Transmission shifts down very hard, once causing the car to lose traction and skid approximately 10 feet on the highway. The car luckily regained control and I avoided collision. I have seen many other reports of hard shifting in this car.
2006 Acura Tl
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 2006 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
200 reports with mileage · 47 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.
- Air Bags. Review the 85 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Structure. Review the 64 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 31 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Power Train complaints
19 reportsMy transmission failed at 105,000 had to pay 4500 for a new transmission, I’m sure they have had complaints about the Acura TL through 2004-2008. I am currently on my third transmission and now the new one is hard shifting already.
BAD TRANSMISSION! CAR DIDN'T MOVE. *TR
MY TRANSMISSION WENT OUT WITHOUT ANY WARNING WHILE IN MOTION. I WAS DRIVING DOWN INTERSTATE 64 AND THE ENGINE LIGHT TURNED ON, AND THE VEHICLE WENT INTO LIMP-MODE DRASTICALLY DROPPING FROM 55MPH TO 25MPH. THERE WERE MANY VEHICLES BEHIND ME. I WORKED TO PULL OUT OF THE WAY SAFELY. THE CODE ON THE CAR WAS P0741. CROWN ACURA RICH…
Read full complaint
MY TRANSMISSION WENT OUT WITHOUT ANY WARNING WHILE IN MOTION. I WAS DRIVING DOWN INTERSTATE 64 AND THE ENGINE LIGHT TURNED ON, AND THE VEHICLE WENT INTO LIMP-MODE DRASTICALLY DROPPING FROM 55MPH TO 25MPH. THERE WERE MANY VEHICLES BEHIND ME. I WORKED TO PULL OUT OF THE WAY SAFELY. THE CODE ON THE CAR WAS P0741. CROWN ACURA RICHMOND ADVISED ME THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.I HAVE HAD MY VEHICLE SERVICED BY THE DEALER SINCE PURCHASING IT BRAND NEW ON AUGUST 1, 2006. I'VE NOW SPOKEN WITH SEVERAL PEOPLE, INCLUDING A MECHANIC WHO REVIEWED THE CAR TO GIVE ME A SECOND OPINION. HE RECOMMENDED NOT REPLACING THE TRANSMISSION BECAUSE THERE IS A HISTORY OF THE TRANSMISSIONS FAILING WITHOUT WARNING. IT APPEARS THAT THERE IS A KNOWN DEFECT AND ACURA SHOULD HAVE RECALLED THIS MODEL. ALTHOUGH I WAS NOT IN AN ACCIDENT OR HURT, THERE WAS A VERY HIGH POTENTIAL FOR THAT TO HAPPEN IF I HADN'T NAVIGATED QUICKLY.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 ACURA TL. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH IN SECOND GEAR, THE VEHICLE SHOOK VIOLENTLY AND THE STEERING WHEEL VIBRATED AND MADE A WHINING NOISE. IN ADDITION, THE CHECK ENGINE, TRANSMISSION, AND POWER STEERING WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED T…
Read full complaint
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 ACURA TL. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH IN SECOND GEAR, THE VEHICLE SHOOK VIOLENTLY AND THE STEERING WHEEL VIBRATED AND MADE A WHINING NOISE. IN ADDITION, THE CHECK ENGINE, TRANSMISSION, AND POWER STEERING WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION AND RACK AND PINION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 181,000.
THIS MODEL AND YEAR HAS NUMEROUS OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE FRONT DASHBOARD CRACKING AT AN EARLY STAGE. ALSO THE VALVE COVER GASKETS LEAKS PREMATURELY. AND FINALLY THE TRANSMISSION BEGAN SLIPPING OUT OF GEAR WHICH I HAD TO HAVE IT REBUILT. PLEASE ADDRESS THESE ISSUES.
HEADED OUT IN THE AFTERNOON, IT WAS MAY 2016 WEATHER WAS MILD 70 DEGREES. I WAS SITTING AT A STOP LIGHT AFTER TURNING OUT OF MY NEIGHBORHOOD ON A TWO LANE ROAD AND PUT MY FOOT ON THE ACCELERATOR AND THE CAR WOULD NOT MOVE. I HAD A LINE OF CARS BEHIND ME WHO COULDN'T GO AROUND UNTIL THE OTHER SIDE WAS CLEAR. NO LIGHTS CAME ON ON …
Read full complaint
HEADED OUT IN THE AFTERNOON, IT WAS MAY 2016 WEATHER WAS MILD 70 DEGREES. I WAS SITTING AT A STOP LIGHT AFTER TURNING OUT OF MY NEIGHBORHOOD ON A TWO LANE ROAD AND PUT MY FOOT ON THE ACCELERATOR AND THE CAR WOULD NOT MOVE. I HAD A LINE OF CARS BEHIND ME WHO COULDN'T GO AROUND UNTIL THE OTHER SIDE WAS CLEAR. NO LIGHTS CAME ON ON THE DASHBOARD, THE CAR JUST WOULDN'T GO EVEN THOUGH IT WAS IN DRIVE. I TURNED THE CAR OFF AND RESTARTED, IT WENT A FEW FEET AND THEN STOPPED DRIVING AGAIN. I PULLED INTO A NEIGHBORHOOD AND TRIED TO SEE IF THE CAR WOULD DRIVE IN REVERSE AND IT DID. OBVIOUSLY I COULD NOT DRIVE BACK HOME IN REVERSE. I WAITED ABOUT 10 MINUTES (I HADN'T MADE IT FAR FROM HOME), TURNED THE CAR OFF, BACK ON AND DROVE BACK HOME. THE CAR WOULDN'T GO FASTER THAN 10 MILES PER HOUR AND WAS STRUGGLING TO GO INTO GEAR. I HAD IT TOWED TO 3 DIFFERENT SHOPS AND ALL TOLD ME I NEEDED A NEW TRANSMISSION.
MY TRANSMISSION IS STARTING TO FAIL GEARS THE RPM IS GOING UP AND DOWN RAPIDLY.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 ACURA TL. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO RESTART, BUT THE FAILURE RECCURED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO GEAR. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED BACK TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURE…
Read full complaint
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 ACURA TL. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO RESTART, BUT THE FAILURE RECCURED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO GEAR. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED BACK TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 129,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
2006 ACURA TL. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED SHE HAD TO PAY $1280 TO HAVE THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED. THE PROBLEM HAS SINCE RETURNED. *JB
Official recalls
419V182000 · Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module
Mar 6, 2019
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling specific 2003 Acura 3.2CL, 2013-2016 ILX, 2013-2014 ILX Hybrid, 2003-2006 MDX, 2007-2016 RDX, 2002-2003 3.2TL, 2004-2006, and 2009-2014 TL, 2010-2013 ZDX and 2001-2007 and 2009 Honda Accord, 2001-2005 Civic, 2003-2005 Civic Hybrid, 2001-2005 Civic GX NGV, 2002-2007 and 2010-2011 CR-V, 2003-2011 Element, 2007 Fit, 2002-2004 Odyssey, 2003-2008 Pilot, and 2006-2014 Ridgeline vehicles. The affected vehicles received a replacement driver air bag inflator as part of a previous Takata inflator recall remedy or a replacement driver air bag module containing the same inflator type as a service part. Due to a manufacturing error, in the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver frontal air bag, these inflators may explode.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: An explosion of an inflator within the driver frontal air bag module may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver, front seat passenger or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's air bag inflator with an alternate inflator, free of charge. The recall began April 10, 2019. Honda owners may contact customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for this recall is O41. Acura owners may contact customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Acura's number for this recall is U40.
08V091000 · Steering:hydraulic Power Assist:hose, Piping, And Connections
Feb 27, 2008
HONDA IS RECALLING 273,000 MY 2004-2008 ACURA TL VEHICLES. PROLONGED HIGH UNDER-HOOD TEMPERATURES MAY CAUSE THE POWER STEERING HOSE TO DETERIORATE PREMATURELY CAUSING THE HOSE TO CRACK AND LEAK POWER STEERING FLUID.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: POWER STEERING FLUID LEAKING ONTO A HOT CATALYTIC CONVERTER WILL GENERATE SMOKE AND POSSIBLY LEAD TO AN UNDER-HOOD FIRE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW HEAT RESISTANT POWER STEERING HOSE FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 28, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT ACURA AT 800-382-2238. THIS IS AN EXPANSION OF A PREVIOUS RECALL (PLEASE SEE 07V551).
06V270000 · Equipment:other:owners/service/other Manual
Jul 26, 2006
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES AND MOTORCYCLES, THE OWNER'S MANUALS CONTAIN INCORRECT CONTACT INFORMATION FOR THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S (NHTSA) VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THE LANGUAGE IN THE OWNER'S MANUALS IS NOT IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CURRENT MANDATORY REQUIREMENTS.
Remedy: HONDA WILL SEND A POSTCARD TO DEALERS AND OWNERS WITH THE CORRECT NHTSA VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE INFORMATION AND WITH INSTRUCTIONS TO INSERT THE CARD INTO THE "REPORTING SAFETY DEFECTS" SECTION OF THE OWNER'S MANUAL. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 2, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT HONDA AT 1-800-999-1009, ACURA AT 1-800-382-2238 OR HONDA MOTORCYCLES AT 1-866-784-1870.
05V510000 · Air Bags:frontal
Nov 3, 2005
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, ON THE FRONTAL AIRBAG SYSTEM WHERE THE TWO EXTERNAL IMPACT SENSORS IS MOUNTED, NEAR THE FRONT HEADLIGHTS THE FRONT IMPACT SENSOR BOLTS WERE NOT PROPERLY TORQUED.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF THE BOLTS LOOSEN OR FALL OUT, THE SENSOR MAY FAIL TO PROPERLY DETECT A CRASH, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN DELAYED OR NON-DEPLOYMENT OF THE FRONT AIRBAG INCREASING THE RISK OF INJURY.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND REMOVE THE BUMPER AND RETORQUE THE LOOSE BOLTS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 7, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT HONDA AT 1-800-999-1009 AND ACURA AT 1-800-382-2238.
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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.
Illustration