Problems · NHTSA complaints

2011 Acura TL problems

Owners filed 20 complaints about the 2011 Acura TL with NHTSA between Mar 2016 and Oct 2023. The most-cited component is air bags (13).

Complaints
20
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
1
Reported by owners
Fires
2
Reported by owners
Injuries
1
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Air bags13
  2. Engine3
  3. Visibility1
  4. Seats1
  5. Service brakes1
  6. Fuel/propulsion system1
  7. Power train1
  8. Steering1
  9. Other / unknown1

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 11, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Trend

When complaints were filed

Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
View as table
Model yearComplaints filed per calendar year
201610
20172
20181
20191
20202
20212
20221
20231

Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.

03 —Owner reports

Top problems in owners’ words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first

Air bags

13 reports1 crash3 related recalls
“I purchased a 2011 Acura TL with a salvaged title. The steering wheel airbag appeared to have been repaired with certain glue or epoxy after appearing to have been deployed by previous owner. However the airbag is fully intact. The Acura dealership refused to conduct the recall due to this issue. Would this warrant a refusal to be replaced by the dealership? Thank you”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 20, 2023Air bagsODI 11551094

Engine

3 reports2 fires
“THE CAR IS BURNING OIL AT AN ACCELERATED RATE WHICH CAUSES A WARNING WHEN THE OIL LIFE IS AROUND 40 TO 50% THAT THE ENGINE HAS LOW OIL LEVEL.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 3, 2021EngineODI 11398834

Visibility

1 report
“Driving my 2011 Acura TL on I95 South in NC from VA to SC at about 2p on 12/2/22, It is a clear sunny day. It is 62 degrees out, there were no vehicles around and no debris flying or dropping and no overpasses or anything around. Heard a loud explosion. Sounded like a shovel with a ton of rocks being dropped on the roof. Opened the slider for moonroof (which is a original manufactured item) and realized the sound was the moonroof glass. The glass was shattered and huge amount missing. Glass rained down into the car all over everything including me. No evidence of any source of cause for this happening. Just glass shards. Appears to have just combusted on its own? Prior to this event the moonroof was operable and in good working order with no cracks or anything. Setup a service appointment for tomorrow 12/3/22 at 3p at McDaniel's Acura dealership in Charleston, SC”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 2, 2022Unknown or other, VisibilityODI 11495812

Seats

1 report
“WHILE TRYING MAE A QU VERSIN SUSCITADOS EN HABLARAN”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 16, 2020Seats, Service brakes, Fuel/propulsion systemODI 11349634

Service brakes

1 report

Fuel/propulsion system

1 report
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 11, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.