10 of the 54 complaints about the 2002 Acura RL are about the transmission — 19% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 46,059 miles.
10
Complaints
1
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.
POWER TRAIN
RACK AND PINION REPLACEMENT. EXTERIOR ISSUES: REAR BUMPER FELLED OFF; GASOLINE COVER WON'T CLOSED; DOOR HANDLES FALLING OFF; FUEL PUMP NEEDS REPLACEMENT
NHTSA complaint #11404011 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM)
THE CAR HAS A KNOWN TSB THAT THE CAR MAY STALL AND SHUT DOWN IF IT IS AT VERY LOW SPEEDS. THIS HAS HAPPENED TO ME TWICE AND THE LAST TIME IT HAPPENED 3 DAYS AGO. I WAS IN TRAFFIC WAITING IN TRAFFIC THE CAR JUST STALLED AND ROLLED BACK AND HIT THE GUY IN THE BACK LUCKY FOR ME IT WAS SITTING TRAFFIC. ONE OTHER TIME THE CAR WAS MAKING A SLOW SPEED TURN AND THE CAR SHUT OFF AND LOST POWER. THE CAR HAS A KNOWN TSB THAT THIS HAPPENS DUE TO A MALFUNCTIONED PCM. ALSO THIS CAR HAS A TSB STATING THAT A DRIVE PLATE IS MISMANUFACTURED AND HAPPENS TO ALL CARS IN MY YEAR AND MODEL A GRINDING NOISE WHEN START UP INTERMITTENTLY. THIS IT THE WEBLINK FOR TSB FOR STALLING OF CAR PROBLEM HTTP://WWW.ACURHTTP://WWW.ACURAWORLD.COM/TSB/2002/B02-031.PDFAWORLD.COM/TSB/2001/B01-044.PDF AND THIS IS FOR THE GRINDING NOISE PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #10140751 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
2004 ACURA RL , CONSUMER STATED WHEN THE VEHICLE IS PARKED ON A SLIGHT INCLINE WITH GEAR SHIFTER IN DRIVE, THE VEHICLE WOULD ROLL BACKWARDS. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.
NHTSA complaint #10032372 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
GET A VERY BAD 'GRIND' GOING INTO 2ND GEAR, WHEN THE TRANSMISSION IS COLD. IT TAKES ABOUT 25 MINUTES OF DRIVING UNTIL IT STARTS TO SHIFT SMOOTHLY. THE COLDER THE WEATHER IS OUTSIDE THE WORST THE PROBLEM IS. THIS IS NOT NORMAL BEHAVIOR, YOU CAN FEEL THE GEARS GRINDING IN THE TRANSMISSION. YES, THE CLUTCH PEDAL IS BEING PUSHED ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR AND THE SHIFTER IS BEING PULLED STRAIGHT BACK. I HAVE SPOKE WITH MANY ACURA RSX TYPE-S OWNERS AND THEY ARE ALL HAVING THIS PROBLEM. I HAVE A PETITION WITH OVER 60 SIGNATURES FROM OTHER RSX OWNERS WITH NAME VIN'S AND DESCRIPT OF THE SAME PROBLEM. PLEASE REPORT THIS PROBLEM TO ACURA IT CAN BE VERY DANGEROUS IF YOU ARE TRYING TO GET INTO 2ND GEAR AND THE TRANSMISSIONS IS GRINDING SO BAD IT LOCKS YOU OUT.
NHTSA complaint #756670 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
WHEN SHIFTING INTO 2ND GEAR, THE TRANSMISSION FREQUENTLY MAKES A CRUNCHING SOUND IN ADDITION TO HAVING A NOTCHY FEELING. OCCASIONALLY TRANSMISSION WILL POP OUT OF 2ND GEAR WHEN ENGAGING THE CLUTCH. AFTER TAKING THE CAR TO THE WILLOW GROVE SUSSMAN ACURA SERVICE CENTER, A TECHNICIAN CLAIMED THAT THIS WAS NORMAL OPERATION FOR THE RSX TYPE-S'S 6 SPEED TRANMISSION SINCE ITS 1ST AND 2ND GEARS HAVE TRIPLE CONE SYNCROS. HE SAID THERE WAS NOTHING HE COULD DO FOR THIS TRANMISSION PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #754376 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
TRANSMISSION GRINDS WHEN UPSHIFTING FROM FIRST GEAR INTO SECOND GEAR.
NHTSA complaint #754184 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
GETTING INTO SECOND GEAR IS VERY 'NOTCHY' AND GETS VERY BAD IN COLD WEATHER AND WHEN THE TRANMISSION IS NOT WARMED UP. AT TIMES IT CAN BE VERY HARD TO GET INTO 2ND GEAR AND IT GRINDS, THIS HAS BEEN REPORTED BY MANY OTHER RSX TYPE-S OWNERS I HAVE SPOKEN WITH. THIS CAN BE VERY DANGEROUS IF YOU ARE TRYING TO GET INTO SECOND GEAR AND YOU ARE NOT ABLE TO.
NHTSA complaint #753882 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
WHEN IT IS COLD OUT THERE IS A NOTCH GOING FROM 1ST TO 2ND GEAR. WITH THE CLUTCH FULLY DEPRESSED AS YOU SHIFT FROM THE 1ST GEAR GATE TO THE 2ND GEAR GATE THERE IS A SLIGHT GRIND AND DIFFICULTY GETTING INTO GEAR. THE PROBLEM GOES AWAY ONCE THE CAR IS WARMED UP.
NHTSA complaint #753920 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
6 SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSION MISS-SHIFTING EASILY ON 3RD TO 4TH GEAR UPSHIFTS. 2ND GEAR ENGAGED WHICH CAUSED EXTENSIVE ENGINE DAMAGE. MANUFACTURE IS FAILING TO WARRANTY ENGINE DAMAGE. NUMEROUS CASES ARE NOW BEING REPORTED BY OWNERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #753251 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
WHEN SLOWING DOWN AND HITTING THE BRAKES ENGINE WILL STALL. VEHICLE DOES THIS INTERMITTENTLY WITHOUT WARNING. ALSO, HAD TRANSMISSION REPLACED, AND VEHICLE DID IT AGAIN. CONTACTED DEALER.
NHTSA complaint #893726 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.