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2009 Acura Tl

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Fewer warning signs than most model years

Owner complaints for the 2009 Acura Tl are lower than the model-year median of 124.

About this comparison →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected 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

25 reports with mileage · 17 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 19 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Structure. Review the 6 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Visibility. Review the 6 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

5 crash reports0 fire reports3 injury reports

What owners actually said

42 reports
Mileage unknown · Aug 4, 2025
Electrical SystemUnknown Or Other

The Acura key has a hinge on it with a release button and a spring where the keys open when the button is pressed and the key locks in place. The locking mechanism on the hinge failed. This means that when enough items are on a keychain on the key the weight will rotate the keys into a lever and pull the car into the off posit…

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The Acura key has a hinge on it with a release button and a spring where the keys open when the button is pressed and the key locks in place. The locking mechanism on the hinge failed. This means that when enough items are on a keychain on the key the weight will rotate the keys into a lever and pull the car into the off position on its own while driving on the road. My car has turned off without warning due to the key hinge lock failure on the highway ant speed and well as on bumpy roads and at stoplights.

NHTSA ODI #11678215

Mileage unknown · Feb 1, 2023
Service Brakes

Intermitten problem with brakes becoming soft/spongy. I have taken my vehicle to Hondaa and a few local shops no one could identify the issue but confirmed brakes rotors were good and no leakes. After searching online I found many people experiencing the same issue which seems to be a known issue Acura is aware of....there see…

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Intermitten problem with brakes becoming soft/spongy. I have taken my vehicle to Hondaa and a few local shops no one could identify the issue but confirmed brakes rotors were good and no leakes. After searching online I found many people experiencing the same issue which seems to be a known issue Acura is aware of....there seems to be a problem with the VSA Modular failing which is leaking air into the brake line and causing spongy brakes. This is sooooo dangerous as it happens out of no where Im driving normal and suddenly it feels like I have no brakes. The spongy brakes cause a lag in stopping and if for some reason I have to suddenly stop I would be unable to...this symptom last sometimes minutes, hours, and days with no reason and then brakes return to normal. Im afraid to drive my vehicle as this is dangerius and a safety issue. Acura should issue a recall as this is putting lives in danger.

NHTSA ODI #11504865

186,000 miles · Aug 27, 2019
EngineFuel/propulsion SystemPower Train

I'VE HAD MY VEHICLE STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD DUE TO A MECHANICAL RECALL THAT WENT UNDIAGNOSED.( OVER OIL CONSUMPTION RECALL, IN WHICH I WAS COMPLETELY UNAWARE UNTIL FINALLY RECEIVING THE LETTER PRODIVIDED) I WAS DRIVING OFF OF PLEASANT STREET IN HANSON MA, CROSSING ONTO THE MAIN ROAD WHEN MY VEHICLE ENGINE JUST SHUT DOWN A…

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I'VE HAD MY VEHICLE STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD DUE TO A MECHANICAL RECALL THAT WENT UNDIAGNOSED.( OVER OIL CONSUMPTION RECALL, IN WHICH I WAS COMPLETELY UNAWARE UNTIL FINALLY RECEIVING THE LETTER PRODIVIDED) I WAS DRIVING OFF OF PLEASANT STREET IN HANSON MA, CROSSING ONTO THE MAIN ROAD WHEN MY VEHICLE ENGINE JUST SHUT DOWN AND FROZE THE STEERING WHEEL. ALSO A POLICE OFFICER WAS ON THE SCENE TO HELP ME SAFELY OFF THE ROAD. I HAVE BEEN CALLING ACURA OF HONDA AND THEY HAVE BEEN RUNNING ME IN CIRCLES WITH NUMEROUS PEOPLE ON THE PHONE AND DENIED THAT THEY ARE WILLING TO COVER THIS PROBLEM, AND THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE. WHICH THE CLAIM SAFETY IS FIRST AND FOR THE CLIENT, BUT THEY HAVE FAILED TO DELIVER ON THEIR OWN WORDS IN THE SAFETY RECALL. THE CAR IS CURRENTLY DOWN IN HOPES THAT THEY SUPPLY A REPAIR SINCE THEY HAVE BEEN MUCH AWARE OF THIS ISSUE, ANY HELP WOULD BE MUCH APPRECIATED. THANK YOU

NHTSA ODI #11251847

831,100 miles · Apr 23, 2019
Power Train

RADUAL ACCELERATION ELICITS THE SYMPTOMS OF SHUDDER AND TACH HUNTING THE TRANSMISSION HESITATES AND SHUDDERS WHEN SHIFTING INTO 2ND AND 3RD GEARS. DRIVING TO WORK 128 MASS HIGHWAY

NHTSA ODI #11203161

120,000 miles · Apr 17, 2019
Service BrakesCrash

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2009 ACURA TL. WHILE DRIVING OUT OF A PARKING LOT, THE VEHICLE DID NOT STOP WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE DROVE OVER A CURB AND CRASHED INTO A TREE. THE AIR BAG DEPLOYED AND THE ENGINE REVVED AND DID NOT STOP UNTIL HELP ARRIVED. THERE WAS NO WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. A …

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2009 ACURA TL. WHILE DRIVING OUT OF A PARKING LOT, THE VEHICLE DID NOT STOP WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE DROVE OVER A CURB AND CRASHED INTO A TREE. THE AIR BAG DEPLOYED AND THE ENGINE REVVED AND DID NOT STOP UNTIL HELP ARRIVED. THERE WAS NO WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS DAMAGED AND TOWED BY AAA. THE VEHICLE WAS DECLARED TOTALED BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT NOTHING COULD BE DONE SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 120,000.

NHTSA ODI #11196963

149,223 miles · Jul 19, 2018
Power Train

VEHICLE OCCASIONALLY HESITATES, VERY HEAVILY, WHEN ACCELERATING UPHILL, LIKE ON FREEWAY ENTRANCE RAMPS. WHEN TRYING TO ACCELERATE ABRUPTLY, OR FROM FIRST OF SECOND GEAR, IT FEELS LIKE THE TRANSMISSION IS DOWN SHIFTING, WHICH COULD BE DANGEROUS IN CERTAIN SITUATIONS OR WHEN USING A FREEWAY ENTRANCE RAMP IN HEAVY TRAFFIC.

NHTSA ODI #11112288

Mileage unknown · Apr 15, 2017
EngineFuel/propulsion SystemPower Train

MY 2009 ACURA TL STALLS FOR NO APPARENT REASON. I CAN BE PULLING OUT FROM A TRAFFIC LIGHT, PULLING OFF AFTER PAUSING AT A STOP SIGN, CHANGING GEARS FROM DRIVE TO REVERSE, OR JUST SIMPLY DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY OR A CITY STREET. MY CAR CAN HAVE A FULL TANK OF GAS OR LESS THAN HALF OF A TANK OF GAS, IT CAN BE COLD OR HOT OUTSIDE,…

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MY 2009 ACURA TL STALLS FOR NO APPARENT REASON. I CAN BE PULLING OUT FROM A TRAFFIC LIGHT, PULLING OFF AFTER PAUSING AT A STOP SIGN, CHANGING GEARS FROM DRIVE TO REVERSE, OR JUST SIMPLY DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY OR A CITY STREET. MY CAR CAN HAVE A FULL TANK OF GAS OR LESS THAN HALF OF A TANK OF GAS, IT CAN BE COLD OR HOT OUTSIDE, IT CAN BE THE FIRST TIME I MOVE MY CAR FOR THE DAY OR THE TENTH TIME, ETC. I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO PINPOINT THE EXACT ISSUE WITH MY VEHICLE. I AM GROWING MORE AND MORE CONCERNED THAT THIS STALLING COULD PLACE ME IN IMMINENT DANGER BUT UNEXPECTEDLY CAUSING AN ACCIDENT IN WHICH MY VEHICLE IS REAR-ENDED. PRAYERFULLY, THIS DOESN'T OCCUR ON THE HIGHWAY (IN WHICH I DRIVE TO WORK DAILY!) IN WHICH SPEEDS COULD EXCEED 80-MPH. I INITIALLY NOTICED THE PROBLEM IN LATE JANUARY/FEBRUARY. I JUST ASSUMED THAT IT WAS IN RELATION TO THE COLD WEATHER. I TOOK MY VEHICLE TO ACURA AT OXMOOR TWICE IN RELATION TO THIS PROBLEM - RESULTING IN ALMOST $700 WORTH OF EXPENSES. THEY COMPLETED A DIAGNOSTICS AND ENDED UP 1. REPLACING THE CRANK POSITION SENSOR; 2. PERFORMING TRANSMISSION SERVICE; AND PERFORMING FUEL INDUCTION SERVICE. THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS AND I AM NOT SURE HOW TO PROCEED. BASED ON MY REVIEW OF ACURA BLOGS ON THE INTERNET, IT SEEMS THAT THE PROBLEM IS EXTREMELY PREVALENT AMONGST OTHER ACURA TL OWNERS AND MIGHT BE RELATED TO THE TORQUE CONVERTER. THE PROBLEM COULD BE RELATED TO ACURA TSB #B16033. MY CAR HAS MORE THAN 120K MILES ON IT. BUT CONSIDERING THE MANUFACTURER, COST, AND CONTINUED PROPER MAINTENANCE (WHICH HAS ONLY BEEN PERFORMED AT ACURA OF OXMOOR), I WOULD EXPECT MY CAR TO LAST AT LEAST 10 YEARS WITHOUT MAJOR TRANSMISSION OR ENGINE PROBLEMS.

NHTSA ODI #10978653

Mileage unknown · Mar 1, 2017
Electrical System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 ACURA TL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED MORE THAN TWICE WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE ALTERNATOR ASSEMBLY WAS REPLACED THREE TIMES AND THE BATTERY HAD BEEN REPLACED MORE THAN FIVE TIMES. THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE CONTACT ALSO TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDEN…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 ACURA TL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED MORE THAN TWICE WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE ALTERNATOR ASSEMBLY WAS REPLACED THREE TIMES AND THE BATTERY HAD BEEN REPLACED MORE THAN FIVE TIMES. THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE CONTACT ALSO TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE ALTERNATOR ASSEMBY AND BATTERY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC REPLACED THE PARTS, BUT THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER FOR FURTHER DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE RADIO NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE VIN AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI #10957814

Mileage unknown · Feb 17, 2017
Air Bags

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 ACURA TL. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V061000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISS…

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TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 ACURA TL. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V061000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI #10955286

50,000 miles · Jan 20, 2017
Air Bags

TAKATA RECALL- WE RECEIVED A PHONE CALL FROM THE FAYETTEVILLE ACURA DEALERSHIP IN MARCH 2016 INFORMING US OF THE RECALL. WE WERE TOLD THE AIRBAGS IN OUR 2009 ACURA TL SHOULD BE REPLACED IN THE EARLY PORTION OF THE SUMMER 2016. IN JULY 2016 WE HAD NOT RECEIVED ANY UPDATED INFO ON THE RECALL/REPLACEMENT OF OUR AIRBAGS. I CONTAC…

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TAKATA RECALL- WE RECEIVED A PHONE CALL FROM THE FAYETTEVILLE ACURA DEALERSHIP IN MARCH 2016 INFORMING US OF THE RECALL. WE WERE TOLD THE AIRBAGS IN OUR 2009 ACURA TL SHOULD BE REPLACED IN THE EARLY PORTION OF THE SUMMER 2016. IN JULY 2016 WE HAD NOT RECEIVED ANY UPDATED INFO ON THE RECALL/REPLACEMENT OF OUR AIRBAGS. I CONTACTED FAYETTEVILLE ACURA AND THEY INFORMED US THE PARTS WERE TAKING LONGER TO COME INTO THE DEALERSHIP FOR REPLACEMENT. IN OCTOBER 2016 WE STILL HAD NOT BEEN CONTACTED TO HAVE OUR AIRBAG REPLACED. AS OF JANUARY 20, 2017, WE STILL HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANY WORD FROM THE DEALERSHIP ON WHEN OUR AIRBAG WOULD BE REPLACED.

NHTSA ODI #10946740

Official recalls

3

19V500000 · Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module

Jun 27, 2019

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2013 Acura ILX, 2015 RDX, 2005-2010 and 2012 RL, 2009-2014 TL, 2010 and 2012 ZDX, 2007-2011 CR-V, 2011-2013 and 2015 CR-Z, 2009-2013 Fit, 2013 Fit EV, 2010-2011 and 2013 Insight and 2007-2014 Ridgeline vehicles. These vehicles are equipped with driver frontal air bag inflators assembled as a recall remedy part or replacement service part, that may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began August 12, 2019. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are S5B and W59.

19V182000 · 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.

16V061000 · Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module

Feb 3, 2016

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain model year 2007-2011 Honda CR-V, 2011-2015 CR-Z, 2010-2014 FCX, and Insight, 2009-2013 Fit, 2013-2014 Fit EV, 2007-2014 Ridgeline, 2013-2016 Acura ILX, 2013-2014 Acura ILX Hybrid, 2007-2016 RDX, 2005-2012 Acura RL, 2009-2014 Acura TL, and 2010-2013 Acura ZDX vehicles. The affected vehicles are equipped with a dual-stage driver frontal air bag that may be susceptible to moisture intrusion which, over time, could cause the inflator to rupture.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the inflator, free of charge. The recall began March 2017. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are JY0, JY1, and JY2.

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.