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2008 Acura Tl

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2008 Acura Tl do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 124.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

91 reports with mileage · 33 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.

  • Air Bags. Review the 34 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Steering. Review the 26 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Structure. Review the 20 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

4 crash reports7 fire reports2 injury reports

What owners actually said

124 reports
86,000 miles · Apr 1, 2014
EngineSteeringFire

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 ACURA TL. THE CONTACT STATED UPON START UP HE NOTICE SMOKE AND HEARD A HISSING NOISE UNDERNEATH THE HOOD. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC EXAMINED HIS VEHICLE AND STATED THE POWER STEERING HOSE DETERIORATED PREMATURELY, RESULTING IN THE POWER STEERING FLUID LEAKING ON THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. THE MANUFACTURE…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 ACURA TL. THE CONTACT STATED UPON START UP HE NOTICE SMOKE AND HEARD A HISSING NOISE UNDERNEATH THE HOOD. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC EXAMINED HIS VEHICLE AND STATED THE POWER STEERING HOSE DETERIORATED PREMATURELY, RESULTING IN THE POWER STEERING FLUID LEAKING ON THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALERTED OF THE FAILURE; HOWEVER, STATED THAT HIS VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 12V222000 (STEERING) OR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 08V091000 (STEERING). THE CONTACT HAD INDEED EXPERIENCED THE FAILURE DESCRIBED IN THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 86,000.

NHTSA ODI #10576224

120,000 miles · Mar 21, 2014
Electrical SystemEngineFire

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 ACURA TL. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, WHEN IT IGNITED INTO FLAMES. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE WHICH ORIGINATED UNDERNEATH THE HOOD. THE VEHICLE WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED AND TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 ACURA TL. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, WHEN IT IGNITED INTO FLAMES. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE WHICH ORIGINATED UNDERNEATH THE HOOD. THE VEHICLE WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED AND TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000. UPDATED 5/13/14*CN

NHTSA ODI #10573930

67,000 miles · Mar 12, 2014
Electrical SystemVehicle Speed Control

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 ACURA TL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING.THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE ENGINE AND RESUME WITHOUT INCIDENT. THE DEALER PERFORMED AN INSPECTION AND INDICATED THAT THE ELECTRONIC SYSTEM WAS OPERATING NORMALLY, AND ALSO STATED…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 ACURA TL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING.THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE ENGINE AND RESUME WITHOUT INCIDENT. THE DEALER PERFORMED AN INSPECTION AND INDICATED THAT THE ELECTRONIC SYSTEM WAS OPERATING NORMALLY, AND ALSO STATED THAT ADDITIONAL KEYS COULD HAVE CAUSED THE IGNITION SWITCH TO FAIL AND SHUT THE ENGINE OFF. THE FAILURE WAS CORRECTED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 67,000. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10568794

72,000 miles · Feb 23, 2014
Air Bags

DRIVING STRAIGHT AHEAD AT APPROXIMATELY 25-30 MPH, WITH MY FAMILY IN THE VEHICLE, THE FRONT AND BACK DRIVER'S SIDE CURTAIN AIRBAGS DEPLOYED WITHOUT INCIDENT. FORTUNATELY, I WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, AVOIDING ANY INJURIES TO MYSELF OR ANY OF THE PASSENGERS. I REPORTED THE INCIDENT TO THE LOCAL ACURA DEALERSHI…

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DRIVING STRAIGHT AHEAD AT APPROXIMATELY 25-30 MPH, WITH MY FAMILY IN THE VEHICLE, THE FRONT AND BACK DRIVER'S SIDE CURTAIN AIRBAGS DEPLOYED WITHOUT INCIDENT. FORTUNATELY, I WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, AVOIDING ANY INJURIES TO MYSELF OR ANY OF THE PASSENGERS. I REPORTED THE INCIDENT TO THE LOCAL ACURA DEALERSHIP THAT SOLD ME THE VEHICLE AND THEY EVALUATED THE CAR A FEW DAYS LATER DETERMINING THAT "THEY SAW NO CAUSE ON THE VEHICLE FOR THE DEPLOYMENT OF THE AIR BAGS...NOR DID THEY SEE ANY WAY IN WHICH THE CAR MALFUNCTIONED." *TR

