2002 Acura TL Power Train Problems
Owners have filed 224 complaints with NHTSA about power train problems on the 2002 Acura TL, 67% of all complaints for this model year. Half of the reports with a mileage happened before 54,000 miles. The words owners use most often: “transmission failed” (16% of reports).
- 224power train complaints
- 54,000median miles at failure
- 6mention a crash
- 3mention an injury
- 1related recalls
- $7,150typical repair cost reported by owners
- 35%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Transmission failed: mentioned in 36 of 224 complaints (16%)
How much does it cost to fix?
Owners who wrote down what they paid or were quoted put the typical power train repair on the 2002 Acura TL at $7,150, and half of them between $6,150 and $7,650.
Based on 7 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (2010–2015), converted to 2026 dollars with the U.S. consumer price index. These are owners' own figures, not a quote: they include dealer quotes, and owners who file complaints often faced larger repairs, so they can run higher than typical shop prices. Prices vary by shop, region and warranty coverage. How we calculate this.
At what mileage do power train problems happen?
Based on 149 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 224 complaints, 6 mention a crash, 1 a fire, 3 an injury.
Acura TL power train complaints by model year
| Model year | Power Train complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 TL | 1 | 6% | 36,000 |
| 2013 TL | 4 | 6% | 38,000 |
| 2012 TL | 27 | 21% | 39,500 |
| 2011 TL | 1 | 5% | 73,000 |
| 2010 TL | 10 | 16% | 80,000 |
| 2009 TL | 5 | 12% | 167,612 |
| 2008 TL | 8 | 6% | 124,500 |
| 2007 TL | 7 | 6% | 19,900 |
| 2006 TL | 19 | 8% | 108,353 |
| 2005 TL | 36 | 9% | 77,000 |
| 2004 TL | 56 | 10% | 94,000 |
| 2003 TL | 246 | 63% | 76,334 |
| 2002 TL | 224 | 67% | 54,000 |
| 2001 TL | 103 | 69% | 84,300 |
| 2000 TL | 111 | 45% | 112,500 |
| 1999 TL | 37 | 24% | 100,500 |
| 1998 TL | 2 | 10% | 115,000 |
| 1997 TL | 3 | 13% | 50,760 |
| 1996 TL | 4 | 15% | 56,569 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (1)
Power train:automatic transmission
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.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
Slipping , shift feels like itâs 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
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…
Automatic/manually shifts, manual gears d4 shift stuck in gear and causing electrical and engine problems. Transmission failure occured.
Frequently asked questions
Do all 2002 Acura TLs have power train problems?
No. NHTSA has 224 owner complaints about power train for the 2002 Acura TL (67% of the 333 complaints for this model year). Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the 2002 Acura TL power train?
Yes: 1 safety recall list power train. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
At what mileage do power train problems start?
The median reported mileage is 54,000 miles: half of the reports with a mileage came before that.
How much does it cost to fix power train problems on the 2002 Acura TL?
Owners report a typical cost of $7,150 (half paid between $6,150 and $7,650), from 7 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about power train problems on the 2002 Acura TL?
The most frequent phrase is “transmission failed”, in 36 of 224 complaints.
See all 2002 Acura TL problems or power train problems across all TL years.