Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
50–25K
2325–50K
1150–75K
1375–100K
21100–150K
11150K+
84 reports with mileage · 65 unknown
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.
Power Train. Review the 103 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Air Bags. Review the 15 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 9 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
8 crash reports2 fire reports5 injury reports
What owners actually said
149 reports
35,000 miles · Oct 20, 2003
Power Train
MY 2001 ACURA 3.2TL TRANSMISSION DIED AFTER 35K MILES. THE CAR SHIFTED GEARS ON ITS OWN FOR A FEW MONTHS, THEN FINALLY DECIDED TO STOP WORKING ON 10/18/03 ON THE WAY HOME. THE CAR RIGHT NOW IS IN THE SHOP WAITING FOR THE REPLACEMENT TRANSMISSION. I AM VERY CONCERNED AS I DID MY RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET. TOO MANY COMPLAINTS FILED…
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MY 2001 ACURA 3.2TL TRANSMISSION DIED AFTER 35K MILES. THE CAR SHIFTED GEARS ON ITS OWN FOR A FEW MONTHS, THEN FINALLY DECIDED TO STOP WORKING ON 10/18/03 ON THE WAY HOME. THE CAR RIGHT NOW IS IN THE SHOP WAITING FOR THE REPLACEMENT TRANSMISSION. I AM VERY CONCERNED AS I DID MY RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET. TOO MANY COMPLAINTS FILED AT(WWW.PETITIONONLINE.COM/MOD_PERL/PETITION-SIGN.CGI?ACURA). I DON'T WANT TO GET CAUGHT IN AN ACCIDENT LIKE OTHERS BECAUSE OF THE TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. I SPENT A LOT OF MONEY FOR THIS CAR. I USE IT FOR MY BUSINESS EVERYDAY, AND I AM NOW AFRAID TO DRIVE IT ON THE STREET. THIS PROBLEM SEEMS TO BE A DEFECT AND SHOULD BE CLASSIFIED AS A RECALL. I WOULD LIKE AMERICAN HONDA TO TAKE MY CAR BACK AND RETURN MY MONEY. P.S. I HAD PREVIOUSLY OWN A 2001 ACURA RL AND HAD SIMILAR TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. MY ACURA DEALER TRIED TO FIX IT 3 TIMES. PROBLEMS STILL EXISTS. FINALLY, I RETURNED THE CAR. *LA
NHTSA ODI #10043209
Mileage unknown · Jul 21, 2003
Engine And Engine Cooling
CONSUMER CALLED COMPLAINING ABOUT HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE ENGINE. MANUFACTURER WAS CONTTACTED, AND STATED THAT THE PROBLEMS WAS NOT COVERED BY THE WARRANTY.*AK
NHTSA ODI #10029758
Mileage unknown · Jul 18, 2003
Engine And Engine Cooling
CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT ENGINE PROBLEMS. STATED THAT THE ENGINE BLEW OUT, AND THAT NEITHER THE DEALER OR THE MANUFACTURER WANTED TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT.*AK
NHTSA ODI #10029673
24,000 miles · Jun 20, 2003
Tires
DURING VEHICLE INSPECTION FRONT LEFT TIRE HAD A BUBBLE IN THE SIDEWALL. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10024620
33,650 miles · Jun 2, 2003
Power Train
ON MAY 7, 2003, AT 32,905 MILES MY 2001 3.2TL EXPERIENCED A TRANSMISSION FAILURE. TOOK IT BACK TO DEALER WHO REPLACED PART NUMBER 37820-PE8-305RM. THIS MORNING WHILE DRIVING INTO WORK, THE CAR WAS ONCE AGAIN SLOW TO ENGAGE 3RD GEAR AND DID NOT SEEM TO CYCLE TO 4TH OR ABOVE. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10020893
38,500 miles · Mar 21, 2003
Power Train
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE WOULD EITHER HESITATE UPON ACCELERATION OR SLIP. THERE WAS ALSO A NOISE IN THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. *NLM......*AK
NHTSA ODI #10012235
Mileage unknown · Mar 10, 2003
Visibility
THE DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER SYSTEM WAS INOPERATIVE.*JB
NHTSA ODI #10011202
66,421 miles · Mar 3, 2003
Power Train
TRANSMISSION FAILED IN CAR WHICH ALMOST CAUSED IT TO STALL IN ACCELERATION BECAUSE IT WAS UNABLE TO FIND THIRD GEAR WHILE ACCELERATING WITH OTHER CARS BEHIND ME. I WAS ABLE TO KEEP THE CAR UNDER CONTROL AND MOVE IT OFF ROAD TO A SAFE SPOT. I HAD RESEARCHED TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS WITH MY CAR SO I REALIZED THE SYMPTOMS IMMEDIATEL…
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TRANSMISSION FAILED IN CAR WHICH ALMOST CAUSED IT TO STALL IN ACCELERATION BECAUSE IT WAS UNABLE TO FIND THIRD GEAR WHILE ACCELERATING WITH OTHER CARS BEHIND ME. I WAS ABLE TO KEEP THE CAR UNDER CONTROL AND MOVE IT OFF ROAD TO A SAFE SPOT. I HAD RESEARCHED TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS WITH MY CAR SO I REALIZED THE SYMPTOMS IMMEDIATELY BUT HAD LESS THAN A DAY'S NOTICE BEFORE IT HAPPENED. OTHERS HAVE REPORTED EVEN LESS NOTICE WITH THEIR CARS ON THE HIGHWAY AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED DROPPING FROM 5TH TO 2ND GEAR JERKING THEM FORWARD AND CAUSING THE CAR TO SWERVE.*JB
NHTSA ODI #10008349
30,000 miles · Feb 22, 2003
Power Train
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.
NHTSA ODI #10008005
31,000 miles · Feb 15, 2003
Power Train
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 TRAN…
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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.
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 & remedy
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.
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 & remedy
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.
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 & remedy
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.
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
1
PE02081 · Automatic Transmission Sudden Downshift
Opened Oct 28, 2002 · Closed Mar 5, 2003
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Power Train:automatic Transmission
SEE ATTACHED REPORT.
2001 Acura Tl Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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