2003CL

UPDATE: 6/15/09. Still on the road with 112.789 miles and the same replacement tranny. Spent some bucks on some cosmetic body work since the clearcoat on the hood started showing thousands of micro-cracks and the bumpers became pitted from all the highway miles and parking lots. Replaced the L & R driver armrests and re-dyed the steering wheel. The thing looks new! Runs like it, too!!

b1ackhawk

Ok, been awhile since theres been much dialogue. So, I'm in need of a mid sized sedan and looking at getting a 3.2TL. Question is, how risky is it? Have most of the bad trannys out there been replaced? What can I look for on a 3.2TL as far as potential tranny issues? All advise would be much appreciated. Thanks!

2003CL

The 2001-2003 TLs seem to be the ones affected. I would check the VIN of the car you propose to buy and see if it's covered by the extended warranty. If the present owner has the maintenance records, I would comb thru those to see if required maintenance was performed (and if the tranny was already replaced.) I would consider the mileage on the car itself, and definitely put the car thru the paces, transmission-wise. With used cars, it definitely is Buyer Beware. PS: I'm at 120k. Knock on wood...

b1ackhawk

Actually, just for my own investigative purposes, I ran vin numbers from a ton of cars listed on autotrader and all except 1 was covered on the honda transmission settlement. This is contrary to what ive read that the problem only affects a small percentage of the cars, like 2% or something like that. The only thing that would make sense is if honda volunteered to replace transmissions that "may or may not be" affected.

TL-Super

Some are still covered under warranty based on mileage and time. My 2nd tranny is living on borrowed time these days, it shudders in 3rd gear and into 4th a fair bit but nursing it till I can figure out what/when I should do something about it. Mr. Transmission wants $3000 to r&r and rebuild it.

2003CL

...and this will be my Last foray on this site--a month short of ten years and 158,257 miles later, my beloved CL (aka "Sting") has moved on to another owner who may find it to be as wonderful a car as I did. But not before he/she puts a new transmission in it! Last week it started to shudder on shifts between first and second, second and third. I had decided a few months ago that would this car require a significant outlay of cash, it would become history. So even though the paint was still immaculate, the brakes and tires still with lots of life, and the interior still quite good, this well-maintained car was replaced by a black 2013 Hyundai Genesis 3.8 MT Trac. I had been looking for a replacement, but on past visits to new car dealerships, I would invariably get back into "Sting", shake my head and say "not today". Acura stopped making 2-door cars in 2006, and the front end design of Acuras leaves much to be desired. My alternative was to be rear wheel drive, MT coupe, leaving me essentially with an Infinit G37, BMW, Mustang, or Genesis Coupe. Given the money, warranty, styling and performance, the Genesis is the new baby! Wish me well! I will always remember my Acura Decade. Peace out!