CarComplaints.com Notes: The 1999-2003 Acura TL has a known & widespread defect with the transmission.

Honda fixed some vehicles with a recall in 2004 by changing the oil cooler return line. To settle a class action lawsuit in 2006, Honda extended the transmission warranty on some of these Acura TL's to 93 months / 109,000 miles.

Now these vehicles are past the warranty limit, so buyer beware.

10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
1 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
5,000 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

1999 Acura TL miscellaneous problems

miscellaneous problem

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1999 Acura TL Owner Comments

problem #11

Sep 162021

TL

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

My 99 will unexpectedly shut off while driving down the road whether it be 5 miles an hour or 60 miles an hour. When this happens all power is off then kicks itself back on but won-??t start until about 5 minutes to 10 minutes later and then runs smoothly but sometimes it will shut off again and take longer to start.

- Methow, WA, USA

problem #10

Apr 202022

TL

  • miles
My Acura TL has many issues and is dangerous to drive

- Corona , CA, USA

problem #9

Dec 012010

TL

  • miles
1999 Acura 3.2 consumer writes regarding safety issues with vehicle the consumer doesn't own the vehicle. The vehicle is for sale at a used car lot. The consumer stated the vehicle has several safety violations.

- Clearwater, FL, USA

problem #8

Apr 152002

TL

  • Automatic transmission
  • 55,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Total cost is $2505 and it has failed again. No safety defect listed. **dimsii IVOQ entry posted after 12/12/02 cut over to artemis**762451

- Cumming, GA, USA

problem #7

Aug 092002

(reported on)

TL

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
While driving engine light illuminated, indicating that catalytic converter malfunctioned. Dealer has been notified.

- Brandywine, MD, USA

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problem #6

Jan 102001

(reported on)

TL

  • miles
Center cup holder design is poor. When braking quicker than usual, cups tip over and spill contents into the shift mechanism. Contacted Acura and was told that they will note it for the next major redesign. I almost got into deadly highway accidents because of this and most recently I ended driving into a curb and damaging my alluminum wheel (don't know if it is still safe to drive with it structure strength wise). Durrinng a maintenance visit, I found out that Acura changed the design for 2001 and never notifies its consumers. I told the dealer about my last incident who then proceeded and gave me the peice from the show room car which I then I adapted to my car. Acura should fess up to the problem. I was lucky not to have gotten into any accidents and only ended with alloy wheel damage (which I now have to pay to replace).

- Garden City, NY, USA

problem #5

Jul 151998

TL

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The alarm goes off randomly and cannot be turned off, the remote works randomly also, I am unable to unlock the doors or open the trunk for hours at a time. I have contacted Acura several times with no avail. I want my cart to work.

- Las Vegas, NV, USA

problem #4

Sep 211999

(reported on)

TL

  • miles
No summary

- Chesapeake, VA, USA

problem #3

Jun 211999

(reported on)

TL

  • miles
Design of the dashboard display is extremely difficult to read in daylight causing driver to remove eyes for extended period of time in order to see accurately. Mjs

- Ashland, OR, USA

problem #2

Jul 261999

(reported on)

TL

  • miles
The odometer and trip odometer on this model of the Acura is virtually impossible to read during daylight hours because of the nature of the display. There is a safety hazard to the extent that it is necessary to remove your eyes completely from the road and stick your face close to the odometer in order to read it. On a recent 2,000 mile trip, I wanted to check my trip odometer frequently. It was very difficult and dangerous to take try and read the display. Sooner or later, someone will be distracted enough to have or cause an accident. I contacted the Acura division of american Honda motor co. But they state they have no intention of addressing the problem. The idiot who designed the instrument panel display obviously never drove the car in the daytime. While this is not likely to be a major safety problem in terms of possible fatalities, it is still a safety hazard. And, this level of poor design should not be tolerated.

- Broken Arrow, OK, USA

problem #1

Oct 031998

TL

  • miles
Design of the instrument panel prevents consumer to see the instrutment panel while in the sun. Dealer/ manufacturer notified, and informed consumer that they do not see anything wrong, and nothing would be done at this time.

- Plam Beach Garden, FL, USA

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