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Engine & cooling

2002 Acura TL Engine problems

Owners have filed 17 complaints about the 2002 Acura TL's engine & cooling with NHTSA - 5% of all its complaints, most recently on September 1, 2019. They describe 1 crash, 0 fires and 5 injuries. Stalling, loss of power, oil consumption, overheating, head gaskets, timing chains and engine failure.

Complaints
17
Recalls
0
Crashes
1
Fires
0
Injuries
5
Deaths
0

Engine complaints

Transmission & drivetrainAirbagsEngine & cooling

Automatic/manually shifts, manual gears d4 shift stuck in gear and causing electrical and engine problems. Transmission failure occured.

Filed Incident Power train · Air bags · EngineNHTSA 11252707
Transmission & drivetrainBrakesEngine & cooling

TAKATA RECALL

Filed Incident Power train · Service brakes · EngineNHTSA 11090199
SteeringTransmission & drivetrainEngine & coolingCrash5 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...

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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

Filed Incident Steering · Power train · EngineNHTSA 11002901
Transmission & drivetrainAcceleration & cruise controlEngine & cooling

Tl* the contact owns a 2002 acura tl. The contact stated that the gears had been slipping and slow to change over with a sudden jerk or lunge. The rpms would race intermittently once the gears changed and the engine and emissions warning indicators illuminated. The dealer (rivertown honda, 4260 kenowa ave sw, grandville, mi 49418, (616) 667-4500) cleared the codes, but the codes returned on the instrument panel within 48 hrs. The contact was uncertain if the dealer could provide a solution after taking the vehicle back again with no specific repair solution. The vehicle was not included in nhtsa campaign number: 04v176000 (power train). The failure mileage was not available.

Filed Incident Power train · Vehicle speed control · EngineNHTSA 10995333
Transmission & drivetrainElectrical systemVisibility & wipersAirbagsEngine & cooling

First off my driver side power window has never worked. I changed my window motor with the regulator twice. That did not fix my window. I changed my drivers master window module twice. I checked all of the fuses and the power window fuses were good. My power window still doesn't work after $400 in parts and $400 in labor. I took my car to the acura dealership because my car had a few recalls. The person helping me at the dealership was real rude and disrespectful. He told me the only recall I had was for my srs...

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airbag. He had to order the part. I haven't received a phone call from the dealership to let me know the part was in. Two weeks later I go in and check if the part was I n. The same person that helped me came up to me and had an attitude and was disrespectful again. He told me the part was in but they can't service it that day. They never communicated with me. Horrible service at [[redacted]] acura. I told the service guy that my car does not want to come out of first gear and there was a recall on my transmission. He was real rude and told me that I had to pay $6000. I did a little research and my 02 acura tl type s with my vin number has many recalls. 1 For my air bags. 2. For my transmission 2nd gear. 3 For my drivers power window. I told this acura service guy that I had recalls for all 3 things and he laughed at me. My cluster fuse keeps blowing and the code that comes up is for my transmission range sensor. 70+ People with an 02 acura tls have had the same issues as me. I just contacted acura and they told me that the transmission has been completed. No recall has been done on my car. I need help please. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.S.C. 552(B)(6). *Tr

Filed Incident Power train · Electrical system · Visibility · Air bags · EngineNHTSA 10653244
Transmission & drivetrainEngine & cooling

I bought my acura february 2011. Since then I have had 2 transmission failures and have spent well over $1400.00 Each time I got it fixed by the certified mechanic. I still have my receipts and only got a 1 year warranty first time and a 3 month warranty this past time . It seems like I am paying more for the transmission alone than the value of the car. The engine is great but I am afraid the transmission is going to fail again and I cannot afford to buy another car or fix the problem if it does fail again. This...

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is a concern for me because the first failure was very scary for me and my family. We were driving up a steep hill to overview a city we visited and the transmission shut down and we were inclined. I did not know how to approach this situation with 3 minor children and as a single mother. It was very overwhelming and I was petrified. Then come to find out not so long later after getting the transmission fixed, the transmission went out again. I am very concerned and have blogged and read alot of complaints about this car. You can youtube google all kinds of info on these acuras with constant transmission problems. I think the manufacturer intended on this malfunction for profit as a automechanic. It is very unfair, unsafe, unjust with them selling cars that do not last 5000 miles and then have the transmission fail over and over. I am the owner of the 2002 acura. Please keep me informed about this car and if there is any way someone can help me get warranty for free because it is really unfair. Thank you for your time and concern. God bless what you guys and girls are doing. *Tr

Filed Incident Power train · EngineNHTSA 10553498
Engine & coolingTransmission & drivetrain

Tl*the contact owns a 2002 acura tl. The vehicle was purchased without a warranty on february 25, 2009. While driving 40 mph on the highway, the vehicle began shaking and then stalled. The vehicle lost power and shut off. During the shaking, the check engine light blinked on the instrument panel. The shaking occurred when accelerating. The vehicle was towed to a mechanic because it was unable to be driven or restarted. The mechanic stated that the cylinders were misfiring or either the engine or transmission failed. The vehicle is still unable to be driven. The current and failure mileages were 110,000.