NHTSA ODI #10565471

67,400 miles · Feb 18, 2014
SuspensionVehicle Speed Control

WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN, I HEAD LOUD NOISE ON THE DRIVER SIDE. THE CAR STOPPED ACCELERATING. AFTER I HIT THE GAS PEDAL MUCH HARDER, IT STARTED ACCELERATING BUT VERY SLOWLY. THE MOVEMENT FELT LIKE JERKING MOVEMENT. I STOPPED THE CAR ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, AND MADE AN APPOINTMENT AT THE ACURA DEALERSHIP. THEY FOUND OUT THAT THE…

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WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN, I HEAD LOUD NOISE ON THE DRIVER SIDE. THE CAR STOPPED ACCELERATING. AFTER I HIT THE GAS PEDAL MUCH HARDER, IT STARTED ACCELERATING BUT VERY SLOWLY. THE MOVEMENT FELT LIKE JERKING MOVEMENT. I STOPPED THE CAR ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, AND MADE AN APPOINTMENT AT THE ACURA DEALERSHIP. THEY FOUND OUT THAT THE FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARM BUSHINGS WERE CRACKED. NOT REPLACEABLE UNDER WARRANTY, EVEN THOUGH THEY ACKNOWLEDGED THAT ALL ACURAS HAVE THIS ISSUE, SOME AT 35K MILES, SOME AT HIGHER MILES. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10564736

71,000 miles · Feb 5, 2014
Electrical System

ON OUR ACURA TL W/NAV 08, THE BATTERY HAS BEEN REPLACED 3 TIMES IN 6 MONTHS. FINALLY FEED UP, TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP. $1000 LATER, PARTS HAD TO BE REPLACED IN THE NAV SYSTEM AND BOTH MOTORS IN THE MIRRORS HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE NAVIGATION SYSTEM IS WHAT WAS CAUSING THE BATTERY TO DRAIN AND THE MIRRORS ON BOTH SIDES …

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ON OUR ACURA TL W/NAV 08, THE BATTERY HAS BEEN REPLACED 3 TIMES IN 6 MONTHS. FINALLY FEED UP, TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP. $1000 LATER, PARTS HAD TO BE REPLACED IN THE NAV SYSTEM AND BOTH MOTORS IN THE MIRRORS HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE NAVIGATION SYSTEM IS WHAT WAS CAUSING THE BATTERY TO DRAIN AND THE MIRRORS ON BOTH SIDES WOULD FREELY CLICK AND MOVE AT WILL. I THINK AT A MINIMUM, ACURA SHOULD RECALL THEIR VEHICLES AND FIX THIS PROBLEM AND ISSUE REFUNDS TO THOSE OF US WHO HAVE PAID TO HAVE THEIR VEHICLES FIXED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10562991

98,000 miles · May 22, 2013
Steering

PLEASE NOTE THE PERSISTENT PROBLEMS FOUND IN 3RD GENERATION ACURA TL VEHICLES' POWER STEERING SYSTEMS. THESE PROBLEMS SEEM TO BE REPORTED FREQUENTLY BY ACURA TL OWNERS AND I BELIEVE THEM TO BE A RESULT OF FAULTY DESIGN AND POOR MANUFACTURING. THESE PROBLEMS EFFECT THE PERFORMANCE AND SAFETY OF THE VEHICLES AND I BELIEVE SHOULD…

