2006 Acura Tl problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Structure (43) · Air Bags (41) · Steering (19)
🧭 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
200 NHTSA complaints that reported an odometer reading.
Safety recalls (3)
Vehicle Speed Control:accelerator Pedal 2019-10-10 · campaign 19E068000 · 3,744 vehicles
Defect: Dorman Products, Inc. (Dorman) is recalling certain Accelerator Pedal Assemblies part numbers 699-114 and 825-5029-1, sold as replacement parts for 2003-2006 Acura MDX, 2004-2008 Acura TL and TSX, 2003-2007 Honda Accord, 2005-2006 Honda CR-V, 2007-2011 Honda Element, 2005-2008 Honda Pilot and 2006-2014 Honda Ridgeline vehicles. The rotating portion of the accelerator pedal assembly may bind. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (
Risk: If the accelerator pedal binds, the engine may not quickly return to idle after the pedal is no longer pressed, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dorman will notify owners, and qualified service facilities will replace the affected accelerator pedal assemblies, free of charge. The recall began December 9, 2019. Owners may contact Dorman customer service at 1-800-523-2492, using option 5. Dorman's number for this recall is AS1019XXXX.
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.
Suspension:front:control Arm:lower Ball Joint 2011-06-22 · campaign 11E022000 · 150 vehicles
Defect: AFFINIA IS RECALLING CERTAIN AFTERMARKET FRONT SUSPENSION LOWER BALL JOINTS, NAPA PART NO. 2601662, THAT MAY HAVE BEEN MISTAKENLY INSTALLED IN CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2004 - 2008 ACURA TL VEHICLES DUE TO A MISTAKE IN A NAPA AND NAPA DEALERS' PARTS APPLICATION CATALOGUE.
Risk: MISAPPLICATION OF THIS PART COULD LEAD TO SEPARATION OF THE BALL JOINT FROM THE LOWER CONTROL ARM AND COLLAPSE OF THE FRONT SUSPENSION, WHICH COULD POTENTIALLY CAUSE A VEHICLE CRASH.
Fix: AFFINIA IS WORKING WITH NAPA TO IDENTIFY ANY OWNERS THAT HAVE HAD THIS PART MISTAKENLY INSTALLED ON TO AN ACURA TL VEHICLE, AND WILL REPLACE THE PART FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 20, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT AFFINIA GROUP'S WARRANTY ADMINISTRATOR AT 1-815-759-7757.
Service bulletins (40)
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.
Suspension 2019-07-11 · DORE5C4S09 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this sku is a front upper ball joint. the customer communication requested return of unsold inventory to inspect for the outer diameter of the ball joint housing being too small. the outer diameter being too small would prevent the part from being installed, and would therefore have no impact on
Equipment:electrical:navigational System(Global Positioning System) 2016-11-23 · B05-018 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
service bulletin - navigation system information.
Air Bags:frontal:sensor/Control Module-Inactive 2016-08-29 · TAKATA_FLORIDA D · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
letter sent in conjunction with the florida highway safety and motor vehicles department to remind florida owners of the takata recall and to schedule an appointment at their earliest convenience.
Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery 2016-05-12 · BPAS-05122016902 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
dealer message - ahm is investigating client complaint of handsfreelink not working or battery being too low to start the engine. prior to performing any repair, please send suspect parts back to ahm.
Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery 2016-04-29 · B-PAS-04292016-9 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
ahm is investigating customer complaint of the handsfreelink not working or the battery being too low to start the engine. please send specific parts to ahm prior to attemping any repairs.
Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery 2016-04-25 · B-PAS-04252016-9 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
ahm is investigating customer complaint of the handsfreelink not working or the battery being too low to start the engine. please send specific parts to ahm prior to attemping any repairs.
Showing the 6 most recent of 40 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2026-07-10 · Steering · 🔥 fire“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.…”
2025-11-17 · Air Bags“my acura (vin: [xxx] ) experienced a non-collision spontaneous deployment of the side airbag while the vehicle was completely stationary. there was no impact, no crash, and no triggering event. this is a serious safety defect that could have caused significant injury or loss of vehicle control had the car been in motion. this vehicle was previousl…”
2025-11-10 · Vehicle Speed Control · 170,000 mi“the contact owns a 2006 acura tl. the contact stated that while driving 35 mph uphill, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended while depressing the accelerator pedal. there was an abnormal sputtering sound coming from the vehicle. the "vsa" (vehicle stability assist) and air bag warning lights illuminated, and an unknown message was displayed …”
2024-09-24 · Unknown Or Other“i am the original owner of this 2006 acura tl. i have vertical cracks on the dashboard surrounding the passenger srs airbag system. aside from the bad look, is there a safety issue from either the air bag deploying prematurely and/or the air bag deploying in an unsafe manner and injuring the passenger. i have researched this issue online and there …”
2023-08-07 · Power Train“transmission shifts down very hard, once causing the car to lose traction and skid approximately 10 feet on the highway. the car luckily regained control and i avoided collision. i have seen many other reports of hard shifting in this car. …”
2023-06-21 · Power Train“my transmission failed at 105,000 had to pay 4500 for a new transmission, i’m sure they have had complaints about the acura tl through 2004-2008. i am currently on my third transmission and now the new one is hard shifting already. …”
2023-04-03 · Air Bags“dashboard cracked. internet search revels this is a acura tl fleet wide issue. cracked dashboard may rip airbag during deployment rendering it useless, impede airbag deployment, or send shards of plastic during airbag deployment.…”
2023-03-30 · Engine“car has been in family and well taken care of, smell of fire along with multiple alternators and battery changes. mechanics cannot figure out why car goes through alternator and batteries. paid for 6 to 8 alternator and battery. transmission is now going on car. like i said car has been taken care of but not worth transmission job, my complaint is …”
2023-03-14 · Steering“power steering high pressure hose is leaking on the catalytic converter. smoke billows into the cabin of the vehicle. this makes driving with window down necessary. afraid continued leakage will start a fire in engine compartment. obtained a new high pressure hose but afraid that the catalytic converter will do the same thing over time. will b…”
2022-05-20 · Unknown Or Other“2/26/2008 steering: hydraulic power assist:hose, piping, and connections power steering fluid leaking onto a hot catalytic converter will generate smoke and possibly lead to an under- hood fire. summary honda is recalling 273.000 my 2004-2008 acura tl vehicles. prolonged high under-hood temperatures may cause the power steering hose to deteriorate …”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.