Filed Incident Engine and engine cooling · Power trainNHTSA 10270077
Engine & coolingBody, doors & structure

My 2002 mdx has 75,000 miles and needs the engine mounts replaced. It was reported by lots of people that acura's design flaws on the motor mounts for 2001, 2002 mdx. Lots of discussions may be found athttp://www.Topix.Net/forum/autos/acura-mdx/t54qbspdkrmccnv0a it is a disaster for consumers to pay for the design defects! *Tr

Filed Incident Engine and engine cooling · StructureNHTSA 10202775
Engine & coolingEquipment & accessories

Multiple engine mount failures on 2002 acura mdx. First failure occurred at 40,000 miles. Second failure occurred at 79,000 miles. Both failures were identified by an acura dealer as important mechanical and safety concerns. Both failures were remedied by an acura dealer. The first failure was covered under warranty. The second failure was not covered under warranty. *Ak

Filed Incident Engine and engine cooling · EquipmentNHTSA 10194208
Engine & coolingTransmission & drivetrainBody, doors & structure

Dt*: the contact stated while driving various speeds on the highway, the automatic transmission seized and the engine stalled without warning. A nhtsa recall, #04v176000 was performed on the vehicle concerning, the automatic transmission however, the recall did not remedy the problem. The dealership determined the transmission needed to be replaced again and the engine needed new engine mounts. The manufacturer was notified. Updated 10/18/2006 - *nm

Filed Incident Engine and engine cooling · Power train · StructureNHTSA 10169823
Engine & cooling

While making a left or right turn a loud buzzing noise started coming from the front of the vehicle. The consumer noticed while starting up the vehicle a loud knocking noise was heard coming from the front as well. The consumer drove to the dealer. The mechanic informed the driver that the problem could not be duplicated. The mechanic also informed the driver that the vehicle operating as designed. Please fill additional information. *Jb

Filed Incident Engine and engine coolingNHTSA 10108755
Engine & coolingTransmission & drivetrain

The engine revved up to 4000 rpm as if the vehicle was in neutral. *Jb the transmission did not automatically shift into higher gear as it should have. Scc

Filed Engine and engine cooling · Power trainNHTSA 10010028
Engine & cooling

Every day when I back out of my garage when the engine is cold, the idle is all off on my car. It would fluctuate between 300rpm (almost stalling) to 1000rpm. I took it into the dealer and they replaced something, but the problem still persists.*Jb

Filed Incident Engine and engine coolingNHTSA 10000900
Engine & cooling

Vehicle has a severe engine hesitation. At approximately 50 mph the vehicle will lose power and recovery time back to normal speed is several seconds.*Ak

Filed Engine and engine coolingNHTSA 766326
Engine & coolingFuel system

While traveling on the highway, the vehicle shutdown without prior warning. The dealership is aware of the problem. *Ak the consumer states that the driving performance was sluggish and provided little to no acceleration. The rpm indicator would race to 3000k+rpms whenever the accelerator was pressed. The auto began to hesitate and lurch violently. Shortlty after, the check engine and the tcs lights illuminated on the dashboard and the gear indicator (which was on d5 at the time) began to blink. *Scc

Filed Incident Engine and engine cooling · Fuel system, gasoline · Unknown or otherNHTSA 8016785
Engine & cooling

ROTTEN EGG SMELL COMING FROM EXHAUST OF VEHICLE

Filed Engine and engine coolingNHTSA 761644
Engine & cooling

10/21/00 Experienced first engine failure (no compression #1 & 3 cylinders) at 3,487 mile mark. Car towed to dealer. Dealership contends operator error, one time repair as goodwill gesture of acura. Service dept states "engine replaced" however, not indicated on work order. Work completed 11/08/01 (17 days). 11/12/01 (3717 Mi.) Experienced engine knock, grinding sound, difficulty starting, & stalling. Car driven in. Dealer doesn't agree with symptoms, rechecks valve adjustments. Work complete 11/13/01 (1...

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day). 11/25/01 (4,039 Mi.) Check engine light/loud knocking. Service dept. Diagnosis: #1 & 4 cylinder misfire/very low compression. Replaced engine for 2nd time < 5 weeks (this time documented on work order). Told residual debris from first engine swap was the causitive factor. Work completed 12/07/01 (11 days). 01/30/02 Check engine light. Explained as fuel/emissions problem and to bring in for service; 01/02/01 light goes off. 02/01/02 Engine will not start/grinding noise. Roadside assistance called. Tow driver arrives and car starts, told to drive vehicle home instead of dealership. 02/02/02 (5543 Mi.) Engine will not start, turns with grinding sound. 02/04/02 Car towed back to dealer.*Ak

Filed Incident Engine and engine coolingNHTSA 757736

Acura TL engine complaints by year

TL engine problems, every year

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Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) complaints and recalls, checked . Complaints are owners' own reports and are not verified. How we use the data

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