AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
2009 Acura TL
Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data
Data refreshed
Overview
Our database contains 42 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2009 Acura TL, most frequently naming the airbags, body & structure and visibility categories. 3 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; and 89 manufacturer communications are on file.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Complaint activity over time
When owners filed reports about this model year
View as table
| Month | Complaints filed | Cumulative |
|---|---|---|
| Jul 2009 | 1 | 1 |
| Mar 2010 | 2 | 3 |
| Apr 2010 | 2 | 5 |
| Aug 2010 | 1 | 6 |
| Dec 2010 | 1 | 7 |
| Jun 2013 | 1 | 8 |
| Jul 2013 | 1 | 9 |
| Apr 2014 | 1 | 10 |
| Sep 2014 | 2 | 12 |
| Feb 2015 | 1 | 13 |
| Mar 2015 | 1 | 14 |
| Sep 2015 | 1 | 15 |
| Oct 2015 | 1 | 16 |
| Mar 2016 | 2 | 18 |
| Apr 2016 | 3 | 21 |
| May 2016 | 2 | 23 |
| Jun 2016 | 2 | 25 |
| Jul 2016 | 2 | 27 |
| Sep 2016 | 1 | 28 |
| Oct 2016 | 2 | 30 |
| Nov 2016 | 1 | 31 |
| Dec 2016 | 1 | 32 |
| Jan 2017 | 1 | 33 |
| Feb 2017 | 1 | 34 |
| Mar 2017 | 1 | 35 |
| Apr 2017 | 1 | 36 |
| Jul 2018 | 1 | 37 |
| Apr 2019 | 2 | 39 |
| Aug 2019 | 1 | 40 |
| Feb 2023 | 1 | 41 |
| Aug 2025 | 1 | 42 |
What owners report
Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded
- Airbags1938.8%
- Body & structure612.2%
- Visibility612.2%
- Powertrain (other)510.2%
- Electrical36.1%
- Steering24.1%
- Brakes24.1%
- Engine24.1%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Safety recalls
3 campaigns cover this model year
Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.
Check a VIN on NHTSA.govAIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
Recent owner complaints
Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words
The Acura key has a hinge on it with a release button and a spring where the keys open when the button is pressed and the key locks in place. The locking mechanism on the hinge failed. This means that when enough items are on a keychain on the key the weight will rotate the keys into a lever and pull the car into the off position on its own while driving on the road. My car has turned off without warning due to the key hinge lock failure on the highway ant speed and well as on bumpy roads and at stoplights.
- NHTSA ID
- 11678215
- Incident
- Jun 13, 2025
Intermitten problem with brakes becoming soft/spongy. I have taken my vehicle to Hondaa and a few local shops no one could identify the issue but confirmed brakes rotors were good and no leakes. After searching online I found many people experiencing the same issue which seems to be a known issue Acura is aware of....there seems to be a problem with the VSA Modular failing which is leaking air into the brake line and causing spongy brakes. This is sooooo dangerous as it happens out of no where Im driving normal and suddenly it feels like I have no brakes. The spongy brakes cause a lag in stopping and if for some reason I have to suddenly stop I would be unable to...this symptom last sometimes minutes, hours, and days with no reason and then brakes return to normal. Im afraid to drive my vehicle as this is dangerius and a safety issue. Acura should issue a recall as this is putting lives in danger.
