Problems · by component
2005 Acura TL power train problems
36 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2005 Acura TL cite power train, 9% of all 388 complaints for this model year.
Complaints
36
9% of all complaints
Crashes
3
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
1
Reported by owners
What owners say about the power train
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“While I was driving 55 mph, on the throttle, the transmission acted as it was in Neutral but all indicators verified it was in Drive. The RPMs were fluctuating during this & my car wouldn't accelerate. I was in the middle of a busy highway, the car came to a stop, I shifted it into Park, then tried to engage back into Drive with no success. In the middle of oncoming & ongoing HWY traffic, I turned the car off, back on & the car acted as if it was in limp mode. The VSA light & Triangle appeared. I had to pay get a towing service to get me & my car. It never had any transmission issues before & all of a sudden it did all of the above, erratic shifting, flare up shifts, won't move. It was then put on a diagnostic scanner which showed a code for Torque Converter Clutch Solenoid but was cleared & didn't reappear. After the car has been sitting for a while (days) you can crank it, put it into drive & it is hesitant to go & will drive ONLY for a few minutes. After the transmission heats up, it stops pulling. I have read numerous complaints, safety concerns, bulletins, etc. I am devastated & lost on what's going on with the car & what can be done. I purchased my '05 TL…”
“Transmission locked up while attempting to backup. Very loud grinding noise. Could not place back in park. Had to shut off engine to free shifter to move back to park. Tried again but this time placed in drive. Exact same results. Checked internet and apparently transmission on this year and others before and after are know problems. Googleand you will see this. POSSIBLE CATASTROPHIC INCIDENT - What would have been the end result having the transmission fail while on the freeway going 60 mph. Possibly could loose control of the vehicle with wheels locking up, cashing into another vehicle or a wall? This should be investigated! THE CONSUMER REQUESTED TO REMOVE COMPLAINT, BUT STATED THE DIAGNOSTIC REVEALED THE FRONT AXLE WAS BROKEN.”
“I WAS DRIVING MY CAR OUT OF NOWHERE IT LOST POWER THIS THE THIRD TIME IT HAPPENS. ITS REALLY SCARY BECAUSE THE LAST TIME I HAD MY BABY WITH ME AND THAT HAPPENED. I HAD TO PARK AND TURN OFF THE CAR ALSO WHEN I REVERSE IT TAKES LONG TO CHANGE GEAR.”
“I WAS BACKING OUT OF A SPOT, AS I USUALLY DO, THE CAR TOOK LONGER THAN USUAL TO SHIFT FROM PARK INTO DRIVE (ABOUT 3-4 SEC). DROVE NORMALLY FOR ABOUT A HALF-MILE, STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT, WENT TO ACCELERATE, AND THEN THE TRANSMISSION WOULDN'T COME OUT OF 1ST GEAR AND REVVED SUPER HIGH. PULLED OVER, THEN DROVE TO MY MECHANIC ABOUT A HALF-MILE BACK AT ABOUT 8-10 MPH WITH MY CAUTION LIGHTS ON. HE TOOK IT FOR A TEST DRIVE AND SAID IT SEEMED FINE (I.E. THE TRANSMISSION DIDN'T SLIP), BUT WHAT I EXPLAINED TO HIM SOUNDED LIKE THE ONSET OF TRANSMISSION FAILURE). HE SUGGESTED SOMETHING COULD HAVE GOTTEN LODGED IN THERE AND BLOCKED FLUID FLOW, AND WHEN I TURNED MY CAR OFF AND HE STARTED IT, THAT IT COULD HAVE FALLEN OUT BEFORE HIS TEST DRIVE. EVER SINCE "THE INCIDENT" THE TRANSMISSION IS VERY SLOW UP-SHIFTING FROM 1ST TO 2ND AND MAKES A NOISE WHEN DOING SO, AND ALSO IS VERY SLOW SHIFTING FROM PARK TO DRIVE, OR REVERSE TO DRIVE. MY CAR HAS ABOUT 162,000 MILES ON IT. AS OF NOW, NOTHING HAS BEEN REPAIRED ON IT, AND WAS ADVISED NOT TO CHANGE THE TRANSMISSION FLUID AS THIS OFTEN CAUSES TRANSMISSION FAILURE IN THESE VEHICLES AROUND THIS MILEAGE.”
“TAKATA RECALL - MY DRIVE IS FLASHING WHICH IS TO DO WITH MY TRANSMISSION AND I'M HAVING WIRING PROBLEMS ALSO. ALSO I HAVE NO BRIGHT HEADLIGHTS THEY JUST COMPLETELY STOPPED WORKING AND IT'S A WIRING PROBLEM.”
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 ACURA TL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED, SLIPPED OUT OF GEAR, AND OPERATED ABNORMALLY. UPON INSPECTION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FILTER FRACTURED AND DETACHED AND THE DEBRIS CLOGGED THE TRANSMISSION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT IT WAS UP TO THE CONSUMER TO CHANGE THAT SPECIFIC PART OUT, EVEN THOUGH IT WAS NOT LISTED AS A RECOMMENDED PART TO REPLACE IN THE MANUAL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 188,000.”
Showing 6 of 36 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 30, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.