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PLEASE NOTE THE PERSISTENT PROBLEMS FOUND IN 3RD GENERATION ACURA TL VEHICLES' POWER STEERING SYSTEMS. THESE PROBLEMS SEEM TO BE REPORTED FREQUENTLY BY ACURA TL OWNERS AND I BELIEVE THEM TO BE A RESULT OF FAULTY DESIGN AND POOR MANUFACTURING. THESE PROBLEMS EFFECT THE PERFORMANCE AND SAFETY OF THE VEHICLES AND I BELIEVE SHOULD BE THE BASIS FOR A MANDATORY RECALL. IN MY OWN VEHICLE, ALONG WITH HAVING TO REPLACE THE POWER STEERING FEED HOSE DUE TO A PREVIOUS RECALL, I HAVE ALSO HAD TO REPLACE THE POWER STEERING PUMP AND POWER STEERING SUCTION HOSE. I HAVE BEEN TOLD THE POWER STEERING FLUID RESERVOIR LEAKED AND FINALLY THAT THE POWER STEERING RACK NEEDED REPLACEMENT. GIVEN THE MULTITUDE OF PROBLEMS WITH THIS SYSTEM, I CALLED ACURA CORPORATE TO RELAY THE PROBLEM AND WAS TOLD TO SIMPLY CALL MY LOCAL SERVICE STATION TO GET THE PROBLEMS FIXES AS THEY ARISE. I RESEARCHED THE ISSUE AND FOUND THAT MANY ACURA OWNERS ARE EXPERIENCING THE ISSUES I HAD AND CONTINUE TO HAVE. RESEARCHING THE ISSUE I HAVE FOUND THAT THE '08 MODEL SEEMS TO GET THE MOST COMPLAINTS DESPITE IT BEING THE "YOUNGEST" OF THE TL THIRD GENERATION CARS. YOUR OWN EXPERTS CAN TAKE A LOOK BUT ONE MECHANIC I CAME ACROSS NOTED THE FOLLOWING: "ITS NO WONDER THAT THESE RACKS ARE DESTINED TO FAIL AND LEAK WITH TIME. THE SEALS INSIDE MUST BE SLOWLY ROASTING ON EVERY DAILY COMMUTE THE SYSTEM ENDURES WITH THE SUPER HOT PS FLUID. OVER TIME THE RUBBER IS GOING TO WARP AND DEFORM, BREAKING THE SEAL IN THE SYSTEM, THUS NEGATING ITS SOLE PURPOSE OF HOLDING ANY PS FLUID ALTOGETHER. ACURA MUST HAVE BECOME AWARE OF THIS AS PROBLEM. HOWEVER, ONLY MADE A REVISION ON THE TYPE-S. IF YOU LOOK AT THE PARTS WEBSITE, YOU'LL SEE HOW THE TYPE-S HAD INTEGRATED A PS FLUID COOLER INTO THEIR SYSTEM:" I BELIEVE ACURA KNOWS THERE DESIGN WAS FAULTY AND KNEW THERE WOULD BE A VERY LARGE NUMBER OF FAILURES AND DID NOTHING. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10513146

52,000 miles · Feb 15, 2013
Visibility

THE CAR'S MOONROOF SPONTANEOUSLY EXPLODED -- GLASS SHATTERED INTO THOUSANDS OF PIECES. DROVE CAR IMMEDIATELY TO A BODY SHOP, WHERE THE INSPECTOR FELT THAT THERE HAD BEEN NO IMPACT FROM ANY KIND OF PROJECTILE. INSPECTOR KNEW OF A WRAL-TV INVESTIGATION INTO SUNROOF / MOONROOF EXPLOSIONS, AND RECOMMENDED THAT I REPORT THIS INCID…

