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1997 Acura Tl

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Fewer warning signs than most model years

Owner complaints for the 1997 Acura Tl are lower than the model-year median of 124.

About this comparison →
23Owner complaints

Model-year median: 124

2Recall campaigns

View recall details →

0Investigations

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
1
199526
199623
199720
1998157
1999249
2000
Compare all Tl years →

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

What owners reported most

Electrical System
8Vehicle Speed Control
4Power Train
3Service Brakes, Hydraulic
2Unknown Or Other
2
All reported categories
Air Bags
1Engine And Engine Cooling
1Equipment
1Steering
1Structure
1Suspension
1Tires
1Visibility
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: 6 of 23 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.

  • Electrical System. Review the 8 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 3 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 reports2 fire reports3 injury reports

Unknown Or Other complaints

2 reports
Clear category filter
Mileage unknown · Jun 2, 2000
Engine And Engine CoolingUnknown Or Other

ENGINE CHECK LIGHT IS ON FOR THE 3RD TIME. ACURA OF MEMPHIS, TN HAS SERVICED THE VEHICLE FOR THIS COMPLAINT. LUJACKS AUTO PLAXA IN DAVENPORT, IA HAS SERVICED THIS VEHICLE FOR THIS COMPLAINT. I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY ACURA DEALERS SERVICE DEPT THAT IT IS OK FOR ME TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE BECAUSE THE PROBLEM WITH THE ENGINE CHECK LIGH…

Read full complaint

ENGINE CHECK LIGHT IS ON FOR THE 3RD TIME. ACURA OF MEMPHIS, TN HAS SERVICED THE VEHICLE FOR THIS COMPLAINT. LUJACKS AUTO PLAXA IN DAVENPORT, IA HAS SERVICED THIS VEHICLE FOR THIS COMPLAINT. I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY ACURA DEALERS SERVICE DEPT THAT IT IS OK FOR ME TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE BECAUSE THE PROBLEM WITH THE ENGINE CHECK LIGHT BEING ON IS DUE TO CLOGGED EMISSION SENSORS. I AM QUITE AFRAID TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE WITH THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR LIGHT IN. I AM CURRENTLY SCHEDULED TO TAKE THE VEHICLE IN FOR THE 3RD SERVICE FOR THIS COMPLAINT TO ACURA OF LISLE, ILLINOIS WHAT ARE MY OPTIONS SHOULD THIS ENGINE LIGHT COME ON FOR THE 4TH TIME. I CERTAINLY AM NOT ABLE TO SELL THIS VEHICLE AT THIS TIME WITH THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON AND NEE TO KNOW WHAT MY OPTIONS ARE?.

NHTSA ODI #723482

Mileage unknown · Jan 31, 2000
Unknown Or Other

SINCE THE WEATHER HAS BECOME INCREASINGLY COLDER THE PAINT IN THE FRONT OF MY CAR HAS BEEN SPONTANEOUSLY PEELING AND CHIPPING. NO SAFETY DEFECT.

NHTSA ODI #718092

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.