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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.

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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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

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

Vehicle Speed Control complaints

9 reports
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217,000 miles · Apr 8, 2019
Vehicle Speed ControlCrashInjury

I DROVE MY CAR OUT THE GARAGE INTO THE COMMON ALLEY IN REVERSE, ONCE OUT THE GARAGE. WHEN I WAS OUT OF GARAGE ATTEMPTED TO CLOSE THE GARAGE DOOR WITH THE GENIE , AND THE GARAGE DOOR WOULDN'T CLOSE . I DROVE THE CAR FURTHER AWAY FROM THE GARAGE/BUILDING IN REVERSE TO DETERMINE , WHETHER THE GENIE WOULD OPERATE FROM ANOTHER POSIT…

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I DROVE MY CAR OUT THE GARAGE INTO THE COMMON ALLEY IN REVERSE, ONCE OUT THE GARAGE. WHEN I WAS OUT OF GARAGE ATTEMPTED TO CLOSE THE GARAGE DOOR WITH THE GENIE , AND THE GARAGE DOOR WOULDN'T CLOSE . I DROVE THE CAR FURTHER AWAY FROM THE GARAGE/BUILDING IN REVERSE TO DETERMINE , WHETHER THE GENIE WOULD OPERATE FROM ANOTHER POSITION , NEXT THING I KNEW THE CAR WAS ACCELERATING UNCONTROLLABLY, BETWEEN 20 - 25 MILES PER HOUR IN REVERSE NEXT TO OUR BUILDING'S GARAGES . MY CAR ONLY STOPPED BECAUSE I SLAMMED INTO MY NEIGHBOR'S GARAGE , WHICH WAS 4 DOORS DOWN FROM MY OWN GARAGE . MY ACCELERATOR WAS ESSENTIALLY, FROZEN...A RUNAWAY ACCELERATOR. SIMILIAR INSTANCES WHILE I WAS IN THE DRIVE MODE , BUT JUST FOR QUITE , SHORT, TIMES.

NHTSA ODI #11194834

109,000 miles · Sep 7, 2011
Power TrainVehicle Speed Control

THE TRANSMISSION IN MY CAR IS SLIPPING AT 2ND GEAR, AS A RESULT OF WHICH THE RPM GOES HIGH BUT IT DOESN'T MATCH THE SPEED OF THE ROAD. THE TRANSMISSION AS PER THE RECALL WAS FIXED IN THE YEAR 2004 , BUT THE PROBLEM AROSE AGAIN AND ITS HARD FOR ME TO DRIVE. THE ESTIMATED COST OF THE TRANSMISSION IS 5K AS PER THE DEALER & THE SAME…

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THE TRANSMISSION IN MY CAR IS SLIPPING AT 2ND GEAR, AS A RESULT OF WHICH THE RPM GOES HIGH BUT IT DOESN'T MATCH THE SPEED OF THE ROAD. THE TRANSMISSION AS PER THE RECALL WAS FIXED IN THE YEAR 2004 , BUT THE PROBLEM AROSE AGAIN AND ITS HARD FOR ME TO DRIVE. THE ESTIMATED COST OF THE TRANSMISSION IS 5K AS PER THE DEALER & THE SAME HAS BEEN REPORTED TO THE ACURA CUSTOMER CARE DEPARTMENT BUT I HAVEN'T HEARD ANYTHING FROM THEIR SIDE. I WOULD BE HIGHLY GRATIFIED TO SEE A POSITIVE RESPONSE FROM YOUR SIDE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10424024

20,000 miles · May 16, 2005
Vehicle Speed Control

DT: DRIVING ALONG THE HIGHWAY, CONSUMER WENT TO CHANGE LANES, AND WHEN TAPPING THE BRAKE, THE CAR LURCHED FORWARD, AND PICKED UP ACCELERATION, WITH THE ACCELERATOR NOT BEING TOUCHED. THE ABS SYSTEM WAS NOT WORKING. THE BRAKES REGAINED WORKING CONTROL AFTER ABOUT 30 SECONDS, WHICH CAUSED THE CONSUMER TO FISHTAIL AND TRY NOT TO HA…

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DT: DRIVING ALONG THE HIGHWAY, CONSUMER WENT TO CHANGE LANES, AND WHEN TAPPING THE BRAKE, THE CAR LURCHED FORWARD, AND PICKED UP ACCELERATION, WITH THE ACCELERATOR NOT BEING TOUCHED. THE ABS SYSTEM WAS NOT WORKING. THE BRAKES REGAINED WORKING CONTROL AFTER ABOUT 30 SECONDS, WHICH CAUSED THE CONSUMER TO FISHTAIL AND TRY NOT TO HAVE A HEAD-ON COLLISION. THE CAR TURNED 180 DEGREES AROUND WITH NO BRAKE POWER. CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AT 60 MPH, WHEN THIS HAPPENED.... *TT

NHTSA ODI #10120981

25,011 miles · Feb 16, 2005
Vehicle Speed Control

ACCELERATOR CABLE/WIRE SNAPPED IN HALF WITHOUT WARNING.. THE GAS PEDAL WENT STRAIGHT TO THE FLOOR. LUCKILY, I WAS NOT ON THE FREEWAY DOING 70MPH SINCE THERE WAS ABSOLUTELY NO CONTROL OF MY VEHICLE AFTER THE CABLE BROKE. THE PART WAS REPLACED, HOWEVER, THE CAR ONLY HAD 25,011 MILES ON IT. THE CAR IS ONLY 2001 ACURA WHICH HAS B…

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ACCELERATOR CABLE/WIRE SNAPPED IN HALF WITHOUT WARNING.. THE GAS PEDAL WENT STRAIGHT TO THE FLOOR. LUCKILY, I WAS NOT ON THE FREEWAY DOING 70MPH SINCE THERE WAS ABSOLUTELY NO CONTROL OF MY VEHICLE AFTER THE CABLE BROKE. THE PART WAS REPLACED, HOWEVER, THE CAR ONLY HAD 25,011 MILES ON IT. THE CAR IS ONLY 2001 ACURA WHICH HAS BEEN MAINTAINED WITH SAFETY MAINTENANCE CHECKS EVERY 7,500 MILES. HOWEVER, THERE IS NO CHECK ON THE AUTOMOTIVE CHECK LIST FOR ACCELERATOR CABLE. AS A MATTER OF FACT, THIS IS NOT SUPPOSE TO HAPPEN AT ALL. THE ACURA DEALER DID NOT EVEN CARRY THE PART IN THEIR STOCK. HOW COULD THIS FREAKY BREAKAGE OCCUR? WHY WAS THE ACCELERATOR FAULTY?*AK

NHTSA ODI #10110638

81,500 miles · Feb 8, 2005
Service Brakes, AirVehicle Speed Control

I HAD A TERRIFYING EXPERIENCE WITH SUDDEN ACCELERATION WITH THE CAR HEADING WELL OVER 100 MPH ON THE PA TURNPIKE. NOTHING IN CAR RESPONDED - BRAKES, EMERGENCY BRAKE, GEAR SHIFTING...HAD TO TURN OFF CAR TO STOP IT! ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE WAS CALLED. CAR WAS TOWED THIS MORNING (2 DAYS AFTER SITUATION) AND IS NOW AT DEALERSHIP. THEY…

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I HAD A TERRIFYING EXPERIENCE WITH SUDDEN ACCELERATION WITH THE CAR HEADING WELL OVER 100 MPH ON THE PA TURNPIKE. NOTHING IN CAR RESPONDED - BRAKES, EMERGENCY BRAKE, GEAR SHIFTING...HAD TO TURN OFF CAR TO STOP IT! ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE WAS CALLED. CAR WAS TOWED THIS MORNING (2 DAYS AFTER SITUATION) AND IS NOW AT DEALERSHIP. THEY CHECKED UNDER THE HOOD AND SAID THAT ALL WAS FINE - THE BATTERY COVER LOOKED OUT OF PLACE. I JUST HAD THIS CAR IN LAST WEEK FOR THE TRANSMISSION RECALL. I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE THIS CAR, LET ALONE HAVE MY DAUGHTER DRIVE IT. I HAVE HEARD NOTHING FURTHER TODAY.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10110104

25,000 miles · Jan 24, 2004
Engine And Engine CoolingPower TrainService Brakes, Hydraulic

