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U.S. public vehicle records

1999 Acura TL problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

150 owner complaints analyzed

4 distinct recall campaigns

112,000 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 1999 model year. Data snapshot: . 83 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 34 of 150 complaints (22.7%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Transmission and shifting3221.3%
Engine operation3120.7%
Braking behavior1812.0%
Electrical and battery issues1510.0%
Steering behavior149.3%

Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.

Component breakdown

Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.

Electrical System
34
Power Train:Automatic Transmission
25
Electrical System:Ignition:Switch
17
Air Bags
11
Vehicle Speed Control
9
Electrical System:Ignition
8
Power Train
8
Unknown Or Other
7
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Electrical System34
Power Train:Automatic Transmission25
Electrical System:Ignition:Switch17
Air Bags11
Vehicle Speed Control9
Electrical System:Ignition8
Power Train8
Unknown Or Other7

Electrical System: 34; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 25; Electrical System:Ignition:Switch: 17; Air Bags: 11; Vehicle Speed Control: 9; Electrical System:Ignition: 8; Power Train: 8; Unknown Or Other: 7

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000
0
25,000 to 49,999
2
50,000 to 74,999
17
75,000 to 99,999
10
100,000 to 149,999
32
150,000 and above
22
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,0000
25,000 to 49,9992
50,000 to 74,99917
75,000 to 99,99910
100,000 to 149,99932
150,000 and above22

Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 2; 50,000 to 74,999: 17; 75,000 to 99,999: 10; 100,000 to 149,999: 32; 150,000 and above: 22

100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (32). 67 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.

Complaints over time

Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.

2000
12
2001
5
2002
15
2003
10
2004
8
2005
5
2006
3
2007
8
2008
6
2009
18
2010
9
2011
10
2012
5
2013
3
2014
9
2015
6
2016
3
2017
2
2018
1
2019
1
2020
8
2022
3
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
200012
20015
200215
200310
20048
20055
20063
20078
20086
200918
20109
201110
20125
20133
20149
20156
20163
20172
20181
20191
20208
20223

2000: 12; 2001: 5; 2002: 15; 2003: 10; 2004: 8; 2005: 5; 2006: 3; 2007: 8; 2008: 6; 2009: 18; 2010: 9; 2011: 10; 2012: 5; 2013: 3; 2014: 9; 2015: 6; 2016: 3; 2017: 2; 2018: 1; 2019: 1; 2020: 8; 2022: 3

Pattern summary

Electrical System leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 32 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 31 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 18 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.

Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.

Complaint evidence

Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.

Owner report 10005200 · 2003-02-03 (February 3, 2003)

TRANSMISSION FAILURE SLIPPING, REVING UP SEVERAL TIMES, BARELY MADE IT TO AUTO SHOP IN VEHICLE

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10005200 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10010458 · 2003-03-14 (March 14, 2003)

INTERNAL TRANSMISSION FAILURE AT 51,000 MILES ON MY 1999 3.2 TL ACURA. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 51,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10010458 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10011264 · 2003-03-10 (March 10, 2003)

THE VEHICLE STALLED, WHICH RESULTED IN A BROKE ENGINE BOLT AND FRAGMENTS JAMMED THE CAMS, WHICH CAUSED THE TIMING BELT TO STOP WORKING.*JB

Owner-reported narrative. 60,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10011264 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10089158 · 2004-08-17 (August 17, 2004)

COMPLAINT REGARDING RECALL 02V120.*MR THE VEHICLE STALLED WHILE DRIVING. THE CONSUMER ASSUMED HE HAD BAD GAS THEREFORE HE TREATED THE GASOLINE FOR THE NEXT SEVERAL WEEKS BUT WITH NO RESULTS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS RECALLED FOR A FAULTY IGNITION. *NM.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10089158 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10045863 · 2003-11-10 (November 10, 2003)

1999 ACURA TL ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN WHILE EXECUTING A TURN INTO A PARKING SPOT. MY FOOT WAS NOT ON THE ACCELERATOR AND IT TOOK HARD BRAKING TO BRING THE CAR TO A HARD STOP. THE CAR SUSTAINED BUMPER SCRATCHES BUT WAS OTHERWISE UNDAMAGED. THE CAR PARKED IN FRONT OF ME, A LARGE SUV HAD NO DENTS OR OTHER DAMAGE. NO POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. I AM TAKING THE CAR INTO THE DEALER FOR CHECKING TOMORROW. THIS HAPPENED ONCE BEFORE, ALSO WHILE TURNING INTO A PARKING SPOT. I DID NOT REPORT IT AT THAT TIME, THINKING I MUST HAVE BEEN DISTRACTED SOMEHOW…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10045863 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10093932 · 2004-10-11 (October 11, 2004)

WHILE STOPPED, WITH FOOT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL, I WAS WAITING FOR MY GARAGE DOOR TO OPEN. THE GARAGE DOOR STARTED TO OPEN AND IT WAS ABOUT HALF WAY UP WHEN MY CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. THINKING I WOULD HIT THE GARAGE DOOR AND HAVE MY HEAD TORN OFF I DUCKED TOWARDS THE PASSENGER SEAT AS BEST I COULD. THE CAR DID HIT THE GARAGE DOOR A GLANCING BLOW OFF THE WINDSHIELD AND THE ROOF. THE CAR CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE UNTIL IT HIT THE REAR WALL OF THE GARAGE. THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED AND THE CAR HALTED. SEVERE DAMAGE TO THE CAR, MOST LIKELY TO BE TOTALED. S…

Owner-reported narrative. 50,150 miles reported. Look up ODI 10093932 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10196065 · 2007-07-11 (July 11, 2007)

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 ACURA 3.2TL. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL GAUGES STOPPED OPERATING AND SMOKE APPEARED FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER UNTIL THE SMOKE STOPPED. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED FOR NHTSA RECALL # 03V423000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH) AT 80,000 MILES. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 132,000.

Owner-reported narrative. 132,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10196065 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10198192 · 2007-08-01 (August 1, 2007)

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 ACURA 3.2 TL. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS THE VEHICLE WOULD SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING. THERE WAS ALSO A LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND BRAKES. THE VEHICLE WOULD RESTART AFTER TRYING FIVE TIMES. THERE WAS NHTSA RECALL #02V120000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: IGNITION: SWITCH). THE DEALER STATED THAT THE RECALL WAS ALREADY REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 134,000.

Owner-reported narrative. 120,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10198192 at NHTSA ↗