NHTSA Complaint #10213650 — 2000 ACURA TL

WHILE ENTERING THE HIGHWAY TODAY, I ACCELERATED AND MY 2000 ACURA 3.2 TL WENT FROM AUTOMATIC TO SPORT MODE. I WAS TERRIBLY FRIGHTENED AND THANKED GOD THAT MY SON WAS NOT IN THE CAR. THE D5 AND #3 WERE LIT AT THE SAME TIME. SINCE THE SHIFT WAS IN AUTOMATIC MODE, I COULD NOT SHIFT TO ANY OTHER GEAR. I HAD TAKEN MY CAR TO THE DEALER ABOUT A MONTH AGO BECAUSE OF A STRANGE NOISE WHEN MY CAR WAS IN REVERSE. I TOLD THEM THAT I THOUGHT IT WAS THE TRANSMISSION.THE CAR WAS PLACED ON A MACHINE AND THE DEALER TOLD ME IT WAS MY AIR CONDITIONER. I FOUND IT VERY STRANGE THAT I NEVER HEARD THE NOISE AGAIN AFTER THAT VISIT. I CALLED THE DEALER TODAY AND HE INFORMED ME THAT IT SOUNDED LIKE THE TRANSMISSION. I ASKED HIM WHY THE LAST DIAGNOSTIC TEST DID NOT FIND A PROBLEM WITH MY TRANSMISSION (MY CAR HAD ALREADY BEEN SLUGGISH, SLOW TO SHIFT INTO GEAR, ETC). HE INFORMED ME THAT THE TEST WOULD NOT HAVE FOUND ANYTHING IF IT JUST HAPPENED. I HAVE FAITHFULLY KEPT MY CAR MAINTAINED. NOW THAT I AM ABOUT 15,000 MILES OVER THE WARRANTY, I DO NOT THINK THAT I SHOULD BE HAVING THIS PROBLEM. WHEN MY CAR WAS STILL UNDER THE ORIGINAL WARRANTY, I ASKED THE DEALER WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF MY TRANSMISSION WENT OUT AFTER THE EXTENDED WARRANTY RAN OUT. HE INFORMED ME THAT IT WOULD BE HANDLED ON A CASE BY CASE BASIS. I WILL SEE TOMORROW. SINCE OWNERS ARE STILL HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THESE CARS, EVIDENTLY THE EXTENDING OF THE WARRANTY DID NOT HELP. PEOPLES' LIVES ARE STILL IN DANGER.*CN