KnownCarProblems2012 Acura TL Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 130 complaints with NHTSA about the 2012 Acura TL, most often about the air bags (33% of complaints, typically around 50,000 miles). It is 8th of 15 TL model years by number of complaints and has 3 recalls.
Most common 2012 Acura TL problems
Air bags
43 complaints · 33%Half of these problems showed up before 50,000 miles.
The contact owns a 2012 Acura TL. After the vehicle was repaired per NHTSA campaign number: 16v061000 (air bags), the air bag indicator illuminated intermittently. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 50,000.
Takata recall. The contact owns a 2012 Acura TL. While at a red light, another vehicle crashed into the contact's vehicle from the rear. The air bags did not deploy. A police report was filed. The contact sustained neck and back injuries that required medical attention. The vehicle was towed to the towing facility.…
Transmission
27 complaints · 21%Half of these problems showed up before 39,500 miles.
This is a *well documented* problem with Acura torque converters affecting the 4th generation TL with the 5-speed auto--so much so that a tsb letter was sent out. When leisurely accelerating (light throttle application), the vehicle exhibits a characteristic "low growl" and sort of rhythmically surges forward as power…
There has to be a recall on 4th generation Acura TL's with the 6 speed auto transmission (mine is a 2012 sh-AWD tech package). My car produces the tachometer jumping approximately 300-500 RPM when cruising in 5th gear around 35-45 MPH. The tach jump is so large I actually have looked at it while driving, it's…
Steering
25 complaints · 19%Half of these problems showed up before 70,500 miles.
While driving the electric power steering became tight and couldn't move steering wheel left or right. The electric power steering control module
I own Acura TL 2012. Last week when I was driving I suddenly saw the steering wont turn all of a sudden. It became so hard to turn the steering. Luckily I was able to stop the vehicle without an accident. I later got the vehicle towed to Acura dealer and they diagnosed that the eps unit (electrical power steering)…
Engine
18 complaints · 14%Half of these problems showed up before 65,000 miles.
I bought my car from the dealership about april of 2019 with 59920 miles and the recall was not fixed now they asked me to do a test to bring the car back and fourth only to run up the miles and time frame to not fix the problems that has occurred from the recall not being fixed there was also a lawsuit document send…
Oil consumption, engine knocking and car felt out of power specially in low in speed. Few trips to Acura but was told they couldn't find any problem. I end up getting rid of the car and after few months I bought other TL same year and miles and unfortunately have a same problem. Its using 70 percent of oil with in a…
Electrical
11 complaints · 9%Half of these problems showed up before 75,000 miles.
The contact owns a 2012 Acura TL. While driving 65 MPH the accelerator pedal failed and the vehicle hesitated to respond. The vehicle was taken to a dealer but the failure was unable to be duplicated. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 70,000. Updated 02/21/17 the…
The radio gets struck on a channel. It will not turn off or switch to satellite radio. It occurs randomly when driving but continues even when car is stopped. It will just randomly start functioning properly. No pattern.
Speed control
6 complaints · 5%Half of these problems showed up before 29,500 miles.
The contact owns a 2012 Acura TL. While the accelerator pedal was gradually depressed, the vehicle hesitated. The failure recurred numerous times. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where the cause of the failure was undetermined. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The…
The contact owns a 2012 Acura TL. While driving 65 MPH the accelerator pedal failed and the vehicle hesitated to respond. The vehicle was taken to a dealer but the failure was unable to be duplicated. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 70,000. Updated 02/21/17 the…
Wheels and tires
4 complaints · 3%Body and structure
4 complaints · 3%Parts named most often: body.
Hi I'm wanting to complain about this year Acura making models breaks because in the winter time when you go to press the brakes and start the car the brakes are completely frozen. Also wanted to complain about the headlights the headlights get dull and dingy with wear in tear and get very dull causing it to be very…
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2012 Acura TL recalls
Air bags: inflator module
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began august 12, 2019. Owners may contact honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are s5b and w59.
Full defect summary
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 with driver frontal air bag inflators assembled as a recall remedy part or replacement service part, that may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.
Air bags: inflator module
Risk: An explosion of an inflator within the driver frontal air bag module may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver, front seat passenger or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's air bag inflator with an alternate inflator, free of charge. The recall began april 10, 2019. Honda owners may contact customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for this recall is o41. Acura owners may contact customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Acura's number for this recall is u40.
Full defect summary
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, 2002-2007 and 2010-2011 cr-v, 2003-2011 element, 2007 fit, 2002-2004 odyssey, 2003-2008 pilot, and 2006-2014 ridgeline vehicles. The affected vehicles received a replacement driver air bag inflator as part of a previous takata inflator recall remedy or a replacement driver air bag module containing the same inflator type as a service part. Due to a manufacturing error, in the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver frontal air bag, these inflators may explode.
Air bags: inflator module
Risk: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the inflator, free of charge. The recall began march 2017. Owners may contact honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are jy0, jy1, and jy2.
Full defect summary
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 2010-2013 acura zdx vehicles. The affected vehicles are equipped with a dual-stage driver frontal air bag that may be susceptible to moisture intrusion which, over time, could cause the inflator to rupture.
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
Electrical overstress
Summary
The office of defects investigation (odi) opened this investigation to determine if the failure of airbags to deploy during severe crashes, in certain vehicles, was the result of a safety related defect.â during the investigation a complex failure was studied that can result in non-deployment of subject vehicle air bags and other restraint system devices in severe crash events. The subject vehicles may be equipped with an airbag control unit (acu) for the supplemental restraint system (SRS) electronic control unit (ecu) manufactured by zf-trw. â the ecu receives signals from crash sensors mounted in the vehicle and deploys the vehicle air bags and seat belt pretensioners in accordance with m
Questions about the 2012 Acura TL
- What are the most common problems with the 2012 Acura TL?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: air bags (43 complaints, typically around 50,000 miles); transmission (27 complaints, typically around 39,500 miles); steering (25 complaints, typically around 70,500 miles).
- How many recalls does the 2012 Acura TL have?
- 3 recalls listed by NHTSA, the latest from June 27, 2019 (air bags). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
- Is the 2012 a bad year for the Acura TL?
- It is 8th of 15 TL model years by number of complaints, with 130 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.