MYRModel Year Report

2002 Acura TL

■ Significantly worse — known issue year
2002 Acura TL
BUILT 2026-10-10

This year had more than double the complaints of this model's typical year.

This verdict reflects complaint volume compared to this model's typical year. Recalls and safety issues below apply regardless of the verdict — always check them.

How is this computed?

Complaints
333
Recalls
7

Campaigns on file for 2002

Investigations
5

Opened by NHTSA

Top problem
Power train

68% of complaints

Complaints per year

1995: 1 complaint 1995 1996: 26 complaints 1997: 23 complaints 1998: 20 complaints 1998 1999: 157 complaints 2000: 249 complaints 2001: 149 complaints 2002: 333 complaints 2002 333 2003: 391 complaints 2004: 551 complaints 2005: 388 complaints 2006: 247 complaints 2007: 124 complaints 2007 2008: 124 complaints 2009: 42 complaints 2010: 64 complaints 2010 2011: 20 complaints 2012: 130 complaints 2013: 62 complaints 2013 2014: 17 complaints
1995: 1 complaint 1995 1996: 26 complaints 1997: 23 complaints 1997 1998: 20 complaints 1999: 157 complaints 1999 2000: 249 complaints 2001: 149 complaints 2002: 333 complaints 2002 333 2003: 391 complaints 2004: 551 complaints 2005: 388 complaints 2005 2006: 247 complaints 2007: 124 complaints 2007 2008: 124 complaints 2009: 42 complaints 2009 2010: 64 complaints 2011: 20 complaints 2011 2012: 130 complaints 2013: 62 complaints 2013 2014: 17 complaints
1995: 1 complaint 1995 1996: 26 complaints 1996 1997: 23 complaints 1997 1998: 20 complaints 1998 1999: 157 complaints 1999 2000: 249 complaints 2000 2001: 149 complaints 2001 2002: 333 complaints 2002 333 2003: 391 complaints 2003 2004: 551 complaints 2004 2005: 388 complaints 2005 2006: 247 complaints 2006 2007: 124 complaints 2007 2008: 124 complaints 2008 2009: 42 complaints 2009 2010: 64 complaints 2010 2011: 20 complaints 2011 2012: 130 complaints 2012 2013: 62 complaints 2013 2014: 17 complaints 2014

2002: 333 complaints

View as data table
YearComplaints
19951
199626
199723
199820
1999157
2000249
2001149
2002333
2003391
2004551
2005388
2006247
2007124
2008124
200942
201064
201120
2012130
201362
201417

Known problem areas

Percentages can add to more than 100% — a complaint can name more than one system.

Power train

68% · 226 reports

Most commonly citing automatic transmission and manual transmission.

CRASHFIREINJURYDEATH

Air bags

13% · 44 reports

Most commonly citing sensor/control module and frontal.

CRASHINJURY
Show complaint excerpts

The contact owns a 2002 Acura TL. The contact stated that while driving under 10 MPH, the vehicle crashed into the rear of another vehicle. During the crash the front driver’s and front passenger’s side air bags deployed.

NHTSA ODI report, 2026-09-21

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 .

NHTSA ODI report, 2017-11-02

Also filed under Structure

TL* 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.

NHTSA ODI report, 2013-04-01

Also filed under Seat belts

Service brakes

7% · 22 reports

Most commonly citing hydraulic and air.

CRASHINJURY

Vehicle speed control

5% · 15 reports

Most commonly citing linkages and accelerator pedal.

CRASHINJURY
Show complaint excerpts

I put the car into reverse and it surged and accelerated at high speed in reverse and hit(With passenger back fender) the front of a car parked in the opposite…

NHTSA ODI report, 2002-10-09

No summary listed for above vehicle.

NHTSA ODI report, 2002-04-15

Electrical system

4% · 12 reports

Most commonly citing interior/under dash and instrument cluster/panel.

