2003 Acura TL

■ Significantly worse — known issue year

2003 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

2003: 391 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 45%

45% of complaints: power train — 175 distinct reports on file.

CRASH FIRE INJURY

Show complaint excerpts

WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SLIPPED WITHOUT TOUCHING GEAR SHIFT. VEHICLE SPINNED OUT, HITTING A WALL ON FREEWAY.*AK

NHTSA ODI report, 20020916

WHILE IN D5 WAITING TO LET HEAD-ON TRAFFIC GO, COULD NOT COMPLETE LEFT TURN DUE TO SUDDENLY DISENGAGED TRANSMISSION, AS IF IN NEUTRAL. *AK

NHTSA ODI report, 20020802

TRANSMISSION LOCKED UP AT 55 MPH CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SKID.*AK

NHTSA ODI report, 20020719

POWER TRAIN 18%

18% of complaints: power train — 69 distinct reports on file.

CRASH INJURY

Show complaint excerpts

Driving on Highway going 65mph vehicle suddenly jerked and dropped to 20 mph. Causing my entire body to collide with the steering wheel. Luckily there no cars behind me. Was on my way to work when this happened too far from home.

NHTSA ODI report, 20240120

AIR BAGS 10%

10% of complaints: air bags — 41 distinct reports on file.

CRASH INJURY DEATH

Show complaint excerpts

I WAS APPLYING THE BRAKE DUE TO STOPPED TRAFFIC AHEAD OF MY CAR. AS I DID SO, THE CAR ACCELERATED RATHER THAN SLOWED DOWN. MY CAR CONTACTED THE LEFT REAR OF THE CAR IN FRONT OF MINE, AND AS I TRIED TO STRAIGHTEN OUT THE CAR, IT AGAIN ACCELERATED.

NHTSA ODI report, 20121210

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2003 ACURA TL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH ON A WET SURFACE, SHE LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND WAS INVOLVED IN A ROLLOVER CRASH. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED.

NHTSA ODI report, 20120626

TAKATA RECALL PASSENGER AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT STAYS ON

NHTSA ODI report, 20171202

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 4%

4% of complaints: vehicle speed control — 14 distinct reports on file.

CRASH

Show complaint excerpts

CAR WAS IN PARK, WENT TO REMOVE KEYS. CAR ACCELERATED AT HIGH SPEED SLAMMING INTO WALL. *NLM

NHTSA ODI report, 20030422

SUSPENSION 3%

3% of complaints: suspension — 12 distinct reports on file.

CRASH INJURY

Show complaint excerpts

MOTOR FRAMES OR ENGINE CRADLE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE IS BADLY RUSTED, AND IT ABOUT TO FALL APART. I HAVE BEEN LOOKING FOR REPLACEMENT PART, AND EVERYONE OF THEM THAT THAT I HAVE FOUND HAS THE SAME PROBLEM.

NHTSA ODI report, 20181025

SAFETY TIMELINE

R 20020830 — engine and engine cooling

ON CERTAIN MINIVANS, SEDANS, COUPES, AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH V6 ENGINES, A TIMING BELT TENSIONER PULLEY ON THE WATER PUMP IS MISALIGNED AND COULD CAUSE THE TIMING BELT TO CONTACT A BO

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE WATER PUMP AND IF IT IS ONE OF THE DEFECTIVE PUMPS, THE WATER PUMP AND TIMING BELT WILL BE REPLACED. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN AUGUST 30, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICL

Campaign 02V226000 — check if this car was fixed

I 20021028 — PE (closed 20030305)

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SUDDEN DOWNSHIFT

▮ 2003 — complaint volume: 391

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 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