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
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Air bags43
  2. Power train27
  3. Steering25
  4. Engine18
  5. Electrical system11
  6. Vehicle speed control6
  7. Structure4
  8. Service brakes4
  9. Wheels4
  10. Electronic stability control (esc)3
  11. Equipment2
  12. Fuel/propulsion system2
  13. Seats2
  14. 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
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
20128
201310
20145
201511
201630
201716
201820
201913
20205
20212
20223
20231
20240
20255
20261

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

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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 3, 2022Air bags, StructureCrash reportedODI 11477341

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”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 26, 2019Power trainODI 11282576

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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 19, 2021SteeringODI 11425488

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”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 19, 2020EngineODI 11325229

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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 21, 2026Electrical systemODI 11719596

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…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 18, 2019Vehicle speed controlODI 11208409
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.