2003 Acura TL Power Train Problems
Owners have filed 246 complaints with NHTSA about power train problems on the 2003 Acura TL, 63% of all complaints for this model year. Half of the reports with a mileage happened before 76,334 miles. The words owners use most often: “automatic transmission” (12% of reports).
- 246power train complaints
- 76,334median miles at failure
- 6mention a crash
- 7mention an injury
- 1related recalls
- $5,900typical repair cost reported by owners
- 51%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Automatic transmission: mentioned in 29 of 246 complaints (12%)
- 2ND gear: mentioned in 17 of 246 complaints (7%)
How much does it cost to fix?
Owners who wrote down what they paid or were quoted put the typical power train repair on the 2003 Acura TL at $5,900, and half of them between $4,850 and $6,400.
Based on 29 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (2006–2014), converted to 2026 dollars with the U.S. consumer price index. These are owners' own figures, not a quote: they include dealer quotes, and owners who file complaints often faced larger repairs, so they can run higher than typical shop prices. Prices vary by shop, region and warranty coverage. How we calculate this.
At what mileage do power train problems happen?
Based on 215 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 246 complaints, 6 mention a crash, 1 a fire, 7 an injury.
Acura TL power train complaints by model year
| Model year | Power Train complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 TL | 1 | 6% | 36,000 |
| 2013 TL | 4 | 6% | 38,000 |
| 2012 TL | 27 | 21% | 39,500 |
| 2011 TL | 1 | 5% | 73,000 |
| 2010 TL | 10 | 16% | 80,000 |
| 2009 TL | 5 | 12% | 167,612 |
| 2008 TL | 8 | 6% | 124,500 |
| 2007 TL | 7 | 6% | 19,900 |
| 2006 TL | 19 | 8% | 108,353 |
| 2005 TL | 36 | 9% | 77,000 |
| 2004 TL | 56 | 10% | 94,000 |
| 2003 TL | 246 | 63% | 76,334 |
| 2002 TL | 224 | 67% | 54,000 |
| 2001 TL | 103 | 69% | 84,300 |
| 2000 TL | 111 | 45% | 112,500 |
| 1999 TL | 37 | 24% | 100,500 |
| 1998 TL | 2 | 10% | 115,000 |
| 1997 TL | 3 | 13% | 50,760 |
| 1996 TL | 4 | 15% | 56,569 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (1)
Power train:automatic transmission
Problem: On some mini vans, sport utility and passenger vehicles, certain operating conditions can result in heat build-up between the countershaft and secondary shaft second gears in the automatic transmission, eventually leading to gear tooth chipping or gear breakage.
Risk: Gear failure could result in transmission lockup, which could result in a crash.
Fix: On vehicles with 15,000 miles or less, the dealer will update the transmission with a simple revision to the oil cooler return line to increase lubrication to the second gear. On vehicles with more than 15,000 miles, the dealer will inspect the transmission to identify gears that have already experienced discoloration due to overheating. If discoloration exists, the transmission will be replaced if discoloration is not present, the dealer will perform the revision to the oil cooler return line. The recall began on april 21, 2004, for pilot, odyssey, and mdx owners. Owners of the accord vehicles will start receiving letters on june 28, 2004, and on june 29, 2004, for owners of the tl and cl vehicles. Owners should contact honda at 1-800-999-1009 or acura at 1-800-382-2238.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
Driving on Highway going 65mph vehicle suddenly jerked and dropped to 20 mph. Causing my entire body to collide with the steering wheel. Luckily there no cars behind me. Was on my way to work when this happened too far from home. So when I got at work which is thirty minutes from where I live I had…
The contact owns a 2003 Acura TL. The contact stated while driving from a complete stop, the vehicle failed to shift from second gear to third gear. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact stated that upon depressing the accelerator pedal, the RMPâs revved up but the vehicle failed to…
The contact owns a 2003 Acura TL. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle jerked and hesitated to accelerate. The check engine, third and fourth gear, ESP fault, and VSA system warning lights were illuminated. The contact self-diagnosed the vehicle with a code…
Frequently asked questions
Do all 2003 Acura TLs have power train problems?
No. NHTSA has 246 owner complaints about power train for the 2003 Acura TL (63% of the 391 complaints for this model year). Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the 2003 Acura TL power train?
Yes: 1 safety recall list power train. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
At what mileage do power train problems start?
The median reported mileage is 76,334 miles: half of the reports with a mileage came before that.
How much does it cost to fix power train problems on the 2003 Acura TL?
Owners report a typical cost of $5,900 (half paid between $4,850 and $6,400), from 29 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about power train problems on the 2003 Acura TL?
The most frequent phrase is “automatic transmission”, in 29 of 246 complaints, followed by “2nd gear” (17).
Other 2003 Acura TL problems
- Air Bags problems (50)
See all 2003 Acura TL problems or power train problems across all TL years.