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2008 Acura Tl

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2008 Acura Tl do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 124.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

91 reports with mileage · 33 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 34 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Steering. Review the 26 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Structure. Review the 20 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

4 crash reports7 fire reports2 injury reports

What owners actually said

124 reports
11,000 miles · Apr 17, 2010
Vehicle Speed Control

ACURA TL 2008: ONE INCIDENT, OCCURRED APRIL 8TH, 2008. CAR TOOK OFF FROM A PARKING SPACE, JUST AS I WAS INCHING IT FORWARD WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE. THE BRAKE WOULD NOT STOP THE CAR. IT JUMPED TWO CURBS, I AVOIDED HITTING TWO PARKED CARS. THE CAR STOPPED WITH A PUMP OF THE FOOT BRAKE, ABOUT 90 FEET FROM WHERE IT TOOK OFF. THE S…

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ACURA TL 2008: ONE INCIDENT, OCCURRED APRIL 8TH, 2008. CAR TOOK OFF FROM A PARKING SPACE, JUST AS I WAS INCHING IT FORWARD WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE. THE BRAKE WOULD NOT STOP THE CAR. IT JUMPED TWO CURBS, I AVOIDED HITTING TWO PARKED CARS. THE CAR STOPPED WITH A PUMP OF THE FOOT BRAKE, ABOUT 90 FEET FROM WHERE IT TOOK OFF. THE SPEED WAS ENOUGH TO GO OVER TWO CURBS, BLOWING OUT THE FRONT PASSENGER TIRE, DAMAGING THE RIM, AND DAMAGING THE REAR PASSENGER TIRE. THE IMPACT CAUSED A SLIGHT INDENTATION TO THE ROOF OF THE ACURA, NEXT TO THE SUN ROOF. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10326149

14,500 miles · Feb 19, 2010
Air Bags

I WAS APPROACHING A TRAFFIC LIGHT IN MY ACURA TL 2008 CAR. AS I WAS PRESSING THE BRAKES, MY DRIVER SIDE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THERE WAS NO CAUSE THAT COULD HAVE TRIGGERED THE AIR BAGS TO DEPLOY; MY CAR WAS NOT HIT IN THE SIDE, THERE WAS NO DEBRIS ON THE ROAD, THERE WERE NO POT HOLES IN THE ROAD. THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED FOR NO REASON.…

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I WAS APPROACHING A TRAFFIC LIGHT IN MY ACURA TL 2008 CAR. AS I WAS PRESSING THE BRAKES, MY DRIVER SIDE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THERE WAS NO CAUSE THAT COULD HAVE TRIGGERED THE AIR BAGS TO DEPLOY; MY CAR WAS NOT HIT IN THE SIDE, THERE WAS NO DEBRIS ON THE ROAD, THERE WERE NO POT HOLES IN THE ROAD. THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED FOR NO REASON. I HAVE TAKEN MY CAR TO THE ACURA DEALERSHIP AND UPON INSPECTING IT THEY DECIDED THAT THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED BECAUSE OF A POT HOLE, WHICH IS NOT TRUE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10312038

5,000 miles · Feb 9, 2010
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

MY 2008 ACURA TL TYPE-S, HAS THE SAME BRAKING PROBLEM AS THAT OF TOYOTA PRIUS. IT CAUSES BRIEF BUT FRIGHTENING DELAYS, ESPECIALLY IN SLOW SPEED. THE PROBLEM OCCURS INCONSISTENTLY AT VARIOUS INTERVALS. THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING PROBLEM SINCE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE IN FEBRUARY 2008. I TOOK THE CAR IN TO THE DEALERSHIP TWICE TO …

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MY 2008 ACURA TL TYPE-S, HAS THE SAME BRAKING PROBLEM AS THAT OF TOYOTA PRIUS. IT CAUSES BRIEF BUT FRIGHTENING DELAYS, ESPECIALLY IN SLOW SPEED. THE PROBLEM OCCURS INCONSISTENTLY AT VARIOUS INTERVALS. THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING PROBLEM SINCE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE IN FEBRUARY 2008. I TOOK THE CAR IN TO THE DEALERSHIP TWICE TO FIX THE PROBLEM. THEY ATTEMPTED TO FIX THE PROBLEM BY FINDING CLOUDY FLUID IN MASTER CYLINDER AND FLUSHED THE SYSTEM. IT SEEMED TO WORK FOR A COUPLE OF WEEKS BUT THE PROBLEM RESURFACED. I COMPLAINED TO THE ACURA CLIENT SERVICES OF INCONSISTENT BRAKE FEEL DURING SLOW AND STEADY APPLICATION OF BRAKES. IN APRIL 2009, THEY SENT A DISTRICT MANAGER TO INSPECT THE BRAKE SYSTEM. AFTER THE MANAGER INSPECTED THE FLUID LEVEL AND DROVE MY VEHICLE FOR 7 MILES, HE DID NOT FIND ANY PROBLEM AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE OPERATED NORMALLY. HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM STILL OCCURS AT LEAST 2-3 TIMES A MONTH. UNLIKE PRIUS, THE BRAKING SYSTEM DELAYS THAT I EXPERIENCE OCCUR ON SMOOTH, PAVED ROADS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10308137

21,500 miles · Nov 18, 2009
Latches/locks/linkages

BOTH FRONT DOORS DO NOT REMAIN IN OPENED CONDITION CAUSING DIFFICULTIES IN EGRESSING VEHICLE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10292675

500 miles · Nov 16, 2009
Structure

WE HAVE AN ONGOING COMPLAINT WITH THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE DOOR CLOSING ON ITS OWN EVEN ON A VERY SLIGHT INCLINE. WE HAVE TO PUT OUR FOOT ON THE DOOR TO KEEP IT OPEN WHILE EXITING THE VEHICLE. WE REPORTED THIS TO THE DEALER, BUT AS PER USUAL THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. IT HAS NOT GOTTEN ANY BETTER. THEY SAID EVERYTHIN…

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WE HAVE AN ONGOING COMPLAINT WITH THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE DOOR CLOSING ON ITS OWN EVEN ON A VERY SLIGHT INCLINE. WE HAVE TO PUT OUR FOOT ON THE DOOR TO KEEP IT OPEN WHILE EXITING THE VEHICLE. WE REPORTED THIS TO THE DEALER, BUT AS PER USUAL THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. IT HAS NOT GOTTEN ANY BETTER. THEY SAID EVERYTHING WAS NORMAL. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10292421

Mileage unknown · Oct 27, 2009
Engine And Engine Cooling

REPLACED TIMING BELT, TENSIONER, FAN BELT, AND BACK LEATHER SEAT (BOTTOM PART). *TR

NHTSA ODI #10290008

2,000 miles · Oct 18, 2009
Structure

THE DOORS DO NOT STAY OPEN AND TEND TO CLOSE ON PASSENGERS AS THEY ARE ENTERING OR EXITING THE VEHICLE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10288842

2,015 miles · Oct 18, 2009
Structure

AS A PASSENGER, I OFTEN FIND THE BIG HEAVY DOOR WILL NOT STAY IN THE OPEN POSITION WHILE I AM TRYING TO EXIT FROM THE CAR. THERE ARE SEVERAL "LOCKING" POSITIONS, BUT NONE OF THEM HOLD FIRMLY. THIS IS ESPECIALLY TRUE IF THE CAR IS ON EVEN A SLIGHT INCLINE. I FIND MYSELF KICKING THE DOOR OUT OF THE WAY SO I CAN SAFELY EXIT. TH…

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AS A PASSENGER, I OFTEN FIND THE BIG HEAVY DOOR WILL NOT STAY IN THE OPEN POSITION WHILE I AM TRYING TO EXIT FROM THE CAR. THERE ARE SEVERAL "LOCKING" POSITIONS, BUT NONE OF THEM HOLD FIRMLY. THIS IS ESPECIALLY TRUE IF THE CAR IS ON EVEN A SLIGHT INCLINE. I FIND MYSELF KICKING THE DOOR OUT OF THE WAY SO I CAN SAFELY EXIT. THE CAR IS LEASED, AND I WOULD CONSIDER NOT BUYING IT BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM. NO CRASH, NO INJURY, NO DAMAGE TO OUR CAR OR OTHER CARS. THIS IS AN ANNOYING DESIGN FLAW. THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING PROBLEM SINCE WE GOT THE CAR. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10288822

Mileage unknown · Oct 15, 2009
Structure

2008 ACURA TL - DOORS WILL NOT STAY OPEN WHEN GETTING OUT OF CAR. DOORS CLOSE ON INDIVIDUALS WHEN EXITING THE VEHICLE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10287471

12,300 miles · Feb 11, 2009
Air BagsCrashInjury

HIT ICE ON ROAD AND SLID OFF EMBANKMENT AND HIT ANOTHER CAR. AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10258333

Official recalls

2

12V222000 · Steering:hydraulic Power Assist:hose, Piping, And Connections

May 17, 2012

Honda is recalling certain model year 2007 and 2008 Acura TL and model year 2003-2007 Accord V6 vehicles. In May 2012, Honda filed a defect report to recall certain model year 2007 and 2008 Acura TL vehicles. In September 2012, Honda informed the agency that it was including an additional 573,147 vehicles including certain model year 2003 through 2007 Accord V6 vehicles. The total number of vehicles being recalled is now 625,762. Prolonged under-hood and power steering fluid temperatures may cause the power steering hose to deteriorate prematurely, resulting in cracks and power steering fluid leakage.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: If this occurs, power steering fluid can leak onto a hot catalytic converter, leading to smoke and possibly an under-hood fire.

Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will install a new heat resistant power steering hose, free of charge. The original recall began in June 2012, and owners of those vehicles may obtain the free remedy. Sufficient parts are not yet available for owners of the vehicles covered by the September 2012 expansion, but are expected to be available in early 2013. Honda will notify owners of these vehicles beginning on October 26, 2012, and will notify these owners again when parts are available so those vehicles can be brought to dealers for applications of the free remedy. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-800-999-1009.

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).

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

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.