Illustration2001 ACURA 3.2 TL AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WAS SLOW TO SHIFT FROM 2ND TO 3RD GEAR. PROBLEM BECAME PROGRESIVELY WORSE OVER A PERIOD OF A FEW DAYS. TRANSMISSION WAS EVENTUALLY REPLACED BY DEALERSHIP.
2001 Acura Tl
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 2001 Acura Tl do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 124.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Tl years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
50–25K
2325–50K
1150–75K
1375–100K
21100–150K
11150K+
84 reports with mileage · 65 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Power Train. Review the 103 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Air Bags. Review the 15 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 9 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
8 crash reports2 fire reports5 injury reports
Power Train complaints
103 reports2001 ACURA TL TRANSMISSION FAILURE. WITHOUT WARNING, THE CAR DIED WHILE ACCELERATING FROM A STOP (RED-LIGHT). I WAS ALMOST REAR-ENDED BY THE VEHICLE BEHIND ME. MY VEHICLE IS ONLY TWO YEARS OLD WITH 31,000 MILES. AFTER THE INCIDENT, I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE CAR VERY SLOWLY. I WENT STRAIGHT TO ACURA DEALER, WHO STATED THE TRAN…
Read full complaint
2001 ACURA TL TRANSMISSION FAILURE. WITHOUT WARNING, THE CAR DIED WHILE ACCELERATING FROM A STOP (RED-LIGHT). I WAS ALMOST REAR-ENDED BY THE VEHICLE BEHIND ME. MY VEHICLE IS ONLY TWO YEARS OLD WITH 31,000 MILES. AFTER THE INCIDENT, I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE CAR VERY SLOWLY. I WENT STRAIGHT TO ACURA DEALER, WHO STATED THE TRANSMISSION WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. WHILE NO ONE WAS INJURED IN THIS SPECIFIC INCIDENT, THE DEFECTIVE ACURA TRANSMISSIONS HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO CAUSE SERIOUS INJURIES.
ACURA 3.2 TL DELIVERED ON MARCH, 2002. TRANSMISSION FAILED APRIL, 2002. TRANSMISSION FAILED ONCE AGAIN ON FEBURARY 2003.
WHILE TRAVELING AT 35 MPH, CONSUMER STATES" THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY SHUT DOWN." THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO ACURA, AND ACURA IS REPLACING THE TRANSMISSION. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. PH
CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED ON A COLLISION CAUSED BY THE TRANSMISSION. DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT WANTED TO SEE THE CAR TO LOOK AT IT, BUT CONSUMER DID NOT KNOW WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO. PH
AT 26,0000 MILES, 2001 ACURA 3.2TL AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILED. WHILE PASSING A VERY SLOW CAR, TRANSIMISSION SUDDENLY DID NOT ENGAGE AND ENGINE RPMS SOARED WHILE POWER TO WHEELS CEASED. TC AND ENGINE LIGHTS CAME ON. WENT TO DEALER IMMEDIATELY WITHOUT STOPPING AND ADIVISED IT WAS OK TO CONTINUE DRIVING CAREFULLY, ONE WEEK …
Read full complaint
AT 26,0000 MILES, 2001 ACURA 3.2TL AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILED. WHILE PASSING A VERY SLOW CAR, TRANSIMISSION SUDDENLY DID NOT ENGAGE AND ENGINE RPMS SOARED WHILE POWER TO WHEELS CEASED. TC AND ENGINE LIGHTS CAME ON. WENT TO DEALER IMMEDIATELY WITHOUT STOPPING AND ADIVISED IT WAS OK TO CONTINUE DRIVING CAREFULLY, ONE WEEK OUT APPOINTMMENT GIVEN TO ME. AT APPOINTMENT, INFORMED OF AT FAILURE, COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. RETURNED ONE WEEK LATER.
CONSUMER STATED WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, AND WITHOUT WARNING THE VEHICLE WOULD SHIFT GEARS ON ITS OWN.*JB
2001 ACURA TL TRANSMITION FAILS
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION HAS FAILED WITH A WINING SOUND AND NO RESPONSE FROM ACCELERATOR DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP DUE TO THE SYSTEM FAILING. THE MECHANICS GOING TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE TRANSMISSION WITHOUT IDENTIFYING THE ACTUAL CAUSE. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. TS
NO SUMMARY. DT
Official recalls
320V027000 · Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module
Jan 17, 2020
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2001-2002 Acura 3.2CL, 2000-2003 Acura 3.5RL, 2000-2001 Acura 3.2TL, Honda CR-V and Honda Odyssey, 2001-2002 Acura MDX and 2000 Accord Coupe, Accord Sedan, Civic Coupe, and Civic Sedan vehicles. These vehicles may have received a replacement driver frontal air bag module as part of a vehicle repair. Due to a manufacturing issue, the replacement NADI inflator may absorb moisture, causing the inflator to rupture or the air bag cushion to underinflate.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: In the event of a crash necessitating air bag deployment, an inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants. An underinflated air bag cushion may not properly protect the occupant. These scenarios increase the risk of serious injury or death.
Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the air bags in the vehicles, replacing the driver frontal air bag inflator with an inflator of a different design, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began October 1, 2020. Owners may contact American Honda's Customer Support & Campaign Center at 1-888-234-2138.
04V176000 · Power Train:automatic Transmission
Apr 15, 2004
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.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: GEAR FAILURE COULD RESULT IN TRANSMISSION LOCKUP, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.
Remedy: ON VEHICLES WITH 15,000 MILES OR LESS, THE DEALER WILL UPDATE THE TRANSMISSION WITH A SIMPLE REVISION TO THE OIL COOLER RETURN LINE TO INCREASE LUBRICATION TO THE SECOND GEAR. ON VEHICLES WITH MORE THAN 15,000 MILES, THE DEALER WILL INSPECT THE TRANSMISSION TO IDENTIFY GEARS THAT HAVE ALREADY EXPERIENCED DISCOLORATION DUE TO OVERHEATING. IF DISCOLORATION EXISTS, THE TRANSMISSION WILL BE REPLACED IF DISCOLORATION IS NOT PRESENT, THE DEALER WILL PERFORM THE REVISION TO THE OIL COOLER RETURN LINE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 21, 2004, FOR PILOT, ODYSSEY, AND MDX OWNERS. OWNERS OF THE ACCORD VEHICLES WILL START RECEIVING LETTERS ON JUNE 28, 2004, AND ON JUNE 29, 2004, FOR OWNERS OF THE TL AND CL VEHICLES. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT HONDA AT 1-800-999-1009 OR ACURA AT 1-800-382-2238.
01V166002 · Seat Belts:front:buckle Assembly
Aug 14, 2001
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."
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, THE SEAT OCCUPANT MAY NOT BE PROPERLY RESTRAINED.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT, AND IF NECESSARY, REPLACE THE FRONT SEAT BELT BUCKLES. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN AUGUST 20, 2001. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT ACURA AT 1-800-999-1009.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
1PE02081 · Automatic Transmission Sudden Downshift
Opened Oct 28, 2002 · Closed Mar 5, 2003
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Power Train:automatic Transmission
SEE ATTACHED REPORT.