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:
7 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
2 / 0
Average Mileage:
77,854 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.

2002 Acura TL seat belts / air bags problems

seat belts / air bags problem

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2002 Acura TL Owner Comments (Page 1 of 2)

problem #29

Jun 132020

TL 6-cyl

  • 150,000 miles

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

Vehicle stopped accelerating on highway with kids in the car, due to the transmission.

- Dover, DE, USA

problem #28

Mar 192015

TL

  • 210,000 miles
Automatic/manually shifts, manual gears D4 shift stuck in gear and causing electrical and engine problems. Transmission failure occured.

- Rapid City, SD, USA

problem #27

Jul 072019

TL

  • 100,000 miles
The contact owns a 2002 Acura TL. While driving 65 mph, the air bag deployed when the brake pedal was depressed to the floorboard. There were no injuries. The contact continued to drive the vehicle to her residence. The VIN was included in NHTSA campaign number: 19V499000 (air bags). The contact called crown Acura (located at 18911 us hwy 19 N, clearwater, fl 33764, (888) 642-5567) and notified them of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The dealer and manufacturer were not notified. The failure mileage was 100,000.

- Golfport, FL, USA

problem #26

Apr 132019

TL

  • miles

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

The contact owns a 2002 Acura TL. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 19V182000 (air bags). However, the parts to do the repair were unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. Garry force Acura (1634 westgate cir, brentwood, tn 37027 (615) 377-0500) was contacted and confirmed that the parts were not available for the recall remedy. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue but were not able to confirm when the parts were to become available. The contact had not experienced a failure. (parts distribution disconnect).

- Hermitage, TN, USA

problem #25

Dec 172018

TL

  • 154,000 miles
We got an April 2019 letter for an important safety recall which came too late! my car was totaled in a accident in which both airbags deployed. It did cause hurtful pressure on my grandson's chest with an emergency bill over $500 and 2 days of losses wages. Ok for which we had no compensation. Car was in motion on highway street in which the other party was ticketed on an illegal U turn.

- Maple Grove, MN, USA

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problem #24

Apr 012017

TL 6-cyl

  • 65,000 miles
The contact owns a 2002 Acura TL. The contact stated that the air bag indicator kept illuminating. Flow Acura (425 silas creek pkwy, winston-salem, nc 27127, (336) 723-3524) initially diagnosed that the wires were malfunctioning. After a test was performed, the indicator remained off for approximately one month. When the air bag indicator illuminated again, the contact took the vehicle to an independent mechanic who advised her to take it back to the dealer because it was still covered under warranty. Another Acura dealer (crown Acura, 3908 w wendover ave, greensboro, nc 27407) changed the seat belt buckle, but the failure recurred. The second dealer had to order another part and repaired the vehicle again, but the failure recurred approximately six months later. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 65,000. Consumer stated SRS light keeps coming on. Dealership file has a log/ histry of the vehicle maintenance plus multi repairs work done on the SRS light but the problem still exists.

- Winston Salem, NC, USA

problem #23

Nov 082018

TL

  • 88,675 miles

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

Takata recall

- Houston, TX, USA

problem #22

Jun 022015

TL

  • miles
Car will no longer function properly/ poor driving.

- Windsor, CT, USA

problem #21

Aug 082017

TL

  • 198,000 miles
My vehicle has a defected airbag. It has yet to deploy, however I was informed by the tk holdings Inc. That the airbag on this particular model is defected.

- Kankakee, IL, USA

problem #20

Nov 162016

TL

  • miles
My vehicle contains one of the defective takata airbags, even though I realize it is not currently under a recall.

- Denver, CO, USA

problem #19

Apr 012016

TL

  • miles

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

Air bags was not working

- Baltimore, MD, USA

problem #18

Dec 122016

TL

  • 107 miles
Takata recall

- Hollywood, FL, USA

problem #17

Jun 012014

TL

  • 73,000 miles
Takata recall I was in a car accident in June of 2014. I was pulling away from a stop sign. As I was driving a Suburban (believe) turned in front of me. Tried to get out of the way but didn't quite make it. I hit the side or back of his vehicle. I felt like I hit a brick wall with my face. That was my face hitting the air bag.I was on the service road leaving the mall. I don't think the date I wrote in on this form is correct. I'm not sure of the day.

- Leesburg, VA, USA

problem #16

May 022017

TL

  • miles
Air bag light keeps coming on & off while I'm driving & in idle.

- New Orleans, LA, USA

problem #15

May 022015

TL

  • 135,000 miles
The contact owns a 2002 Acura TL. The contact stated that the air bag warning light illuminated after the vehicle was serviced under NHTSA campaign number: 14V351000 (air bags). The vehicle was taken to the dealer, but was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 135,000.

- Marietta , GA, USA

problem #14

Feb 012012

TL 6-cyl

  • miles
2002 Acura 3.2 TL. Consumer writes in regards to drivers side airbag inflator recall and repairs.

- Gainesville, VA, USA

problem #13

Oct 012014

TL

  • 170,000 miles
First off my driver side power window has never worked. I changed my window motor with the regulator twice. That did not fix my window. I changed my drivers master window module twice. I checked all of the fuses and the power window fuses were good. My power window still doesn't work after $400 in parts and $400 in labor. I took my car to the Acura dealership because my car had a few recalls. The person helping me at the dealership was real rude and disrespectful. He told me the only recall I had was for my SRS airbag. He had to order the part. I haven't received a phone call from the dealership to let me know the part was in. Two weeks later I go in and check if the part was I N. the same person that helped me came up to me and had an attitude and was disrespectful again. He told me the part was in but they can't service it that day. They never communicated with me. Horrible service at [xxx] Acura. I told the service guy that my car does not want to come out of first gear and there was a recall on my transmission. He was real rude and told me that I had to pay $6000. I did a little research and my 02 Acura TL type S with my VIN number has many recalls. 1 for my air bags. 2. for my transmission 2nd gear. 3 for my drivers power window. I told this Acura service guy that I had recalls for all 3 things and he laughed at me. My cluster fuse keeps blowing and the code that comes up is for my transmission range sensor. 70+ people with an 02 Acura Tls have had the same issues as me. I just contacted Acura and they told me that the transmission has been completed. No recall has been done on my car. I need help please. Information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

- Gainesville, VA, USA

problem #12

Sep 192014

TL

  • miles
The contact owns a 2002 Acura TL. The contact received a recall notification for NHTSA campaign number: 14V351000 (air bags) and stated that the part needed for the repair was unavailable. The dealer was unable to provide an expected date for when the part would become available. The manufacturer was not notified of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure.

- Naple, FL, USA

problem #11

Apr 012013

TL

  • 65,000 miles
The contact owns a 2002 Acura TL. The contact stated that while driving 65 mph, the driver crashed into another vehicle. Upon impact, the air bags failed to deploy. The contact also stated that the passenger side seat belt unbuckled. The contact mentioned that the vehicle was previously repaired under NHTSA campaign number: 11V260000 (air bags). The contact was unsure of any injuries. The vehicle was destroyed. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 65,000. The VIN was not available.

- Auburn, IN, USA

problem #10

Apr 012012

TL

  • 229,000 miles
The contact owns a 2002 Acura TL. The contact stated while waiting at a toll booth her foot slipped off of the brake pedal and crashed into the vehicle in front of her. Upon impact, the air bags deployed with minimal force. The police were notified and a police report was filed. The vehicle was not inspected nor was the vehicle repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and offered no assistance. The failure and current mileages was approximately 229,000.

- Chicopee, MA, USA

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