Transmission Solenoid problems of the 2003 Acura TL

Two problems related to transmission solenoid have been reported for the 2003 Acura TL. The most recently reported issues are listed below. Please also check out the statistics and reliability analysis of the 2003 Acura TL based on all problems reported for the 2003 TL.

1 Transmission Solenoid problem

Failure Date: 03/21/2018

In forward motion, freeway. Electrical. Tranny. Car currently reads 138,356 miles. Around roughly 134,000 miles the vehicle check engine light began to flash as a result from rpms reaching about 6 on the cluster rpm display due what felt like slipping into to 3rd or 4th gear. Slipping however usually results with what I would consider a slamming experience from eventually catching and shifting into the correct gear. This happened as I was merging onto freeway. Car did not catch gear but nuetralized until I switched to sport shift mode and displayed 4 gear and the vehicle jetted off. Cel has remained on and 3rd gear still a issue. Did much maintenance, replacement of solenoids,fluid flush, etc. Problem solves then returns. This has went on for about 6mon this last month seemed issue had resolved itself after two more atf flushes in the prior month. This last week my lady and I coming home from our date night, luckily thats Wednesday(hump day) for us, so freeways at 12:30-1am in san diego hold few traffic. I say luckily because going about 70-75 mph the car suddenly felt like what slamming into a wall head on at 75 mph must feel like. Jerking us forward, uninjured due to seatbelts, thank god. The scariest thing however was the fact that in the far right lane at that speed after the jolt caused the vehicle to neutralize and any accelaration that would occur would instantly give a less intense jolt but rapidly slowed the vehicle down making it extremely difficult and drastically increasing our levels of danger of something worse ,as I made my way over to far left side of freeway. Reaching safety I examined vehicle found nothing visually wrong. After letting car cool and letting warm to normal op. Temp I put vehicle in sport mode exited freeway and took city streets home only using d2,no problems occurred. Today repeated the maintenance as before. Runs okay but I'm nervous.

2 Transmission Solenoid problem

Failure Date: 10/31/2009

I own a 2003 Acura Tl. My transmission is not shifting properly unless I baby the engine. The problems gets worse as the car heats up and gets hot. The main problem comes in when shifting from 1st gear to 2nd gear and from 2nd to 3rd as well. Going up hills from a stop is difficult. I brought it to the dealer and they pulled code p1450. The tech told me that there are internal solenoids that are receiving the signal to shift, but are not actuating. I've looked into this problem and saw there is an outstanding recall on this transmission (04v176000). I've been told by Acura hq and the local dealer that I've been dealing with (Acura of avon in avon, CT) and haven't gotten any results. I understand that my car does not fall within this recall, but I also understand that there is also a class action lawsuit against Acura that describes my exact problem. Despite Acura's information on VIN number distribution of problematic transmissions, I believe I have a vehicle that is experiencing the problems covered under either the recall or the class action lawsuit. This problem occurs everytime I drive the vehicle. I have to keep the engine at around 2,000 or 2, 500 rpms until the transmission finally shifts. If I do not lay off the gas, the transmission will not shift.




Safety Ratings of TL Cars
Fuel Economy of TL Vehicles
TL Service Bulletins
TL Safety Recalls
TL Defect Investigations