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U.S. public vehicle records

2009 Acura TL: complaints, problems and recalls

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

42 owner complaints analyzed

3 distinct recall campaigns

70,000 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2009 model year. Data snapshot: . 25 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 19 of 42 complaints (45.2%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Transmission and shifting49.5%
Steering behavior37.1%
Engine operation24.8%
Braking behavior24.8%
Electrical and battery issues12.4%

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.

Air Bags
19
Power Train
5
Visibility
5
Electrical System
3
Structure:Body
3
Engine
2
Fuel/Propulsion System
2
Service Brakes
2
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Air Bags19
Power Train5
Visibility5
Electrical System3
Structure:Body3
Engine2
Fuel/Propulsion System2
Service Brakes2

Air Bags: 19; Power Train: 5; Visibility: 5; Electrical System: 3; Structure:Body: 3; Engine: 2; Fuel/Propulsion System: 2; Service Brakes: 2

Reported problems by failure mileage

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

Under 25,000
7
25,000 to 49,999
3
50,000 to 74,999
3
75,000 to 99,999
6
100,000 to 149,999
4
150,000 and above
2
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,0007
25,000 to 49,9993
50,000 to 74,9993
75,000 to 99,9996
100,000 to 149,9994
150,000 and above2

Under 25,000: 7; 25,000 to 49,999: 3; 50,000 to 74,999: 3; 75,000 to 99,999: 6; 100,000 to 149,999: 4; 150,000 and above: 2

Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (7). 17 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.

2009
1
2010
6
2013
2
2014
3
2015
4
2016
16
2017
4
2018
1
2019
3
2023
1
2025
1
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
20091
20106
20132
20143
20154
201616
20174
20181
20193
20231
20251

2009: 1; 2010: 6; 2013: 2; 2014: 3; 2015: 4; 2016: 16; 2017: 4; 2018: 1; 2019: 3; 2023: 1; 2025: 1

Pattern summary

Air Bags leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 4 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 3 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 2 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 10278680 · 2009-07-29 (July 29, 2009)

THIS PROBLEM HAS NOT CREATED AN ACCIDENT, BUT IT HAS THE POTENTIAL TO CAUSE ACCIDENTS. THE GUNMETAL TRIM INSERTED INTO THE LEFT AND RIGHT LOWER SIDES OF THE DASH CREATE A BLINDING GLARE IN THE REAR VIEW MIRRORS ON SUNNY DAYS. THE GLARE IS SO BAD, IT COVERS NEARLY ALL OF THE SURFACE OF THE LEFT HAND MIRROR, SO WHEN CHANGING LANES FROM RIGHT TO LEFT, THE DRIVER WILL MISS SEEING A CAR IN THE LEFT LANE BECAUSE OF THE GLARE. IT IS EVEN MORE PRONOUNCED FOR A CAR THAT MAY BE IN THE BLIND SPOT. SAME IS TRUE, BUT NOT AS BAD, AS THE RIGHT LANE. I HAD…

Owner-reported narrative. 111,111 miles reported. Look up ODI 10278680 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10316266 · 2010-03-03 (March 3, 2010)

WHILE DRIVING MY NEW 2009 ACURA TL THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP. I WAS DRIVING IN THE SNOW IN CT AT ABOUT 6:00 PM ON FEB 17TH. I WAS TRAVELING DOWN A HILL IN MY HOMETOWN THAT I HAVE DRIVEN ON LITERALLY THOUSANDS OF TIMES. I KNOW THE HILL IS FAIRLY STEEP SO I WAS GOING VERY SLOW (ABOUT 10 MPH) AT THE BOTTOM OF THE HILL THE ROAD CURVES TO THE LEFT. AS I APPROACHED THE TURN MY STEERING WHEEL LOCKED IN PLACE AND I SLID INTO THE GUARDRAIL DOING ONLY MINOR COSMETIC DAMAGE TO THE RIGHT FROM BUMPER AND FENDER. THE CAR HAD TO BE TOWED FROM THE SCENE BEC…

Owner-reported narrative. 10,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10316266 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10317976 · 2010-03-09 (March 9, 2010)

WHILE DRIVING MY 2009 ACURA TL WITH 10,000 MILES ON IT THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP. BEFORE I COULD STOP THE CAR I SIDESWIPED A GUARDRAIL CAUSING MINOR COSMETIC DAMAGE. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO DEVAN ACURA IN NORWALK CT. THEY COULD NOT FIGURE OUT WHAT WAS WRONG SO THE ENGINEERS FROM HONDA WERE CALLED. THEY DISASSEMBLED THE STEERING SYSTEM PART BY PART. THE PARTS WERE SENT OUT TO CALIFORNIA TO THE HONDA ENGINEERS. AFTER "CAREFUL INSPECTION" THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE PARTS. THEY ARE SAYING THE STEERING WAS DAMAGED AS A RESULT OF THE…

