Model year record

2001 Acura TL recalls & problems

The 2001 Acura TL has 3 safety recalls and 149 owner complaints on file with NHTSA. The most-reported problem area is power train (103 complaints).

Recalls3safety recalls

Complaints149filed by owners

Crashes · fires8 · 2reported in complaints

Injuries · deaths5 · 0reported in complaints

2001 Acura TL in an NHTSA crash test — NHTSA crash test

Safety recalls

Air bagsJan 17, 2020

Frontal › Driver side › Inflator module

Recall 20V027000875,966 vehiclesopened after NHTSA action (ODI)

Problem: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2001-2002 Acura 3.2CL, 2000-2003 Acura 3.5RL, 2000-2001 Acura 3.2TL, Honda CR-V and Honda Odyssey, 2001-2002 Acura MDX and 2000 Accord Coupe, Accord Sedan, Civic Coupe, and Civic Sedan vehicles. These vehicles may have received a replacement driver frontal air bag module as part of a vehicle repair. Due to a manufacturing issue, the replacement NADI inflator may absorb moisture, causing the inflator to rupture or the air bag cushion to underinflate.
Risk: In the event of a crash necessitating air bag deployment, an inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants. An underinflated air bag cushion may not properly protect the occupant. These scenarios increase the risk of serious injury or death.
Fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the air bags in the vehicles, replacing the driver frontal air bag inflator with an inflator of a different design, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began October 1, 2020. Owners may contact American Honda's Customer Support & Campaign Center at 1-888-234-2138.

Power trainApr 15, 2004

Automatic transmission

Recall 04V1760001,099,796 vehicles

Problem: ON SOME MINI VANS, SPORT UTILITY AND PASSENGER VEHICLES, CERTAIN OPERATING CONDITIONS CAN RESULT IN HEAT BUILD-UP BETWEEN THE COUNTERSHAFT AND SECONDARY SHAFT SECOND GEARS IN THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, EVENTUALLY LEADING TO GEAR TOOTH CHIPPING OR GEAR BREAKAGE.
Risk: GEAR FAILURE COULD RESULT IN TRANSMISSION LOCKUP, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.
Fix: ON VEHICLES WITH 15,000 MILES OR LESS, THE DEALER WILL UPDATE THE TRANSMISSION WITH A SIMPLE REVISION TO THE OIL COOLER RETURN LINE TO INCREASE LUBRICATION TO THE SECOND GEAR. ON VEHICLES WITH MORE THAN 15,000 MILES, THE DEALER WILL INSPECT THE TRANSMISSION TO IDENTIFY GEARS THAT HAVE ALREADY EXPERIENCED DISCOLORATION DUE TO OVERHEATING. IF DISCOLORATION EXISTS, THE TRANSMISSION WILL BE REPLACED IF DISCOLORATION IS NOT PRESENT, THE DEALER WILL PERFORM THE REVISION TO THE OIL COOLER RETURN LINE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 21, 2004, FOR PILOT, ODYSSEY, AND MDX OWNERS. OWNERS OF THE ACCORD VEHICLES WILL START RECEIVING LETTERS ON JUNE 28, 2004, AND ON JUNE 29, 2004, FOR OWNERS OF THE TL AND CL VEHICLES. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT HONDA AT 1-800-999-1009 OR ACURA AT 1-800-382-2238.

Seat beltsAug 14, 2001

Front › Buckle assembly

Recall 01V1660028,168 vehicles

Problem: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: THE FOLLOWING VEHICLES WERE REPAIRED WITH INCORRECT PARTS: 2002 ACURA 3.2TL SEDANS WITH REPLACEMENT BUCKLES INSTALLED PER RECALL 01V-166001; CERTAIN 2000 ACURA 3.2TL VEHICLES WITH REPLACEMENT BUCKLES INSTALLED AS PRODUCT UPDATE REPAIRS; AND CERTAIN 2000-2002 ACURA 3.2TL VEHICLES WITH REPLACEMENT BUCKLES INSTALLED AS WARRANTY OR COLLISION REPAIRS. REPAIRS WERE MADE FROM MARCH 9 THROUGH JULY 27, 2001. SOME OF THE NONCOMPLIANT BUCKLES WERE MISLABELED AND REDISTRIBUTED TO ACURA DEALERS TO BE USED AS RECALL REPAIR PARTS. HONDA ALSO DETERMINED THAT INCORRECT FRONT SEAT BELT BUCKLE REPLACEMENT PARTS WERE USED FOR SOME PRODUCT UPDATE REPAIRS OF 2000 ACURA 3.2TL VEHICLES, AND WARRANTY OR COLLISION REPAIRS OF 2000-2002 3.2TL VEHICLES. THESE SEAT BELT BUCKLES MAY NOT COMPLY WITH REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 209, "SEAT BELT ASSEMBLIES."
Risk: IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, THE SEAT OCCUPANT MAY NOT BE PROPERLY RESTRAINED.
Fix: DEALERS WILL INSPECT, AND IF NECESSARY, REPLACE THE FRONT SEAT BELT BUCKLES. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN AUGUST 20, 2001. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT ACURA AT 1-800-999-1009.

Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. A recall listed here may already have been fixed on a particular car: enter its 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls.

Crash test ratings

2001 Acura 3.2 TL 4-DR. w/SAB

OverallNot Rated

Frontal crash	Not Rated
Side crash	Not Rated
Rollover	Not Rated

2001 Acura TL NHTSA side crash test — NHTSA side barrier crash test

NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (New Car Assessment Program). Ratings are comparable only between vehicles of similar size and weight, and ratings from 2011 on use tougher tests than earlier years. Photos: NHTSA.

What owners report

Problem area	Complaints	Crashes	Fires	Injuries	Typical mileage*
Power trainAutomatic transmission; Manual transmission	103	2	0	2	84,300 mi
Air bags	15	3	0	2	125,000 mi
Vehicle speed controlCruise control; Accelerator pedal	10	2	0	1	25,011 mi
VisibilityWindshield; Rearview mirrors/devices › Interior	7	0	0	0	87,500 mi
Engine and engine coolingEngine; Cooling system › Fan	5	0	1	0	25,721 mi
Electrical systemWiring › Front underhood; Ignition	5	1	1	0	145,000 mi
Service brakes, hydraulicAntilock/traction control/electronic limited slip; Foundation components › Disc › Rotor	4	0	0	0	25,000 mi
Tires	3	0	0	0	—
Seat beltsFront › Anchorage	2	0	0	0	—
Unknown or other	2	0	0	0	—
SuspensionFront › Control arm › Lower ball joint	2	0	0	0	—
StructureFrame and members; Body › Door	2	0	0	0	—

*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.

Recent owner complaints

Air bags
I have reached out to Acura on three separate occasions to try and get them to inspect and possibly replace my recalled airbags. They have failed to contact us back every time and this is our only mode of transportation. I've expressed my concerns to them each time and let them know I'm forced to drive this vehicle until it's fixed.
Nov 15, 2025
Air bags
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 ACURA TL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE RECEIVED A NHTSA RECALL LETTER NUMBER 20V027000 (AIR BAGS). THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE INTO THE DEALER FLOW ACURA 4952 NEW CENTRE DR, WILMINGTON, NC 28403 (910) 218-7070. DURING THE RECALL REPAIR THEY TOLD THE CONTACT THEY DID NOT HAVE THE RIGHT PARTS AND SAID THEY WOULD CALL HIM BACK. THE DEALER CALLED BACK AND SAID THAT THE MANUFACTURER REP SAID THEY DID NOT MAKE THAT AIRBAG PART SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS OLD. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT ABLE TO PASS INSPECTION SINCE THE REPAIR SHORTED OUT SEVERAL FUNCTIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS UNREPAIRED WITH A DEFECTIVE AIR BAG WHILE THE DEALER LOOKS FOR ANOTHER PART. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 190,000.
Oct 23, 2020 · 190,000 miles
Air bags
FOR MY ACURA TL 2001 WE HAVE BEEN WAITING OVER 6 MONTHS FOR THE AIR BAG TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALERSHIP AND HONDA (CALLED HONDA THIS WEEK) WILL NOT EVEN PROVIDE A DATE WHEN THE REPLACEMENT AIR BAGS WILL BE AVAILABLE. VERY POOR AS THIS IS A KNOWN SAFETY HAZARD AND WE DON'T FEEL SAFE DRIVING THIS VEHICLE!
Mar 3, 2020
Power train
TRANSMISSION SLIPS BETWEEN 3 AND 4. DOESN'T DO THIS ALL THE TIME, HOWEVER; MANY, MANY FORUMS ARE FULL OF 2001 ACURA TL'S HAVING TRANSMISSION SOLENOID ISSUES. WE BOUGHT CAR USED (163,000), MANY CARS OUT THERE WITH THE EXACT SAME ISSUE WHICH SHOULD HAVE BEEN ADDRESSED IN THE 2000'S.
Sep 16, 2020 · 163,000 miles
Air bags
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 ACURA TL. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 20V027000 (AIR BAGS) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT CALLED ACURA OF TEMPE (7800 S AUTOPLEX LOOP, TEMPE, AZ 85284; (480) 344-5800) AND IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT THE PART WAS NOT YET AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE. *BF
Mar 1, 2020
Air bags
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 ACURA TL. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 20V027000 (AIR BAGS) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE LOCAL DEALER RALLYE ACURA LOCATED AT 1750 NORTHERN BLVD, ROSLYN, NY 11576, AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT PARTS WOULD BE AVAILABLE THE FIRST QUARTER OF 2021. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.
Mar 1, 2020
Air bags
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 ACURA TL. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 20V027000 (AIR BAGS) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS NOT YET AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER HAD EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. A DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT PARTS WERE NOT YET AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.
Aug 28, 2020
Air bags
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 ACURA TL. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 20V027000 (AIR BAGS) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.
May 29, 2020

Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.

NHTSA defect investigations

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SUDDEN DOWNSHIFTClosed
SEE ATTACHED REPORT.
PE02081 · opened Oct 28, 2002 · closed Mar 5, 2003