VARIOUS PROBLEMS WITH THE 2001 ACURA TL. BOUGHT USED AND HAS BEEN IN SHOP 6 OR 7 TIMES IN LESS THAN ONE YEAR. BRAKES, TRANSMISSION REPLACEMENT, MASTER CYLINDER. BRAKES CONTINUE TO SEEMINGLY HAVE A PROBLEM...YOU HAVE TO ALMOST GO TO THE FLOOR TO STOP, BUT DEALERSHIP SAYS THIS IS NORMAL ON THIS TYPE OF VEHICLE. TRUE OR NOT-I D…

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VARIOUS PROBLEMS WITH THE 2001 ACURA TL. BOUGHT USED AND HAS BEEN IN SHOP 6 OR 7 TIMES IN LESS THAN ONE YEAR. BRAKES, TRANSMISSION REPLACEMENT, MASTER CYLINDER. BRAKES CONTINUE TO SEEMINGLY HAVE A PROBLEM...YOU HAVE TO ALMOST GO TO THE FLOOR TO STOP, BUT DEALERSHIP SAYS THIS IS NORMAL ON THIS TYPE OF VEHICLE. TRUE OR NOT-I DON'T KNOW. ALSO, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON, ALSO THE ABS AND TC LIGHTS KEEP COMING ON. ALSO, IT DOES NOT MAKE SENSE THAT MY CAR NOW HAS 50,000 MILES ON IT WHEN I HARDLY GO ANYWHERE. IT SEEMS THE ODOMETER IS VERY INACCURATE. THERE IS NO WAY I HAVE PUT 30,000 MILES ON THIS CAR SINCE APRIL OF 2003. COULD NOT FIND ANY OTHER INFORMATION CONCERNING THE ODOMETER ISSUE, BUT WAS TOLD BY A MECHANIC THAT IT'S POSSIBLE THEIR COULD BE A SPEED SENSOR ISSUE IN THE TRANSMISSION, WHICH WOULD ALSO CAUSE THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TO COME ON. *LA

NHTSA ODI #10054796

Mileage unknown · Aug 7, 2002
Power TrainVehicle Speed Control

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE HESITATES TO SHIFT GEARS.THEN IT WILL JERK INTO GEAR, CAUSING VEHICLE TO LAUNCH FORWARD. ALSO DOES THIS IN REVERSE GEAR. CONTACTED DEALER. HAD TRANSMISSION REPLACED 2 TWICE, PROBLEM REOCCURRED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #8015712

Mileage unknown · Aug 14, 2001
Vehicle Speed ControlCrash

CONSUMER WAS BARELY GOING 2MPH IN A DRIVEWAY ALMOST STOPPED AND VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. CONSUMER WAS PRATICALLY STANDING ON BRAKES, USING THE LEFT FOOT AND TRYING TO STOP THE VEHICLE. BEFORE VEHICLE STOPPED ACCELERATING IT DEMOLISHED A BRICK PUMP HOUSE, A CONCRETE BIRD BATH, AND AND 2 TREES. NO CONTACT HAS BEEN MADE…

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CONSUMER WAS BARELY GOING 2MPH IN A DRIVEWAY ALMOST STOPPED AND VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. CONSUMER WAS PRATICALLY STANDING ON BRAKES, USING THE LEFT FOOT AND TRYING TO STOP THE VEHICLE. BEFORE VEHICLE STOPPED ACCELERATING IT DEMOLISHED A BRICK PUMP HOUSE, A CONCRETE BIRD BATH, AND AND 2 TREES. NO CONTACT HAS BEEN MADE WITH DEALER. VEHICLE HAS OVER $9800 WORTH OF DAMAGES.*AK *SLC

NHTSA ODI #894284

Mileage unknown · Jul 25, 2001
Vehicle Speed Control

WHEN STOPPED WITH FOOT ON BRAKE CAR ACCELERATES. ALSO IF CAR IS IN REVERSE, AND FOOT IS ON BRAKE, CAR ACCELERATES IN REVERSE. THIS BEHAVIOR IS REPRODUCIBLE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #749194

Official recalls

3

20V027000 · 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

1

PE02081 · 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.