Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2002 Acura TL, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Power train224
- Air bags42
- Vehicle speed control15
- Service brakes, hydraulic13
- Electrical system12
- Visibility9
- Structure8
- Tires8
- Equipment8
- Engine and engine cooling7
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 17 injuries and 1 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
Fatal crashes in the US
From 2020 to 2023, 31 2002 TL vehicles were involved in crashes on US public roads in which someone died; 25 people died inside them, and 5 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 2002 Acura TL failed the safety check 1.98% of the time — 1% less often than the average 2002 passenger car (2.00%). Median odometer at inspection: 150,457 miles.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections (vezn-fmmk), initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
Recalls in Canada
11 Transport Canada recalls for the 2002 Acura TL.
| 2019323 28 Jun 2019 | Airbag Issue: On certain vehicles, long-term exposure to high absolute humidity and temperature, combined with high temperature cycling, may eventually degrade the p… |
| 2019117 7 Mar 2019 | Airbag Issue: On certain vehicles, there could be a problem with the driver-front airbag inflator. This could cause the airbag to deploy with more force than normal.… |
| 2015225 27 May 2015 | Airbag On certain vehicles, the driver frontal airbag inflator could produce excessive internal pressure during airbag deployment. Increased pressure may cause the inf… |
| 2014567 15 Dec 2014 | Airbag Honda Canada is conducting a voluntary Safety Improvement Campaign concerning the driver's airbag inflator on certain vehicles equipped with Takata airbags. Hon… |
| 2011419 5 Dec 2011 | Airbag On certain vehicles, the driver's airbag inflator could produce excessive internal pressure. If an affected airbag deploys, the increased internal pressure may… |
| 2010042 11 Feb 2010 | Airbag On certain vehicles, the driver's airbag inflator could produce excessive internal pressure. If an affected airbag deploys, the increased internal pressure may… |
| 2008414 18 Nov 2008 | Airbag On certain vehicles, the driver's airbag inflator could produce excessive internal pressure. If an affected airbag deploys, the increased internal pressure may… |
| 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 … |
| 2001199 25 Jul 2001 | Seats And Restraints Certain passenger vehicles fail to comply with requirements o f C.M.V.S.S. No. 209, "Seat Belt Assemblies." Certain driver and passenger seat belt buckles were … |
| 2001127 2 May 2001 | Electrical On certain vehicles, the power window automatic operation may be compromised due to moisture contamination. This may cause the auto reverse function to become d… |
Transport Canada Vehicle Recalls Database · Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls
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, 2003-2008 Pilot and 2006 Ridgeline vehicles. These vehicles are equipped with driver frontal air bag inflators assembled as a recall remedy part or replacement service part, that may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.
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 Civic, 2003-2005 Civic Hybrid, 2001-2005 Civic GX NGV, 2002-2007 and 2010-2011 CR-V, 2003-2011 Element, 2007 Fit, 2002-2004 Odyssey, 2003-2008 Pilot, and 2006-2014 Ridgeline vehicles. The affected vehicles received a replacement driver air bag inflator as part of a previous Takata inflator recall remedy or a replacement driver air bag module containing the same inflator type as a service part. Due to a manufacturing error, in the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver frontal air bag, these inflators may explode.
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 Acura 3.2CL, 2003-2006 Acura MDX, and 2002-2003 Acura 3.2TL vehicles. The affected vehicles are equipped with a dual-stage driver frontal air bag that may be susceptible to moisture intrusion and other factors, including manufacturing variability that, over time, could cause the inflator to rupture.
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."
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.
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 COULD BECOME INOPERATIVE, OPEN OR CLOSE INDEPENDENT OF SWITCH ACTIVATION, OR THE AUTO-REVERSE SYSTEM MAY NOT OPERATE.
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 2002 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 |
| 637642 | INFORMATION ON SERVICING INOPERATIVE CONSOLE LID. *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 |
| 637402 | INFORMATION ON DIAGNOSING CONSOLE LIDS THAT WON'T LATCH OR POPS OPEN. *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 |
| 633373 | INFORMATION ON REPORTING WINDSHIELD CRACKS THAT WERE CAUSED BY IMPACT WITH A FOREIGN OBJECT. *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 |
| 629056 | SUBJECT REGARDING HEATER VALVE CABLE DISCONNECTS AT THE AIR MIX CONTROL LINKAGE. *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 |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)
NHTSA investigations
Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture
Air Bag Inflator Rupture
Air Bag Inflator Rupture
RUPTURING DRIVER'S AIR BAG INFLATORS
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SUDDEN DOWNSHIFT
NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation