NHTSA Complaint #11288699 — 2005 ACURA TL

I WAS BACKING OUT OF A SPOT, AS I USUALLY DO, THE CAR TOOK LONGER THAN USUAL TO SHIFT FROM PARK INTO DRIVE (ABOUT 3-4 SEC). DROVE NORMALLY FOR ABOUT A HALF-MILE, STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT, WENT TO ACCELERATE, AND THEN THE TRANSMISSION WOULDN'T COME OUT OF 1ST GEAR AND REVVED SUPER HIGH. PULLED OVER, THEN DROVE TO MY MECHANIC ABOUT A HALF-MILE BACK AT ABOUT 8-10 MPH WITH MY CAUTION LIGHTS ON. HE TOOK IT FOR A TEST DRIVE AND SAID IT SEEMED FINE (I.E. THE TRANSMISSION DIDN'T SLIP), BUT WHAT I EXPLAINED TO HIM SOUNDED LIKE THE ONSET OF TRANSMISSION FAILURE). HE SUGGESTED SOMETHING COULD HAVE GOTTEN LODGED IN THERE AND BLOCKED FLUID FLOW, AND WHEN I TURNED MY CAR OFF AND HE STARTED IT, THAT IT COULD HAVE FALLEN OUT BEFORE HIS TEST DRIVE. EVER SINCE "THE INCIDENT" THE TRANSMISSION IS VERY SLOW UP-SHIFTING FROM 1ST TO 2ND AND MAKES A NOISE WHEN DOING SO, AND ALSO IS VERY SLOW SHIFTING FROM PARK TO DRIVE, OR REVERSE TO DRIVE. MY CAR HAS ABOUT 162,000 MILES ON IT. AS OF NOW, NOTHING HAS BEEN REPAIRED ON IT, AND WAS ADVISED NOT TO CHANGE THE TRANSMISSION FLUID AS THIS OFTEN CAUSES TRANSMISSION FAILURE IN THESE VEHICLES AROUND THIS MILEAGE.