NHTSA Complaint #11035916 — 2017 ACURA RDX

1) HARSH TRANSMISSION SHIFTS THE TRANSMISSION'S GEAR SHIFTS (BOTH UP AND DOWN) ARE JERKY, AND IT'S VERY OBVIOUS & UNPLEASANT WHEN COMPARED TO DRIVING OTHER CARS (EVEN TO A 2005 TOYOTA COROLLA). THE SHIFTS SEEM MUCH HARSHER ESPECIALLY WHEN DOWNSHIFTING. WHEN THE CAR SLOWS DOWN, THERE IS A SUDDEN JERK AND A NOTICEABLE DROP IN SPEED. I'VE CONCLUDED THAT IT OCCURS MOST WHEN THE TRANSMISSION DOWNSHIFTS FROM GEAR 5 TO 4 (AROUND 30-35 MPH) AND 4 TO 3 (AT 20 MPH). IT ALMOST APPEARS THAT WHEN THE CAR IS IN "DRIVE" IT SHIFTS TOO EARLY CAUSING THE CAR TO JERK AND SLOW DOWN AS IF I QUICKLY PRESSED THE BRAKES (I.E. ENGINE BRAKING). I ALSO HAVE NOTICED THAT WHEN THE CAR IS IN "SPORT" MODE, THE HARSH DOWNSHIFT IS NOT AS EVIDENT AND MUCH SMOOTHER/NORMAL. THIS IS A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY ISSUE AS THE SUDDEN JERK & SLOW-DOWNS ARE UNEXPECTED FOR DRIVERS BEHIND ME, ESPECIALLY SINCE THERE ARE NO VISUAL INDICATORS/WARNINGS (E.G. BRAKE LIGHTS DON'T COME WHEN THIS HAPPENS). PLUS NOT TO MENTION A WASTE OF MY GAS AS I HAVE TO PRESS THE GAS TO GET IT BACK UP THE CRUISING SPEED NEEDED. I BROUGHT THIS UP TO THE SERVICE TEAM AT ACURA MCGRATH IMMEDIATELY AFTER MY PURCHASE AND SO FAR I'VE HEARD THAT "ACURA TRANSMISSIONS ARE QUITE STRANGE AND HAVE THEIR OWN NUANCES COMPARED TO ALL OTHER CAR MAKES AND THIS DOWNSHIFTING THAT I EXPERIENCE IS BY DESIGN". HOWEVER, DURING BOTH OF MY TEST DRIVES AT 2 DIFFERENT DEALERSHIPS, I DID NOT FEEL THIS AT ALL. MY FRIENDS WHO HAVE DRIVEN WITH ME HAVE ALSO NOTICED THIS AND MENTIONED IT'S UNPLEASANT AND UNEXPECTED FOR A LUXURY CAR. EVEN AFTER THE MEMORY RESET THAT WE DID A COUPLE WEEKS AGO, THIS IS STILL NOTICEABLE ON BOTH UP & DOWNSHIFTS (AGAIN, HARSHEST SHIFT EXPERIENCED WHEN DOWN SHIFTING WHEN SLOWING DOWN AT 20 MPH).