) and 2001 (13 complaints).

How much does it cost to fix jerking or lurching on the Acura TL?

Owners who mentioned a price put the repair at about $4,000 (median of 12 complaints that include a dollar amount). Costs vary with mileage, warranty and where the work is done.

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