KnownCarProblems2001 Acura TL Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 149 complaints with NHTSA about the 2001 Acura TL, most often about the transmission (69% of complaints, typically around 84,500 miles). It is 7th of 15 TL model years by number of complaints and has 3 recalls.
Most common 2001 Acura TL problems
Transmission
103 complaints · 69%Half of these problems showed up before 84,500 miles. Parts named most often: automatic transmission, manual transmission.
While entering highway ga 400, I noticed that my 2001 Acura 3.2 TL slammed in to first and second gear. Then, the d5 dash light began blinking, then the tcs light, then the check engine light. I drove to the nearest dealership (jackson Acura), who advised me that the transmission had failed and offered 10% "help" with…
My complaint is toward Acura relations and devan Acura of norwalk, ct regarding a serious transmission problem. My transmission has been diagnosed with having a hard shift/slippage from 2nd to 3rd gear, which is part of recall, I.d. 48580. This type of problem can result in transmission lockup, which could result in a…
Air bags
15 complaints · 10%I have been involved in two car accidents where I was hit from behind and my airbags did not deploy. In the second accident my car was totaled.
The contact owns a 2001 Acura TL. While driving 50 MPH, the air bag light remained illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The failure mileage was 90,000.
Speed control
9 complaints · 6%Half of these problems showed up before 53,500 miles. Parts named most often: cruise control, accelerator pedal, cables.
Accelerator cable/wire snapped in half without warning.. The gas pedal went straight to the floor. Luckily, I was not on the freeway doing 70mph since there was absolutely no control of my vehicle after the cable broke. The part was replaced, however, the car only had 25,011 miles on it. The car is only 2001 Acura…
I had a terrifying experience with sudden acceleration with the car heading well over 100 MPH on the pa turnpike. Nothing in car responded - brakes, emergency brake, gear shifting...had to turn off car to stop it! Roadside assistance was called. Car was towed this morning (2 days after situation) and is now at…
Visibility and wipers
8 complaints · 5%Half of these problems showed up before 73,000 miles. Parts named most often: windshield, defroster/defogger/hvac system, rearview mirrors/devices, rear window wiper/washer.
Interior rearview mirror (auto dimming) became impossible to see out of due to a defect that caused a liquid to leak and cloud the mirror. Had to replace it in order to see out the back. It occurred gradually over about a year. At first it was just the corner and eventually it covered the whole mirror. I believe this…
Rear view mirror has gone bad. Mirror is two toned showing dark on top and light about half way down. This is very distracting. Mirror no longer works on day and night modes.
Engine
6 complaints · 4%Parts named most often: engine, cooling system.
Various problems with the 2001 Acura TL. Bought used and has been in shop 6 or 7 times in less than one year. Brakes, transmission replacement, master cylinder. Brakes continue to seemingly have a problem...you have to almost go to the floor to stop, but dealership says this is normal on this type of vehicle. True or…
: the contact stated while traveling 70 MPH, without warning, black smoke appeared from under the hood and then the steering column. The vehicle was pulled over and it burst into flames. The fire department was called and extinguished the fire. The vehicle was towed to a storage lot, where the insurance company…
Brakes
5 complaints · 3%Parts named most often: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip, antilock, foundation components.
Various problems with the 2001 Acura TL. Bought used and has been in shop 6 or 7 times in less than one year. Brakes, transmission replacement, master cylinder. Brakes continue to seemingly have a problem...you have to almost go to the floor to stop, but dealership says this is normal on this type of vehicle. True or…
While driving at 65 MPH, the vehicle lost power. The consumer pulled onto the shoulder and waited a few minutes. Then the vehicle was restarted and everything was back to normal for a little while. After a mile or two, the vehicle jerked and lost power again. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who determined that a…
Electrical
5 complaints · 3%Half of these problems showed up before 145,000 miles. Parts named most often: wiring, ignition.
The contact owns a 2001 Acura 3.2 TL. The contact stated that when activating the air conditioner, no air would blow from the vents. Upon further inspection, he found that the electrical connector was melted and causing the failure. The contact repaired the vehicle by replacing the connector and blower motor. The…
TL contact owns a 2001 Acura 3.2 TL. The contact stated that the key can be removed from the ignition without the shift being in park. Removal of the ignition key when the gear selector in an automatic transmission was not shifted into the park position could cause the vehicle to roll away and cause a crash. The…
Wheels and tires
3 complaints · 2%
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2001 Acura TL recalls
Air bags: inflator module
Risk: 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.
Fix: 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.
Full defect summary
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.
Transmission: automatic transmission
Risk: Gear failure could result in transmission lockup, which could result in a crash.
Fix: 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 vehicle
Full defect summary
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.
Seat belts: buckle assembly
Risk: In the event of a crash, the seat occupant may not be properly restrained.
Fix: 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.
Full defect summary
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."
Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which recalls are still open on your car.
NHTSA defect investigations
Automatic transmission sudden downshift
Summary
See attached report.
Questions about the 2001 Acura TL
- What are the most common problems with the 2001 Acura TL?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: transmission (103 complaints, typically around 84,500 miles); air bags (15 complaints); speed control (9 complaints, typically around 53,500 miles).
- How many recalls does the 2001 Acura TL have?
- 3 recalls listed by NHTSA, the latest from January 17, 2020 (air bags). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
- Is the 2001 a bad year for the Acura TL?
- It is 7th of 15 TL model years by number of complaints, with 149 complaints. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so popular years collect more of them, and the newest years have had less time to.