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THE CAR'S MOONROOF SPONTANEOUSLY EXPLODED -- GLASS SHATTERED INTO THOUSANDS OF PIECES. DROVE CAR IMMEDIATELY TO A BODY SHOP, WHERE THE INSPECTOR FELT THAT THERE HAD BEEN NO IMPACT FROM ANY KIND OF PROJECTILE. INSPECTOR KNEW OF A WRAL-TV INVESTIGATION INTO SUNROOF / MOONROOF EXPLOSIONS, AND RECOMMENDED THAT I REPORT THIS INCIDENT TO THE NHTSA. I WAS DRIVING IN LIGHT TRAFFIC ON THE HIGHWAY AT THE TIME, HEARD A SOUND AKIN TO A RIFLE SHOT AT CLOSE RANGE, AND LOOKED UP TO SEE THE GLASS IN A ZILLION PIECES. I HAVE PHOTOGRAPHS IF YOU WANT THEM. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10498309

36,000 miles · Jan 28, 2013
Service Brakes

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 ACURA TL. THE CONTACT STATED THE BRAKES MADE A LOUD SQUEAKING NOISE WHILE DRIVING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES FOR THE FAILURE AND THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THE NOISE WAS NORMAL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS FOUND THAT THE VEHICLE'S ROTORS WERE NOT …

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 ACURA TL. THE CONTACT STATED THE BRAKES MADE A LOUD SQUEAKING NOISE WHILE DRIVING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES FOR THE FAILURE AND THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THE NOISE WAS NORMAL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS FOUND THAT THE VEHICLE'S ROTORS WERE NOT THE CORRECT SIZE AND CAUSED BRAKE PAD TO BECOME MISALIGNED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 36,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 95,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI #10494900

30,000 miles · Sep 26, 2012
Vehicle Speed ControlCrash

VEHICLE SELF ACCELERATED IN PARKING LOT. WENT OVER PARKING CURB, LENDING ON THE TREE 14FT FROM THE CURB AND WAS STOP BY THE TREE. THE VEHICLE MADE INTENSE ACCELERATED NOISE, BEFORE JUMPING THE CURB. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10477182

Official recalls

2

12V222000 · Steering:hydraulic Power Assist:hose, Piping, And Connections

May 17, 2012

Honda is recalling certain model year 2007 and 2008 Acura TL and model year 2003-2007 Accord V6 vehicles. In May 2012, Honda filed a defect report to recall certain model year 2007 and 2008 Acura TL vehicles. In September 2012, Honda informed the agency that it was including an additional 573,147 vehicles including certain model year 2003 through 2007 Accord V6 vehicles. The total number of vehicles being recalled is now 625,762. Prolonged under-hood and power steering fluid temperatures may cause the power steering hose to deteriorate prematurely, resulting in cracks and power steering fluid leakage.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: If this occurs, power steering fluid can leak onto a hot catalytic converter, leading to smoke and possibly an under-hood fire.

Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will install a new heat resistant power steering hose, free of charge. The original recall began in June 2012, and owners of those vehicles may obtain the free remedy. Sufficient parts are not yet available for owners of the vehicles covered by the September 2012 expansion, but are expected to be available in early 2013. Honda will notify owners of these vehicles beginning on October 26, 2012, and will notify these owners again when parts are available so those vehicles can be brought to dealers for applications of the free remedy. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-800-999-1009.

08V091000 · Steering:hydraulic Power Assist:hose, Piping, And Connections

Feb 27, 2008

HONDA IS RECALLING 273,000 MY 2004-2008 ACURA TL VEHICLES. PROLONGED HIGH UNDER-HOOD TEMPERATURES MAY CAUSE THE POWER STEERING HOSE TO DETERIORATE PREMATURELY CAUSING THE HOSE TO CRACK AND LEAK POWER STEERING FLUID.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: POWER STEERING FLUID LEAKING ONTO A HOT CATALYTIC CONVERTER WILL GENERATE SMOKE AND POSSIBLY LEAD TO AN UNDER-HOOD FIRE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW HEAT RESISTANT POWER STEERING HOSE FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 28, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT ACURA AT 800-382-2238. THIS IS AN EXPANSION OF A PREVIOUS RECALL (PLEASE SEE 07V551).

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.