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Acura TLModel year report

2002 Acura TL Problems

Complaints
333filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
64,500miles, 213 complaints with mileage
Recalls
7campaigns on record
Trend
RisingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% higher than in the 3 years before.

Sources: NHTSA records for the 2002 Acura TL (complaints, recalls, investigations), NHTSA crash tests. Report an error

What owners report

Owner complaints for this model year center almost entirely on the automatic transmission, which frequently slipped, downshifted unexpectedly, or failed outright, and which many owners say was replaced more than once. Most transmission complaints were filed at low mileage, often under 60,000 miles. The next most common topics are the driver airbag inflator recalls and a rear-view mirror that leaks fluid onto the interior.

  1. Transmission and drivetrain

    Automatic transmission slip, harsh shifts and failure

    • 193 complaints (58%)
    • median 56,500 mi at 3.7 yrs old (139 state mileage)
    • 10 mention a crash, fire or injury
    • owner-quoted repair $4,400 (median of 9 quotes)
    • filed 2002–2023

    Owners describe the automatic transmission slipping, revving without moving the car, shifting roughly between gears, or downshifting suddenly at highway speed. Many reports say the dealer replaced the transmission, sometimes with a remanufactured unit, and that the same symptoms returned afterwards. Others say repairs were declined once the extended transmission warranty expired. Frequently reported between roughly 25,000 and 60,000 miles, with later reports up to about 130,000 miles.

    Recall 04V1760001 related service bulletin

    What to check: Ask for the transmission service history and whether the vehicle had the automatic transmission recall work done, and what unit was installed. Test drive at highway speed and note any slipping, delayed engagement or harsh downshifts.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “Vehical slips out of gears while driving on the hwy also feels like the car wheels or maybe even the transmission locks up while on the hwy . A very bad jerk , it seems like the gears are locking up for a quick second after the jerk it will proceed on . The jerks. These jerks are starting to damage my suspension and also my gears.. …”

    NHTSA complaint #11002901, filed 2017-07, 250,000 miles

    “Transmission on my 2002 acuta TL-s has been replaced on two occassions. I have no reason to beleive that this problem has been corrected, the 3rd replacement transmission is now mis-shifing at highway speeds. Dealer nor Acura has provided any explanation as to why this model vehicle needs so many transmission replacements.”

    NHTSA complaint #10000162, filed 2002-12, 25,000 miles
  2. Air bags

    Driver airbag inflator recalls and deployment concerns

    • 35 complaints (11%)
    • median 101,520 mi at 9.3 yrs old (24 state mileage)
    • 13 mention a crash, fire or injury
    • filed 2001–2026

    Several owners describe airbag-related concerns: bags that did not deploy in a crash, deployment at low speed, or an SRS warning light that stayed on after recall work. Complaints also mention that a dealer said the vehicle was included in a driver inflator campaign and that parts had to be ordered. Reported across a wide mileage range, from about 65,000 to over 165,000 miles.

    Recall 19V499000Recall 19V182000Recall 15V3200003 related service bulletins

    What to check: Check the VIN with a dealer for open driver airbag inflator recalls and confirm any completed repairs. Note whether the SRS warning light is on before and after purchase.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “First off my driver side power window has never worked. I changed my window motor with the regulator twice. That did not fix my window. I changed my drivers master window module twice. I checked all of the fuses and the power window fuses were good. My power window still doesn't work after $400 in parts and $400 in labor. I took my car to the Acura dealership because my car had a few recalls. The person helping me at the dealership was real rude and disrespectful. He told me the only recall I had was for my srs airbag. He had to order the part. …”

    NHTSA complaint #10653244, filed 2014-11, 170,000 miles

    “The contact owns a 2002 Acura TL. The contact referenced recall 10v041000 (air bags); the repair was performed on the vehicle november 2010 but the srs light was still illuminated. The contact spoke with the dealer who stated that she would have to pay to have the light turned on. The vehicle had not been repaired. The current and failure mileages were 165,615.”

    NHTSA complaint #10363492, filed 2010-11, 165,615 miles

Buying note. Transmission history matters most on this model year: ask for records of replacements or recall work and test drive at highway speed before committing. Also confirm open airbag inflator recalls are closed on the VIN and budget for wear items such as brakes and the blower motor circuit on a car of this age.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.

