NHTSA Complaint #10653591 — 2002 ACURA TL

I BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE USED IN SEPTEMBER AND IT STARTED HAVING SHIFTING PROBLEMS SHORTLY AFTERWARD. I THEN DISCOVERED THERE WAS A RECALL (04V-176) ON THE TRANSMISSION. THE RECALL STATES IN PART THAT "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." THE DEALER CALLED AND TOLD ME THEY HAD COMPLETED THE RECALL WORK, BUT RECOMMENDED THAT WE REPLACE THE SOLENOIDS TO FIX THE HARD SHIFTING. MY WIFE PICKED UP THE CAR WHEN THE WORK WAS COMPLETE AND IT RAN REASONABLY WELL FOR ABOUT A WEEK. ON THE DATE NOTED ABOVE, MY DAUGHTER DROVE IT HOME FROM WORK AND IT WOULD NOT SHIFT OUT OF 3RD GEAR. NOTE, IT IS A 5 SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. SHE TOLD ME SHE WAS SCARED TO DRIVE IT BECAUSE OF THE WAY IT WAS ACTING. I DROVE IT FOR A SHORT DISTANCE THE NEXT DAY AND VERIFIED HER COMPLAINT. I AM UPSET BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE ACURA LET US TAKE AN UNSAFE CAR OUT OF THEIR MAINTENANCE DEPARTMENT WITHOUT LETTING US KNOW THERE WAS A PROBLEM. I CALLED THE DEALER BACK AND TOLD THEM ABOUT THE PROBLEM AND ASKED IF THEY HAD DONE THE GEAR INSPECTION AND WHAT IT HAD SHOWN. THE DEALER WOULD NOT CONFIRM THAT THE INSPECTION HAD BEEN COMPLETED AND WOULD NOT PROVIDE THE RESULTS OF THE INSPECTION. HE JUST STATED THAT "THE TECHNICIAN KNEW WHAT TO DO FOR THIS RECALL." I THEN CALLED IN A COMPLAINT TO ACURA. THEY LISTENED, GAVE ME A CASE NO. AND TOLD ME THAT SOMEONE WOULD CALL ME BACK WITHIN 48 HOURS. WHEN I HADN'T HEARD FROM THEM FOR A WEEK, I CALLED AND THEY TOLD ME THE CASE WORKER WAS AT LUNCH, BUT WOULD CALL ME AS SOON AS SHE GOT BACK. I WAITED ALL AFTERNOON, BUT NO ONE CALLED. NOW, I FEEL I HAVE NO ALTERNATIVE, BUT TO FILE THIS COMPLAINT AS ACURA HAS BEEN TOTALLY UNRESPONSIVE. *TR