- NHTSA ID
- 11504865
- Incident
- Feb 1, 2021
I'VE HAD MY VEHICLE STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD DUE TO A MECHANICAL RECALL THAT WENT UNDIAGNOSED.( OVER OIL CONSUMPTION RECALL, IN WHICH I WAS COMPLETELY UNAWARE UNTIL FINALLY RECEIVING THE LETTER PRODIVIDED) I WAS DRIVING OFF OF PLEASANT STREET IN HANSON MA, CROSSING ONTO THE MAIN ROAD WHEN MY VEHICLE ENGINE JUST SHUT DOWN AND FROZE THE STEERING WHEEL. ALSO A POLICE OFFICER WAS ON THE SCENE TO HELP ME SAFELY OFF THE ROAD. I HAVE BEEN CALLING ACURA OF HONDA AND THEY HAVE BEEN RUNNING ME IN CIRCLES WITH NUMEROUS PEOPLE ON THE PHONE AND DENIED THAT THEY ARE WILLING TO COVER THIS PROBLEM, AND THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE. WHICH THE CLAIM SAFETY IS FIRST AND FOR THE CLIENT, BUT THEY HAVE FAILED TO DELIVER ON THEIR OWN WORDS IN THE SAFETY RECALL. THE CAR IS CURRENTLY DOWN IN HOPES THAT THEY SUPPLY A REPAIR SINCE THEY HAVE BEEN MUCH AWARE OF THIS ISSUE, ANY HELP WOULD BE MUCH APPRECIATED. THANK YOU
- NHTSA ID
- 11251847
- Incident
- Mar 1, 2019
- Mileage
- 186,000 mi
RADUAL ACCELERATION ELICITS THE SYMPTOMS OF SHUDDER AND TACH HUNTING THE TRANSMISSION HESITATES AND SHUDDERS WHEN SHIFTING INTO 2ND AND 3RD GEARS. DRIVING TO WORK 128 MASS HIGHWAY
- NHTSA ID
- 11203161
- Incident
- Feb 20, 2019
- Mileage
- 831,100 mi
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2009 ACURA TL. WHILE DRIVING OUT OF A PARKING LOT, THE VEHICLE DID NOT STOP WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE DROVE OVER A CURB AND CRASHED INTO A TREE. THE AIR BAG DEPLOYED AND THE ENGINE REVVED AND DID NOT STOP UNTIL HELP ARRIVED. THERE WAS NO WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS DAMAGED AND TOWED BY AAA. THE VEHICLE WAS DECLARED TOTALED BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT NOTHING COULD BE DONE SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 120,000.
- NHTSA ID
- 11196963
- Incident
- Apr 12, 2019
- Mileage
- 120,000 mi
VEHICLE OCCASIONALLY HESITATES, VERY HEAVILY, WHEN ACCELERATING UPHILL, LIKE ON FREEWAY ENTRANCE RAMPS. WHEN TRYING TO ACCELERATE ABRUPTLY, OR FROM FIRST OF SECOND GEAR, IT FEELS LIKE THE TRANSMISSION IS DOWN SHIFTING, WHICH COULD BE DANGEROUS IN CERTAIN SITUATIONS OR WHEN USING A FREEWAY ENTRANCE RAMP IN HEAVY TRAFFIC.
- NHTSA ID
- 11112288
- Incident
- Jul 11, 2018
- Mileage
- 149,223 mi
MY 2009 ACURA TL STALLS FOR NO APPARENT REASON. I CAN BE PULLING OUT FROM A TRAFFIC LIGHT, PULLING OFF AFTER PAUSING AT A STOP SIGN, CHANGING GEARS FROM DRIVE TO REVERSE, OR JUST SIMPLY DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY OR A CITY STREET. MY CAR CAN HAVE A FULL TANK OF GAS OR LESS THAN HALF OF A TANK OF GAS, IT CAN BE COLD OR HOT OUTSIDE, IT CAN BE THE FIRST TIME I MOVE MY CAR FOR THE DAY OR THE TENTH TIME, ETC. I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO PINPOINT THE EXACT ISSUE WITH MY VEHICLE. I AM GROWING MORE AND MORE CONCERNED THAT THIS STALLING COULD PLACE ME IN IMMINENT DANGER BUT UNEXPECTEDLY CAUSING AN ACCIDENT IN WHICH MY VEHICLE IS REAR-ENDED. PRAYERFULLY, THIS DOESN'T OCCUR ON THE HIGHWAY (IN WHICH I DRIVE TO WORK DAILY!) IN WHICH SPEEDS COULD EXCEED 80-MPH. I INITIALLY NOTICED THE PROBLEM IN LATE JANUARY/FEBRUARY. I JUST ASSUMED THAT IT WAS IN RELATION TO THE COLD WEATHER. I TOOK MY VEHICLE TO ACURA AT OXMOOR TWICE IN RELATION TO THIS PROBLEM - RESULTING IN ALMOST $700 WORTH OF EXPENSES. THEY COMPLETED A DIAGNOSTICS AND ENDED UP 1. REPLACING THE CRANK POSITION SENSOR; 2. PERFORMING TRANSMISSION SERVICE; AND PERFORMING FUEL INDUCTION SERVICE. THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS AND I AM NOT SURE HOW TO PROCEED. BASED ON MY REVIEW OF ACURA BLOGS ON THE INTERNET, IT SEEMS THAT THE PROBLEM IS EXTREMELY PREVALENT AMONGST OTHER ACURA TL OWNERS AND MIGHT BE RELATED TO THE TORQUE CONVERTER. THE PROBLEM COULD BE RELATED TO ACURA TSB #B16033. MY CAR HAS MORE THAN 120K MILES ON IT. BUT CONSIDERING THE MANUFACTURER, COST, AND CONTINUED PROPER MAINTENANCE (WHICH HAS ONLY BEEN PERFORMED AT ACURA OF OXMOOR), I WOULD EXPECT MY CAR TO LAST AT LEAST 10 YEARS WITHOUT MAJOR TRANSMISSION OR ENGINE PROBLEMS.
