NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
124 reports86,000 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