Owner-reported narrative. 10,100 miles reported. Look up ODI 10317976 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10325829 · 2010-04-15 (April 15, 2010)

DRIVER SIDE WINDOW RATTLES EXCESSIVELY WHEN SHUTTING DOOR AND DRIVING ON ROUGH ROADS. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 600 miles reported. Look up ODI 10325829 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10326860 · 2010-04-21 (April 21, 2010)

ABOUT 2 WEEKS AFTER I PURCHASED MY BRAND NEW ACURA TL, I NOTICED THAT MY DRIVER SIDE WINDOW RATTLES LOUDLY WHEN I SHUT THE DOOR, ESPECIALLY WHEN MY WINDOW IS ROLLED DOWN PART WAY. EACH DAY THE RATTLE GETS WORSE AND NOW THE WINDOW RATTLES WHEN I DRIVE ON BUMPY ROADS. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND MADE AN APPOINTMENT TO HAVE MY DRIVER SIDE WINDOW FIXED. THE RATTLING NOISE IS SO LOUD THAT I AM CONCERNED THAT THE WINDOW WILL BREAK AND WILL CAUSE BODILY HARM. THE SERVICE ADVISOR INSISTED THAT THERE WASN'T A PROBLEM AND REFUSED TO TAKE ANY SORT OF AC…

Owner-reported narrative. 1,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10326860 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10352654 · 2010-08-30 (August 30, 2010)

THE LOWER PART OF THE DASHBOARD, AT MID LEVEL ON THE LEFT AND RIGHT SIDES NEXT TO THE VENT OPENINGS, IS FINISHED WITH A REFLECTIVE MATERIAL THAT CAUSES SEVERE SIDE MIRROR GLARE WHEN DRIVING WITH SUNLIGHT COMING FROM THE REAR. THE GLARE IS SO BAD, THAT IT CREATES A BLIND SPOT IN THE SIDE VIEW MIRROR. WHEN THIS HAPPENS, THE GLARE ALMOST COMPLETELY COVERS THE ENTIRE SURFACE OF THE MIRROR, MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO SEE WHATEVER MIGHT BE IN THE NEXT LANE OR BEHIND. IN AN EMERGENCY SITUATION, IF YOU COME ACROSS SOMETHING IN THE ROAD AND MUST CHANGE L…

Owner-reported narrative. 11 miles reported. Look up ODI 10352654 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10373490 · 2010-12-30 (December 30, 2010)

BECAUSE OF THE REFLECTIVE MATERIAL USED IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE DASH LOWER DASH COMPONENTS ON THE FAR LEFT AND FAR RIGHT SIDE OF THE DASH, THERE IS A BLIND SPOT CREATED BY SUN GLARE INTO THE LEFT AND RIGHT MIRRORS FROM THE REFECTION OFF THE LOWER LEFT AND RIGHT DASHBOARD. THE REFLECTION AND GLARE IS SO STRONG, IT COMPLETELY ELIMINATES AN IMAGE IN THE MIRROR, WHEN THE SUN IS BEHIND YOU, LOW IN THE SKY. IF YOU ARE CHANGING LANES AND DEPENDING ON THE MIRROR WITHOUT LOOKING BACK, YOU CAN'T SEE ANY OBJECT THAT MIGHT BE IN THE MIRROR. IT'S A DANGE…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10373490 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10515065 · 2013-06-04 (June 4, 2013)

PAINT HAVE STARTED GET UGLY AND SCRATCHING BY ITS SELF AND IS LOOK REALLY UGLY WHEN LOOK CLOSED A THE BODY OF THE CAR AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT CAN I DO BECAUSE IS GETTING MORE UGLY DAY BY DAY IS LOOK LIKE A GLITTER WITH PRIMER PAINT. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 91,307 miles reported. Look up ODI 10515065 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.

16V061000 · Air Bags:Frontal:Driver Side:Inflator Module

Reported: 2016-02-03 (February 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: 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.

NHTSA campaign record ↗
19V182000 · Air Bags:Frontal:Driver Side:Inflator Module

Reported: 2019-03-06 (March 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: 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.

NHTSA campaign record ↗
19V500000 · Air Bags:Frontal:Driver Side:Inflator Module

Reported: 2019-06-27 (June 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: 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.

NHTSA campaign record ↗