2001 Acura TL: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
149 owner complaints analyzed
3 distinct recall campaigns
81,937 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2001 model year. Data snapshot: . 84 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Power Train:Automatic Transmission is the most frequently named component, appearing in 87 of 149 complaints (58.4%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 92 | 61.7% |
| Braking behavior | 13 | 8.7% |
| Engine operation | 4 | 2.7% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 3 | 2.0% |
| Steering behavior | 2 | 1.3% |
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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 87 |
| Air Bags | 15 |
| Power Train | 14 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 7 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 4 |
| Electrical System | 3 |
| Tires | 3 |
| Power Train:Manual Transmission | 2 |
Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 87; Air Bags: 15; Power Train: 14; Vehicle Speed Control: 7; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 4; Electrical System: 3; Tires: 3; Power Train:Manual Transmission: 2
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 5 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 23 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 11 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 13 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 21 |
| 150,000 and above | 11 |
Under 25,000: 5; 25,000 to 49,999: 23; 50,000 to 74,999: 11; 75,000 to 99,999: 13; 100,000 to 149,999: 21; 150,000 and above: 11
25,000 to 49,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (23). 65 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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 1 |
| 2001 | 6 |
| 2002 | 27 |
| 2003 | 20 |
| 2004 | 14 |
| 2005 | 15 |
| 2006 | 5 |
| 2007 | 7 |
| 2008 | 5 |
| 2009 | 5 |
| 2010 | 8 |
| 2011 | 9 |
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2013 | 7 |
| 2015 | 2 |
| 2016 | 3 |
| 2017 | 1 |
| 2019 | 3 |
| 2020 | 8 |
| 2021 | 1 |
| 2026 | 1 |
2000: 1; 2001: 6; 2002: 27; 2003: 20; 2004: 14; 2005: 15; 2006: 5; 2007: 7; 2008: 5; 2009: 5; 2010: 8; 2011: 9; 2012: 1; 2013: 7; 2015: 2; 2016: 3; 2017: 1; 2019: 3; 2020: 8; 2021: 1; 2026: 1
Pattern summary
Power Train:Automatic Transmission leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 92 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 13 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 4 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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10000333 · 2002-12-11 (December 11, 2002)
2001 ACURA TL TRANSMITION FAILS
Owner-reported narrative. 28,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10000333 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10000973 · 2003-01-12 (January 12, 2003)
AT 26,0000 MILES, 2001 ACURA 3.2TL AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILED. WHILE PASSING A VERY SLOW CAR, TRANSIMISSION SUDDENLY DID NOT ENGAGE AND ENGINE RPMS SOARED WHILE POWER TO WHEELS CEASED. TC AND ENGINE LIGHTS CAME ON. WENT TO DEALER IMMEDIATELY WITHOUT STOPPING AND ADIVISED IT WAS OK TO CONTINUE DRIVING CAREFULLY, ONE WEEK OUT APPOINTMMENT GIVEN TO ME. AT APPOINTMENT, INFORMED OF AT FAILURE, COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. RETURNED ONE WEEK LATER.
Owner-reported narrative. 27,186 miles reported. Look up ODI 10000973 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10002499 · 2003-01-10 (January 10, 2003)
CONSUMER STATED WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, AND WITHOUT WARNING THE VEHICLE WOULD SHIFT GEARS ON ITS OWN.*JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10002499 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10004252 · 2003-01-21 (January 21, 2003)
CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED ON A COLLISION CAUSED BY THE TRANSMISSION. DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT WANTED TO SEE THE CAR TO LOOK AT IT, BUT CONSUMER DID NOT KNOW WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO. PH
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10004252 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10004315 · 2003-01-21 (January 21, 2003)
WHILE TRAVELING AT 35 MPH, CONSUMER STATES" THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY SHUT DOWN." THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO ACURA, AND ACURA IS REPLACING THE TRANSMISSION. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. PH
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10004315 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10005166 · 2003-02-03 (February 3, 2003)
ACURA 3.2 TL DELIVERED ON MARCH, 2002. TRANSMISSION FAILED APRIL, 2002. TRANSMISSION FAILED ONCE AGAIN ON FEBURARY 2003.
Owner-reported narrative. 59,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10005166 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10007529 · 2003-02-15 (February 15, 2003)
2001 ACURA TL TRANSMISSION FAILURE. WITHOUT WARNING, THE CAR DIED WHILE ACCELERATING FROM A STOP (RED-LIGHT). I WAS ALMOST REAR-ENDED BY THE VEHICLE BEHIND ME. MY VEHICLE IS ONLY TWO YEARS OLD WITH 31,000 MILES. AFTER THE INCIDENT, I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE CAR VERY SLOWLY. I WENT STRAIGHT TO ACURA DEALER, WHO STATED THE TRANSMISSION WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. WHILE NO ONE WAS INJURED IN THIS SPECIFIC INCIDENT, THE DEFECTIVE ACURA TRANSMISSIONS HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO CAUSE SERIOUS INJURIES.
Owner-reported narrative. 31,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10007529 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10008005 · 2003-02-22 (February 22, 2003)
2001 ACURA 3.2 TL AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WAS SLOW TO SHIFT FROM 2ND TO 3RD GEAR. PROBLEM BECAME PROGRESIVELY WORSE OVER A PERIOD OF A FEW DAYS. TRANSMISSION WAS EVENTUALLY REPLACED BY DEALERSHIP.
Owner-reported narrative. 30,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10008005 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
3 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
01V166002 · Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly
Reported: 2001-08-14 (August 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: 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.
NHTSA campaign record ↗04V176000 · Power Train:Automatic Transmission
Reported: 2004-04-15 (April 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: 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.
NHTSA campaign record ↗20V027000 · Air Bags:Frontal:Driver Side:Inflator Module
Reported: 2020-01-17 (January 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: 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.
NHTSA campaign record ↗