Problems · NHTSA complaints
2012 Acura TL problems
Owners filed 130 complaints about the 2012 Acura TL with NHTSA between Apr 2012 and Feb 2026. The most-cited component is air bags (43).
Complaints
130
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
3
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
5
People reported injured
Deaths
1
Reported to NHTSA
Complaints by component
One complaint can cite several components
- Air bags43
- Power train27
- Steering25
- Engine18
- Electrical system11
- Vehicle speed control6
- Structure4
- Service brakes4
- Wheels4
- Electronic stability control (esc)3
- Equipment2
- Fuel/propulsion system2
- Seats2
- Seat belts2
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 Oct 28, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
When complaints were filed
Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
8
10
5
11
30
16
20
13
5
2
3
1
0
5
1
View as table
| Model year | Complaints filed per calendar year |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 8 |
| 2013 | 10 |
| 2014 | 5 |
| 2015 | 11 |
| 2016 | 30 |
| 2017 | 16 |
| 2018 | 20 |
| 2019 | 13 |
| 2020 | 5 |
| 2021 | 2 |
| 2022 | 3 |
| 2023 | 1 |
| 2024 | 0 |
| 2025 | 5 |
| 2026 | 1 |
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.
Top problems in owners’ words
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
Air bags
43 reports2 crashes3 related recalls
“In an auto collision where a car rear end the vehicle from an idle position into an 18-foot box truck in front which was also idle. The vehicle smashed in the front and back which it was deemed a total loss and the airbag did not deploy. This caused the driver to have several injuries including a head concussion. When contacted the dealer service department where recall maintenance had been performed, I was instructed to contact the airbag manufacturer. The vehicle inspected by insurance adjuster (GEICO). There were no warning lamps or messages prior to the failure of the airbag deploy.”
Power train
27 reports
“THE TACHOMETER WILL HUNT UP AND DOWN A FEW HUNDRED RPM UNDER LIGHT ACCELERATION. THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SEEMS TO SHIFT HARSHLY AND ALSO SHIFTS UP AND DOWN DURING ACCELERATION AT TIMES”
Steering
25 reports
“While driving in heavy traffic and making a right turn,the power steering screen began to blink and immediately the power steering locked up. I had to manually turn the wheel and was able to over to the side and stop. After several minutes, the wheel finally unlocked and I pulled into a parking lot where it occurred again. I turned the key on and the unlocked wheel began to work again After making it home, I checked the drivers manual and found nothing. I checked complaints and found 95 instances but no recalls. It was very frightening for this situation and dangerous. This happened on July 14,2021.”
Engine
18 reports
“I BOUGHT MY CAR FROM THE DEALERSHIP ABOUT APRIL OF 2019 WITH 59920 MILES AND THE RECALL WAS NOT FIXED NOW THEY ASKED ME TO DO A TEST TO BRING THE CAR BACK AND FOURTH ONLY TO RUN UP THE MILES AND TIME FRAME TO NOT FIX THE PROBLEMS THAT HAS OCCURRED FROM THE RECALL NOT BEING FIXED THERE WAS ALSO A LAWSUIT DOCUMENT SEND TO ME HOME STATING THEY WOULD FIX THE RECALL FOR FREE AND AT THIS POINT MY CAR COULD BRING DOWN ANY DAY I AM A FEDERAL EMPLOYEE OF THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE IMMEDIATELY THEY ARE SELLING PEOPLE DEFECTED CAR / LEMONS WITH OUT CONSEQUENCE AND NOT FIXING THE RECALL BEFORE THEY ARE BOUGHT. *TR”
Electrical system
11 reports
“The vehicle has a faulty Hands free link module which runs the battery down when the vehicle is not in use. Acura has been aware of this problem since 2005. The government of this sorry ass country has done nothing about this issue except sit on their hands and accept payoffs from Acura. Acura dealers refuse to call back when this issue is mentioned. This results in money being paid for unnecessary repairs for batteries, alternators, and testing Just think if you were a handicap person who had to rely on your vehicle for medical services on a weekly basis and every time you went to your vehicle it would not start because of this issue that has been unresolved by Acura since 2005.What a national disgrace.”
Vehicle speed control
6 reports
“WHEN I WAS STOPPED AT A STOP SIGN AWAITING A BREAK TO ENTER INTO HEAVY TRAFFIC I SAW A GAP AND PRESSED THE GAS PEDAL BUT THE ENGINE DID NOT RESPOND. I GENTLY PRESSED UNTIL IT WAS ABOUT 1/4 DOWN AND STILL NOTHING HAPPENED. I THEN GENTLY PRESSED IT A LITTLE MORE AND THE CAR BOLTED FORWARD AT A DANGEROUS SPEED DIRECTLY INTO TRAFFIC WHICH COULD HAVE ALMOST KILLED ME. THIS WAS JUST ONE SITUATION, THERE ARE MANY OTHERS. THIS PROBLEM DOESN'T HAPPEN ON A PREDICTABLE BASIS AND CANNOT BE DUPLICATED WHEN DESIRED. THIS HAS HAPPED DOZENS OF TIMES OVER THE YEARS. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALERSHIP WHILE IT WAS UNDER WARRANTY AND THEY SAID THAT THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE SITUATION THEREFORE CANNOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. I SPOKE TO SOMEONE THERE AND HE SAID THAT HE HAS HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH ONE OF THEIR FLEET VEHICLES AND HAD TO REPLACE THE APP ( ACCELERATOR PEDAL POSITION SENSOR) 2 TIMES FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. I PRESENTED THE PROBLEM TO THE DEALERSHIP SHORTLY AFTER BUYING THE CAR AND A COUPLE TIME AFTERWARDS OVER TIME TO GET THE SAME COMMENT THAT THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE IT. LATELY IT HAS BECOME WORSE. Q#1 WHAT LAW COVERS A SITUATION WHEN AN OWNER PRESENTS THE SAME PROBLEM…”
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 28, 2026
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.