2008 Acura TL Engine Problems

The contact owns a 2008 Acura TL. The contact stated that while depressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle failed to accelerate, and the vehicle lost automotive power and shifted into LIMP Mode. The vehicle was turned off and restarted and drove as needed. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The message “System too Lean” was displayed on the instrument panel associated with Bank 1 and Bank 2. While starting the vehicle and while the vehicle idling, the RPM was raised above 1,000 RPM, and the message "Idle Position Needs to be Relearned " was displayed. The contact restarted the vehicle and the vehicle operated properly. The vehicle was taken to a certified mechanic, who diagnosed that the throttle pedal position sensor had an incorrect voltage. The contact was unsure of the repairs performed and the DTC were cleared. After the codes were cleared, the failures continued intermittently. The contact became aware of TSBs that permitted a repair under warranty to clear the system; however, the vehicle was no longer covered under warranty. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue and opened a case. The manufacturer referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.

NHTSA ID

11724562

Incident

Mar 16, 2025

While driving car, speed decelerated despite pressing on gas/accelerator pedal. Total ability to control speed on high way ended, as car crawled to a speed of under 5mph, nearly resulting in being hit by vehicles behind me. Immediately called independent mechanic who advised me to cut off ignition and restart the car. Highly dangerous to even attempt on a highway during rush hour traffic, nearly resulting in a multiple car crash. Reproduced several times until mechanic was able to diagnose and correct an issue unknown to me. There was no warning light indicator at all, no messages on car navigation/information panel.

NHTSA ID

11484998

Incident

Sep 5, 2019

I was driving down HWY 101 in Oregon State in the rain. I was accelerating because I had just turned onto the highway, I got up to about 60 mph whe the car started dinging as it does when you open the door with the keys still in the ignition. The VSA light, as well as the engine, oil, abs and battery lights all started flashing on the dash and the car turned off. The steering wheel locked up and I had to throw it in neutral, turning the key back and forth from the off position to the start position to get it to unlock right before I crashed into on coming traffick! There has been nothing wrong with the car other than routine maintenance an absolutely no signs anything is wrong with the car. It has 168436 miles on it and has been religiously maintained. There is a SERIOUS problem with this vehicle for something like this to happen. I've owned hundreds of cars and never experienced anything like this happening, ever!

NHTSA ID

11448063

Incident

Jan 19, 2022

Random slipping/stalling causes not to go in gear.. torque converter could. coolant expansion tank needs replacement hoses and cap causes car not to heat up and operate at regulating temperature. Power steering pump replacement

NHTSA ID

11433039

Incident

Jul 5, 2021

FROM THE DAY AFTER THAT WE TOOK THE CAR FROM THE LOT THE CAR HAD A LIGHT TURN ON TO TIGHTEN FUEL CAP. WE HAVE REPLACED THAT AND THE SOLENOID AND FAILED. THE COOLANT SYSTEM HAS BEEN REPLACED AND IT STILL OVERHEATS. NOW THE CAR IS SUFFERING OF NO START CONDITION. DONT UNDERSTAND WHY SO MUCH TROUBLE HAS BEEN EXPERIENCED AND WE ONLY TOOK IT FROM THE LOT 7 MONTHS AGO. 119,000 MILES. ONLY 91 OCTANE.

NHTSA ID

11124394

Incident

Aug 31, 2018

Mileage

119,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 ACURA TL. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE DRIVER NOTICED A STRANGE ODOR WHILE THE AIR CONDITIONER WAS ACTIVATED. ADDITIONALLY, THE POWER STEERING FAILED AND THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO TURN. ANOTHER DRIVER NOTICED SMOKE UNDER THE HOOD. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE CONTACT SPOKE TO MCGRATH ACURA OF DOWNTOWN CHICAGO WHO OFFERED TO DIAGNOSE THE VEHICLE, BUT THE CONTACT DID NOT BRING IN THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 12V222000 (STEERING). THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000.

NHTSA ID

11003571

Incident

Apr 15, 2017

Mileage

70,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 ACURA TL. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE LOST ALL POWER AND THE CHECK ENGINE AND VSA WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL THREE TIMES TO MOVE THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL POSITION SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, AFTER THE CONTACT LEFT THE DEALER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN BACK TO A DEALER OR DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 124,000.

NHTSA ID

10863897

Incident

May 6, 2016

Mileage

124,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 ACURA TL. WHILE DRIVING AT 2 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED AND THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

NHTSA ID

10735452

Incident

Jul 15, 2015

Mileage

100,000 mi

MY 2008 ACURA TL CONTINUES TO DISPLAY A "TIGHTEN FUEL CAP" WARNING LIGHT. I'VE REPLACED THE FUEL CAP, BUT IT CONTINUES TO DISPLAY THIS LIGHT. IT IS VERY ANNOYING, AND I'VE BEEN READING OTHER COMPLAINTS ONLINE. MY CAR IS NOT THE ONLY ONE WITH THIS PROBLEM. I ALSO HAD TO REPLACE MY FRONT MOTOR MOUNT AND TRANSMISSION. *TR

NHTSA ID

10706178

Incident

Dec 23, 2013

Mileage

144,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 ACURA TL. THE CONTACT STATED UPON START UP HE NOTICE SMOKE AND HEARD A HISSING NOISE UNDERNEATH THE HOOD. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC EXAMINED HIS VEHICLE AND STATED THE POWER STEERING HOSE DETERIORATED PREMATURELY, RESULTING IN THE POWER STEERING FLUID LEAKING ON THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALERTED OF THE FAILURE; HOWEVER, STATED THAT HIS VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 12V222000 (STEERING) OR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 08V091000 (STEERING). THE CONTACT HAD INDEED EXPERIENCED THE FAILURE DESCRIBED IN THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 86,000.

NHTSA ID

10576224

Incident

Apr 1, 2014

Mileage

86,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 ACURA TL. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, WHEN IT IGNITED INTO FLAMES. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE WHICH ORIGINATED UNDERNEATH THE HOOD. THE VEHICLE WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED AND TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000. UPDATED 5/13/14*CN

NHTSA ID

10573930

Incident

Mar 7, 2014

Mileage

120,000 mi

I HAVE A 2008 ACURA TL TYPE-S. THERE IS A SAFETY RECALL FOR THE POWER STEERING HOSE FOR THIS MODEL, HOWEVER THE VIN OF MY CAR IS NOT COVERED. I AM EXPERIENCING THE ISSUE WITH THE POWER STEERING HOSE LEAKING (VERIFIED BY AN ACURA DEALERSHIP). I CALLED ACURA AND THEY SAID THAT EVEN THOUGH I AM EXPERIENCING THE SAME ISSUE AS CARS THAT ARE COVERED UNDER THE RECALL, MY CAR IS NOT COVERED. I KNOW FROM READING REPORTS FROM OTHER TL OWNERS WHO HAVE HAD THE SAME ISSUE, THE HOSE ON MY CAR DOES NOT HAVE THE HOSE WITH THE HEAT-SHIELD THAT IS INSTALLED WHEN THE RECALL WORK IS PERFORMED, THUS MY CAR HAS THE DEFECTIVE HOSE AND SHOULD BE COVERED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10453220

Incident

Mar 12, 2012

Mileage

58,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 ACURA TL. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE INDEPENDENTLY RESTARTED WITHIN SECONDS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE A DIAGNOSTIC WAS PERFORMED BUT THE TEST DID NOT GENERATE ANY FAILURE CODES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND ADVISED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS ON THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THE MAIN CONCERN WAS IF THE VEHICLE STALLED WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS AND POTENTIALLY CAUSING A CRASH. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000. UPDATED 01/31/11/ *BF UPDATED 02/04/11*JB UPDATED 03/03/11 *BF UPDATED 03/07/11*JB

NHTSA ID

10370655

Incident

Nov 15, 2010

Mileage

65,000 mi

REPLACED TIMING BELT, TENSIONER, FAN BELT, AND BACK LEATHER SEAT (BOTTOM PART). *TR

NHTSA ID

10290008

Incident

Oct 2, 2009

MY CAR IS A 2008 ACURA TL WITH 2000 MILES. IT HAD A "MAJOR ENGINE FAILURE" TO QUOTE THE ACURA DEALER. A PISTON ROD BROKE AND DESTROYED THE ENGINE ALONG WITH THE OIL PAN. I WAS TOLD THIS IS EXTREMELY RARE IF EVER THAT IT HAS HAPPENED. I WAS ALSO TOLD THIS INFORMATION WAS PASSED ALONG TO THE HIGHEST LEVELS OF THE ACURA CORPORATION. WHEN THE ENGINE DIED I WAS ON A BUSY ROAD AND HAD TO BE PUSHED INTO A PARKING LOT. THE CAR HAD TO BE TOWED 120 MILES AWAY SINCE I DO NOT LIVE CLOSE TO A DEALER. I HAD TO HAVE SOMEONE DRIVE ME TO THE DEALERSHIP TO PICK UP A LOANER CAR. I ASKED FOR A NEW CAR, INSTEAD I WAS TOLD THAT I WAS ONLY ENTITLED TO AN ENGINE REPLACEMENT. THIS SEEMS OUT OF LINE CONSIDERING THE EXTREME DAMAGE THE CAR SUFFERED. IF I WERE ACURA, I WOULD BE CONCERNED THAT THIS IS EITHER METAL FATIGUE OR HUMAN ERROR IN ASSEMBLY. EITHER, WOULD CERTAINLY CALL INTO QUESTION OTHER CARS THAT WERE PRODUCED ON THAT ASSEMBLY LINE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10234278

Incident

Jun 28, 2008

Mileage

2,000 mi