2003 ACURA CL Power Train Problems

I purchased this vehicle in March 2021 and noticed the issue with the transmission the first time I operated the vehicle. There is a grinding sound whenever the transmission is placed in third gear. I brought the car to Acura by Executive in Wallingford, CT at some point in 2021 to enquire about the issue. I was informed by the service advisor that the problem is a known issue but because there is no recall on the issue and the vehicle is out of warranty Acura is not required to resolve it. Recently I came across service bulletin 08-018 and noticed where it stated that after warranty expiration a repair may be eligible for goodwill consideration. I called Acura Customer Service, was given case #15843108, and told to acquire a formal diagnosis from an Acura dealership. The diagnosis from Acura of Berlin in Berlin, CT verified that the symptoms were the result of the faulty transmission as described in the TSB. I submitted this information to Acura Customer Service and was informed on September 29, 2025, that due to the age of the vehicle Acura will not compensate me fully or partially for the repair. In my view, although this is an older vehicle, it has low mileage at 102.000 miles and is therefore expected to be on the road for many years. The transmission only grinds at this point, but it may start to pop out of third gear in the future as described in the TSB. I consider this a safety issue in that the transmission popping out of gear unexpectedly would result in some loss of control of the vehicle. I don't expect Acura to fully compensate me for this repair but in light of this problem being a known and documented issue with this vehicle and all the parts for repair are still available I would expect that Acura would stand by its product and offer to contribute to the total cost of this repair.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 ACURA CL. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD AN ABNORMAL GRINDING NOISE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. ALSO, WHILE THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER, TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF AND ON, AND IT RESUMED NORMAL OPERATION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THE VEHICLE AND DETERMINED THAT THE SENSOR FOR THE DRIVESHAFT THREE AND FOUR GEAR CABLE FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 04V176000 (POWER TRAIN). THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER PROVIDED CASE NUMBER: 10011555. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 1,054.

Mileage: 1,054

I BOUGHT A USED ACURA AND ON THE WAY HOME ON THE HIGHWAY THE CAR SUDDENLY DOWN SHIFTED VIOLENTLY SEVERAL TIMES CAUSING THE CAR TO SKID SIDEWAYS .I PULLED OVER AND THE CAR WOULD NOT SHIFT OUT OF 3RD GEAR.EVENTULLY I GOT IT TO RESET AND IT DROVE FINE FOR 35 MINUTES UNTIL ONCE AGAIN IT LOCKED UP DOING 65MPH.

Mileage: 148,000

I WAS RIDING ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN THE ENGINE WENT INTO HIGH RPM'S AND THE CAR WAS SLOWING DOWN. THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WENT OUT. I BARELY GOT TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WITHOUT POWER. THE CAR ONLY HAS 77,248 MILES ON IT. THERE WAS ACURA SERVICE BULLETIN 02-027 FEB 5, 2008, ABOUT TRANMISSION PROBLEMS. VERY SCAREY!

Mileage: 77,248

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ELIMINATED, VSA LIGHT COMES ON AND D5 LIGHT FLASHES WHILE DRIVING AFTER TRANSMISSION WARMS UP., CAR WONT SHIFT INTO 4TH OR 5TH GEAR RPMS WIND UP REAL HIGH HAVE TO PULL OVER TURN OFF ENGINE THEN RESTART TO DRIVE ONLY SHORT DISTANCE BEFORE IT STARTS DOING THE SAME THING. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AT APPROX. 65 MPH WHEN CAR SUDDENLY STARTED DOWNSHIFTING ON ITS OWN CAUSING ME TO ALMOST CRASHED WHEN I WAS JERKED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. *TR

Mileage: 207,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 ACURA CL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING AND CRASHED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES THAT DID NOT REQUIRE MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 04V176000 (POWER TRAIN). THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.

Mileage: 120,000

TRANSMISSION FAILED DESPITE THE CAR HAVING THE FACTORY RECOMMENDED SERVICE FOR THE TRANSMISSION BEING PERFORMED AT 60K AND 89K. THE TRANSMISSION DROPPED INTO 2ND WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY AT 65MPH. UPON INVESTIGATING IT WAS FOUND THE CAR WAS PART OF A CLASS ACTION DUE TO TRANSMISSION FAILURE, BUT I WAS NOT ELIGIBLE SINCE THE CAR WAS OUT OF THE EXTENDED WARRANTY PERIOD. *TR

Mileage: 92,728

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 ACURA CL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION FAILED CAUSING A REDUCTION IN ACCELERATION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE 107,000.

Mileage: 107,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 ACURA CL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION FAILED CAUSING A REDUCTION IN ACCELERATION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE 107,000.

Mileage: 107,000

WAS DRIVING ON A 3 LANE ROAD. I NOTICED THAT WHEN I ACCELERATE FROM 1ST TO 2ND GEAR THE RPM'S WERE REVVING UP AND THEN FELT THE TUG WHEN IT WOULD GRAB THE GEAR. KEPT DOING THAT AND THEN STARTED TO 3RD GEAR AS WELL. DOWNSHIFTING SAME THING. THEN IT DID A STRONG LOCK UP OF VEHICLE WHERE IT STOPPED AND ALL THE CHECK ENGINE, AND 2 OR 3 LIGHTS CAME ON. D5 STARTED TO BLINK. I PUT HAZARDS AND PULLED OVER. SHUT VEHICLE OFF THEN BACK ON AND 1 OF THE 3 LIGHTS TURNED OFF. TOOK IT TO SHOP AND WAS TOLD THAT THIS VEHICLE HAS TRANSMISSION ISSUES AND WAS PART OF A HONDA RECALL BUT I WAS OVER THE MILEAGE. STILL WAITING ON WHAT TO DO NEXT. THIS IS FOR THE 2003 ACURA CL TYPE S. *TR

Mileage: 120,000

I OWN A 2003 ACURA 3.2 CL. I READ UP ON THE CAR AND I SEE ACURA HAD A RECALL ON THE TRANSMISSION FOR THIS YEAR. I PUT THE VIN NUMBER IN AND I ALSO CALLED THE ACURA DEALERSHIP IN COLUMBUS GEORGIA AND IT SHOW THAT MY ACURA HAVE HAD THE TRANSMISSION REPLACE IN IT FROM THE FIRST RECALL, AT 104,000 MILEAGE MY TRANSMISSION HAVE WENT OUT AGAIN. I KNOW THIS CAN NOT BE NATURAL FOR THIS PROBLEM TO HAVE BEEN REPAIRED AND STILL HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. THE CAR IS AN 2003 WITH THE MILEAGE 104,000 WHICH IS A GREAT FOR AN 2003. THIS IS MY FIRST ACURA AND IT HAVE MADE ME LOVE THE ACURA FAMILY. CAN YOU PLEASE REPAIR THE PROBLEM. THANK YOU *TR

Mileage: 104,000

I WAS DRIVING DOWN INTERSTATE 19, WHEN THE TRANSMISSION STARTED TO FAIL, THERE WAS HEAVY TRAFFIC AND MY CAR GOING UP AND DOWN ON SPEED LIMIT, 65-35 MILES PER HOUR. ALMOST HAD CARS BEHIND ME REAR END MY ACURA CL, SO I PULLED OVER TO AVOID A SUDDEN ACCIDENT, THE VEHICLE HAD JUST BEEN IN THE ACURA DEALERSHIP FOR A MINOR INSPECTION OF A SUDDEN NOISE IN THE TRANSMISSION AREA. THEY ADVISED ME THAT IT WAS STARTING TO MISS AND DID NOT MENTION NOT TO DRIVE IT. A NEW TRANSMISSION COSTS $4700. *TR

Mileage: 172,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 ACURA CL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO DECELERATE. THERE WAS AN INCREASE IN THE ENGINE RPMS, BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSTIC. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN A RECALL UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 04V176000 (POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION) AND WAS REPAIRED BY THE PREVIOUS OWNER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE REPAIRS WOULD NOT BE COVERED BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

Mileage: 100,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 ACURA CL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH , THE TRANSMISSION OVERHEATED AND WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO GEAR. THE FIFTH GEAR AND THE TRANSMISSION WARNING LIGHT WERE BLINKING AS THE VEHICLE ABNORMALLY DECELERATED. THE CONTACT WOULD HAVE TO TURN THE VEHICLE OFF AND RESTART IN ORDER TO CORRECT THE FAILURE. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY ADVISED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY UNDER THE RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 04V176000 (POWER TRAIN: AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT FURTHER REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 95,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 135,000.

Mileage: 95,000

THE CAR HAD A TRANSMISSION RECALL ABOUT 6 YEARS AGO. SINCE I AM NOT THE ORIGINAL OWNER, I DID SOME RESEARCH TO DETERMINE IF THE TRANSMISSION HAD BEEN REPLACED IN MY VEHICLE. I CALLED ACURA AND THEY INFORMED ME THAT THE TRANSMISSION IN MY VEHICLE HAD BEEN FIXED. ABOUT A YEAR LATER, MY CAR WAS STARTING TO EXPERIENCE SHIFTING PROBLEMS FROM 2ND TO 3RD GEAR. SINCE THE CAR HAS FAIRLY LOW MILEAGE (79,201) I THOUGHT THIS WAS A LITTLE BIT ODD. NOW THAT I THINK OF IT, IT STILL APPEARS THAT THE ORIGINAL TRANSMISSION HAD NOT BEEN CORRECTED (AS THESE THINGS SHOULD LAST 100K+ MILES). I'M LOGGING THIS COMPLAINT TO SEE IF ANY OWNERS ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM.

Mileage: 79,201

WHEN ENTERING HIGHWAY VEHICLE FAILED TO CHANGE GEARS AND NEARLY CAUSING A REAR END CRASH. TRANSMISSION FAILED.

Mileage: 50,100

ACURA CL 3.2 2003 W/ 60K MILES, MAINTAINED ON A REGULAR BASIS EXCEEDING OWNERS MANUAL RECOMMENDATIONS AND DRIVEN CONSERVATIVELY BY A PROFESSIONAL FEMALE: CAR BEING DRIVEN ON HEAVILY TRAFFICKED ROAD NORMALLY, AND VERY ABRUPTLY/SUDDENLY GEARED DOWN TO LOW GEAR FROM HIGH GEAR. VIOLENTLY JERKED AND SHIFTED, CAUSING THE CAR TO INSTANTLY GO FROM AROUND 50 MPH TO ONLY AROUND 10-15 MPH. NO WARNING LIGHTS OR PREVIOUS PROBLEMS. IF CAR HAD BEEN BEING DRIVEN ON THE BUSY, HIGH SPEED INTERSTATE LEAVING SAN FRANCISCO AT 60+ SURROUNDED BY TRAFFIC (LUCKILY HAD JUST EXITED THE INTERSTATE AND WAS ON SECONDARY ROAD), IT COULD EASILY HAVE CAUSED FATAL ACCIDENTS. LUCKILY, I WAS ABLE TO IMMEDIATELY ACCESS A SHOULDER TO PULL OVER. DROVE CAR TO ACURA SERVICE ON SIDE ROAD WITH FLASHERS ON - TOOK NEARLY AN HOUR TO GO 6 MILES. WARNING LIGHT FINALLY CAME ON A HALF MILE FROM THE DEALERSHIP, ALTHOUGH PROBLEM HAD HAPPENED SEVERAL MILES BEFORE AND COULD EASILY HAVE CAUSED MAJOR ACCIDENTS, BASED ON DRIVING SITUATION. ACURA SERVICE DETERMINED THAT TRANSMISSION WAS DEFECTIVE AND REPLACED IT. EVEN THOUGH I LATER LEARNED THAT THE SAME MODEL AND YEAR HAD BEEN PUT UNDER AN EXTENDED WARRANTY AND WAS THE SUBJECT OF A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT, I HAD NEVER RECEIVED ANY NOTIFICATIONS. FURTHER, I WAS TOLD BY ACURA CORP AND THE DEALERSHIP THAT MY VIN NUMBER WAS NOT PART OF THE PROBLEM/ LAWSUIT AND I WAS REQUIRED TO PAY FOR THE NEW TRANSMISSION, ON THE ACURA WITH 60K MILES THAT WAS IN OTHERWISE EXCELLENT CONDITION.. *TR

Mileage: 60,000

TRANSMISSION IN MY 2003 ACURA CLS HAD SHIFTING PROBLEMS. IT WOULD DOWNSHIFT RANDOMLY FOR NO REASON AND THROW YOU HARD AGAINST YOUR SEAT BELT. IT WAS SO BAD I HAD TO TAKE IT TO THE ACURA DEALERSHIP WHERE THEY SAID THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED REPLACED. OTHER ACURA CL'S AND ACURA PRODUCTS HAD A RECALL FOR THIS TRANSMISSION PROBLEM THAT REQUIRED THEM TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION, BUT MINE WAS SUPPOSEDLY A VEHICLE THAT WAS NOT AFFECTED AND NOT COVERED UNDER THE RECALL. THE ACURA DEALER REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION AND COVERED 1/2 THE COST AFTER I ASKED THEM TO CONTACT THEIR LOCAL ACURA DEALER REP. *TR

Mileage: 117,200

THERE ARE TWO SAFETY ISSUES WITH MY 2003 ACURA CL. FIRST, THE HEADLIGHTS ARE FLASHING LIKE A STROBE LIGHT. I REPLACED THE BULB AND IT DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. REPLACED THE FUSES AND STILL HAVE THE PROBLEMS. SECOND, THE TRANSMISSION IS FAILING. AFTER SOME RESEARCH, I FOUND OUT THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE TRANSMISSION AND COULD LOCK UP AND CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. AT THE TIME OF THE RECALL, THE FIRST OWNER DID NOT HAVE IT REPLACED. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED AN ENGINE COOLER TO HELP WITH FRICTION. THIS OBVIOUSLY DID NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM. THE ENGINE IS JERKING AND ACCELERATING WHEN I AM TRYING TO MAINTAIN A CONSTANT SPEED. I NOTIFIED ACURA AND THE DEALERSHIP WHERE THE CAR WAS PURCHASED. NEITHER ARE WILLING TO COVER THE COST OF THE REPAIR. *TR

Mileage: 75,000

THE CAR WOULD NOT TAKE OFF WHEN IT'S ON DRIVE FELL LIKE IT ON NEUTRAL FOR A FEW SECONDS AND WOULD NOT REVERSE WHEN IT'S ON R 2003 ACURA CL TYPE-S AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAULTY. ACCORDING TO THE CLASS ACTION LAW SUIT AGAINST ACURA THEY ARE LIABLE TO REPAIR OR REPLACE THE FAULTY TRANSMISSION. ACRE HAS OFFER TO EXTENDED THE WARRANTY TO 7 YEARS 9 MONTHS OR 109,000 MILES. I CALLED ACRE TO REPORT THE PROBLEM AND ASKED ABOUT THE EXTEND WARRANTY AND WAS TOLD THAT MY CAR WAS FIXED ON RECALL 2004 AND IT WAS A ONE TIME FIXED ONLY, NO EXTEND WARRANTY BECAUSE VIN DOES NOT QUALIFY. *TR

Mileage: 75,000

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION STARTED MISSING SHIFTS INTO 3RD GEAR, ESPECIALLY WHEN UNDER LOAD, LIKE GOING UP HILL. TWO WEEKS LATER IT WON'T SHIFT INTO 3RD AT ALL. DEALER SAYS I NEED TO HAVE TRANSMISSION REPLACED. ONLY 62,000 MILES ON A VERY WELL TAKEN CARE OF CAR. HONDA AGREED TO REPLACE SOME OF THESE MODEL YEAR TRANSMISSIONS, BUT NOT ALL OF THEM. ANECDOTAL INFORMATION, BUT IN SPEAKING WITH A NON ACURA RELATED TRANSMISSION SHOP, HE KNEW EXACTLY HOW MY PROBLEM MANIFESTED ITSELF, AND WHAT IT WAS, WITH ONLY THE MODEL YEAR. CLEARLY HONDA SHOULD BE FORCED TO EXTEND THEIR SERVICE COVERAGE TO AT LEAST THE BALANCE OF THE 2003 MODEL YEAR IF NOT BEYOND. *TR

Mileage: 62,600

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 ACURA 3.2CL. ON SEPTEMBER 17, 2008, WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER AND STOPPED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT A NEW TRANSMISSION WAS NEEDED. THE CONTACT WANTED A SECOND OPINION AND HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO ANOTHER MECHANIC. A DIAGNOSTIC WAS PERFORMED AND THE SECOND MECHANIC CONFIRMED THAT A NEW TRANSMISSION WAS NEEDED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT HER VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 04V176000 (POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION); HOWEVER, THEY WOULD NOT COVER THE COST OF THE REPAIRS DUE TO THE MILEAGE THAT WAS ON THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WAS ALSO INFORMED THAT REPAIRS WERE MADE TO THE VEHICLE ON SEPTEMBER 27, 2004. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 124,000.

Mileage: 124,000

1) ROUGH SHIFTING. 2) GEAR WOULD NOT CHANGE, ERRATIC SHIFTING, AND THEN CAR WOULD NOT MOVE. 3) 01-SOME 03 CLS HAD MANY PROBLEM W/ TRANSMISSION SO TRANSMISSION WARRANTY WAS EXTENDED TO 109K BUT I HAVE AN 03 THAT IS NOT COVERED AND TRANSMISSION BLEW. DEALER PAID FOR THE TRANSMISSION BUT I HAD TO PAY FOR LABOR. *TR

Mileage: 74,455

MANUAL TRANS/CLUTCH - LOOSES HYDRAULIC PRESSURE IN LOW AIR TEMPS AND WHEN CAR IS SITTING ON A HILL. HARD TO SHIFT ONLY IN 1ST INTO 2ND GEAR. THERE WERE VERY FEW ACURA 2002/2003 CL 3.2 TYPE SS MADE, SO EVEN A COUPLE COMPLAINTS SHOULD WARRANT A REVIEW. I FOUND NUMEROUS FORUMS WITH OWNERS COMPLAINING AND ASKING FOR HELP FROM OTHERS ON THIS PROBLEM. I'VE DRIVEN MANUAL TRANS CARS AND TRUCKS FOR 22 YRS TO INCLUDE ONE HONDA THAT STILL HAD THE ORIGINAL CLUTCH AT 225K MILES, SO IT IS NOT A DRIVER RELATED PROBLEM. ALL THE FOCUS HAS BEEN ON THE AUTO TRANSMISSIONS FOR THIS CAR...THAT FAILED. ACURA HAS A PROBLEM THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED BEFORE SOMEONE GET SERIOUSLY HURT, WHEN THEY TRY TO SHIFT INTO SECOND WHEN CROSSING A BUSY STREET AND CANT. IT HAS HAPPENED TO ME AND I JUST GOT LUCKY. *NM

Mileage: 55,000

HAD TO REPLACE TRANSMISSION AFTER 89,000 MILES. *JB

Mileage: 89,000

TRANSMISSION FAILED AT 60,000 MILES. AFTER HEARING THAT THERE HAD BEEN A RECALL OF MY VEHICLE FOR TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS, I CALLED ACURA. THEY TOLD ME THAT THE RECALL DID NOT AFFECT MY VEHICLE (ACCORDING TO THE VIN #). THEY AGREED TO CHECK TO SEE WHETHER IT WOULD BE COVERED UNDER THE RECALL BUT THE PROCESS THEY SUGGESTED WOULD TAKE SEVERAL WEEKS TO DETERMINE WHETHER OR NOT THEY WOULD COVER THE PROBLEM. I HAD MY VEHICLE REPAIRED AT MY EXPENSE. I NOW SEE THE VIN #'S THAT WERE AFFECTED AND IT LOOKS LIKE MY VEHICLE SHOULD HAVE BEEN PART OF THE RECALL. *JB

Mileage: 60,000

MY 2003 ACURA CL-TYPE S MANUAL 6 SPEED IS ALSO HAVING SIMILAR PROBLEMS AS THE OTHER OWNERS WITH CHANGE IN PEDAL PRESSURE AND DIFFICULTY SHIFTING IN COLD WEATHER, SOMETIMES WITH GEARS GRINDING AND IT IS UNAVOIDABLE UNLESS YOU PUT THE VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL AND COME TO A COMPLETE STOP AND START FROM 1ST GEAR AGAIN,REVERSE IS ALSO A ISSUE, SOMETIMES IT WONT GO IN AT ALL, I HAVE BEEN TO THE ACURA DEALERSHIPS TO PURCHASE THE NEW TRANNY SENSORS WHICH ARE NOT CHEAP BUT THE PROBLEM STILL PERSISTS. I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY CONDITIONS WERE NORMAL, NOTHING UNUSUAL AND MY TRANSMISSION TOTALLY LOCKED ON 3RD GEAR, LUCKILY I OR ANYBODY ELSE WAS HURT. MY FRONT DRIVERS SIDE FENDER WAS DAMAGED BECAUSE I HAD TO MANEUVER VEHICLE OUT OF FREEWAY TRAFFIC TO AVOID A MAJOR COLLISION. ALSO FRONT BUMPER NEEDS SOME REPAIR AND REPAINTING. *JB

Mileage: 52,000

ISSUE WITH 6 SPEED STANDARD TRANSMISSION. WHILE COLD DIFFICULTY UPSHIFTING INTO 2ND GEAR WITH OCCASIONAL GEAR GRINDING. CLUTCH AND 2ND GEAR SYNCROS REPLACED, BUT THE PROBLEM PERSISTS. ACURA MAINTAINS THAT THIS DIFFICULTY IS NORMAL PERFORMANCE. *JB

Mileage: 37,000

2003 ACURA 3.2CL TYPE S - 75,000 MILES - MANUAL TRANSMISSION (MT) IS HARD TO SHIFT INTO SECOND AND REVERSE GEARS. ALSO NOTICED THAT AFTER HOLDING THE CLUTCH PEDAL IN WHILE AT A STOP LIGHT, SITTING IN TRAFFIC, ETC., THE PRESSURE CHANGES WHILE LETTING THE PEDAL OUT AND DOESN'T ENGAGE/CATCH WHILE ATTEMPTING TO SHIFT. MUST PUSH PEDAL DOWN AGAIN AND TRY TO SHIFT AGAIN. THE FIRST COUPLE OF TIMES THIS HAPPENED, I SHIFTED FROM FIRST INTO SECOND GEAR AND THE GEAR GRINDED AND CAR JERKED. THE PEDAL PRESSURE ALMOST FEEL LIKE A BRAKE PEDAL DOES WHEN COMPRESSED AND THERE IS AIR IN THE LINE. AT OTHER TIMES, IT FEELS LIKE I'M PUSHING IN MY 1978 Z-28 MANUAL CLUTCH PEDAL....HEAVY! SERVICE DEPT IS EXCELLENT AT DEALER LOCATION. COMPLAINT BEING FILED TO ENSURE THAT A PROBLEM IS NOTED WITH THE MT IF OTHERS ARE HAVING THE SAME ISSUES; WHICH COULD LEAD TO A RECALL. *NM

Mileage: 68,000

I HAVE A 2003 ACURA CL TYPE S. ACURA HAS REPLACED THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION TWICE AND THE 3RD TRANSMISSION CURRENTLY IN THE CAR IS HAVING PROBLEMS. ALTHOUGH THE MANUFACTURER EXTENDED THE WARRANTY TO 7 YEARS AND 100,000 MILES, THEY SENT SERVICE BULLETINS REQUESTING SERVICE INDUCED SLIPPAGE BETWEEN GEARS AND REDUCTIN OF HORSEPOWER TO REDUCE STRAIN ON THE TRANSMISSION. THIS CAR IS ADVERTISED AS A HIGH PERFORMANCE AUTOMOBILE AND UNKNOWN TO THE CUSTOMER TO TAKE CARE OF A MANUFACTURING DEFECT THEY ARE ADJUSTING THE OVERALL PERFORMANCE OF THE CAR. MY CAR HAS BEEN IN FOR REPAIR IN EXCESS OF 15 TIMES. AS A PARAPLEGIC CONFINED TO A WHEELCHAIR THIS HAS DRAMATICALLY IMPACTED MY QUALITY OF LIFE. ANY ASSISTANCE YOU COULD PROVIDE WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED. RON CHEEK

Mileage: 2,500

2003 ACURA CL TYPE S 6 SPEED MANUAL TRANS. TRAVELING SLOW IN 1ST. GEAR ON AND OFF THE GAS TRANS. POPS OUT OF GEAR WITH A CLUNK. IF I HOLD THE SHIFT LEVER IN PLACE IT WILL NOT POP OUT IF GEAR. THIS HAS HAPPENED SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR NEW IN 08-2003. DEALER CHECKED INTO IT BUT SAID EVERYTHING LOOKED FINE. I LOVE THE CAR BUT THIS PROBLEM WITH IT POPING OUT OF GEAR IS CONCERNING AND DANGEROUS. I'M WONDERING IF THIS IS CAUSING DAMAGE TO MY CAR IN OTHER WAYS.*AK

Mileage: 100

THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER OF A TRANSMISSION RECALL. THE CONSUMER HAD NEVER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE IN REFERENCE TO A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. *NM *JB RECALL#04V176000

TRANMISSION FAILURES: 2003 ACURA CL. 1ST INCIDENT WAS AT 3,000 MILES. CAR STALLED AND WAS ACTING UP ON A VERY BUSY FREEWAY IN CA (405 FREEWAY). I WASN'T IN A FAMILIAR AREA WHEN I PULLED OVER. ACURA ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE SAID TO DRIVE TO THE NEAREST DEALERSHIP WHEN I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW WHERE ONE WAS. IT WAS DANGEROUS BUT I ENDED UP MAKING IT TO DEALERSHIP. REPLACED TRANSMISSION AND SOME OTHER FLUIDS AFTER 1 WEEK OF BEING IN THE SHOP. 2ND INCIDENT WAS AT 25K MILES AND NOT EVEN 2 YRS OLD. CAR WAS PULLING I SLOWED DOWN AND HAD A BLOW OUT ON ANOTHER FREEWAY. IT IS IN THE SHOP AS WE SPEAK. THEY HAVE TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION AGAIN. I'LL BE WITHOUT MY CAR A WEEK.*AK

Mileage: 25,800

OWN A 2003 ACURA CL BUILT IN MARCH OF 2002. TRANSMISSION SLIPPED GOING INTO THIRD EIGHT TIMES. REPORTED THIS TO DEALER AND THEY CHECKED IT OUT BUT IT WOULD NOT RECCUR. TOLD ME NO PROBBLEM. I AM HAPPY WITH THE DEALER, NOT WITH HONDA. THIS PROBLEM HAS HAPPENED SEVENTEEN TIMES STARTING IN LATE SEPTEMBER.*AK

Mileage: 36,000

THE TRANSMISSION IN MY 2003 ACURA CLS HESITATES DURING CERTAIN SHIFTS AND IT HAS DOWNSHIFTED AND UPSHIFTED AT THE WRONG TIMES.*AK

Mileage: 6,000

TRANSMISSION SLIPS EVERY TIME VEHICLE IS DRIVEN. *AK

Mileage: 11,000

THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION VIOLENTLY LOCKED HILE PROCEEING DOWN THE ROAD. IN CONTACTING THE ACURA DEALER IN MOBILE, AL (MY CLOSEST DEALER) I WAS INFORMED THEY HAD 4 IN THE SHOP THIS WEEK ALONE FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. ACCORDING TO THEM THE TRANSMISSIONNEED A EXTERNAL COOLER WHICH THEY NOW INSTALL ON THE NEWER MODELA. I WAS INFORMED THAT THE PRICE TO FIX MINE WOULD BE $5,100 PLUS INCIDENTALS. WITH THE NUMBER OF PROBLEMS THEY ARE HAVING WITH THIS AND THE FACT IT COULD CAUSE A MAJOR ACCIDENT IT NEED TO BE A RECALL ITEM.*AK