Acura bulletin B20-040
Acura filed this with NHTSA as a service bulletin dated Sep 15, 2020, received Sep 22, 2020, about the power train. It names 5 model years (2016–2020). A service bulletin is not a safety recall: it is the manufacturer telling its dealers how to diagnose or repair a condition, and whether the work is paid for depends on the warranty in force. Quoting the number at a service desk can save a diagnosis.
What the bulletin says
Source: NHTSA's summary of the manufacturer's communication"Service Bulletin - When the PCM detects a malfunction in one of the odd number transmission gears, it will set one of the following DTCs: -P073F (unable to engage gear 1) -P074B (unable to engage gear 3) -P074D (unable to engage gear 5) -P074F (unable to engage gear 7) Due to inappropriate calibration of the PCM, the OBD system cannot properly clear the transmission permanent DTC as required."
Document filed under this number
| Document | Kind | Dated | NHTSA id |
|---|---|---|---|
| B20-040 | Service bulletin | Sep 15, 2020 | 10180019 |
The summary is NHTSA’s abstract of the document, as filed under 49 CFR 579.5; the full text comes from the manufacturer or a dealer. One communication is usually filed as several documents — the bulletin, a dealer notice, an owner letter — and the number on any of them finds this page. Quote it at a service desk; it is what the dealer’s system is keyed on.
Model years it names
Source: as the manufacturer filed themA vehicle page’s bulletin list shows the newest few communications filed against that model year; the count there is every one.
Common questions
Source: NHTSA, 49 CFR 579.5Is Acura B20-040 a recall?
No. A service bulletin is a manufacturer communication filed with NHTSA under 49 CFR 579.5; a safety recall carries an NHTSA campaign number (two digits, a letter, six digits) and a federal duty to repair for free. Check the vehicle’s recalls by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls, or on its page here.
Is the B20-040 repair free?
Not automatically. A service bulletin describes how to diagnose or repair a condition; who pays depends on the warranty in force, any extension, and the dealer. Quoting the number can save a diagnosis either way.
Which vehicles does B20-040 cover?
The manufacturer filed it against 5 model years: 2020 Acura RLX, 2019 Acura RLX, 2018 Acura RLX, 2017 Acura RLX, 2016 Acura RLX. Whether one particular vehicle is affected is a matter of its VIN and its build, not its model year alone.