Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2001 Acura TL, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Power train103
- Air bags15
- Vehicle speed control9
- Visibility7
- Electrical system5
- Engine and engine cooling5
- Service brakes, hydraulic4
- Tires3
- Seat belts2
- Suspension2
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 5 injuries and 0 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
Fatal crashes in the US
From 2020 to 2023, 12 2001 TL vehicles were involved in crashes on US public roads in which someone died; 7 people died inside them, and 3 of the vehicles rolled over. This is a count, not a crash rate: it grows with the number of cars on the road.
NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), crash years 2020–2023 (public domain)
New York safety inspections
At its first New York inspection the 2001 Acura TL failed the safety check 1.74% of the time — 13% less often than the average 2001 passenger car (2.00%). Median odometer at inspection: 143,007 miles.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections (vezn-fmmk), initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
Recalls in Canada
3 Transport Canada recalls for the 2001 Acura TL.
| 2020015 17 Jan 2020 | Airbag Issue: On certain vehicles, exposure to moisture over time could cause the driver-front airbag not to inflate properly in a crash. In some cases, this could c… |
| 2004143 23 Apr 2004 | Powertrain Certain operating conditions can result in heat build-up between the countershaft and secondary shaft second gears in the automatic transmission, eventually lea… |
| 2001215 22 Aug 2001 | Seats And Restraints On certain 2002 Acura 3.2TL vehicles with replacement buckles installed per recall 1X-3-01 certain 2000 Acura 3.2TL vehicles with replacement buckles installed … |
Transport Canada Vehicle Recalls Database · Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2001-2002 Acura 3.2CL, 2000-2003 Acura 3.5RL, 2000-2001 Acura 3.2TL, Honda CR-V and Honda Odyssey, 2001-2002 Acura MDX and 2000 Accord Coupe, Accord Sedan, Civic Coupe, and Civic Sedan vehicles. These vehicles may have received a replacement driver frontal air bag module as part of a vehicle repair. Due to a manufacturing issue, the replacement NADI inflator may absorb moisture, causing the inflator to rupture or the air bag cushion to underinflate.
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 TRANSMISSION, EVENTUALLY LEADING TO GEAR TOOTH CHIPPING OR GEAR BREAKAGE.
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 WITH REPLACEMENT BUCKLES INSTALLED AS PRODUCT UPDATE REPAIRS; AND CERTAIN 2000-2002 ACURA 3.2TL VEHICLES WITH REPLACEMENT BUCKLES INSTALLED AS WARRANTY OR COLLISION REPAIRS. REPAIRS WERE MADE FROM MARCH 9 THROUGH JULY 27, 2001. SOME OF THE NONCOMPLIANT BUCKLES WERE MISLABELED AND REDISTRIBUTED TO ACURA DEALERS TO BE USED AS RECALL REPAIR PARTS. HONDA ALSO DETERMINED THAT INCORRECT FRONT SEAT BELT BUCKLE REPLACEMENT PARTS WERE USED FOR SOME PRODUCT UPDATE REPAIRS OF 2000 ACURA 3.2TL VEHICLES, AND WARRANTY OR COLLISION REPAIRS OF 2000-2002 3.2TL VEHICLES. THESE SEAT BELT BUCKLES MAY NOT COMPLY WITH REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 209, "SEAT BELT ASSEMBLIES."
Whether a recall was fixed on a particular car is known only to the manufacturer: check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA recalls · summaries in NHTSA's own words
Service bulletins
What Acura told its dealers about the 2001 Acura TL: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 638045 | CONCERNS WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FLUID LEAK AT AXLE SEALS, ROARING NOISE, ERRATIC SHIFTING. *TT |
| 638024 | INFORMATION ON SERVICING ERRATIC SHIFTING, SLIPPING, AND FLARE AT UPSHIFTS. *TT |
| 637938 | INFORMATION ON SERVICING THE ODOMETER, SPORT SHIFT INDICATOR ILLUMINATION INOPERATIVE. *TT |
| 637647 | SUBJECT REGARDING SYNCHRONIZING CUP HOLDER COVERS. *TT |
| 637638 | INFORMATION ON DIAGNOSING SRS DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE 6-7 AND / OR 7-2 INTERNAL FAILURE OF SRS UNIT. *TT |
| 637623 | SUBJECT REGARDING TIMING BELT TENSIONER BOLT TORQUE SPECIFICATION. *TT |
| 637621 | SUBJECT REGARDING PGM TESTER MISFIRE COUNTER. *TT |
| 637406 | SUBJECT REGARDING FAULTY BEVERAGE HOLDER COVERS. *TT |
| 637396 | SERVICE MANUAL FIX REGARDING AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION GEAR RATIOS. *TT |
| 636799 | SUBJECT REGARDING TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS MISSING FOR TIMING BELT TENSIONER. *TT |
| 636764 | INFORMATION ON TROUBLE SHOOTING MULTIPLE MISFIRE DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES P0301 THRU P0306. *TT |
| 633359 | INFORMATION REGARDING SQUEAKS HEARD FROM THE MOONROOF SEAL WHILE DRIVING WITH THE GLASS CLOSED AND THE SUNSHADE OPEN. *TT |
| 633350 | SUBJECT REGARDING SRS INDICATOR ON WITH SRS DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES 15-1, 15-2, AND 15-3. REPLACES 01-013 AS WELL. *TT |
| 631968 | VEHICLES MAY EXPERIENCE SEAT BACK PANEL BECOMING LOOSE OR DETACHED. *SLC |
| 631772 | INFORMATION REGARDING SEAT BACK PANEL REPAIR KIT. *SLC |
| 631035 | SOME 2000 MDX MODELS AS WELL AS OTHER MODELS MAY EXHIBIT BRIEF HESITATION WHEN ACCELERATING AT HIGH ENGINE SPEED. *TT |
| 629322 | INFORMATION ON TROUBLESHOOTING DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES P1705, P1768, P0753, P0758. *TT |
| 627275 | INFORMATION REGARDING NAVIGATION DISPLAY NOT CENTERED. *YH |
| 627072 | INFORMATION REGARDING THE HEATER VALVE CABLE SOMETIMES DISCONNECTS AT THE AIR MIX CONTROL LINKAGE. *YH |
| 626635 | SUBJECT REGARDING CRANKS, WON'T START WITH TYPE II IMMOBILIZER SYSTEM. *YD |
| 626607 | SUBJECT REGARDING SAFETY RESTRAINT SYSTEM DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE 5-1 THROUGH 8-3, INTERNAL SAFETY RESTRAINT SYSTEM UNIT FAILURE. *YD |
| 626590 | SUBJECT REGARDING SPEED SENSOR PLUG MISSING. *YD |
| 626550 | SUBJECT REGARDING WITH NAVIGATION SKYSTEM - REAR WINDOW TINT APPLICATION TIPS. *YD |
| 626537 | PGM TESTER SOFTWARE VERSION SN200P LIMITATIONS AND CAPABILITIES. *YD |
| 626530 | SUBJECT REGARDING SRS LIGHT ON AFTER OPDS CONTROL UNIT REPLACEMENT. *YD |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)
NHTSA investigations
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SUDDEN DOWNSHIFT
NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation