What Owners Report NHTSA ODI · 2,175,102 complaints · MY1998–2026

2002 Acura TL

Typical pattern

13.7% of complaints about the 2002 Acura TL came in the first year, which is unremarkable for a 2002 vehicle — around the middle of the 230 model-years on record. The median complaint arrives at 3.8 yr in service. The most-reported system is power train (214 complaints), typically at 3.1 yr or about 56,500 miles.

Complaints
379
Median age at failure
3.8 yr
Median mileage
73,000 n=249
Crash / fire / tow
11.1% of reports
Safety recalls
7

When each system is reported — middle 50% of complaints

System
0y2y4y6y8y10y12y14y
Power train
214 reports · 56,500 mi
3.1 yr
4.2%
Air bags
41 reports · 100,000 mi
10.6 yr
29.3%
Speed control
16 reports · 42,500 mi
1.5 yr
37.5%

Safety recalls — NHTSA campaigns

19V499000 2019-06-27
Air bags:frontal:driver side:inflator module

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 exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.

An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

19V182000 2019-03-06
Air bags:frontal:driver side:inflator module

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 as part of a previous Takata inflator recall remedy or a replacement driver air bag module containi

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.

15V320000 2015-05-28
Air bags:frontal:driver side:inflator module

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, over time, could cause the inflator to rupture.

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.

04V176000 2004-04-15
Power train:automatic transmission

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.

GEAR FAILURE COULD RESULT IN TRANSMISSION LOCKUP, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.

01V166002 2001-08-14
Seat belts:front:buckle assembly

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

IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, THE SEAT OCCUPANT MAY NOT BE PROPERLY RESTRAINED.

01V166001 2001-05-24
Seat belts:front:buckle assembly

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 209, "SEAT BELT ASSEMBLIES." CERTAIN DRIVER AND PASSENGER SEAT BELT BUCKLES WERE IMPROPERLY MANUFACTURED.

IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, THE SEAT OCCUPANT MAY NOT BE PROPERLY RESTRAINED.

01V161000 2001-05-03
Visibility:power window devices and controls

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SEDANS EQUIPPED WITH AN "AUTO-UP" POWER WINDOW FEATURE ON THE DRIVER'S DOOR. THE DRIVER'S SIDE POWER WINDOW CONTROL UNIT CAN FAIL, AND DEPENDING ON THE FAILURE MODE, THE WINDOW COULD BECOME INOPERATIVE, OPEN OR CLOSE INDEPENDENT OF SWITCH ACTIVATION, OR THE AUTO-REVERSE SYSTEM MAY NOT OPERATE.

THE AUTO-REVERSE SYSTEM FAILURE COULD RESULT IN OCCUPANT INJURY.

In owners’ own words

Air bags mileage not reported 3 mo in service
RECURRING PROBLEM WITH SRS LIGHT COMING ON AND RENDERING VEHICLE UNSAFE TO OPERATE PER DEALER, OWNER'S MANUAL, AND FACTORY REP. CAR IS 90 DAYS OLD AND HAS BEEN OUT OF SERVICE FOR 40 DAYS. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER CAN REPAIR AFTER 4 ATTEMPTS. THERE IS EVIDENCE THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL AS IT IS REPORTED ON INTERNET MESSAGE BOARDS (E.G. CLUBRSX.COM), AND THE DEALERS REFER TO OTHER OCCURRENCES.*AK
Air bags mileage not reported 10 mo in service crash / fire / tow
CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY AND WITHOUT WARNING AIRBAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY WHEN ANOTHER VEHICLE VEERED INTO CONSUMER'S VEHICLE.*AK
Air bags 45,940 mi 2.1 yr in service
SAFETY ISSUE. ACURA DEALER HAS BEEN UNABLE TO RESOLVE SUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAINT SYSTEM (SRS) PROBLEM AFTER THREE ATTEMPTS DURING THE PAST 90 DAYS. THE VEHICLE IS NOW BEING SERVICED BY THE ACURA SERVICING DEALER FOR THE FOURTH TIME FOR THE IDENTICAL PROBLEM. THE SRS PROBLEM LIGHT KEEPS TURNING WHILE DRIVING. THERE IS A CONCERN THAT THE SRS SYSTEM WILL NOT FUNCTION AS DESIGNED DUE TO THIS ONGOING PROBLEM. *LA
Power train mileage not reported 3 mo in service
TRANSMISSION FAILURE IN A HIGH SPEED CAN CAUSE MAJOR ACCIDENT ON THE FREEWAY (DANGEROUS). *AK

Other TL model years

20132012201020092008200720062005200420032002200120001999

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