2002 Acura TL: problems, recalls and reliability
7 recalls and 332 owner complaints on record; the weakest area is power train (64% of complaints); the 2001 model year looks more trouble-free.
Data updated weekly · latest recall Jun 2019
All counts are reports filed with NHTSA in the United States - US market only, not worldwide totals.
Common problems
Computed from 332 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
“The "SRS" dashboard red light illuminated and stays on. On May 19, 2029 Acura "Replaced Driver S/B." Acura Dealer and Manufacturer are both telling me that my "Inflator" and "Airbag Module" is not covered again since there has been no recall by Acura or NHTSA. Please advise me as to warranty a second time at no cost to me?”Owner report · Air Bags · Dec 2024
“Slipping , shift feels like it's losing power and jerks and sputter . Check engine lights is on now . Throwing a P0730 code .. transmission fluid level are where is supposed to be and clean”Owner report · Power Train · Apr 2023
“Tl* the contact owns a 2002 acura tl. While driving various speeds, the transmission warning indicator illuminated and the front driver's side window button failed to operate. Hinshaw's acura (5955 20th st e, fife, wa 98424, (253) 922-8830) was informed of the transmission indicator and stated that the vehicle was not included in any recalls. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failures. The approximate failure mileage was 157,672.”Owner report · Visibility/Wiper · Aug 2019
Show 7 more owner reports
“Tl* the contact owns a 2002 acura tl. While driving 65 mph, the air bag deployed when the brake pedal was depressed to the floorboard. There were no injuries. The contact continued to drive the vehicle to her residence. The VIN was included in NHTSA campaign number: 19v499000 (air bags). The contact called crown acura (located at 18911 us hwy 19 n, clearwater, fl 33764, (888) 642-5567) and notified them of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The dealer and manufacturer were not notified. The failure mileage was 100,000.”Owner report · Air Bags · Jul 2019
“Tl* the contact owns a 2002 acura tl. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 19v182000 (air bags). However, the parts to do the repair were unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. Garry force acura (1634 westgate cir, brentwood, tn 37027 (615) 377-0500) was contacted and confirmed that the parts were not available for the recall remedy. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue but were not able to confirm when the parts were to become available. The contact had not experienced a failure. (parts distribution disconnect).”Owner report · Air Bags · Apr 2019
“We got an april 2019 letter for an important safety recall which came too late! My car was totaled in a accident in which both airbags deployed. It did cause hurtful pressure on my grandson's chest with an emergency bill over $500 and 2 days of losses wages. Ok for which we had no compensation. Car was in motion on highway street in which the other party was ticketed on an illegal u turn.”Owner report · Air Bags · Dec 2018
“Tl* the contact owns a 2002 acura tl. The contact stated that the ignition switch key interlock failed. As a result, the vehicle backed out of the driveway on its own. There were no warning indicators illuminated before or after the failure. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the ignition switch key interlock failed. The dealer was not notified. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The VIN was unknown. The approximate failure mileage was 112,000.”Owner report · Power Train · Feb 2018
“Violent shifting - purchased this vehicle from engles auto in sumner - same day drove this vehicle on the freeway and an hour into the road trip the vehicle began to suddenly apply the brakes. Following this it began shifting violently up or down. Found out there was a recall on the transmission and after talking with acura was told the problem was already addressed. Took the vehicle to a transmission shop and was told I needed to have the transmission rebuilt ($2500-$3000 estimate) immediately told car dealership I wanted to return the vehicle and get a refund and all I got from them was the run around.”Owner report · Unknown Or Other · Dec 2017
“My vehicle has a defected airbag. It has yet to deploy, however I was informed by the tk holdings inc. That the airbag on this particular model is defected.”Owner report · Air Bags · Aug 2017
“Vehicle shifts into gear ok until it reaches 40 miles per hour then gear stops shifting as if the gears aren't catching. Once the vehicle reaches 50 miles per hour it starts to accelerate ok. The transmission is not functioning properly”Owner report · Power Train · Jan 2017
When filing, owners marked a crash in 24 of these complaints and injuries in 16 - self-reported to NHTSA, not verified accident statistics.
Recalls - 7 campaigns
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain model year 2001-2007 Accord, 2001-2005 Civic, 2001-2004 Honda Civic GX, 2003-2005 Honda Civic Hybrid, 2002-2006 CR-V, 2003-2011 Element, 2002-2004 Odyssey, 2003-2008 Pilot, 2006 Ridgeline, 2003 Acura 3.2CL, 2003-2006 Acura MDX, and 2002-2003 Acura 3.2TL vehicles. The affected vehicles are equipped with a dual-stage driver frontal air bag that may be susceptible to moisture intrusion and other factors, including manufacturing variability that, over time, could cause the inflator to rupture.
Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began on July 1, 2015. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Owners may contact Acura customer service at 1-800-382-2238, select option 4. Note: Vehicles that have had their driver frontal air bag replaced previously as part of a recall remedy prior to September 12, 2014 need to have their air bag replaced under this recall as well. Vehicles that, on or after September 12, 2014, received a remedy for a prior driver frontal air bag inflator recall already received an inflator of a different design, and therefore are not included in this recall and do not require additional servicing. Note: This recall fully supersedes recalls 08V-593, 09V-259, 10V-041, 11V-260, 14V-351 and 15V-153. Honda's numbers for this recall are JQ9, JR0, JR1, JR2, JR3, JR4, JR5, JR6, JR7, and JR8.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 209, "SEAT BELT ASSEMBLIES." CERTAIN DRIVER AND PASSENGER SEAT BELT BUCKLES WERE IMPROPERLY MANUFACTURED.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT, AND IF NECESSARY, REPLACE THE FRONT SEAT BELT BUCKLES. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN MAY 9, 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.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SEDANS EQUIPPED WITH AN "AUTO-UP" POWER WINDOW FEATURE ON THE DRIVER'S DOOR. THE DRIVER'S SIDE POWER WINDOW CONTROL UNIT CAN FAIL, AND DEPENDING ON THE FAILURE MODE, THE WINDOW COULD BECOME INOPERATIVE, OPEN OR CLOSE INDEPENDENT OF SWITCH ACTIVATION, OR THE AUTO-REVERSE SYSTEM MAY NOT OPERATE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE POWER WINDOW CONTROL UNIT. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN MAY 21, 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.
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.
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.
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2003 Acura 3.2CL, 2002-2003 3.2TL, 2003-2006 MDX, 2001-2007 Honda Accord, 2001-2005 Civic, 2003-2005 Civic Hybrid, 2001-2005 Civic GX NGV, 2002-2006 CR-V, 2003-2011 Element, 2002-2004 Odyssey, 2003-2008 Pilot and 2006 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.
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 Q5A and Y58.
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."
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.
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.
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.
Trouble codes owners mention
OBD-II codes that appear in NHTSA complaints about this car.
Specifications
Factory options offered for the 2002 model year, decoded from the NHTSA vPIC database. Individual vehicles have one of each.
How other years compare
Check your exact TL by VIN
Recalls and equipment differ between individual vehicles. Decode your VIN to see what applies to yours.
Open VIN decoderFrequently asked questions
Is the 2002 Acura TL reliable?
NHTSA has 332 owner complaints and 7 recall campaigns on record for the 2002 Acura TL. The most complained-about area is power train (64% of complaints).
At what mileage do 2002 Acura TL problems usually appear?
Half of the complaints that mention mileage were filed at 65,000 miles or less.
Does the 2002 Acura TL have open recalls?
7 recall campaigns have been issued, the latest concerning air bags:frontal:driver side:inflator module. Check your specific vehicle by VIN - recall repairs are free at franchised dealers.
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns and owner complaints (public domain). Counts reflect reports on file and are not a defect rate.