RoadVitals

2011 Acura TL Problems

Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
20
Latest Oct 20, 2023
Components namedHow many of our component categories appear on at least one report for this model year. One report can name several.
8
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
3

What this page shows

Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2011 Acura TL, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Reports by component

Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category

  • Airbags1359.1%
  • Engine313.6%
  • Fuel system14.5%
  • Interior & seats14.5%
  • Powertrain (other)14.5%
  • Steering14.5%
  • Visibility14.5%
  • Brakes14.5%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Each component in detail

What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words

Airbags

Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights.

13
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

I purchased a 2011 Acura TL with a salvaged title. The steering wheel airbag appeared to have been repaired with certain glue or epoxy after appearing to have been deployed by previous owner. However the airbag is fully intact. The Acura dealership refused to conduct the recall due to this issue. Would this warrant a refusal to be replaced by the dealership? Thank you

NHTSA ID 11551094 · filed Oct 20, 2023

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 ACURA TL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAGS WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V182000 (AIR BAGS). THE CONTACT WAS UNCERTAIN IF THE REPAIR WAS COMPLETED BECAUSE AFTER THE REPAIR THE VEHICLE WAS RETAINED AND MONTHS LATER ANOTHER NOTIFICATION WAS SENT FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V061000 (AIR BAGS). THE DEALER WALKER ACURA (8951 VETERANS MEMORIAL BLVD, METAIRIE, LA, 70003, (504) 464-4004) SERVICED BOTH RECALL CAMPAIGNS. THE DEALER HAD NOT TOLD THE CONTACT ABOUT THE AIR BAG LIGHT BEING ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID 11206807 · filed May 10, 2019
All 13 reports naming airbags

Engine

Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.

3
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

THE CAR IS BURNING OIL AT AN ACCELERATED RATE WHICH CAUSES A WARNING WHEN THE OIL LIFE IS AROUND 40 TO 50% THAT THE ENGINE HAS LOW OIL LEVEL.

NHTSA ID 11398834 · filed Mar 3, 2021

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 ACURA TL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER PARKING THE VEHICLE, THERE WAS SMOKE COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED OUT AND DISPERSED THE SMOKE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE LOCAL DEALER BRADSHAW ACURA (2450 LAURENS RD, GREENVILLE, SC 29607, (864) 297-4529) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED WITH NEEDING AN UNKNOWN BOX ASSEMBLY, EPS, APS UNIT, AND SUB-HARNESS TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 105,000.*DT

NHTSA ID 11390723 · filed Jan 29, 2021

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Fuel system

Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

WHILE TRYING MAE A QU VERSIN SUSCITADOS EN HABLARAN

NHTSA ID 11349634 · filed Aug 16, 2020

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Interior & seats

Reports naming seats, latches, locks, linkages and interior fittings.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

WHILE TRYING MAE A QU VERSIN SUSCITADOS EN HABLARAN

NHTSA ID 11349634 · filed Aug 16, 2020

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Powertrain (other)

Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

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

NHTSA ID 11349121 · filed Aug 13, 2020

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Steering

Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

I WAS DRIVING MY VEHICLE ON THE HIGHWAY TO WORK AND MY ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING WENT OUT I ALMOST HIT A TRACTOR TRAILER AND IT CAUSED ME TO HAVE A PANIC ATTACK BECAUSE IT ALL HAPPENED SO FAST I DID NOT KNOW WHAT TO DO BESIDES SLAM ON THE BRAKES. THIS ISSUE COULD OF POTENTIALLY CAUSED MY DEATH OR OTHER PEOPLES DEATH OR INJURY , THIS COULD OF ENDED OUT BAD. CAN YOU PLEASE CONTACT ME ASAP REGARDING THIS ISSUE. AND THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ON THE ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING SYSTEM BECAUSE ANY ACURA OWNERS WITH HIGH MILES ON THE VEHICLES COULD END UP HAVING THIS SAME ISSUE AND COULD END UP BEING A LAW SUIT.

NHTSA ID 11031802 · filed Oct 4, 2017

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Visibility

Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

Driving my 2011 Acura TL on I95 South in NC from VA to SC at about 2p on 12/2/22, It is a clear sunny day. It is 62 degrees out, there were no vehicles around and no debris flying or dropping and no overpasses or anything around. Heard a loud explosion. Sounded like a shovel with a ton of rocks being dropped on the roof. Opened the slider for moonroof (which is a original manufactured item) and realized the sound was the moonroof glass. The glass was shattered and huge amount missing. Glass rained down into the car all over everything including me. No evidence of any source of cause for this happening. Just glass shards. Appears to have just combusted on its own? Prior to this event the moonroof was operable and in good working order with no cracks or anything. Setup a service appointment for tomorrow 12/3/22 at 3p at McDaniel's Acura dealership in Charleston, SC

NHTSA ID 11495812 · filed Dec 2, 2022

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Brakes

Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

WHILE TRYING MAE A QU VERSIN SUSCITADOS EN HABLARAN

NHTSA ID 11349634 · filed Aug 16, 2020

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

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.

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .