I'm interested in buying a used Acura ilx, but the newer generation has the 8 speed dual clutch transmission. Do these transmissions have problems like most others dct?
TLDR: NO, these Torque converted DCTs they become absolute junk when they age - Way worse than VW's DSG.
Dual clutch automatics were designed to have better fuel efficiency (as you eliminate the torque convertor that usually creates massive amounts of resistance), shift through the gears faster (as transitions require only clutch engagement and disengagement, and the actual connection of the power-flow is done before the shift actually occurs), and other small advantages.
The main issue with dual clutch automatics is that take-off and gear changes require clutch-slippage or disconnection - this causes jerking and clutch wear.
While most manufactures either spent insane amounts of R&D resources in hopes of reaching a drivable calibration or gave-up altogether on "clutched automatics" like Toyota, PSA and many others - Honda went a different way.
Honda's DCTs have a torque convertor as you'd have on a conventional planetary automatic to THEORETICALLY allow for smooth take-off and to smoothen shifts.
What sounds great in theory falls apart in practice and that's the case with Honda's technology. There are constant firmware updates that supposedly help reduce jerkiness a bit, but friction packs DO NOT LAST and overall these are just overall bad.
Also the torque convertor removes any efficiency gains and just adds to its complexity and repair difficulty (although the main factor is that the only part for that gearbox I could find is the oil filter - parts supply and techs that know what they're doing on a torque converted dual clutch are hard to come by)
If you want a luxury car that drives like a Ford PowerShift when you begin to put milage on it - why not. But if you're getting something that'll fall apart no matter how much you maintain it - just get a VW, their "wet" DSG is at least fun.
This is funny considering PSA's EGS6 on European premium cars (Peugeot RCZ, DS5, Citroen C5, Peugeot 508) has only a single clutch (no wet clutches, no torque convertor, no hydraulic fluid powered mechatronics - just a manual gearbox with a few electric motors called a "robotic unit" that make it drive like almost a real automatic) robotized manual drives just fine and lasts pretty much forever given proper service. But recently, pretty much everyone (with some exceptions) has better transmission tech than Honda so it's a bit unsurprising that even the French have designed a simpler, cheaper, and better "clutched automatic" aka "robotic".
I'm unsure what's worse, this 8 speed or their terrible 9 FIAT-derived ("ZF built" as if ZF didn't make some of the worst gearboxes for Fiat and Ford).
@dan, what is "TLDR", is it a new automotive tech I haven't heard about?
@ChuckTobias nope, TLDR in this context is "used by the writer before a summary of lengthy text."
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/TL%3BDR as defined in the 2nd definition (the informal one)
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Basically the TLDR line is the summery of what I'm about to say, I like to use it when I feel my post is too long or if it goes beyond the scope of OPs' ("Original Poster"s') question.
OK, thanks, never heard of that acronym though come to think of it I think I've seen it a few places and didn't think about it.
@ChuckTobias
It's the internet adaptation of the idiom "to make a long story short", and the usage is fairly recent.
Amusingly, the writer is evidently so impatient, that even his notice to the reader -- that a summary follows -- has to be shortened by acronym. 😆
The Acuras seem to have no problems with their 8 speed transmission. In my opinion, I feel like they should put these transmissions in the V6 Hondas and not the ZF transmissions.
Where's that from? Have your driven one? Even when it’s in tip-top shape it drives like crap.
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A website listing Acura issues describing the behavior of this DCT:
http://www.acuraproblems.com/dct-torque-converter-slip/
What do owners think about this car?
"One my car, I have had issues from day one. Basically, when the car is cold (as in hasn't been driven for about 3 hours or more) it shifts pretty hard 1-2, 2-3 (...) The other issue I have noticed, is that when coming to a stop, sometimes it really slams into first gear, and I mean hard enough to shake the car. This happens rarely, but when it does its very disconcerting. (...) However, they said Acura had no resolution to it at this time"
(Source: https://acurazine.com/forums/1g-tlx-problems-fixes-420/8sp-dct-transmission-issues-920749/)
"the car is bad news (...) it surges and you about rear end a car in front of you that has happened twice for me along with a long list of other issues. worst mistake I made buying this car."
(Source: https://acurazine.com/forums/ilx-problems-fixes-427/2016-ilx-8-speed-dct-problems-947216/)
- Honda's claims about it being "just software" are false:
An owner who has a 2016 running on the latest software/firmware has reported:
“Ive come accustom to throwing it in neutral under hard braking, but only if there is no one close behind me.”
source: https://acurazine.com/forums/1g-tlx-problems-fixes-420/poll-have-tlx-8-speed-dct-trans-problems-been-resolved-updates-not-954904/
Nowadays Acura is a becoming a joke - they can’t put a transmission together, and they source the worst transmissions for their cars.
I mean the ZF 9 speed story still cracks me up, they took the worst jerkiest fiat built crap meant for $20k junk put it in $40k-$60k cars and called it a day.
Does this affect all of these cars? - yes, all DCT Acuras are crap:
on CarComplaints.com on the Acura TLX with the 8 speed and it's just probably the worst I've ever seen!
in 2015 over 500 owners complained when Acura has sold only under 50k of these!
COMPARED to 2013, 2014, 2015 Ford Focus with under 500 complaints and over 250k!
Acura transmissions are worse than Ford. Especially considering that a Focus you can repair and it'll drive alright - But an Acura? it's flawed and unrepairable junk.
Is this issue still present on later model years - yes
Looking on NHTSA.com, I see complaints on 2017 model years that state things like: "Warning lights come on saying there is a problem with the transmission (...) cars can now be turned off, then restarted and suddenly it can be driven again. Very dangerous (...) The car is very dangerous to take on the interstate" (2017 with only 50k miles)
"Jerking from transmission. When a stop and go motion it feels like getting rear ended" (2017 TLX with only 45k miles)
"I had the car lose throttle power when pressing the gas pedal and every light in the car began to flash" (2017 TLX with only 31k miles)
"I have a problem with the transmission not shifting down and up a gear when it should" (2017 TLX with only 10k miles)
I go hard on GM cars for some breaking down bellow 60k miles - but these Hondas are somehow ever worse than literally the least reliable cars out there.
(source: https://www.carcomplaints.com/Acura/TLX/2017/drivetrain/power_train.shtml)
@dan I forgot where I got it from. It looks like you prove me wrong. Thanks for sharing out your experience.