3rd generation TL Realibility (2004 - 2008)
06-16-2008, 10:36 AM
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3rd generation TL Realibility (2004 - 2008)
I had a 2004 and currently have a 2006 Acura TL. These are the issues I had and will most likely not buy another Honda product.
2004 Acura TL (automatic) bought new
- first night I owned the car the headliner popped down.
- 8k the tires started wobbling bad when it was cold below 40 degree F.
Dealer replaced tires with same brand Bridgestone Turanza EL42. Same
issue all over. Replaced them myself with Cooper.
- 11k braking system had to be completely replaced including calipers, hoses,
pads, computer. I had one of 434 cars I was told with the issue. They had
the car 2 1/2 weeks.
- 19k airbag light came on. Dealer replaced faulty computer.
- 26 k transmission started acting funny in second gear at times. Dealer could not duplicate the issue
(surprise). Traded car for 2005 Dodge Magnum R/T.
- Front end paint chipped badly.
- Rattles galore.
2006 Acura TL 6 speed manual (bought new in Oct 06 as second car)
- 4k clicking noise in front end when steering wheel is cut to hard to the left.
Dealer could not replicate must be deaf.
- 6k same issue as above, plus 3rd gear hard to engage when cold outside.
Dealer could not duplicate.
- 8k same issues as 6k, dealer still unable to duplicate. (different dealer)
- 11k same issues as 6 & 8 k and dealer says opearting as designed.
- 45 k Same issues at 6, 8, & 11K & after discovering there is a TSB bulletin
on the 3rd gear issue I informed the dealer of this and they now heard the
clicking sound which of course got much worse. Both front axles replaced,
3rd gear set replaced. Service manager said was bad bearings and it should
have been replaced when I first surfaced the issue (you don't say, hmm).
- 45 k power steering unit/hoses replaced due to recall. Unit was making a
whistling sound.
- rattles annoying from the rear deck and sunroof. Also right front door at
times. It's not the sunglass holder, I removed that.
- Navigation sytem leaves a lot to be desired. Also, why when spending 2k on a sytem does it not have
text to speach and why in god's name did they have a DVD from 2004 in a car bought in October 2006?
Save the money, buy a good after market system. It isn't worth the 2k. It's size is nice but other than
that my cell phone is more updated and gives better directions. I use that now.
Also, the voice recognition is accurate about 80% of the time.
2005 Dodge Magnum R/T (bought new traded 04 TL for it)
-11 k battery went dead
- 46k o-ring seal replaced under TSB for transmission.
- currently 72,000 miles and going strong.
- not as swank inside as the TL, but the leather is wearing far better.
- Boston Acoustic sound system is louder and no distortion at full volume. TL ELS sytem is superb when
DVD audio format is used (which is hard to find) but it doesn't match the Boston sytem in the Magnum for
loudness and clarity. I was most shocked. Why did they stop using BOSE in the TL?
- MAgnum has a Mercedes 5 speed automatic, suspension, steering, and an E-class derived
chassis.
- Hemi Engine is quieter than the TL at idle.
- Interior is decidely downmarket feeling and looking, but seats are very comfortable. This is this car's major
downfall. The pieces are durable I will say.
Amazing how the superbly engineered, "extremely reliable", top rated TL has so many more issues than my Dodge Magnum.
Paint quailty on the Magnum is better, plastic parts match the metal parts. The 06 TL has better quailty paint than the 04 for sure.
Gaps may be wider on the body panels for the Magnum, but at least they all match up. The TL has a couple mismatched parts. (04 Tl had teh same issue).
The brakes are far superior on the 06 TL than the 04 TL.
These cars are beautiful, nice interiors, but hardly relaible or durable in my experience. They are just average.
The dealer response to ignore or blatanly refuse to acknowledge the issues until such point they have no other choice is most annoying.
I iwll say the 3.2 engine does wonderfully well with gas when paired with the manual. I average 27 MPG, as where with the Auto I was at 22 - 23 MPG. On a long highway trip I can get 32 MPG and 33 on rare occasions.
Anyone else feel that way about any of the issues I spoke of?
