2000 Acura RL Steering Problems

THE STEERING WHEEL COLUMN WILL NOT ADJUST. IT IS STUCK IN THE HIGHEST POSITION. THE PLASTIC GEAR IS BROKEN AND THE LOCAL ACURA DEALER WANTS OVER $2000 TO REPLACE THE WHOLE THING. *TR

1. ELECTRIC TELESCOPING STEERING WHEEL FAILED TO PRESENT TO SET POSITION FROM REST. 2. FREQUENCY IS IMMEDIATE UPON FAILURE. THE STEERING WHEEL RESTS AT THE TOP POSITION (RESTING WHEN THE KEY IS REMOVED) 3. ACURA OFFERED TO REPLACE THE COLUMN AT A COST OF $3500. *TT

UPON HAVING MY VEHICLE ALIGNED, I LEARNED THAT THE STEERING RACK IS NO GOOD. THE CAR OLNY HAS 60000 MILES AND IS JUST OUT OF WARRANTY. WHEN I CALLED ACURA THEY TOLD MY BASICALLY "TOO BAD". I HAVE OWNED A FEW ACURA'S OVER THE YEARS AND HAVE NEVER HAD TO REPLACE A STEERING RACK. *AK

WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH STEERING WHEEL FROZE, CAUSING VEHICLE TO HIT A CONCRETE DIVIDER. CONSUMER SUFFERED FRACTURED RIB AND HAND, AND VEHICLE WAS TOTALLED.*AK

ON TWO SEPARATE INCIDENTS I WAS PREPARING TO BACK OUT OF A PARKING SPACE. THE CAR STARTED WITHOUT ANY PROBLEM. EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS NOT ENGAGED IN EITHER INSTANCE. AS I PROCEEDED TO PUT THE CAR IN REVERSE, THE BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE CAR LOCKED UP. THERE WERE NO BRAKES AVAILABLE AND NO POWER STEERING. TO AVOID BACKING INTO ANOTHER CAR I SOMEHOW GOT THE CAR INTO "PARK" AND TURNED OFF THE ENGINE. THIS PROBLEM WAS IMMEDIATELY BROUGHT TO THE ATTENTION OF THE ACURA DEALERSHIP. NOTES ON THE INVOICE READ "BRAKE LIGHT ON DASH CAME ON WHEN BACKING UP, CAR SEEMED TO "LOCK UP" 80 CHECK MASTER CYLINDER CAP CONNECIONS. FLUID LEVEL IN SPEC. TEST DROVE, LIGHT NOT COMING ON, NOT 'LOCKING UP'. PARTS 0.00, LABOR 0.00. I WAS SENT HOME AND THE IDENTICAL PROBLEM OCCURRED ON SEPTEMBER 26, 2000. IN MY ESTIMATION THIS PRESENTS AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS SITUATION. A TELEPHONE CALL WAS MADE TO ME WHEN I INFORMED THE SERVICE MANAGER WHO PUT ME ON A CONFERENCE CALL WITH AN ENGINEER IN CALIFORNIA WHO WAS NOT ABLE TO SPEAK WITH ME DIRECTLY; APPARENTLY THEY ARE ONLY DIRECTED TO SPEAK WITH THE DEALERSHIP. THEY ASKED ME ABOUT THE CIRCUMSTANCES; I RELAYED THEM. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP ON SEPTEMBER 27. ON SEPTEMBER 28, I RECEIVED A TELEPHONE CALL STATING THEY COULD FIND NO PROBLEM WITH THE CAR. DO WE WAIT UNTIL THE CAR IS IN "DRIVE" AND THE BRAKES FAIL BEFORE ANYTHING IS DONE? I AM UNAWARE OF THE IDIOSYNCRACIES OF THE LEMON LAWS; HOWEVER, I WOULD NOT LIKE TO BE IN ACURA'S POSITION SHOULD STILL ANOTHER INSTANCE OCCUR. SINCE THE DEALERSHIP CAN FIND NO PROBLEM I SHALL BE BEHIND ITS WHEEL IN HOPES A MORE SERIOUS INCIDENT DOES NOT OCCUR. THANK YOU. *AK