CRASHFIRE

Safety timeline

7 recalls · 5 investigations · oldest first

To check one car, enter its VIN on the NHTSA recall page. Check a VIN →

  1. R
    2001-05-09Seat belts01V166001 Vehicle description: certain passenger vehicles fail to comply with requirements of FMVSS No. 209, "Seat belt assemblies." Certain driver and passenger seat belt buckles were improperly…

    Remedy: Dealers will inspect, and if necessary, replace the front seat belt buckles. Owner notification began May 9, 2001. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service…

    Check if this car was fixed →

  2. R
    2001-05-21Visibility01V161000 Vehicle description: sedans equipped with an "Auto-up" Power window feature on the driver's door. The driver's side power window control unit can fail, and depending on the failure mode, the…

    Remedy: Dealers will replace the power window control unit. Owner notification began May 21, 2001. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive…

    Check if this car was fixed →

  3. R
    2001-08-20Seat belts01V166002 Vehicle description: the following vehicles were repaired with incorrect parts: 2002 Acura 3.2TL sedans with replacement buckles installed per recall 01V-166001; certain 2000 Acura 3.2TL vehicles…

    Remedy: Dealers will inspect, and if necessary, replace the front seat belt buckles. Owner notification began August 20, 2001. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon…

    Check if this car was fixed →

  4. ▮
    2002Complaint volume 333 complaints filed for this model year.
  5. I
    2002-10-28Preliminary evaluationClosed 2003-03-05 Automatic transmission sudden downshift
  6. R
    2004-04-27Power train04V176000 On some mini vans, sport utility and passenger vehicles, certain operating conditions can result in heat build-up between the countershaft and secondary shaft second gears in the automatic…

    Remedy: On vehicles with 15,000 miles or less, the dealer will update the transmission with a simple revision to the oil cooler return line to increase lubrication to the second gear. On vehicles with more…

    Check if this car was fixed →

  7. I
    2009-11-02Recall queryClosed 2010-05-06 Rupturing driver's air bag inflators
  8. I
    2014-06-11Preliminary evaluationClosed 2015-03-02 Air Bag Inflator Rupture
  9. I
    2015-02-24Engineering analysisOpen Air Bag Inflator Rupture
  10. R
    2015-07-01Air bags15V320000 Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain model year 2001-2007 Accord, 2001-2005 Civic, 2001-2004 Honda Civic GX, 2003-2005 Honda Civic Hybrid, 2002-2006 CR-V, 2003-2011 Element, 2002-2004 Odyssey, 2003-2008 Pilot, 2006 Ridgeline, 2003...

    Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began on July 1, 2015. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  11. R
    2019-04-10Air bags19V182000 Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling specific 2003 Acura 3.2CL, 2013-2016 ILX, 2013-2014 ILX Hybrid, 2003-2006 MDX, 2007-2016 RDX, 2002-2003 3.2TL, 2004-2006, and 2009-2014 TL, 2010-2013 ZDX and 2001-2007 and 2009 Honda Accord, 2001-2005...

    Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's air bag inflator with an alternate inflator, free of charge. The recall began April 10, 2019. Honda owners may contact customer service at 1-888-234-2138.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  12. R
    2019-08-12Air bags19V499000 Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2003 Acura 3.2CL, 2002-2003 3.2TL, 2003-2006 MDX, 2001-2007 Honda Accord, 2001-2005 Civic, 2003-2005 Civic Hybrid, 2001-2005 Civic GX NGV, 2002-2006 CR-V, 2003-2011 Element, 2002-2004 Odyssey,...

    Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began August 12, 2019. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are Q5A and Y58.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  13. I
    2021-09-17Engineering analysisOpen Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture

Buy-smart checklist

2002 Acura TL — pre-purchase inspection

Inspect

  • Power train: 226 reports on file for this year.
  • Air bags: 44 reports on file for this year.
  • Service brakes: 22 reports on file for this year.

Verify these recalls were completed

  • Recall 01V166001 · Seat belts
  • Recall 01V161000 · Visibility
  • Recall 01V166002 · Seat belts
  • Recall 04V176000 · Power train
  • Recall 15V320000 · Air bags
  • Recall 19V182000 · Air bags
  • Recall 19V499000 · Air bags
Inspected by ______________ Date ______________

Other years of this model

See all years ranked →

Best years3 years

Worst years3 years

FAQ

Is the 2002 Acura TL reliable?
Based on NHTSA complaint volume compared to this model's typical year, the 2002 Acura TL is rated "significantly worse".
What are the most common problems with the 2002 Acura TL?
The most-reported component is power train, accounting for 68% of complaints on file.
How many recalls does the 2002 Acura TL have?
7 recalls on file for this model year.

Data updated 2026-10-09 · Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA, not independently verified defects. Methodology.