2003 ACURA TL Suspension Problems
12 NHTSA complaints on file
Suspension Issues in the 2003 ACURA TL
12 suspension complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2003 ACURA TL. Of these, 2 involved a crash, 0 involved a fire, and 1 resulted in injury.
12
Complaints
2
Crashes
0
Fires
1
Injuries
0
Deaths
All Suspension Complaints
REAR SUBFRAME RUSTED
MOTOR FRAMES OR ENGINE CRADLE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE IS BADLY RUSTED, AND IT ABOUT TO FALL APART. I HAVE BEEN LOOKING FOR REPLACEMENT PART, AND EVERYONE OF THEM THAT THAT I HAVE FOUND HAS THE SAME PROBLEM. I FOUND OUT THE PROBLEM WHEN I WAS TRYING TO REPLACE THE FRONT ROTORS BACK IN JUNE OF THIS YEAR 2018 AND I HAVE NOT BEEN DRIVING IT BECAUSE I ALSO NEED TO REPLACE THE DRIVE AXLE AND I COULDN'T FIND THE ENGINE CRADLE FOR REPLACEMENT, I COULDN'T DO ANYTHING WITH IT.
FRAME AND UNDERCARRIAGE OF THIS AUTO CONDEMNED BY SERVICE DEPT. DUE TO PREMATURE RUSTING OF FRAME. AUTO ALWAYS GARAGED. FRAME RUST APPEARED AT 40,000 MILES.
THE FRAME THAT SUPPORTS THE ENGINE IS RUSTING OUT!....IT ONLY SOUNDED LIKE A SQUEAK...BUT THE ISSUE IS WAY BIGGER THAN ANTICIPATED...IT ONLY MAKES A SOUND WHEN BACKING UP OR TURNING....OTHER PARTS RELATED TO THE FRAME ARE ALSO AFFECTED.
AUTO HAS ONLY 49,072 MILES ON IT AND THE FRAME BEAM HAS SERIOUS RUST SHOWING.
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...
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2003 ACURA TL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE ENCOUNTERED A POT HOLE CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO JERK VIOLENTLY. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE VEERED OFF THE ROAD AND FLIPPED OVER. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONTACT'S LEFT SHOULDER STRAP SEAT BELT WAS DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE LEAVING BEHIND ONLY THE WAIST STRAP SEAT BELT AS THE CONTACT SHIFTED FROM THE DRIVER'S SEAT TO THE PASSENGERS SEAT DURING THE ACCIDENT. FURTHERMORE, THE CONTACT'S HEAD WAS PARTIALLY HANGING OUT OF THE WINDOW AFTER THE ACCIDENT. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A FRACTURED WRIST, CHEST PAINS, MULTIPLE LACERATIONS AND A CONCUSSION. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT'S STOMACH WAS SEVERELY TWISTED OUT OF SHAPE AND THE CONTACT VOMITED AND FAINTED NUMEROUS OCCASIONS AFTER THE ACCIDENT. THE CONTACT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE...
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 ACURA TL. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS AT AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR A ROUTINE OIL CHANGE, THE TECHNICIAN NOTICED THAT THE SUB FRAME AS CORRODED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 180,000. UPDATED 1/12/16 *CN
I HAVE ENCOUNTERED AN UNSAFE CONDITION ON MY 2003 ACURA TL (MADE BY HONDA). THIS CONDITION WAS SHOWN TO ME BY MECHANIC WHO INDICATED THAT THE VEHICLE IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE DUE THE FRONT PASSENGER CROSS FRAME MEMBER IS COMPLETELY RUSTED THROUGH (PHOTOS ARE AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST). THE CONDITION WAS FOUND AFTER 96,746 MILES DURING A REPAIR AFTER A ROUTINE OIL CHECK. THE APPARENT CAUSE IS THE HOSE LINE CONNECTED TO THE AIR CONDITIONING UNIT IS POSITIONED IN SUCH A WAY THAT IT LEAKS ONTO THE SUB-FRAME, CAUSING IT TO RUST OUT. THE COST FOR THE FRAME REPAIR WAS $ 2,052.970, BUT WHAT IS MORE DISTURBING IS THAT I WAS DRIVING THIS CAR WITH MY GRANDCHILDREN AND FAMILY UNDER THE RISK OF AN ACCIDENT WITHOUT MY KNOWLEDGE OF THE CONDITION. ALSO, DISTURBING IS TO KNOW THERE MAY BE OTHER CARS WITH THE SAME ISSUE BEING DRIVEN TODAY. *TR
UPON A NORMAL RECALL INVITATION FOR THE AIR BAG INFLATOR ( PER MANUFACTURER REQUIREMENT) A SEPARATE NORMAL INSPECTION WAS DONE TO VEHICLE. THE MECHANIC FOUND THE FRONT AND RIGHT FRONT MOTOR MOUNTS HAVE COLLAPSED. I KNOW SEVERAL OTHER OWNERS OF HONDA AND ACURA OF THE SAME YEAR AND SUV MODELS WITH THE SAME FAILURE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 ACURA TL. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH THE VEHICLE DOWN-SHIFTED WITHOUT ANY PRIOR WARNINGS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL REPAIR FACILITY, AND A MECHANIC CONCLUDED THAT THE GEARS IN THE TRANSMISSION WERE SLIPPING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN ADVISED HIM THAT BEFORE REPAIRS COULD BE PERFORMED HE WOULD HAVE TO PAY AN $140.00 DIAGNOSTIC FEE. NO REPAIRS WERE MADE. THE TECHNICIAN CONCLUDED THAT HE WOULD CALL THE MANUFACTURER TO DETERMINE WHAT RECOURSE THEY WOULD PROVIDE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 63,300. UPDATED 11/06/09. *LJ THE BALL JOINTS WERE REPLACED. UPDATED 11/10/09
2003 ACURA TL TYPE-S EXPERIENCING EXCESSIVE WEAR ON ONLY THE DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT TIRE. CAR WAS TAKEN TO AN ACURA DEALER FOR SERVICE. UPON INSPECTION OF THE VEHICLE, THE ACURA MECHANIC INDICATED THAT THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN SEEN PREVIOUSLY ON SEVERAL OTHER VEHICLES OF THE SAME MAKE/MODEL AND THAT THE PROBLEM WAS RELATED TO THE TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM (VSA) ALLOWING SLIPPAGE OF THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE DURING RIGHT TURNS. ACURA STATED THAT THERE WAS NO RESOLUTION AVAILABLE AND THE ONLY RECOURSE WAS TO ROTATE THE TIRES ON A MORE FREQUENT BASIS. TIRE DEALER WAS ASKED IF THERE WERE ANY KNOWN ISSUES WITH THE TIRE ITSELF (MICHELIN) AND INDICATED THAT THERE WERE NO SERVICE NOTIFICATIONS ISSUES FROM THE MANUFACTURER. THE WEAR ON THIS TIRE IS HEAVILY ACCELERATED AND WAS ONLY NOTICED ON A ROUTINE EXAMINATION OF THE VEHICLE. BASED ON THE STATEMENTS BY THE ACURA MECHANIC, I BELIEVE THERE TO...
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
Structurebody
11 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