Although the majority of Honda and Acura vehicles are among the most dependable ever made, serious manufacturer flaws may still occur. And such is the situation with the Acura TLX gearbox, which is not Honda’s responsibility since the German ZF produces it. However, the TLX transmission issues are serious, and Honda was even named in a protracted legal battle.
Hard shifting, the gearbox will not go into Park, slippage while accelerating, surging when braking, transmission warmer leaks, and sluggish downshifts are a few of the most significant and frequent Acura TLX transmission issues.
7 Acura TLX Transmission Problems & Solutions
1. Shifting Hard
Other names for hard shifting include jerky shifting, slamming into gears, and crude shifting. Tens of thousands of TLX models are impacted by this issue, and almost all TLX models with the nine-speed automatic gearbox experience from the factory are on. Acura dealers are aware of this issue since it affects so many cars.
Update the TCM as a first step since fixing the issue is not always simple (transmission control module). Dealers for Acura will do it at no charge. If that doesn’t address the issue, dealers will repair the complete gearbox as long as the car is under warranty. All nine-speed gearboxes now come with a 10-year, unlimited-mile warranty is also significant to mention.
Together with the TCM update, an idle relearning procedure is the third possible remedy. Idle relearn the only one of the three options that you may test out at home without going to the dealer. But, none of these remedies, including a transmission replacement, are guaranteed to cure the issue permanently.
With an Acura TLX, how to Do an Idle Relearn
Lights, AC, radio, and other electrical auxiliary devices should be turned off.
Switch the transmission to Park.
Put the handbrake on.
Start the engine, then maintain a constant speed of 3,000 RPM until the radiator fan turns on.
Release the gas pedal afterward, and let the engine run for at least 10 minutes.
The idle relearn is complete when the engine is turned off after 10 minutes.
2. Transmission Won’t Go Into Park
The gearbox not engaging Park is one of the potentially hazardous issues; in one case, the transmission reportedly engaged Park on its own while the owner was operating the vehicle. Even if the origin of this issue is not entirely known, it is still covered by the guarantee.
According to Acura dealers, the problem is a damaged or misaligned parking pawl, which locks the gearbox’s output shaft. Yet, we fail to see how this might explain why the transmission suddenly shifted into Park.
In any instance, Acura will repair the parking pawl if it is feasible, and the dealer will replace the complete gearbox if the transmission has already sustained too much damage.
3. Cold-weather transmission slipping
However, this is normal with ZF’s nine-speed transmission until it warms up. Slipping between gears or even when you try to accelerate indicates a serious issue. The clutch packs in all nine-speed automatic transmissions are submerged in transmission fluid, which is excessively thick at freezing temperatures and hinders the ability of the clutch plates to generate friction against the discs.
In certain transmissions, this is more evident than in others, and in the 9 ZF, it’s the most noticeable. Even in the owner’s manuals of some vehicles equipped with ZF transmissions, it is stated that the transmission needs three to five miles to warm up. After that, there might be a problem worth looking into if the slipping continues.
4. Leaking Transmission Fluid
The transmission fluid leaks on Acura TLX commonly occur on the rear cover. Also, even though this is not a true manufacturing flaw, it is a factory mistake. Loose bolts are the cause of the rear cover beginning to leak.
According to Acura, this issue may be resolved by removing the rear cover, cleaning it with the bolts, reassembling everything, and tightening it to the proper torque specifications.
As with previous versions before the nine-speed gearbox, the rear main seal might develop leaks which is a significant issue since the transmission needs to come out. When we consider that such machines are no longer under warranty and that a replacement costs between $600 and $1,500, the issue worsens.
5. Transmission Braking During Surging
During braking, many Acura TLX owners experience a rushing feeling, which is risky because the engine is dragging you forward as you attempt to stop. The impression that the car is speeding up when coasting down a slope is another unsettling sign that owners have reported.
The gearbox needs to shift through many more gears than the usual transmission, which slows down the response time. The answer is yet another software update, this time for the ECU (engine control unit) rather than the TCM, which is available at no cost from any Acura store.
To be more specific, Acura will reconfigure the ECU to better handle downshifts from gears 8-7 or 5-4 with the throttle closed. Happily, this update reduces the problems greatly.
6. Leaking Transmission Heater
The nine-speed transmission’s tendency to slide when cold was previously highlighted. All of those transmissions include transmission fluid warmers as a result. The warmer is a metal box with separate coolant and transmission fluid flow channels. The coolant provides heat to the transmission fluid without combining it.
