We have same trans as the problematic Highlander.

 

Video indicates it's isolated to the '20-'22 Highlander.

 

Actually problem started earlier, thought resolved and now is back. Yes, seems isolated to Highlander but no one can explain why the UA80 is failing just on Highlander. Apparently these transmissions are made in 3 factories…one in WVa and two in Japan. Defects seem to come from WVa and one Japanese location. I would feel better if someone knew what is wrong and why ES owners are safe. I read a bolt is coming loose but could not find confirmation

 

ES is lighter, does not have an AWD option, and maybe different shift programming?

Honda/Acura had an issue with their auto transmissions in the late 90s/early 2ks, but *only* when attached to a V6 engine. It just couldnt handle the torque (and if you know Honda, there still wasnt much of it lol), but same exact transmission on a 4 cylinder was bulletproof.

 

My wife’s 2010 MDX would give you whiplash. Cruising on the highway was pure pleasure.

 

Honda "fixed" it around 2004 by releasing a new transmission with the next generation of TL. Then warrantied all the previous transmissions on a case-by-case basis. They were good about it (our Acura had one that died well outside of miles and years warranty, and Honda covered 97% of the replacement cost) but it basically turned me off of the brand after that.

 

My 21 has a faint whine upon acceleration at low speeds.
Noticed it when I bought it with 4k. Now at 14k it’s still the same.

 

Seven years into and near the end of this generation and I don't think we've heard a thing about failing transmissions.

 

If i had a nickle for every friend and family's failed honda/acura trans. I have a family member whose mdx is on transmission #5 or around there. and that was 5 years ago... lol. the engines are great though and should last quite long.

transmissions are fussy. they can be unreliable if not built perfectly, and even when reliable, they have other quirks such as occasional jerking, soft/delayed shifts, etc. in other words i've never had or experienced a transmission that i liked. My brand new IS200t developed an occasional lurch/jerk when coming to a stop light. and the shifts were soft/slow @ redline. gave the impression it's slipping. The closest to a transmission i liked was ZF 8 speed auto in the older 335i back in the day. i think that's the industry standard. but i haven't kept up with transmission stuff these days.

 

The old six speeds were pretty good but those days are over. I'll stick with the hybrid eCVT moving forward.

 

Mike, I read a post somewhere (maybe here) that driving in S8 eliminates the jerking low speed gear hunting. I have been doing that for a few days in conditions that would ordinarily be snapping my neck. To my pleasant surprise, I experienced a dramatic improvement. Not sure what it will do to gas mileage but I don’t care.

 

Not sure I know what S8 is?

 

That's where the transmission is operating in S-mode. In S-mode the range of gears the transmission automatically can shift through is restricted between 1 and what the S number is chosen/displayed unless the transmission control computer overrides it to prevent engine and/or transmission damage. (For more details, see the "Selecting shift ranges in S mode" in the "4-2. Driving procedures" subchapter of the Owner's Manual. That should only be found in the ES250, ES350 covering the 8 speed transmission operation, but, for some unknown reason, the exact same text is also in the 300h Owner's Manual where there's only one forward physically fixed gear and no range of gears to change a shifting range from.)

Since S8 sets the range of gears to the same range as the regular, normal D transmission shifter position has, it isn't obvious as to how S8 would alter the shifting behavior of the transmission. Perhaps, there's some differences in the transmission control computer's shifting algorithm used for S mode and normal D operation shifting, but only an expert in the 8 speed transmission firmware details would really know what might be going on.

Also, by using the paddle shifters while the gear shifter is in D, you can temporarily enter the same gear range selection operation. Instead of the selection being displayed as Sx; it will be displayed as Dx where x is the top of range gear number.

 

I see now you move the shifter to the left to enter S mode. I wonder if anyone actually uses that.

 

I dimly recall someone posting about using S-mode for engine braking on mountain down slopes.