2003 ACURA TL Structurebody Problems
11 NHTSA complaints on file
Structurebody Issues in the 2003 ACURA TL
11 structurebody complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2003 ACURA TL. Of these, 2 involved a crash, 0 involved a fire, and 0 resulted in injury.
11
Complaints
2
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
1
Deaths
All Structurebody Complaints
This complaint is in regards to the 2003 Acura model TL, which is made by Honda and seems to have a notorious car frame rust/rot problem due to designing the AC compressor drain line to dump water directly onto the cars front subframe/engine cradle causing it/them to be compromised to a serious extent that could lead to major injury and or death if not spotted and dealt with. All complaints clearly indicate the problem is on the right/passenger side of certain Hondas and Acuras in the early 2000's. There is no major issues in regards to driver side frame rott. How is that? Because it's a problem created by a variable located there and that is explained here in this complaint. By the grace of God, I had a sway bar link issue making a ticking noise and asked my mechanic to get It onto the lift a take a...
THE PAINT ON ALL 2003 ACURA TL THE PAINT FAILS BADLY. THE TRANSMISSION ALSO WENT OUT ON ME SOON AS MY CAR HIT 100,000 MILES WHICH SAD FOR AN ACURA. I OWNED A 96 TL AND NEVER HAD ANY OF THESE ISSUES. *TR
******* DELETE VOQ ******* THIS COMPLAINT IS BEING MARKED FOR DELETION BECAUSE THE CONSUMER PLACED THE REQUEST.*DJR ******* DELETE VOQ *******
THE PASSENGER SIDE SUBFRAME HAS RUST DAMAGE. THE DRIVER SIDE SUBFRAME DOES NOT HAVE RUST DAMAGE. THE RUST DAMAGE IS OCCURRING FROM THE TOP OF THE FRAME, CAUSED BY THE AIR CONDITIONER DRAINAGE LINE DRIPPING ON TOP OF THE FRAME. ACURA DEALERSHIPS ARE SEEING MORE AND MORE OF THE OLDER VEHICLES COMING INTO SHOPS WITH THIS DEFECT. THE 2000 HONDA ACCORD HAS THE SAME PROBLEM AND WAS REPORTED IN 2009. SO FAR MY CAR HAS NOT FALLEN APART, AND WILL SOON HAVE PROBLEM REPAIRED. I EXPECT HONDA/ACURA TO DO THE RIGHT THING AND REPAIR/RECALL AND FIX THE PROBLEM. REFERENCE THE CHANNEL 5 INVESTIGATIONS IN CLEVELAND OHIO ON YOU TUBE FOR HONDA RUST PROBLEM.
SUBFRAME RUSTED OUT. $2600 TO REPAIR. GARAGE KEPT VEHICLE. UNDERSTAND THERE HAVE BEEN SIMILAR COMPLAINTS AND THE ROOT CAUSE IS KNOWN. UNBELIEVABLE THAT SUCH A LARGE AND SUPPOSEDLY REPUTABLE MANUFACTURER CAN NOT ASSUME ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR A DESIGN FLAW. LAST ACURA OR HONDA I WILL EVER PURCHASE.
CLEAR COAT IS PEELING OFF OF THE TRUNK, SIDES OF THE CAR, AND ROOF.
!!!WARNING THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED!!! "CRUISE CONTROL CONTROL BOX DEFECT!" 2003 TL TYPE S AUTOMATIC 4 DOOR WITHOUT CRUISE CONTROL ON CAR ENGINE BEGAN TO REV OUT OF CONTROL WHILE DRIVING, TRIED TO APPLY BRAKES BUT ENGINE IS TOO STRONG, ONCE VEHICLE HIT 80 MPH FROM THIS ON HIGHWAY I CALMLY TURNED IGNITION OFF ONE CLICK SO STEERING WHEEL WOULD NOT LOCK AND COASTED TO SAFETY. I HAD TO DETACH MODULE AS WELL AS SPEED CONTROL WIRE GOING TO THE IDLE CONTROL OF ENGINE. IF I WAS INEXPERIENCED I COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED EITHER BY GETTING INTO AN ACCIDENT OR BY MY AIRBACK BEING DEPLOYED AND KILLED FROM THE TAKATA INFLATOR. "CLEAR COAT" 2003 TL TYPE S BLACK CLEAR COAT PAINT FLAKING OFF AND MASSIVELY DISCOLORED DUE TO THE DRY WINTER COLD AND THE UV HEAT DURING SUMMER. "INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTING PROBLEM" 2003 TL...
THE PASSENGER-SIDE SUBFRAME HAS MAJOR RUST AND SOME PARTS ARE RUSTED THROUGH. A MECHANIC AND FURTHER RESEARCH HAS NARROWED THE PROBLEM ON THE A/C CONDENSER HOSE DRIPPING ONTO THE METAL. THE DRIVER-SIDE PART OF THE SUBFRAME HAS MINIMAL SURFACE RUST. THIS PROBLEM IS COMMON AMONG HONDA ACCORDS AND ACURA TLS ALIKE, ACCORDING TO THE MECHANIC. $1500 TO REPLACE SUBFRAME WITH A USED PART, OR $2500 AT THE DEALERSHIP. WAS TOLD BY THE DEALERSHIP THE VEHICLE IS TOO DANGEROUS TO DRIVE.
MY DAUGHTER DIED IN A ACCIDENT ON NOVEMBER 7, 2013 IN THE ACURA TL 2003. SHE HAD BEEN TELLING ME THAT IT FELT LIKE THE IGNITION WAS STICKING AND WOULD SPEED UP. I WOULD CHECK WITH MY LOCAL MECHANIC AND HE TOLD ME ACURAS ARE KNOWN TO IDLE HIGH. I BELIEVE THAT HER CAR PROBLEM WAS THE CAUSE OF THE ACCIDENT AND THE POLICE COULD NOT GIVE ME A REASON FOR THE ACCIDENT. SHE WAS 19 AND A SENIOR IN HIGH SCHOOL AND WAS A GOOD CHILD. *TR
I GOT MY ACURA 2003 TL TYPE S BACK FROM MY LOCAL DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THAT THE SUBFRAME ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE WAS COMPLETLY RUSTED AND THAT THE VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THE CAR'S A/C DRAIN IS RIGHT ABOVE THE AREA OF THE SUBFRAME RUST. THIS A MAJOR DEFECT IN THE CAR THAT IS CAUSING THE SUBFRAME TO BE ROTTED THROUGH AND UNSAFE. I ALSO FOUND THAT THE HONDA ACCORD 1999-2002 HAS THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE SUBFRAME RUST FROM THE A/C DRAIN. I NOTIFIED THE CAR MANUFACTURER OF THIS PROBELM AND THEY ARE DENYING THAT THERE IS ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR'S CRAFTSMANSHIP. *TR
I WAS APPLYING THE BRAKE DUE TO STOPPED TRAFFIC AHEAD OF MY CAR. AS I DID SO, THE CAR ACCELERATED RATHER THAN SLOWED DOWN. MY CAR CONTACTED THE LEFT REAR OF THE CAR IN FRONT OF MINE, AND AS I TRIED TO STRAIGHTEN OUT THE CAR, IT AGAIN ACCELERATED. VEERED TO THE RIGHT, AND STRUCK THE STONE WALL OF THE BRIDGE ON THE SHOULDER OF THE HIGHWAY. ACCORDING TO THE POLICE REPORT, THERE WAS A MALFUNCTION WITH THE THROTTLE MECHANISM. "OFFICERS WITNESSED, WHEN STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE RPM INDICATOR QUICKLY RISE TO APPROXIMATELY 5,000/5,500 WITHOUT ANY PRESSURE APPLIED ON THE GAS PEDAL. THE FLOOR AREA DID NOT EXHIBIT ITEMS, INCLUDING THE FLOOR MAT, WHICH WOULD POTENTIALLY BE THE CAUSE." *TR
Other 2003 ACURA TL Problem Areas
Power Trainautomatic Transmission
175 complaints
Power Train
69 complaints
Air Bags
41 complaints
Unknown Or Other
18 complaints
Vehicle Speed Control
14 complaints
Suspension
12 complaints
Electrical System
9 complaints
Engine
8 complaints
Air Bagsfrontal
6 complaints
Engine And Engine Cooling
6 complaints
Exterior Lighting
6 complaints
Equipment
5 complaints
Steering
5 complaints
Tires
5 complaints
Tiressidewall
5 complaints
Seat Belts
4 complaints
Electrical Systemignition
3 complaints
Engine And Engine Coolingengine
3 complaints
Power Trainmanual Transmission
3 complaints
Service Brakes Hydraulicantilocktraction Controlelectronic Limited Slip
3 complaints
Air Bagsfrontaldriver Sideinflator Module
2 complaints
Electrical Systemignitionswitch
2 complaints
Engine And Engine Coolingenginegasolinebelts And Associated Pulleys
2 complaints
Equipmentapplianceair Conditioner
2 complaints
Exterior Lightingheadlights
2 complaints
Exterior Lightingheadlightshighlow Beam Dimmer Switch
2 complaints
Fuel System Gasoline
2 complaints
Service Brakes
2 complaints
Structure
2 complaints
Vehicle Speed Controlaccelerator Pedal
2 complaints
Vehicle Speed Controlcables
2 complaints
Vehicle Speed Controlcruise Control
2 complaints
Vehicle Speed Controllinkages
2 complaints
Wheels
2 complaints
Air Bags Air Bagrestraint Control Module
1 complaint
Air Bagsfrontalsensorcontrol Module
1 complaint
Electrical Systemwiring Rear Compartmenttrunk
1 complaint
Electronic Stability Control Esc
1 complaint
Engine And Engine Coolingcooling System
1 complaint
Engine And Engine Coolingenginegasoline
1 complaint
Engine And Engine Coolingexhaust System
1 complaint
Equipmentelectricalradiotape Deckcd Etc
1 complaint
Fuel System Other
1 complaint
Fuelpropulsion System
1 complaint
Latcheslockslinkages
1 complaint
Power Trainautomatic Transmissioncontrol Module Tcmpcmtecm
1 complaint
Power Trainautomatic Transmissiontorque Converter
1 complaint
Power Traindriveline
1 complaint
Seats
1 complaint
Seatsfront Assemblyrecliner
1 complaint
Service Brakes Airdiscrotor
1 complaint
Service Brakes Hydraulicantilocktraction Controlelectronic Limited Slipabs Warning Light
1 complaint
Service Brakes Hydraulicfoundation Componentsdiscrotor
1 complaint
Service Brakes Hydraulicpedals And Linkages
1 complaint
Structurebodytrunk Lid
1 complaint
Structureframe And Membersunderbody Shields
1 complaint
Suspensionfront
1 complaint
Suspensionfrontwheel Bearing
1 complaint
Tirestreadbelt
1 complaint
Visibilitydefrosterdefoggerhvac Systemrear Window
1 complaint
Wheelslugsnutsboltsstuds
1 complaint