NHTSA Complaint #10499435 — 2003 ACURA TL

MY CAR BEGIN TO IDLE TO 5 RPM AND NOT CHANGE GEARS WHILE DRIVING. PULLED OVER AND CONTACTED LOCAL MECHANIC. I WAS INSTRUCTED TO BRING CAR INTO HONDA DEALERSHIP IN LAKE CITY, FL. THE RESULT WAS NEED A TRANSMISSION FLUSH AND HAD IT DONE. AFTER TEST DRIVING, THE CAR CONTINUED TO PERFORM POORLY. AT THIS POINT I CONSIDER THE CAR SHOULD GO TO THE ACURA DEALERSHIP. MY CAR WAS TOWED TO GATORLAND ACURA OF GAINESVILLE, FL. AFTER DIAGNOSTICS COMPLETED A TRANSMISSION WAS NEEDED. A VEHICLE ODOMETER READING AT 80533, SHOULD NOT REQUIRE A NEW TRANSMISSION WAS MY FIRST RESPONSE. I GAVE THEM NO ANSWER AT THIS TIME AS TO WHAT TO DO BECAUSE I AM THINKING THIS IS ABSURD. AFTER TWO DAYS OF SEEKING ADVICE AND RESEARCH,I FOUND A RECALL WAS SUBMITTED FOR TRANSMISSION ISSUE. UPON CONTACTING THE DEALER, I WAS GIVEN THE PRICE FOR REPAIRS. REGARDLESS OF INFORMING AND DEBATING THIS SHOULD NOT BE A COST FOR CONSUMER. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT STAFF AND MANAGER WAS NOT VERY HELPFUL NOR PROFESSIONAL. THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN COMPLETELY COVERED BY WARRANTY/HIGHWAY SAFETY RECALL. I WROTE A LETTER TO HONDA HEADQUARTERS AND CONTACTED THE DEPARTMENT BY PHONE. ALMOST TWO WEEKS LATER, GATORLAND ACURA OFFERED TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION AND I WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE LABOR. I WAS NOT PLEASED WITH THE OUTCOME BUT NEEDED TRANSPORTATION BECAUSE THERE WAS NONE OFFERED TO ME. TO THIS DAY, I HAVE NOT RETURNED THERE TO PAY FOR MAINTENANCE BECAUSE OF THE TRUSTWORTHINESS OF GATORLAND ACURA OR HONDA HEADQUARTERS. THE RECALL ISSUE WAS POSTED AROUND FEBRUARY 2008 AND MY CAR WAS IN FOR THE EXACT ISSUE MAY 2008. CONTINUOUSLY UNHAPPY CONSUMER. *TR