2012 Acura TL Owner Complaints

The vehicle has a faulty Hands free link module which runs the battery down when the vehicle is not in use. Acura has been aware of this problem since 2005. The government of this sorry ass country has done nothing about this issue except sit on their hands and accept payoffs from Acura. Acura dealers refuse to call back when this issue is mentioned. This results in money being paid for unnecessary repairs for batteries, alternators, and testing Just think if you were a handicap person who had to rely on your vehicle for medical services on a weekly basis and every time you went to your vehicle it would not start because of this issue that has been unresolved by Acura since 2005.What a national disgrace.

NHTSA ID

11719596

Incident

Oct 9, 2023

Airbag light came on and remained

NHTSA ID

11694672

Incident

Oct 21, 2025

Driving down the highway with my sun shade open but the actual sunroof closed and all of a sudden I just hear a loud pop and glass is all over my head and thighs. The sunroof shattered leaving me with glasses everywhere. No rock was in the sunroof when I was vacuuming the remaining parts of glass.

NHTSA ID

11671903

Incident

Jul 7, 2025

They changed the originality milleage of the car and sold it too expensive

NHTSA ID

11666017

Incident

Mar 25, 2025

Immobilizer unit (recognizes/reads chip in key fob) failure led to the car shutting off the fuel pump leading to the car shutting down. The car could not be started again leaving the driver stranded by the side of the road. Vehicle had to be towed to an Acura dealer since the electronic immobilizer unit cannot be replaced/programmed by non Acura dealers. Car has been sitting at Acura since the end of December 2024 waiting on parts.

NHTSA ID

11644200

Incident

Dec 13, 2024

Driving on the freeway on a particularly warm day in California with the sunroof tilted up. Heard a explosion and glass fell on top of me and my family. We pulled over to see what had happened because we didn't see any objects flying at us. Upon inspection of the vehicle we noticed that the sunroof had imploded. The glass didn't shatter all the way it looked as if something had been thrown from inside up and out of the sunroof window. A hole was blown out of it. I believe the panoramic shape of the window causes there to be a weak point in the center. Given that weak point and the weather that day it was hot outside and the sunroof was tilted upright the wind coming into the car from the sunroof and probably exiting as well may have caused a reaction between the hot weather and the cool air and imploded the window from inside the car out.

NHTSA ID

11636990

Incident

Jul 5, 2022

On 4/28/2023 per Balcones Heights Police officer Ford and Officer [XXX] there is an issue with the license plate light. The light has been replaced twice, to avoid traffic stops. Police continue to cite the issue of No License plate light. There are not any warning lights on the dash board only cited by law enforcement. On 12/19/2020 Officer [XXX] with Guadelupe Sheriffs Officer issued a warning. The warning cited No License Plate Light. I took photos of the license plate light and took had the vehicle inspected by the Acura dealership. INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

NHTSA ID

11520345

Incident

Apr 28, 2023

In an auto collision where a car rear end the vehicle from an idle position into an 18-foot box truck in front which was also idle. The vehicle smashed in the front and back which it was deemed a total loss and the airbag did not deploy. This caused the driver to have several injuries including a head concussion. When contacted the dealer service department where recall maintenance had been performed, I was instructed to contact the airbag manufacturer. The vehicle inspected by insurance adjuster (GEICO). There were no warning lamps or messages prior to the failure of the airbag deploy.

NHTSA ID

11477341

Incident

Jul 25, 2022

unknown, i cant keep a mobil phone connected to the car bluetooth and tpms system always seems to show light as well as all the other senors. lots of parts have been tampered with

NHTSA ID

11465142

Incident

Dec 1, 2021

Check airbag sensor keeps coming on intermittently.

NHTSA ID

11453690

Incident

Feb 23, 2022

While driving in heavy traffic and making a right turn,the power steering screen began to blink and immediately the power steering locked up. I had to manually turn the wheel and was able to over to the side and stop. After several minutes, the wheel finally unlocked and I pulled into a parking lot where it occurred again. I turned the key on and the unlocked wheel began to work again After making it home, I checked the drivers manual and found nothing. I checked complaints and found 95 instances but no recalls. It was very frightening for this situation and dangerous. This happened on July 14,2021.

NHTSA ID

11425488

Incident

Jul 14, 2021

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 ACURA TL. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING AT 60 MPH WHEN SHE HEARD AN EXPLOSION AND PULLED OVER ON THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SUNROOF GLASS HAD EXPLODED. THE CONTACT INFORMED THE MANUFACTURER OF THE FAILURE AND WAS INFORMED TO CONTACT HER INSURANCE COMPANY SO THEY CAN PAY FOR THE SUNROOF REPLACEMENT. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS NO WARRANTY COVERAGE ON THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WAS REFERRED TO THE DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSIS TO VERIFY WHETHER THE FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY A FOREIGN OBJECT OR NOT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 112,000.

NHTSA ID

11399907

Incident

Mar 9, 2021

Mileage

112,000 mi

THERE IS SOME JERKINESS WHEN CAR SWITCHES GEARS. READ IT COULD BE THE TORQUE CONVERTER OR BE FIXED WITH A SOFTWARE UPDATE. I HAD THE SOFTWARE UPDATE ALREADY.

NHTSA ID

11375613

Incident

Nov 12, 2020

Mileage

74,660 mi

HAS JUMMPY GEAR SHIFTING WHEN GEAR MOVES FROM 1ST TO 2ND AND 2ND TO 3RD. IT FEELS LIKE GEAR SLIPS WHILE CHANGE GEAR.

NHTSA ID

11349979

Incident

Aug 17, 2020

Mileage

5,800 mi

I BOUGHT MY CAR FROM THE DEALERSHIP ABOUT APRIL OF 2019 WITH 59920 MILES AND THE RECALL WAS NOT FIXED NOW THEY ASKED ME TO DO A TEST TO BRING THE CAR BACK AND FOURTH ONLY TO RUN UP THE MILES AND TIME FRAME TO NOT FIX THE PROBLEMS THAT HAS OCCURRED FROM THE RECALL NOT BEING FIXED THERE WAS ALSO A LAWSUIT DOCUMENT SEND TO ME HOME STATING THEY WOULD FIX THE RECALL FOR FREE AND AT THIS POINT MY CAR COULD BRING DOWN ANY DAY I AM A FEDERAL EMPLOYEE OF THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE IMMEDIATELY THEY ARE SELLING PEOPLE DEFECTED CAR / LEMONS WITH OUT CONSEQUENCE AND NOT FIXING THE RECALL BEFORE THEY ARE BOUGHT. *TR

NHTSA ID

11325229

Incident

Apr 12, 2019

Mileage

59,000 mi

CAR HAS BEEN EXCESSIVELY USING OIL SINCE I BOUGHT IT. HAVE IT DOCUMENTED BY THE DEALER WHEN TAKING IT FOR OIL CHANGES ABOUT THE OIL CONSUMPTION. CAMPAIGN IS RELEASED FOR OIL CONSUMPTION AND I AM TOLD DON'T QUALIFY B/C NOW I SUPPOSED HAVE THREE OIL LEAKS. I HAVE NEVER SAW OIL IN MY DRIVEWAY. CALLED ACURA CLIENT SERVICES, USELESS. DIDN'T HELP ME AT ALL. FEEL THEY JUST RELEASED IT TO SHOW THEY ARE DOING SOMETHING WHEN, THEY AREN'T HELPING THE OWNERS. NOW ENGINE HAS A TICK TO IT AT 120,000 AND I AM TOLD MY REAR CAM SHAFT AND ROCKER ARMS ARE DETERIORATING. I CAN'T BELIEVE THIS. THIS CAR HAS BEEN NOTHING BUT A NIGHTMARE. IT WAS ONE THING AFTER ANOTHER. MY REPAIR FILE IS INTO TWO FILE FOLDERS. I PAID FOR RELIABILITY AND THAT IS NOT WHAT I GOT. VERY DISAPPOINTED - THIS WAS A HORRIBLE ENGINE DESIGN, NO WONDER THEY STOP PRODUCING IT. *TR

NHTSA ID

11323783

Incident

May 7, 2020

Mileage

126,000 mi

CHECK AIR BAG SYSTEM MESSAGE ON AND OFF RANDOMLY WHILE DRIVING.

NHTSA ID

11316486

Incident

Mar 5, 2020

Mileage

700,000 mi

THE TACHOMETER WILL HUNT UP AND DOWN A FEW HUNDRED RPM UNDER LIGHT ACCELERATION. THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SEEMS TO SHIFT HARSHLY AND ALSO SHIFTS UP AND DOWN DURING ACCELERATION AT TIMES

NHTSA ID

11282576

Incident

Nov 25, 2019

Mileage

65,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE DOWN THE ROAD VEHICLE SHUT OFF UN-COMMANDED. CAR CAME TO STOP WHILE IN TRAFFIC. PLACED CAR IN PARK AND RE-STARTED. DROVE APPROXIMATELY 10 MILES AND CAR SHUT OFF AGAIN WHILE DRIVING. CAR CAME TO A STOP IN TRAFFIC PLACED CAR IN PARK AND RE-STARTED. DROVE CAR APPROXIMATELY 6 MILES HOME AND PARKED IT.

NHTSA ID

11258628

Incident

Sep 27, 2019

Mileage

100,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 ACURA TL. WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE, A KNOCKING NOISE WAS HEARD COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. ALSO, THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURES WAS NOT DETERMINED. ACURA FIRST (16 HIGHLAND AVE, RT 6 SEEKONK, MA) WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 123,000.

NHTSA ID

11257463

Incident

Sep 1, 2019

Mileage

123,000 mi

DRIVING ON INTERSTATE FOR 8 MIN AT 70 MPH ON A 70 DEGREE MORNING WHEN I LOST POWER TO THE ENGINE. LUCKILY, I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER TO THE SHOULDER. MY CERTIFIED MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THE ENGINE LOST ALL COMPRESSION. THE CAR HAS 98,000 MI. I CALLED ACURA CLIENT SERVICES AND THEY STATED IT HAD TO BE DIAGNOSED BY ACURA DEALER. THE DEALER STATED IT WAS A BLOWN ENGINE AND THEY HAVE NO IDEA HOW IT HAPPENED. I CALLED ACURA AGAIN AND THEY STATED THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. I STATED SOMETHING UNUSUAL HAS HAPPENED AND IT SHOULD BE RESEARCHED TO UNDERSTAND WHY. ENGINES SHOULDN'T JUST FAIL. ACURA STATED THE VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY AND THE CUSTOMER WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THE DIAGNOSIS BEFORE THEY WOULD REVIEW THE CLAIM. I PAID THE DEALER TO TEST. THE DEALER FILLED THE SYSTEM WITH FLUIDS AND SET THE VEHICLE OUTSIDE. HE CHECKED FOR LEAKS EVERY FEW HOURS. I TOLD HIM IT WAS A SLOW LEAK AND HE HAD TO MONITOR IT CLOSELY. THE DEALER STATED HE COULDN'T FIND ANY ISSUE. I CALLED ACURA AND TOLD THEM THE TEST WAS NOT CONDUCTED PROPERLY. ACURA STATED THE DEALER CAN'T FIND THE ISSUE AND NO MORE INVESTIGATION CAN BE DONE. I ASKED ACURA WHY THEY ARE NOT HAVING THEIR FIELD TEAM REVIEW THIS INCIDENT. ACURA STATES IT'S A CUSTOMER ISSUE NOT AN ACURA ISSUE. WITHOUT CONDUCTING THE PROPER TESTING & DIAGNOSIS THAT CONCLUSION CANNOT BE MADE. ACURA REFUSES TO AUTHORIZE THE DEALER TO INVESTIGATE THE DEFECT PROPERLY. ACURA REFUSES TO HAVE THEIR FIELD TECHNICIANS, WARRANTY GROUP, AND SUPPLIER REVIEW THE DEFECT, ASKS THE CUSTOMER TO PAY TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. ACURA'S POLICY TO NOT REVIEW MAJOR FIELD ISSUES WITH THEIR VEHICLES OUTSIDE OF WARRANTY IS A DANGEROUS POSITION ESPECIALLY WHEN IT IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE WITH A BLOWN ENGINE. ACURA'S CORPORATE STRATEGY TO SUPPRESS AN INVESTIGATION UNTIL A MAJOR INCIDENT HAPPENS CREATES A POTENTIAL RISKY PRODUCT LIABILITY WITH ALL THEIR CUSTOMERS.

NHTSA ID

11256672

Incident

Jul 11, 2019

Mileage

98,000 mi

THE VEHICLE'S ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING SYSTEM FAILS AND THE CAR IS NEAR TO IMPOSSIBLE TO STEER WHEN DRIVING DUE TO THE SYSTEM FAILING. DIFFICULT RESISTANCE IS EXPERIENCED IN MOTION ON CITY STREETS, HIGHWAYS AND BEING STATIONARY.

NHTSA ID

11246385

Incident

Aug 23, 2019

Mileage

135,000 mi

MY RED AIRBAG LIGHT & MY CHECK AIRBAG SYSTEM LIGHTS COMES ON AND OFF WHILE STATIONARY. WHEN IT COMES ON IT STAYS ON FROM ONE DESTINATION TO THE NEXT. WHEN I RETURN BACK TO THE CAR TO START IT AGAIN ITS NOT ON, BUT IF I WAIT A WHILE TO GO TO ANOTHER DESTINATION THE CHECK AIRBAG SYSTEM LIGHT COMES BACK ON AGAIN.

NHTSA ID

11241158

Incident

Aug 1, 2019

I HAVE RECIEVED RECALL ON TORQUE CONVERTER .SO I TOOK IN FOR SERVICE BUT ALL THEY(ACURA SERVICE)DID WAS FLUSH TRANSMISSION .MY CAR RUNNING HORIBLE IT HAD NO POWER HAD NO ACCELERATION IT JUDDER BETWEEN 35-45MPH NOISE ON BUMPY ROAD NOT SAFE IF YOU TRY TO PASS OTHER.I HAVE TAKEN IN FOR SERVICE 5 TIMES TWO DIFFERRENT DRALERSHIP90

NHTSA ID

11221816

Incident

Jun 15, 2016

ENGINE OIL CONSUMPTION WHEN THERE ARE NO LEAKS DETECTED UNDERNEATH. THIS PAST WEEK MY ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, THIS IS THE THIRD TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED. I ADDED 2 QUARTS OF OIL WHEN I AM ONLY 50% THROUGH THE USE UNTIL MY NEXT OIL CHANGE.

NHTSA ID

11221655

Incident

Jun 17, 2019

Mileage

83,000 mi