2002 Acura Tl problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Power Train:automatic Transmission (163) · Power Train (30) · Air Bags (21)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Acura Tl model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
🛣️ Complaints by mileage
213 NHTSA complaints that reported an odometer reading.
Safety recalls (3)
Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module 2019-06-27 · campaign 19V499000 · 3,947 vehicles
Defect: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2003 Acura 3.2CL, 2002-2003 3.2TL, 2003-2006 MDX, 2001-2007 Honda Accord, 2001-2005 Civic, 2003-2005 Civic Hybrid, 2001-2005 Civic GX NGV, 2002-2006 CR-V, 2003-2011 Element, 2002-2004 Odyssey, 2003-2008 Pilot and 2006 Ridgeline vehicles. These vehicles are equipped with driver frontal air bag inflators assembled as a recall remedy part or replacement service part, that may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term e
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began August 12, 2019. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are Q5A and Y58.
Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module 2019-03-06 · campaign 19V182000 · 1,101,534 vehicles
Defect: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling specific 2003 Acura 3.2CL, 2013-2016 ILX, 2013-2014 ILX Hybrid, 2003-2006 MDX, 2007-2016 RDX, 2002-2003 3.2TL, 2004-2006, and 2009-2014 TL, 2010-2013 ZDX and 2001-2007 and 2009 Honda Accord, 2001-2005 Civic, 2003-2005 Civic Hybrid, 2001-2005 Civic GX NGV, 2002-2007 and 2010-2011 CR-V, 2003-2011 Element, 2007 Fit, 2002-2004 Odyssey, 2003-2008 Pilot, and 2006-2014 Ridgeline vehicles. The affected vehicles received a replacement driver air bag inflator
Risk: An explosion of an inflator within the driver frontal air bag module may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver, front seat passenger or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's air bag inflator with an alternate inflator, free of charge. The recall began April 10, 2019. Honda owners may contact customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for this recall is O41. Acura owners may contact customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Acura's number for this recall is U40.
Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module 2015-05-28 · campaign 15V320000 · 6,281,043 vehicles
Defect: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain model year 2001-2007 Accord, 2001-2005 Civic, 2001-2004 Honda Civic GX, 2003-2005 Honda Civic Hybrid, 2002-2006 CR-V, 2003-2011 Element, 2002-2004 Odyssey, 2003-2008 Pilot, 2006 Ridgeline, 2003 Acura 3.2CL, 2003-2006 Acura MDX, and 2002-2003 Acura 3.2TL vehicles. The affected vehicles are equipped with a dual-stage driver frontal air bag that may be susceptible to moisture intrusion and other factors, including manufacturing variability that
Risk: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began on July 1, 2015. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Owners may contact Acura customer service at 1-800-382-2238, select option 4. Note: Vehicles that have had their driver frontal air bag replaced previously as part of a recall remedy prior to September 12, 2014 need to have their air bag replaced under this recall as well. Vehicles that, on or a
Service bulletins (194)
Technical service bulletins are repair instructions manufacturers send dealers for known issues. Unlike recalls, the fix is not automatically free — but naming the bulletin at the service desk can save diagnosis time and support goodwill repairs.
Air Bags 2020-03-10 · B20-008 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
service bulletin - this bulletin is a notification of a class action settlement relating to airbag inflators. american honda is offering a customer support program (warranty extension) to cover any manufacturing defects in the replacement driver's airbag inflator only.
Air Bags 2018-10-26 · B18-041 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
service bulletin - this bulletin has been cancelled because the collection is now complete. if you did the collection in this service bulletin on or before october 26, 2018 (ro date), use the warranty claim information provided below.
Engine And Engine Cooling 2018-08-09 · BBOM08092018901 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
dealer message - today, acura is notifying dealers of a voluntary noncompliance recall for a small number of acura vehicles due to an error on the replacement (service part) underhood emissions labels. american honda previously notified carb and the epa for this action.
Equipment 2018-08-09 · B18034 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
service bulletin - emission certification labels that were replaced on a small number of vehicles may have been replaced with a label listing incorrect information. the affected emission labels are replacement service parts, and were not installed at the factory; they were installed during postmanuf
Equipment 2018-05-24 · B18-017 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
service bulletin - this bulletin is a notification of a class action settlement relating to airbag inflators. american honda is offering a customer support program (warranty extension) to cover any manufacturing defects to the replacement driver's airbag inflator only.
Equipment:electrical:navigational System(Global Positioning System) 2018-01-10 · B18010I · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
servicenews article - is the navigation screen clock reading 00:00? we?re aware of this issue and have it under investigation.
Showing the 6 most recent of 194 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2026-09-21 · Air Bags · 167,000 mi · 💥 crash“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 state…”
2025-10-12 · Steering“the high pressure power steering hose on my car is leaking. issues with air bags…”
2025-06-30 · Air Bags“the "srs" dashboard red light illuminated and stays on. on may 19, 2029 acura "replaced driver s/b." acura dealer and manufacturer are both telling me that my "inflator" and "airbag module" is not covered again since there has been no recall by acura or nhtsa. please advise me as to warranty a second time at no cost to me? …”
2023-04-12 · Power Train“slipping , shift feels like it’s losing power and jerks and sputter . check engine lights is on now . throwing a p0730 code .. transmission fluid level are where is supposed to be and clean …”
2021-05-22 · Service Brakes“my car has been automatically shutting off while driving. bringing my car to a halt, not a full on stop but to the point my wheels lock up. sort of like im slamming on my brake but i can't press my brake. i lose power steering, the entire car shuts off. then i have to try and restart it, but it won't turn over. sometimes its just for a few minutes.…”
2020-07-14 · Unknown Or Other · 150,000 mi“vehicle stopped accelerating on highway with kids in the car, due to the transmission.…”
2019-09-01 · Power Train · 210,000 mi“automatic/manually shifts, manual gears d4 shift stuck in gear and causing electrical and engine problems. transmission failure occured.…”
2019-08-21 · Visibility/Wiper · 157,672 mi“tl* the contact owns a 2002 acura tl. while driving various speeds, the transmission warning indicator illuminated and the front driver's side window button failed to operate. hinshaw's acura (5955 20th st e, fife, wa 98424, (253) 922-8830) was informed of the transmission indicator and stated that the vehicle was not included in any recalls. the v…”
2019-07-09 · Air Bags · 100,000 mi“tl* the contact owns a 2002 acura tl. while driving 65 mph, the air bag deployed when the brake pedal was depressed to the floorboard. there were no injuries. the contact continued to drive the vehicle to her residence. the vin was included in nhtsa campaign number: 19v499000 (air bags). the contact called crown acura (located at 18911 us hwy 19 n,…”
2019-05-14 · Air Bags“tl* the contact owns a 2002 acura tl. the contact received notification of nhtsa campaign number: 19v182000 (air bags). however, the parts to do the repair were unavailable. the contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. garry force acura (1634 westgate cir, brentwood, tn 37027 (615) 377-0500)…”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.