2003 ACURA TL Steering Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 ACURA TL. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH AROUND A CURVE, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO BRAKE OR ACCELERATE AND THE TRANSMISSION SEIZED. THE STEERING WHEEL ALSO BECAME VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND LEFT THE ROAD. THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO AN EMBANKMENT AND A TREE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE HANDS, WRISTS, HEAD, ANKLE, CHEST, AND SHOULDER. MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS REQUIRED AND THE CONTACT VISITED HIS PHYSICIAN AFTER THE CRASH. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 04V176000 (POWER TRAIN). THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 263,138.

RUST THROUGH CONDITION ON RIGHT SUB-FRAME SUPPORTING ENGINE, TRANSMISSION, RIGHT FRONT SUSPENSION. AIR CONDITIONING CONDENSER DRAIN TUBE DRIPS CONDENSATION/WATER DIRECTLY ONTO THIS AREA OF THE SUB-FRAME CAUSING SEVERE CORROSION AND EVENTUALLY PART FAILURE LEAVING ENGINE, TRANSMISSION, RIGHT FRONT SUSPENSION WITHOUT PROPER ALIGNMENT AND SUPPORT THAT CAN HAPPEN AT ANY SPEED. ACURA DENOUNCED ANY KNOWLEDGE OF THIS PROBLEM. LEFT SIDE OF SAME PART IS NOT EFFECTED AT ALL. INTERNET SEARCH HAS DISCOVERED NUMEROUS INSTANCES OF THIS PROBLEM. TSB HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR 1999-2002 HONDA ACCORD CARS WITH THIS SAME PROBLEM. BUT MANUFACTURE'S SOLUTION WAS TO MOVE THE LOCATION OF THE DRAIN TUBE IN FUTURE MODEL YEARS OF THE CAR. I PAID AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP $2,600 TO REPLACE THE REAR SUB-FRAME SECTION. THE DEALERSHIP WANTED TO REPLACE BOTH FRONT AND REAR SUB-FRAMES BUT THE FRONT SECTION WAS NOT EFFECTED AND DID NOT REQUIRE REPLACEMENT. THE REPAIR SHOT I TOOK MY CAR...

POWER STEERING PRESSURE HOSE LEAKING AND POWER STEERING PUMP LEAK. YEARS 2004-27 HAVE BEEN RECALLED FOR THIS; 2003SHOULD BE, AS WELL. RIGHT ENGINE MOUNT AND REAR ENGINE MOUNTS CRACKED OR BROKEN.

POWER STEERING PUMP LEAKED AND FAILED AT 54,000 MILES, STEERING BECAME DIFFICULT,REPLACED BY DEALER UNDER WARRANTY. POWER STEERING PUMP LEAKING AND SQUEALING AT 122,000 MILES. CONTACTED ACURA AND THEY ARE REQUIRING $1700 TO REPAIR THE FAILURE. DEALER ADDED STEERING FLUID AND NOISE DECREASE TEMPORARILY. STEERING STARTING TO GET STIFF, FEBRUARY 16, 2011. *TR

STEERING FAILED - STEERING WHEEL WOULD TURN FREELY WITHOUT AFFECTING THE FRONT WHEELS. OCCURRED IN A PARKING LOT SO THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE BEFORE HITTING ANYTHING. A SERIOUS PROBLEM. *JB