2002 Acura TL

■ Significantly worse — known issue year

2002 Acura TL
BUILT 2026-08-02

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 PER YEAR

2002: 332 complaints

View as data table

Year	Complaints
1995	1
1996	26
1997	23
1998	20
1999	157
2000	249
2001	149
2002	332
2003	391
2004	551
2005	386
2006	246
2007	124
2008	124
2009	42
2010	64
2011	20
2012	130
2013	61
2014	17

KNOWN PROBLEM AREAS

POWER TRAIN 52%

52% of complaints: power train — 173 distinct reports on file.

CRASH INJURY DEATH

POWER TRAIN 11%

11% of complaints: power train — 37 distinct reports on file.

CRASH FIRE INJURY

AIR BAGS 9%

9% of complaints: air bags — 31 distinct reports on file.

CRASH INJURY

Show complaint excerpts

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, 20171102

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, 20130401

TL* 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.

NHTSA ODI report, 20120402

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 4%

4% of complaints: vehicle speed control — 13 distinct reports on file.

CRASH INJURY

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 AISLE

NHTSA ODI report, 20021009

I PUT THE CAR INTO REVERSE AND IT SURGED & ACCELERATED AT HIGH SPEED IN REVERSE AND HIT(WITH PASSENGER BACK FENDER) THE FRONT OF THE PARKED CAR IN THE OPPOSITE AISLE

NHTSA ODI report, 20020826

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ODI report, 20020415

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 3%

3% of complaints: electrical system — 10 distinct reports on file.

CRASH FIRE

SAFETY TIMELINE

R 20010509 — seat belts

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 MANUFACTURED

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 DA

Campaign 01V166001 — check if this car was fixed

R 20010521 — visibility

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 WINDOW

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 T

Campaign 01V161000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20010820 — seat belts

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 WI

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 SERVIC

Campaign 01V166002 — check if this car was fixed

▮ 2002 — complaint volume: 332

I 20021028 — PE (closed 20030305)

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SUDDEN DOWNSHIFT

R 20040427 — power train

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 TRANSMISSIO

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 T

Campaign 04V176000 — check if this car was fixed

I 20091102 — RQ (closed 20100506)

RUPTURING DRIVER'S AIR BAG INFLATORS

I 20140611 — PE (closed 20150302)

Air Bag Inflator Rupture

I 20150224 — EA (open)

Air Bag Inflator Rupture

R 20150701 — air bags

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.

Campaign 15V320000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20190410 — air bags

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.

Campaign 19V182000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20190812 — air bags

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.

Campaign 19V499000 — check if this car was fixed

I 20210917 — EA (open)

Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture