Safety ratings
1997 Acura TL 4-DR.
- Lane departure warningNo
- Forward collision warningNo
- Electronic stability controlNo
Crash test videos & photos
No public crash-test footage is available for this vehicle.
Recalls (2)
- POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONCampaign 99V227000 · 19/08/1999
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. A TRANSMISSION CASE BOLT CAN LOOSEN AND FALL OUT ALLOWING THE TRANSMISSION TO DISENGAGE FROM THE DIFFERENTIAL.
Risk: THE VEHICLE COULD LOSE POWER TO THE DRIVE WHEELS WITHOUT WARNING. ALSO, SHIFTING THE TRANSMISSION INTO THE PARK POSITION WOULD NOT LOCK THE WHEELS, AND A PARKED VEHICLE COULD MOVE UNEXPECTEDLY IF THE PARKING BRAKE IS NOT SET.
Fix: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A REDESIGNED BOLT.
- SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINTCampaign 99V069000 · 10/05/1999
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. CERTAIN VEHICLES WERE MANUFACTURED WITH BALL JOINTS THAT CAN PREMATURELY WEAR OUT AND, IN THE WORSE CASE, THE BALL JOINT WOULD SEPARATE CAUSING THE FRONT SUSPENSION TO COLLAPSE.
Risk: THIS CONDITION WOULD RESULT IN VEHICLE DECELERATION AND A SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER. ALSO STEERING CONTROLLABILITY WOULD BE REDUCED.
Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FRONT SUSPENSION LOWER BALL JOINTS.
Owner complaints
Most-reported areas
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM9
- AIR BAGS5
- VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL5
- POWER TRAIN4
- UNKNOWN OR OTHER3
- ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING2
- SUSPENSION2
- STEERING2
Read individual complaints (33 most recent)
These are unverified consumer reports filed with NHTSA, shown as submitted.
- 12/13/2002· POWER TRAIN
TRANSMISSION FAILURE ON MY 97 ACURA 3.2TL
- 11/07/2002· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
CALLED DEALERSHIP, ACURA OF BOARDMAN SERVICE DEPT., SAID THEY DIDN'T KNOW WHAT IT WAS AND HAD NEVER HEARD OF INGNITION FAILURE BEING A PROBLEM. DID RESEARCH BECAUSE OF THE ODD AND DAMAGING BEHAVIOR OF THE IGNITION SWITCH TO MY VEHICLE AND BECAME AWARE OF MAJOR RECAL ON IGNITION SWITCHES. HOWEVER THE RECALL DOES NOT INCLUDE MY SPECIFIC MAKER IN MY SPECIFIC YEAR BUT IT DOES INCLUDE MY MAKE AND A DIFFERENT YEAR. WILL CONTACT ACURA/HONDA ABOUT HAVING THEM REPLACE. IT IS DEFINITELY A HAZARD! DT
- 11/05/2004· AIR BAGS
1997 ACURA 3.2 TL FAULTY AIRBAG. MY ACURA RECENTLY DISPLAYED A SRS ERROR. I BROUGHT THE CAR INTO RADLEY ACURA IN FALLS CHURCH WHERE THEY TOLD ME THAT A POTENTIALLY FAULTY AIRBAG IS NOT COVERED BY ACURA AND THAT TO HAVE THE AIRBAG REPLACED TO PREVENT IT FROM EITHER DEPLOYING RANDOMLY OR NOT DEPLOYING AT ALL IT WOULD COST ME OVER $1200. *AK
- 10/20/1997· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
ENGINE HESITATION WHEN ACCELERATING FROM SLOW SPEED.
- 09/28/1999· VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
VEHICLE DEACCELERATES 65 MPH UNTIL 0. YH
- 09/22/1999· SUSPENSION
HAD RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE #99V069000. CONTACTED DEALER & SET APPOINTMENT. TOOK VEHICLE IN. LATER PICKED VEHICLE UP. QUESTIONED ABOUT FRONT ALIGNMENT. INFORMED NONE DONE & WASN'T NEEDED. WENT TO DIFFERENT DEALER & INFORMED IT SHOULD BE DONE AFTER RECALL REPAIRS. TIRES WERE WORN ON THE EDGE. *AK
- 08/29/2018· STEERING,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,WHEELS
ALTHOUGH MY CAR IS ABOUT 20 YEARS OLD NOW, I'VE DONE A LOT OF RESEARCH ABOUT THE PROBLEMS I'VE EXPERIENCED AND IT APPEARS CARS MADE FROM 1997 EXPERIENCED MALFUNCTIONING IGNITION SWITCHES. MY KEY WILL NOT START MY ENGINE AND HAS GOTTEN STUCK INSIDE THE CYLINDER MANY TIMES. I JUST REPLACED THE BATTERY AS WELL DUE TO MY VEHICLE STALLING WHEN I TURN IT ON. THERE SHOULD BE NO REASON OTHER THAN THE FAULTY MACHINERY THAT'S GIVING ME ALL THIS TROUBLE. MANY OF THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE THIS MAKE, MODEL, AND YEAR HAVE EXPIRENCED THESE EXACT ISSUES. I BELIEVE YOU GUYS HAVE ISSUED A RECALL WHICH IS WHY I'M INFORMING THE COMPANY. HOPEFULLY YOU CAN HELP. THANK YOU .
- 08/24/1999· VEHICLE SPEED CONTROLCrash
VEHICLE LURCHED FORWARD / SUDDENLY ACCELERATED, CAUSING A CRASH. DEALER COULD NOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK *YC
- 08/21/2002· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
ABS LIGHT ILLUMINATED. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND THEY STATED BRAKES WERE GOOD. ABS LIGHT IS STILL COMING ON, CONSUMER FEELS THERE IS A PROBLEM BECAUSE ABS LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
- 08/09/1999· VEHICLE SPEED CONTROLCrash
VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED, RESULTING IN A MINOR COLLISION. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK
- 08/03/1998· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
HORN SENSORS ARE DIFFICULT TO LOCATE IN EMERGENCY SITUATIONS. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
- 07/27/2004· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,EQUIPMENT
DIGITAL A/C DISPLAY STOPPED FUNCTIONING. DEALER SAID COMPONENT COST WOULD BE @ $1,600.00 (85% VALUE OF CAR). OFFERED NO ALTERNATIVE (AFTER-MARKET, USED PART). COINCIDED WITH DASH LIGHTS GOING OUT, INDICATED GEAR POSITION (NUETRAL, REVERSE, DRIVE, ETC).*AK
- 07/16/1998· STEERING,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
IGNITION/STEERING COLUMN FAILED.
- 07/10/2008· ELECTRICAL SYSTEMFire
MY 1997 ACURA TL 2.5 SPONTANEOUSLY BURST INTO FLAMES IN THE AREA OF THE STARTER. THIS WAS CLEARLY AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM. *TR
- 07/10/2000· SUSPENSION,AIR BAGS,SEATSCrash
VEHICLE LOST ALL CONTROL RESULTING IN COLLISION DUE TO POSSIBLE RECALL RELATED FAILURE OF THE BALL JOINTS (99V-069), NO DEPLOYMENT OF BOTH FRONTAL AIR BAGS DURING COLLISION AND THE HEAD REST FAILED, THE BOTTOM POSTS THAT SUPPORT THE HEAD RESTS, SPLIT THE HEAD OF THE DRIVER THROUGH THE PADDING MATERIAL. *MJS
- 07/09/2001· POWER TRAIN
THE HE CAR WAS PARKED IN PARK AND SHIFTED BY ITSELF DOWN A SLIGHT INCLINE WHICH CAUSED IT TO ROLL EROVOV ROLL D. *AK
- 07/08/2005· ELECTRICAL SYSTEMFire
DT: THERE WAS HEAVY RAIN THE NIGHT BEFORE THE INCIDENT OCCURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN DRIVEWAY WHEN THE CONSUMER GOT UP AND WENT TO GET IN THE CAR AND FOUND THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR, DRIVER SIDE DASH , AND DRIVER SIDE SEAT HAD BURNED. THE FLOORBOARD WAS DAMAGED BY DRIPPING PLASTIC. THE ONLY HOT WIRE WAS IN THE DOOR LOCKING MECHANISM. THE FIRE WOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED IF THERE WAS A FUSE OPERATIONAL IN THE CIRCUIT. THE BATTERY WAS ALMOST BRAND NEW, AND IT WAS ALMOST DEAD. THE CALLER STATED THAT THE ONLY REASON THE FIRE DIED OUT WAS BECAUSE IT RAN OUT OF OXYGEN. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CALLED, AND HAS NOT RETURNED THE CALL. ALSO THE CALLER INDICATED THAT THE DOOR LOCK MADE A NOISE EVEN AFTER THE DOORS WERE LOCKED BUT NOT ALL THE TIME. *AK THE VEHICLE WAS DETERMINED UNREPAIRABLE. *SC *JB
- 06/29/2001· STRUCTURE
WHILE TRAVELING 20-25MPH ON DRY ROAD CONDITIONS WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING BUMPER FELL OFF VEHICLE. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS.*AK
- 06/28/2002· AIR BAGSCrash
AT A 25MPH VEHICLE CRASH DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG DID NOT FULLY DEPLOY. CAUSE UNKNOWN DEALER NOTIFIED.*AKI
- 06/19/2000· POWER TRAIN
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
- 06/02/2000· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,UNKNOWN OR OTHER
ENGINE CHECK LIGHT IS ON FOR THE 3RD TIME. ACURA OF MEMPHIS, TN HAS SERVICED THE VEHICLE FOR THIS COMPLAINT. LUJACKS AUTO PLAXA IN DAVENPORT, IA HAS SERVICED THIS VEHICLE FOR THIS COMPLAINT. I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY ACURA DEALERS SERVICE DEPT THAT IT IS OK FOR ME TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE BECAUSE THE PROBLEM WITH THE ENGINE CHECK LIGHT BEING ON IS DUE TO CLOGGED EMISSION SENSORS. I AM QUITE AFRAID TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE WITH THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR LIGHT IN. I AM CURRENTLY SCHEDULED TO TAKE THE VEHICLE IN FOR THE 3RD SERVICE FOR THIS COMPLAINT TO ACURA OF LISLE, ILLINOIS WHAT ARE MY OPTIONS SHOULD THIS ENGINE LIGHT COME ON FOR THE 4TH TIME. I CERTAINLY AM NOT ABLE TO SELL THIS VEHICLE AT THIS TIME WITH THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON AND NEE TO KNOW WHAT MY OPTIONS ARE?.
- 05/21/2006· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
MY 1997 ACURA TL HAS BEEN ACTING UP. IT WOULD STALL PERIODICALLY WITHOUT ANY WARNING (I.E WHEN I WAS GOING ON THE HIGHWAY, THE CAR RAN JUST FINE; BUT ALL THE SUDDEN I LOSE POWER AND THE CAR STALL. IT ALSO HAPPEN WHEN I TOOK THE INSIDE ROAD.) WHEN I TRIED TO RESTARTED THE CAR. IT WOULDN'T STARTED. I WAITED 10 MINUTES LATER, IT STARTED, BUT ONLY TO STALL AGAIN AFTER 5 MINUTES.) I HAD TO HAVE TOW IT TO MY MECHANIC BUT THE CAR STARTED FINE WHEN HE TRIED IT. HE RAN A COMPUTER DIAGNOSTIC TEST BUT COULDN'T NOT FIND ANY THING WRONG WITH IT. THE CAR WORK FINE FOR ABOUT A WEEK; THEN IT START STALLING AGAIN. I HAVE TO WAIT FROM 10 MIN TO AN HOUR SOMETIME FOR THE CAR TO START UP AGAIN. THIS PROBLEM HAS CAUSE ME TO ALMOST GET INTO SEVERAL WRECKS AND MADE OTHER DRIVERS ANGRY AT ME. I CALLED THE DEALER AND THEY SAID MY CAR HAS SOME RECALLS WHICH PREVIOUS OWNER HAD ALREADY HAD IT FIXED. I DO NOT HAVE THE MONEY TO BRING IT TO MY DEALER. AND I CANNOT FIGURE OUT WHAT IS WRONG WITH IT. *NM
- 04/29/1997· VISIBILITY
WINDSHIELD WIPERS DO NOT CLEAR SNOW FROM WINDSHIELD, CAUSING LARGE BLIND SPOT ON DRIVER'S SIDE.
- 04/27/1998· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
WAS DRIVING AT 5 MPH OR LESS NOTICED AN ODOR OF BURNED WIRE. MAKING A RIGHT TO PULL INTO PARKING SPACE WHEN CONSUMER SAW SMOKE COMING FROM STEERING COLUMN. VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED, CAUSING THE CONSUMER TO HIT FRONT OF A BUILDING THAT WAS LOCATED AT LEAST 12 FEET AWAY, AND LOST CONTROL. DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE PROBLEM. *AK
- 04/07/2000· UNKNOWN OR OTHER
FUEL CHARCOAL CANISTER OVERFLOWS AND SPRAYS OVER UNDER CARRIAGE OF VEHICLE. GAS FUMES CIRCULATE INTO CABIN THROUGH AIR CONDITIONER ASPHYXIATING DRIVER AND PASSENGERS WHILE DRIVING OR STOPPED. AFTER PARKING CAR IN HOME GARAGE GAS FUMES ARE TOO STRONG TO CLOSE GARAGE DOOR FOR HOURS. THE GAS FUMES ARE STRONG ENOUGH TO BECOME A MAJOR FIRE HAZARD. WHILE I WAS DRIVING MY CAR I BECAME VERY ILL, DIZZY, NAUSEATED, EYES STARTED TO BURN, THAN VISION BLURRED, ALMOST CRASHED AND HAD TO PULL TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. WE NOTIFIED ACURA IN OUR LAS VEGAS AND FOUND OUT THAT THEY WERE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM, YET WILL NOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. *AK
- 03/24/1998· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULICCrash
BRAKES: DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35MPH, SLOWED DOWN TO 10MPH TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN AND THERE WERE NO BRAKES. PUSHED PEDAL TO THE FLOOR AND BRAKES DID NOT CATCH , RAN INTO THE SIDE OF ANOTHER CAR, RESULTING IN A COLLISION/INJURIES AND VEHICLE WA STOTALLED. THIS IS AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM WHICH ALWAYS HAPPENS WHEN AT LOW SPEED. *AK
- 03/11/1999· VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
VEHICLE DECELERATES WHILE DRIVING. OCT. 25, 1999 THE STALLING PROBLEM NOW HAS HAPPEN 7 TIMES.
- 02/17/2005· POWER TRAIN
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION KEEPS POPPING WHEN CHANGING GEARS. BROUGHT BACK FOR SERVICE WHEN UNDER WARRANTY. TRANSMISSION FLUID WAS FLUSHED. PROBLEM WENT AWAY FOR A MONTH. AFTER A MONTH PROBLEM WOULD ARISE AGAIN. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON SINCE PURCHASE OF VEHICLE. I FRIEND WAS THE SAME MODEL, HAS THE SAME PROBLEM. *JB
- 02/09/1998· VISIBILITY
DRIVER'S SIDE WINDSHIELD WIPER BLADE DOES NOT GO OVER THE END OF THE WINDOW ENOUGH, CAUSING A 7-8" BLIND SPOT.
- 02/01/1999· AIR BAGS
UNABLE TO HAVE ON / OFF AIR BAG SWITCH INSTALLED DUE TO LACK OF PARTS,PARTS NOT DEVELOPED YET. *YC
- 02/01/1999· TIRES
TIRE EXPERIENCED SIDE WALL BULGE - ( BRIDGESTONE 205/60/R15 91A ). *YC
- 01/31/2000· UNKNOWN OR OTHER
SINCE THE WEATHER HAS BECOME INCREASINGLY COLDER THE PAINT IN THE FRONT OF MY CAR HAS BEEN SPONTANEOUSLY PEELING AND CHIPPING. NO SAFETY DEFECT.
- 01/09/2003· AIR BAGS
WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATES, THE DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *NLM