ACURA TL · model year

2011 ACURA TL

23 NHTSA complaints, 1 crash report, and 3 active recalls for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 2011ACURATL carries 23 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 1 crash, 2 fires, 1 injury, and 0 fatalities. For crash performance, NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program gave this cohort an overall Not Rated/5 rating, with Not Rated/5 front crash, Not Rated/5 side crash, and 5/5 rollover scores derived from standardized barrier and dynamic tests.

Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 2011 TL is air bags with 13 filings, followed by engine (3) and steering (1). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability. This model year has 3 active recall campaigns, which means the manufacturer is obligated to remedy the covered defect at no charge for the life of the vehicle — the full NHTSA campaign numbers are listed below.

NHTSA currently has 3 investigation files overlapping the 2011 TL, and 2 remain open. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.

23
Complaints
1
Crashes
2
Fires
1
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

23 filings

Crashes Reported

1 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

NHTSA NCAP overall: Not Rated/5 — Not rated · Front: Not Rated/5 · Side: Not Rated/5 · Rollover: 5/5

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
AIR BAGS13
ENGINE3
STEERING1
POWER TRAIN1
SERVICE BRAKES1
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM1
SEATS1
UNKNOWN OR OTHER1
VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY1

Recalls (3)

19V50000027/06/2019

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2013 Acura ILX, 2015 RDX, 2005-2010 and 2012 RL, 2009-2014 TL, 2010 and 2012 ZDX, 2007-2011 CR-V, 2011-2013 and 2015 CR-Z, 2009-2013 Fit, 2013 Fit EV, 2010-2011 and 2013 Insight and 2007-2014 Ridgeline vehicles. These vehicles are equipped wi

19V18200006/03/2019

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling specific 2003 Acura 3.2CL, 2013-2016 ILX, 2013-2014 ILX Hybrid, 2003-2006 MDX, 2007-2016 RDX, 2002-2003 3.2TL, 2004-2006, and 2009-2014 TL, 2010-2013 ZDX and 2001-2007 and 2009 Honda Accord, 2001-2005 Civic, 2003-2005 Civic Hybrid, 2001-2005 Civic GX NGV

16V06100003/02/2016

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain model year 2007-2011 Honda CR-V, 2011-2015 CR-Z, 2010-2014 FCX, and Insight, 2009-2013 Fit, 2013-2014 Fit EV, 2007-2014 Ridgeline, 2013-2016 Acura ILX, 2013-2014 Acura ILX Hybrid, 2007-2016 RDX, 2005-2012 Acura RL, 2009-2014 Acura TL, and 2010-20

Recent Complaints

20231020AIR BAGS

I purchased a 2011 Acura TL with a salvaged title. The steering wheel airbag appeared to have been repaired with certain glue or epoxy after appearing to have been deployed by previous owner. However the airbag is fully intact. The Acura dealership refused to conduct the recall due to this issue. Would this warrant a refusal to be replaced by the dealership? Thank you

20221202UNKNOWN OR OTHER

Driving my 2011 Acura TL on I95 South in NC from VA to SC at about 2p on 12/2/22, It is a clear sunny day. It is 62 degrees out, there were no vehicles around and no debris flying or dropping and no overpasses or anything around. Heard a loud explosion. Sounded like a shovel with a ton of rocks being dropped on the roof. Opened the slider for moonroof (which is a original manufactured item) and realized the sound was the moonroof glass. The glass was shattered and huge amount missing. Glass rained down into the car all over everything including me. No evidence of any source of cause for this happening. Just glass shards. Appears to have just combusted on its own? Prior to this event the moonroof was operable and in good working order with no cracks or anything. Setup a service appointment for tomorrow 12/3/22 at 3p at McDaniel's Acura dealership in Charleston, SC

20221202VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY

Driving my 2011 Acura TL on I95 South in NC from VA to SC at about 2p on 12/2/22, It is a clear sunny day. It is 62 degrees out, there were no vehicles around and no debris flying or dropping and no overpasses or anything around. Heard a loud explosion. Sounded like a shovel with a ton of rocks being dropped on the roof. Opened the slider for moonroof (which is a original manufactured item) and realized the sound was the moonroof glass. The glass was shattered and huge amount missing. Glass rained down into the car all over everything including me. No evidence of any source of cause for this happening. Just glass shards. Appears to have just combusted on its own? Prior to this event the moonroof was operable and in good working order with no cracks or anything. Setup a service appointment for tomorrow 12/3/22 at 3p at McDaniel's Acura dealership in Charleston, SC

20210303ENGINE

THE CAR IS BURNING OIL AT AN ACCELERATED RATE WHICH CAUSES A WARNING WHEN THE OIL LIFE IS AROUND 40 TO 50% THAT THE ENGINE HAS LOW OIL LEVEL.

Mileage: 118,000

20210129FireENGINE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 ACURA TL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER PARKING THE VEHICLE, THERE WAS SMOKE COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED OUT AND DISPERSED THE SMOKE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE LOCAL DEALER BRADSHAW ACURA (2450 LAURENS RD, GREENVILLE, SC 29607, (864) 297-4529) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED WITH NEEDING AN UNKNOWN BOX ASSEMBLY, EPS, APS UNIT, AND SUB-HARNESS TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 105,000.*DT

Mileage: 105,000

20200816SERVICE BRAKES

WHILE TRYING MAE A QU VERSIN SUSCITADOS EN HABLARAN

20200816FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

WHILE TRYING MAE A QU VERSIN SUSCITADOS EN HABLARAN

20200816SEATS

WHILE TRYING MAE A QU VERSIN SUSCITADOS EN HABLARAN

20200813POWER TRAIN

I DROVE MY ACURA TL TO DUVAL ACURA ON 07/13/2019 @73000 MILES, DUE TO CONCERNS REGARDING MY TRANSMISSION. I HEARD GRUNTING TYPE OF DRAGGING VIBRATIONS BETWEEN 1ST AND 2ND GEAR GOING INTO THE 3RD. THE MECHANIC RODE WITH ME AND ADVISED THAT'S THE WAY THE CAR SOUNDS AND TALKED ME INTO A TRANSMISSION FLUID CHANGE. HE PROMISED ME THAT NOTHING WAS WRONG. IN MY GUT I FELT SOMETHING WAS WRONG. BETWEEN 07/15/19 -08/30/19 I HAD A TRANSMISSION SERVICE INCLUDING CHANGING THE FLUID THE CAR APPEARED TO BE OK. THE NEXT DAY I CONTACTED DUVAL ACURA DUE ALL OF MY TRANSMISSION FLUID WAS ON THE GROUND, STAINED MY GARAGE. I HAD TO HAVE MY ACURA TL TRANSPORTED BY TOW TO THE DEALERSHIP TO BE REPAIRED. NOT EVEN SURE IF DAMAGE WAS DONE TO THE TRANSMISSION DUE TO THEIR MISTAKE. ALSO, I HAVE AN EMAIL FROM DUVAL ACURA ADVISING MY CAR WAS UNDER WARRANTY EFF 07/17/2019 AT THE TIME OF CONCERN. RECENTLY, THE SOUNDS HAVE RETURNED WHILE DRIVING, CURRENTLY AT 83000 ON 08/13/2020 , I EMAILED ACURA TO INQUIRE ABOUT THE T

Mileage: 73,000

20190510AIR BAGS

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 ACURA TL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAGS WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V182000 (AIR BAGS). THE CONTACT WAS UNCERTAIN IF THE REPAIR WAS COMPLETED BECAUSE AFTER THE REPAIR THE VEHICLE WAS RETAINED AND MONTHS LATER ANOTHER NOTIFICATION WAS SENT FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V061000 (AIR BAGS). THE DEALER WALKER ACURA (8951 VETERANS MEMORIAL BLVD, METAIRIE, LA, 70003, (504) 464-4004) SERVICED BOTH RECALL CAMPAIGNS. THE DEALER HAD NOT TOLD THE CONTACT ABOUT THE AIR BAG LIGHT BEING ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

20180110AIR BAGS

TAKATA RECALL

20171004STEERING

I WAS DRIVING MY VEHICLE ON THE HIGHWAY TO WORK AND MY ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING WENT OUT I ALMOST HIT A TRACTOR TRAILER AND IT CAUSED ME TO HAVE A PANIC ATTACK BECAUSE IT ALL HAPPENED SO FAST I DID NOT KNOW WHAT TO DO BESIDES SLAM ON THE BRAKES. THIS ISSUE COULD OF POTENTIALLY CAUSED MY DEATH OR OTHER PEOPLES DEATH OR INJURY , THIS COULD OF ENDED OUT BAD. CAN YOU PLEASE CONTACT ME ASAP REGARDING THIS ISSUE. AND THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ON THE ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING SYSTEM BECAUSE ANY ACURA OWNERS WITH HIGH MILES ON THE VEHICLES COULD END UP HAVING THIS SAME ISSUE AND COULD END UP BEING A LAW SUIT.

Mileage: 186,000

20170105AIR BAGS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 ACURA TL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT TWO DIFFERENT DEALERS CLAIMED TO HAVE REMEDIED THE RECALLED AIR BAGS; HOWEVER, THE CONTACT STATED THAT A BRAND NEW (UNOPENED) BOX OF AIR BAGS WAS LEFT IN THE TRUNK OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT DID NOT PROVIDE THE RECALL INFORMATION. ALSO, WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH TWO DAYS AGO, THE AIR BAG INDICATOR ILLUMINATED OFF AND ON. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO ONE OF THE DEALERS WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SIDE AIR BAG WAS IN THE TRUNK AND NOT THE ONES THAT WERE REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE WAS NOT REMEDIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 102,000.

Mileage: 102,000

20161227AIR BAGS

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 ACURA TL. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V061000 (AIR BAGS). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.

20161201FireENGINE

MY WIFE WAS DRIVING,I WAS IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT AND WE SMELLED RUBBER BURNING NEXT WE NOTICED SMOKE FROM THE HOOD AREA. WE PULLED OVER TURNED ON THE FLASHERS AND OPENED THE HOOD AND SMOKE CAME OUT HEAVY AND I SAW A FIRE AT THE BOTTOM OF ENGINE AREA.WE CALLED 911 AND A FIRE TRUCK PUT OUT THE FLAMES. THE ENGINE WAS DESTROYED. THEY TOWED IT TO A AUTO SHOP AND WE ARE WAITING FOR AN INSURANCE AGENT TO CONTACT US. FYI WE WERE DRIVING ON A THREE LANE STREET CALLED PORTOLA DRIVE IN SAN FRANCISCO CA. *TR

Mileage: 77,000

20160916AIR BAGS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 ACURA TL. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V061000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.

20160818AIR BAGS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 ACURA TL. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V061000 (AIR BAGS) AND STATED THAT THE PART NEEDED WAS UNAVAILABLE TO PERFORM THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

20160810AIR BAGS

TAKATA RECALL - AIRBAGS. RECEIVED A NOTICE IN APRIL 2016 FROM ACURA THAT THERE HAD BEEN A RECALL ON AIRBAGS FOR MY AUTO DUE TO POSSIBLE INJURIES INCLUDING FATALITY SHOULD THEY IMPLODE. THE NOTICE ADVISED I WOULD BE NOTIFIED THIS SUMMER WHEN PARTS WERE AVAILABLE. I HAVE YET TO BE NOTIFIED AND THE SAFERCAR.GOV WEBSITE INDICATES A REMEDY IS STILL NOT YET AVAILABLE AS OF 8.9.16 FOR MY VEHICLE. SO BASICALLY I HAVE HAD TO KNOWINGLY DRIVE AROUND IN DEATH TRAP FOR THE LAST 4 MONTHS WITH MY FAMILY PRAYING WHAT IS SUPPOSE TO HELP SAVE OUR LIVES DOESN'T END UP KILLING US SHOULD WE BE INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT BEFORE THE AIRBAG AND AUTO MANUFACTURERS GET THEIR ACT TOGETHER AND CORRECT THIS.

20160701AIR BAGS

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 ACURA TL. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V061000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

20160518AIR BAGS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 ACURA TL. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V061000 (AIR BAGS) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED ANY FAILURES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE REMEDY WOULD BE AVAILABLE IN APRIL. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT YET AVAILABLE.

Compare 2011ACURATL to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations 2 Open

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 2011 ACURA TL have?
The 2011 ACURA TL has 23 NHTSA complaints, 1 crashes, 2 fires, 1 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What is the safety rating for the 2011 ACURA TL?
The 2011 ACURA TL received an overall NHTSA safety rating of Not Rated/5, front crash rating of Not Rated/5, side crash rating of Not Rated/5, and rollover rating of 5/5.
Are there any recalls for the 2011 ACURA TL?
Yes, the 2011 ACURA TL has 3 recall(s). The most common affected component is AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE. Recalls are issued by NHTSA and manufacturers must provide a free remedy.
What are the most common problems with the 2011 ACURA TL?
The most-complained component for the 2011 ACURA TL is AIR BAGS with 13 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include ENGINE and STEERING.
Is the 2011 ACURA TL safe to buy?
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. The 2011 ACURA TL has an NHTSA safety rating of Not Rated/5. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.

Vehicle Safety Guides

Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.