Acura TL Power Train Problems
Owners have filed 904 complaints with NHTSA about power train problems on the Acura TL across 19 model years. The 2003 model year has the most (246). The words owners use most often: “transmission failed” (11% of reports).
- 904power train complaints
- —median miles at failure
- 26mention a crash
- 19mention an injury
- 2related recalls
- $5,900typical repair cost reported by owners
- 42%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 101 of 904 complaints (11%)
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 Acura TL at $5,900, and half of them between $4,500 and $7,050.
Based on 60 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (2004–2015), 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 656 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 904 complaints, 26 mention a crash, 6 a fire, 19 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 (2)
Power train:automatic transmission
Model years: 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004
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.
Power train:automatic transmission
Model years: 1996, 1997, 1998
Problem: Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. A transmission case bolt can loosen and fall out allowing the transmission to disengage from the differential.
Risk: The vehicle could lose power to the drive wheels without warning. Also, shifting the transmission into the park position would not lock the wheels, and a parked vehicle could move unexpectedly if the parking brake is not set.
Fix: Dealers will install a redesigned bolt.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
Hello, I have contacted Acura and because my car is now in [XXX] they are telling me I canât have my car repaired. Acura says there are no recalls on this car but when I put in the Vin [XXX] , the recalls come up right away. my mother brought this car to Canada in 2004 and was unaware of any…
While I was driving 55 mph, on the throttle, the transmission acted as it was in Neutral but all indicators verified it was in Drive. The RPMs were fluctuating during this & my car wouldn't accelerate. I was in the middle of a busy highway, the car came to a stop, I shifted it into Park, then tried…
Driving on Highway going 65mph vehicle suddenly jerked and dropped to 20 mph. Causing my entire body to collide with the steering wheel. Luckily there no cars behind me. Was on my way to work when this happened too far from home. So when I got at work which is thirty minutes from where I live I had…
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.
My transmission failed at 105,000 had to pay 4500 for a new transmission, Iâm 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.
Frequently asked questions
Do all Acura TLs have power train problems?
No. NHTSA has 904 owner complaints about power train for the Acura TL. Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the Acura TL power train?
Yes: 2 safety recalls list power train. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
How much does it cost to fix power train problems on the Acura TL?
Owners report a typical cost of $5,900 (half paid between $4,500 and $7,050), from 60 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about power train problems on the Acura TL?
The most frequent phrase is “transmission failed”, in 101 of 904 complaints.
Other Acura TL problems
- Air Bags problems (826)
- Structure problems (548)
- Electrical System problems (260)
- Steering problems (210)
- Vehicle Speed Control problems (117)
- Tires problems (108)
See all Acura TL problems.