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1996 Acura Tl

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Fewer warning signs than most model years

Owner complaints for the 1996 Acura Tl are lower than the model-year median of 124.

About this comparison →
26Owner complaints

Model-year median: 124

2Recall campaigns

View recall details →

0Investigations

View investigation details →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
1
199526
199623
199720
1998157
1999
Compare all Tl years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Service Brakes, Hydraulic
5Engine And Engine Cooling
4Power Train
4Air Bags
3Suspension
3
All reported categories
Visibility
3Electrical System
2Electronic Stability Control (esc)
1Engine
1Equipment
1Fuel/propulsion System
1Latches/locks/linkages
1Seat Belts
1Steering
1Structure
1Wheels
1

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 11 of 26 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.

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.

  • Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 5 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

3 crash reports0 fire reports2 injury reports

Power Train complaints

4 reports
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197,000 miles · Sep 19, 2014
Power Train

I WAS HEADED UP A HILL WHEN I PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD TO LET AN EMERGENCY VEHICLE PASS. WHEN I ATTEMPTED TO REENTER TRAFFIC, THERE WAS A LOUD BANG, SOME GRINDING NOISE, AND A JOLT AS THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO ROLL BACKWARDS. I WAS STARTLED WHEN I IMMEDIATELY PLACED THE VEHICLE IN PARK BUT IT CONTINUED TO ROLL DOWN HILL. T…

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I WAS HEADED UP A HILL WHEN I PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD TO LET AN EMERGENCY VEHICLE PASS. WHEN I ATTEMPTED TO REENTER TRAFFIC, THERE WAS A LOUD BANG, SOME GRINDING NOISE, AND A JOLT AS THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO ROLL BACKWARDS. I WAS STARTLED WHEN I IMMEDIATELY PLACED THE VEHICLE IN PARK BUT IT CONTINUED TO ROLL DOWN HILL. THEN I ENGAGED THE PARKING BRAKE, (I NEVER USE THE PARKING BRAKE DUE TO AN UNFORTUNATE HAPPENING IN THE PAST WITH A DIFFERENT VEHICLE). I ATTEMPTED TO PUT THE VEHICLE IN DRIVE, THINKING THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED ONLY TO RESET ITSELF WHEN A LOUD GRINDING NOISE BEGAN TO EMANATE FROM THE UNDERSIDE OF THE VEHICLE, ALONG WITH SMOKE COMING FROM MY HOOD. AT THAT POINT, I LEFT THE VEHICLE THERE AND HAD IT TOWED TO A SHOP WHERE I WAS INFORMED THAT THE DIFFERENTIAL HAD SOMEHOW BECOME DISENGAGED FROM THE TRANSMISSION. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10637525

56,569 miles · Aug 27, 2007
Power Train

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 ACURA 2.5 TL. THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED AT THE REPAIR SHOP FOR A DEAD BATTERY. THE REPAIR SHOP ADVISED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO GEAR. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID 99V227000 (POWER TRAIN: AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION). THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 56,569. RETURNED USP…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 ACURA 2.5 TL. THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED AT THE REPAIR SHOP FOR A DEAD BATTERY. THE REPAIR SHOP ADVISED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO GEAR. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID 99V227000 (POWER TRAIN: AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION). THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 56,569. RETURNED USPS, 2ND ATTEMPT MADE 07/24/07 FAILED. *LJ ,

NHTSA ODI #10200900

40 miles · Sep 7, 2005
Power Train

THE PROBLEM IS: AT CERTAIN COMBINATIONS OF RPM AND SPEED, THE ENGINE LABORS. IT CAUSES EXCESSIVE VIBRATIONS, WHICH CONTINUE UNTIL EITHER THE SPEED OR RPM IS CHANGED. IT IS NOT RELATED TO TRAVELING UP OR DOWN AN INCLINE. TAKEN TO ACURA DEALERSHIP SEVERAL TIMES AND THEY STATED THEY WERE UNABLE TO REPRODUCE THE PROBLEM BUT NOTED TH…

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THE PROBLEM IS: AT CERTAIN COMBINATIONS OF RPM AND SPEED, THE ENGINE LABORS. IT CAUSES EXCESSIVE VIBRATIONS, WHICH CONTINUE UNTIL EITHER THE SPEED OR RPM IS CHANGED. IT IS NOT RELATED TO TRAVELING UP OR DOWN AN INCLINE. TAKEN TO ACURA DEALERSHIP SEVERAL TIMES AND THEY STATED THEY WERE UNABLE TO REPRODUCE THE PROBLEM BUT NOTED THAT IT SHIFTED HARD ON 1-2 UPSHIFT AND FLUSHED THE TRANSMISSION SYSTEM. THIS DID NOT FIX THE VIBRATION. WHEN I TOOK THE CAR BACK IN FOR SAME PROBLEM THEY STATED THE FRONT BRAKE ROTORS WERE WARPED AND REPLACED FRONT BRAKE ROTORS AND PADS. TOOK CAR BACK TO DEALERSHIP WITH SAME PROBLEM AGAIN AND THE TIRES WERE THEN BALANCED. PROBLEM CONTINUED SO I DETERMINED THEY COULDN'T FIND THE PROBLEM AND GAVE UP. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10135757

Mileage unknown · Jul 1, 1997
Electrical SystemPower Train

DRIVE LINE WHINES UPON ACCELERATION OR DECELERATION.

NHTSA ODI #603438

Official recalls

2

99V227000 · Power Train:automatic Transmission

Aug 19, 1999

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. A TRANSMISSION CASE BOLT CAN LOOSEN AND FALL OUT ALLOWING THE TRANSMISSION TO DISENGAGE FROM THE DIFFERENTIAL.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THE VEHICLE COULD LOSE POWER TO THE DRIVE WHEELS WITHOUT WARNING. ALSO, SHIFTING THE TRANSMISSION INTO THE PARK POSITION WOULD NOT LOCK THE WHEELS, AND A PARKED VEHICLE COULD MOVE UNEXPECTEDLY IF THE PARKING BRAKE IS NOT SET.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A REDESIGNED BOLT.

99V069000 · Suspension:front:control Arm:lower Ball Joint

May 10, 1999

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. CERTAIN VEHICLES WERE MANUFACTURED WITH BALL JOINTS THAT CAN PREMATURELY WEAR OUT AND, IN THE WORSE CASE, THE BALL JOINT WOULD SEPARATE CAUSING THE FRONT SUSPENSION TO COLLAPSE.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS CONDITION WOULD RESULT IN VEHICLE DECELERATION AND A SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER. ALSO STEERING CONTROLLABILITY WOULD BE REDUCED.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FRONT SUSPENSION LOWER BALL JOINTS.

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.