- NHTSA ID
- 10978653
- Incident
- Jan 23, 2017
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 ACURA TL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED MORE THAN TWICE WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE ALTERNATOR ASSEMBLY WAS REPLACED THREE TIMES AND THE BATTERY HAD BEEN REPLACED MORE THAN FIVE TIMES. THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE CONTACT ALSO TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE ALTERNATOR ASSEMBY AND BATTERY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC REPLACED THE PARTS, BUT THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER FOR FURTHER DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE RADIO NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE VIN AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE NOT AVAILABLE.
- NHTSA ID
- 10957814
- Incident
- Feb 1, 2011
Manufacturer communications
A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.
AIR BAGS
Service Bulletin - Warranty Extension: Customer Support Program For Driver's Airbag Inflator for 2013-14 ILX Hybrid and Other Listed Years and Models.
AIR BAGS; AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
Service bulletin - This bulletin is a notification of a class action settlement relating to airbag inflators. American Honda is offering a Customer Support Program (Warranty Extension) to cover any manufacturing defects in the replacement driver's airbag inflator only.
AIR BAGS; AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE; EQUIPMENT
Service Bulletin - This bulletin is a notification of a class action settlement relating to airbag inflators. American Honda is offering a Customer Support Program (Warranty Extension) to cover any manufacturing defects in the replacement driver's airbag inflator only.
SERVICE BRAKES
Dealer Message - American Honda Motor Co., Inc. (AHM) is searching for certain 2009-2014 TLs, TSXs & TSX Wagons with a client complaint of the brake pedal feeling soft or spongy when depressed, almost reaching the floor. To better understand the cause of this condition, AHM would like to collect specific parts from the vehicle prior to you attempting a repair of any kind.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
Dealer Message - American Honda Motor Co., Inc. (AHM) is searching for certain 2009-2014 TLs, TSXs & TSX Wagons with a client complaint of the brake pedal feeling soft or spongy when depressed, almost reaching the floor. To better understand the cause of this condition, AHM would like to collect specific parts from the vehicle prior to you attempting a repair of any kind.
WHEELS
ServiceNews Article - Do you have a slow tire leak, but there are no signs of sidewall damage or anything stuck in the tread? While you're checking for leaks, check the valve stem; it could have oxidation buildup from road salt. This buildup can cause a poor seal, resulting in a slow leak.
Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.
Compare model years
Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model
| Year | Complaints | Recalls | Investigations | Issue Index |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 17 | 3 | 1 | 51.1 |
| 2013 | 62 | 3 | 1 | 50.7 |
| 2012 | 130 | 3 | 1 | 50.4 |
| 2011 | 20 | 3 | 0 | 52.9 |
| 2010 | 64 | 3 | 0 | 48.8 |
| 2009Viewing | 42 | 3 | 0 | 52.1 |
| 2008 | 124 | 4 | 0 | 51.7 |
| 2007 | 124 | 4 | 0 | 49.5 |
| 2006 | 247 | 6 | 0 | 49.7 |
| 2005 | 387 | 7 | 1 | 53.9 |
| 2004 | 551 | 6 | 1 | 52.7 |
| 2003 | 391 | 5 | 4 | 59.7 |
| 2002 | 332 | 7 | 5 | 63.3 |
| 2001 | 149 | 3 | 1 | 56.1 |
| 2000 | 249 | 6 | 2 | 59.7 |
| 1999 | 157 | 4 | 1 | 58.6 |
| 1998 | 20 | 2 | 0 | 51.0 |
| 1997 | 23 | 2 | 0 | 56.0 |
| 1996 | 26 | 2 | 0 | 48.4 |
| 1995 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — |
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.