NHTSA Complaint #10380915 — 2003 ACURA TL

I HAVE A 2003 ACURA 3.2 TL WITH 75K MILES, I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF THIS CAR WHICH I PURCHASE FROM ACURA DEALER IN MAY 2002. IN JANUARY 2011, ONE DAY I WAS DRIVING AND I NOTICED JERKING AND SLIPPING. USUALLY BETWEEN 2 AND 3 GEARS. WHILE PRESSING DOWN ON THE ACCELERATOR, THE ENGINE'S RPM WOUD GO UP, BUT CAR WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. AND THEN SUDDENLY CAR WOULD SHIFT TO THE HIGHER GEAR WITH A JERK. WHEN I TOOK THE CAR TO ACURA DEALERSHIP FOR SERVICE ON FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 2011 AND REPORTED THIS PROBLEM, THE SERVICE CENTER AT THE ACURA DEALERSHIP RESPONDED BACK IN A FEW HOURS THAT MY CAR'S TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THE LADY AT THE SERVICE CENTER TOLD ME THAT IT WOULD COST $5000 TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION AND ACURA HAS AGREED TO COVER 80% OF THE COST. THAT MEANS I'D HAVE TO PAY $1230+TAX =~ $1345 OUT OF POCKET FOR ACURA/ HONDA'S FAULTY TRANSMISSION !!! THE DEALERSHIP WOULD NOT LET ME TAKE THE CAR OUT OF DEALERSHIP AS THEY SAID THAT IT WOULD BE UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THEY HANDED ME A LOANER FOR THE WEEKEND AND ASKED ME TO CONFIRM IF THEY SHOULD PROCEED WITH THE TRANSMISSION REPLACEMENT WORK BY MONDAY (FEB 7, 2011). ACURA SHOULD BEAR THE COMPLETE COST OF TRANSMISSION REPLACEMENT AND PROVIDE LIFETIME WARRANTY. THIS TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS ARE A POTENTIAL SAFETY HAZARD! *TR