The transmission warmer tends to leak, which causes coolant and transmission fluid to combine. Owners then notice the engine overheating and buzzing noises when shifting. This indicates that this issue could destroy the gearbox and the engine.
Flushing the transmission fluid and malfunctioning heater are Acura’s suggested fixes for this issue. However, because of all the damage, dealers have frequently replaced the transmission and engine under warranty.
7. Slight Downshift Reaction
Owners have also complained that the gearbox prefers to linger in a higher gear for too long or refuses to downshift; it takes too long in addition to surging while braking. While attempting to accelerate a little bit more forcefully, the issue is most apparent.
Again, poor TCM programming is to blame. You must take your vehicle to a dealer for a further update to fix this problem. This update reprogrammes the TCM to shift from 5-3 instead of 5-4-3 under heavy acceleration, reducing the reaction time.
When Did Acura Experience Transmission Issues?
The TL model, from 2002 to 2004, and the MDX, from 2001 to 2005, were the Acura models with the greatest gearbox issues. All TLX cars equipped with the nine-speed ZF gearbox between 2015 and 2020 experienced significant issues.
Which Versions of Acura Have Transmission Issues?
The nine-speed transmission has significant issues with the Acura MDX and TLX, but the prior 8-speed could have been better too. The TLX V6 (2015-2020) or non-hybrid MDX are the particular models (2016-2020).
How durable are Acura transmissions?
The kind of Acura and the year of manufacture affect how long the transmission survives. An Acura transmission should be able to last 200,000 miles without breaking down under typical conditions. Unfortunately, certain models will live up to 100,000 miles since they are infamous for having transmission issues.
Is Honda Less Reliable Than Acura?
No, Acura is not more dependable than Honda. Although Honda manufactures Acura, Acura is more complex and overengineered than Honda vehicles, making intricate breakdowns more likely. But, this does not imply that Acuras are unreliable; on the contrary, they are among the most dependable vehicles available, much like Hondas.
Which Model of Acura Is the Most Reliable?
The 2009–2019 RDX is the most dependable Acura model, according to southviewacura.com. The 2011-2016 MDX, 2010-2012 RL, 2015-2017 RLX, and 2013-2017 ILX are other trustworthy models.
What Is the Price of an Acura Tlx Transmission?
A brand-new ZF 9-speed Acura TLX transmission costs around $6,500, although you can sometimes find offers for less than that. Because these transmissions are troublesome, there are other options than purchasing a secondhand one. Also, the labor cost to replace it is around $500 and $800.
What About Honda Engines in Acuras?
Indeed, Honda engines and gearboxes are found in every Acura. The fundamental shape is the same, and they are produced in the same facilities, even if Acura models’ engines sometimes undergo extensive revisions and gain greater power.
What Vehicles Have a ZF 9-Speed Transmission?
Cars using the ZF 9-speed transmission include:
- Fiat Dobló/RAM Promaster City (2015-)
- Fiat 500X
- Fiat Toro
- Jeep Compass (MP)
- Jeep Grand Commander
- Ram ProMaster City
- Ram ProMaster (2022-)
- Range Rover Evoque
- Land Rover Discovery Sport
- Jaguar E-Pace
- Nissan Pathfinder (2022-)
- Honda Pilot (2016–2021)
- Honda Avancier/UR-V (2016-)
- Honda Odyssey (2018–2019)
- Honda Passport (2019-)
- Honda Ridgeline (2020-)
- Fiat Ducato 2020
- MG 7 (2023)
- Opel Astra (2020)
- Opel Insignia (2020)
- TLX (2015–2020)
- MDX (2016–2020)
- Alfa Romeo Tonale
- Chrysler 200
- Chrysler Pacifica/Voyager
- Honda CR-V (2015-)
- Honda Civic (2018-)
- Infiniti QX60 (2022)
- Jeep Cherokee (KL)
- Jeep Renegade
Conclusion
In the end, the Acura TLX gearbox issues are many and sometimes quite sophisticated, making a DIY repair impossible, particularly when TCM programming is the root.
These typical issues include hard shifting, surges while braking, slow downshifts, leaks, warmers spilling coolant into the gearbox, inability to enter Park, and slippage when cold. All of these issues are caused by manufacturing flaws, and rectifying them without the protection of a warranty may be very costly. As such, you should always check whether your model year is still subject to active recalls and if the warranty is still in effect.