It's a shame, because I think this car is on of the best looking around, and the best looking Acura to date, and has a nice compliant ride yet handles superbly.
2004 Acura TL (automatic) bought new
- first night I owned the car the headliner popped down.
- 8k the tires started wobbling bad when it was cold below 40 degree F.
Dealer replaced tires with same brand Bridgestone Turanza EL42. Same
issue all over. Replaced them myself with Cooper.
- 11k braking system had to be completely replaced including calipers, hoses,
pads, computer. I had one of 434 cars I was told with the issue. They had
the car 2 1/2 weeks.
- 19k airbag light came on. Dealer replaced faulty computer.
- 26 k transmission started acting funny in second gear at times. Dealer could not duplicate the issue
(surprise). Traded car for 2005 Dodge Magnum R/T.
- Front end paint chipped badly.
- Rattles galore.
2006 Acura TL 6 speed manual (bought new in Oct 06 as second car)
- 4k clicking noise in front end when steering wheel is cut to hard to the left.
Dealer could not replicate must be deaf.
- 6k same issue as above, plus 3rd gear hard to engage when cold outside.
Dealer could not duplicate.
- 8k same issues as 6k, dealer still unable to duplicate. (different dealer)
- 11k same issues as 6 & 8 k and dealer says opearting as designed.
- 45 k Same issues at 6, 8, & 11K & after discovering there is a TSB bulletin
on the 3rd gear issue I informed the dealer of this and they now heard the
clicking sound which of course got much worse. Both front axles replaced,
3rd gear set replaced. Service manager said was bad bearings and it should
have been replaced when I first surfaced the issue (you don't say, hmm).
- 45 k power steering unit/hoses replaced due to recall. Unit was making a
whistling sound.
- rattles annoying from the rear deck and sunroof. Also right front door at
times. It's not the sunglass holder, I removed that.
- Navigation sytem leaves a lot to be desired. Also, why when spending 2k on a sytem does it not have
text to speach and why in god's name did they have a DVD from 2004 in a car bought in October 2006?
Save the money, buy a good after market system. It isn't worth the 2k. It's size is nice but other than
that my cell phone is more updated and gives better directions. I use that now.
Also, the voice recognition is accurate about 80% of the time.
2005 Dodge Magnum R/T (bought new traded 04 TL for it)
-11 k battery went dead
- 46k o-ring seal replaced under TSB for transmission.
- currently 72,000 miles and going strong.
- not as swank inside as the TL, but the leather is wearing far better.
- Boston Acoustic sound system is louder and no distortion at full volume. TL ELS sytem is superb when
DVD audio format is used (which is hard to find) but it doesn't match the Boston sytem in the Magnum for
loudness and clarity. I was most shocked. Why did they stop using BOSE in the TL?
- MAgnum has a Mercedes 5 speed automatic, suspension, steering, and an E-class derived
chassis.
- Hemi Engine is quieter than the TL at idle.
- Interior is decidely downmarket feeling and looking, but seats are very comfortable. This is this car's major
downfall. The pieces are durable I will say.
Amazing how the superbly engineered, "extremely reliable", top rated TL has so many more issues than my Dodge Magnum.
Paint quailty on the Magnum is better, plastic parts match the metal parts. The 06 TL has better quailty paint than the 04 for sure.
Gaps may be wider on the body panels for the Magnum, but at least they all match up. The TL has a couple mismatched parts. (04 Tl had teh same issue).
The brakes are far superior on the 06 TL than the 04 TL.
These cars are beautiful, nice interiors, but hardly relaible or durable in my experience. They are just average.
The dealer response to ignore or blatanly refuse to acknowledge the issues until such point they have no other choice is most annoying.
I iwll say the 3.2 engine does wonderfully well with gas when paired with the manual. I average 27 MPG, as where with the Auto I was at 22 - 23 MPG. On a long highway trip I can get 32 MPG and 33 on rare occasions.
Anyone else feel that way about any of the issues I spoke of?
It's a shame, because I think this car is on of the best looking around, and the best looking Acura to date, and has a nice compliant ride yet handles superbly.
Last edited by welshy411; 06-16-2008 at 10:52 AM.
