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1995-2014 · 20 model years

Acura TL Problems by year

Owners have filed 3,177 complaints about the Acura TL across 20 model years, and it has 27 recalls. The 2004 has the most complaints once its age is allowed for (551), while 1995, 2011, 2014 have far fewer than a typical year. The most reported problem area is the transmission & drivetrain, followed by the airbags.

Most complaints for its age2004551 complaints · 6 recallsSee the 2004
Complaints
3,177
Recalls
27
Crashes
158
Fires
43
Injuries
130
Deaths
5

TL complaints by model year

Highlighted: the year with the most complaints for its age. Older vehicles have had more time to collect complaints - the Safety Index grade allows for that.

YearComplaintsRecallsCrashesFiresTop problemGrade
201417300AirbagsA
201362310SteeringA
2012130330AirbagsC
201120312AirbagsA
201064341AirbagsB
200942350AirbagsA
2008124447AirbagsC
2007124425AirbagsC
2006247682AirbagsD
2005388773Body, doors & structureF
20045516136Body, doors & structureF
20033975264Transmission & drivetrainF
20023507252Transmission & drivetrainF
2001162392Transmission & drivetrainC
20002486183Transmission & drivetrainD
19991574174Electrical systemD
199826260Engine & coolingA
199733252Electrical systemA
199634240BrakesA
19951000BrakesA

Most common TL problems

Acura TL recalls 27

Latest TL complaints

2002 Acura TLAirbagsCrash1 injury

The contact owns a 2002 Acura TL. The contact stated that while driving under 10 MPH, the vehicle crashed into the rear of another vehicle. During the crash the front driver's and front passenger's side air bags deployed. During the air bags deployment, the driver sustained a left-hand injury that later required medical treatment. The contact stated that prior to the crash, the SRS warning light illuminated and remained illuminated. The contact stated that due to the low-speed crash, the air bags should not have deployed. The failure mileage was 167,000.

Filed Incident Air bagsNHTSA 11765926
2013 Acura TLSteering

On Monday, July 27, 2026, my vehicle suffered a complete failure of the EPS system at startup in my garage, making the steering wheel lock and rendering the vehicle completely non-operational. The vehicle did start and would go into gear but there was a severe increase in steering effort, creating an emergency situation and an extreme safety hazard on public roads if it was driven. The vehicle was towed to an independent automotive repair facility where a certified technician performed a diagnostic scan and...

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isolated the failure to the Electric Power Steering (EPS) control unit. The independent shop verified that my vehicle's VIN is covered under American Honda/Acura's active 15-year/unlimited-mile warranty extension for Service Bulletin 19-021, which was issued specifically to address a known manufacturing defect involving internal EPS relay wire fatigue. The vehicle was subsequently towed to Metro Acura for the warranty repair. Because the manufacturing defect is inherently intermittent, the EPS system temporarily self-recovered due to ignition cycling and physical vibrations during flatbed transit. Metro Acura and American Honda are currently denying warranty coverage and refusing to replace the defective EPS unit, stating they cannot honor the warranty extension unless they can actively duplicate the failure on-site or pull a live code themselves. By refusing to honor the safety warranty extension and ignoring a documented professional diagnosis of a known, intermittent component fracture, the manufacturer and dealer are forcing me to retrieve and operate a vehicle with a volatile, un-repaired steering defect. This poses an ongoing, severe risk of sudden steering loss to myself, my passengers, and other motorists. I request that NHTSA investigate American Honda's practice of denying coverage for this critical, intermittent safety defect.

Filed Incident SteeringNHTSA 11753600
2005 Acura TLSteering

The vehicle has been gradually leaking power steering fluid over time. I have been monitoring the fluid level and have noticed a recurring burning smell while operating the vehicle. At times, I have also observed what appears to be a very faint, clear or nearly transparent smoke or vapor that is only visible when light reflects off of it. I am uncertain whether this is smoke or vapor. The steering has not become difficult or hard to turn at this time. I am concerned that power steering fluid may be leaking onto or...

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near a hot engine or exhaust component, causing the burning smell and possible smoke or vapor and creating a potential fire or safety hazard. The exact source and cause of the leak are currently UNKNOWN. The vehicle and affected components are available for inspection upon request.

Filed Incident SteeringNHTSA 11749680
2006 Acura TLSteeringElectrical systemEngine & coolingFire

As I was driving, the vehicle suddenly began smoking through the steering wheel and the hood, then it caught flames and the vehicle was totaled.

Filed Incident Steering · Electrical system · EngineNHTSA 11749644
2005 Acura TLAirbagsCrash1 injury

The contact owned a 2005 Acura TL. The contact stated that while driving at an unknown speed, the front driver's side air bag might have deployed without impact, hit the contact's face, reducing the roadway visibility and causing the vehicle to crash into the rear-end of another vehicle. The contact stated that the air bag exploded and propelled fragments, causing the driver to experience difficulty breathing. The contact was assisted out of the vehicle because the front driver's side door was damaged and could...

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only be opened from the outside. The contact stated that the front end of the vehicle was significantly damaged and pushed back, and the driver's side of the vehicle was pushed back. The contact was transported to the hospital, where he was informed that he had sustained a concussion and a laceration on the left side of the head. The contact sustained bruises on the sternum, the spectrum, and the muscles, and the contact sustained whiplash and an airbag burn on the hand. The contact also sustained soft tissue damage on the right calf and throughout the body. The other driver did not sustain injuries and was able to drive away from the scene. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed and totaled. The dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 230,000.

Filed Incident Air bagsNHTSA 11728997

Questions about the Acura TL

Which Acura TL years have the most problems?

By the number of complaints owners filed with NHTSA: 2004 (551), 2003 (397), 2005 (388). Allowing for how long each has been on the road, the 2004 stands out most. Complaint counts also rise with sales, so compare years of the same model rather than different models.

Which Acura TL years have the fewest complaints?

Among model years that have been on the road for at least three years, 1995, 2014, 2011 have the best Safety Index - the fewest complaints, crashes and recalls for their age compared with other TL years. Always check the exact vehicle's recalls by VIN before you buy.

What are the most common Acura TL problems?

Across every model year, owners report problems with the transmission & drivetrain (918), airbags (833), body, doors & structure (557) most often.

How many recalls does the Acura TL have?

NHTSA lists 27 recalls across all Acura TL model years. Each year's page lists the recalls for that year; check your own vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether the repair has been done.

Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) complaints and recalls, checked daily. Complaints are owners' own reports and are not verified. How we use the data

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