NHTSA recorded 333 consumer complaints for the 2002 Acura TL. 213 of the complaints include a mileage, and 42% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 64,500 miles. Of all complaints, 25 involved a crash, 2 a fire, 17 an injury, 1 a death, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 7 recall campaigns and 90 technical service bulletins for this model year.

Not compared (before 2008). Model years 2008–2023 of the same vehicle that have at least 25 complaints are compared, and a model needs at least 3 of them.

Which parts are reported most

Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.

Also reported: Suspension (7), Engine (6), Exterior lighting (6), Other or unknown (6), Seat belts (5), Steering (4), Seats (3), Electronic stability control (2), Fuel system (1).

Example complaints

Transmission and drivetrain: “While driving the car there was a noticable shudder, the d5 light started flashing and it had problems upshifting between gears. This is a known defect for this car's tranmission, (I now know). I contacted accure and was told it was out of warrenty and they would be of no assistance. Very disappointed as I loved this car...”

NHTSA complaint #10458680, filed 2012-05, 104,530 miles

Air bags: “We got an april 2019 letter for an important safety recall which came too late! My car was totaled in a accident in which both airbags deployed. It did cause hurtful pressure on my grandson's chest with an emergency bill over $500 and 2 days of losses wages. Ok for which we had no compensation. Car was in motion on highway street in which the other party was ticketed on an illegal u turn.”

NHTSA complaint #11197014, filed 2019-04, 154,000 miles

Brakes: “I am on my tenth transmission on an '02 Acura TL type s. Acura is well aware of the problem and will do nothing but continue to put in bad trannies. Someone needs to stop this before someone gets killed!”

NHTSA complaint #10126453, filed 2005-06, 70,100 miles

Vehicle speed control: “I was pulling out of a parking lot when the vehical floored it own gas peddal. I was able to stop by both feet on the brake, but engine continued full acceleration. Trying to get home using heavy break pressure the gas peddel released (five minutes latter).”

NHTSA complaint #10061999, filed 2004-03, 43,000 miles

Mileage when problems were reported

42% of the 213 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 34,000 and 103,500 miles.

3%0–1011%10–2528%25–5014%50–7517%75–10018%100–1509%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (213 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 64,500 miles.

Complaints by year filed

Trend: rising. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% higher than in the 3 years before.

56’03’06’09’12’15’18’21’26
Complaints by year the complaint was filed with NHTSA. Red bars: the last 3 full calendar years used for the trend. The current year (2026) is partial.

Crash test ratings

NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 2002 Acura TL. Frontal results are shown driver / passenger; rollover shows the star rating and NHTSA's estimated risk of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.

VersionOverallFrontalSideSide poleRollover
TL · sedan not rated4 / 4———

Ratings before the 2011 model year come from an older, less demanding test and are not comparable with ratings for 2011 and later.

Source: NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (5-Star Safety Ratings), nhtsa.gov/ratings.

Recalls and investigations

See all 7 recalls for the 2002 Acura TL → · Check a VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls

NHTSA investigations

Technical service bulletins

TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 90 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 90 bulletins →

Other model years of the Acura TL

YearComplaintsMedian miRecallsCrash ★MPGScore (50 = typical)Trend
20141736,0003423—Falling
20136269,503342320 · FewerFalling
201213055,00033–42381 · MoreFalling
20112089,5003—21—Falling
20106462,8303—2150 · TypicalFalling
20094260,0383—2150 · TypicalRising
200812476,5892—2161 · TypicalFalling
200712479,0002—21Not compared (before 2008)Falling
200624788,0004—21Not compared (before 2008)Falling
200538891,0005—21Not compared (before 2008)Falling
200455190,0004—21Not compared (before 2008)Falling
200339175,9005——Not compared (before 2008)Falling
200233364,5007——Not compared (before 2008)Rising
200114981,9363——Not compared (before 2008)Falling
2000249110,4006——Not compared (before 2008)Falling
1999157112,0004——Not compared (before 2008)Falling
19982077,5002———Stable
19972386,2602———Stable
19962668,1002——Not compared (before 2008)Falling

All Acura TL model years · Best and worst years by complaints

Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems with the 2002 Acura TL?

Owner complaints for this model year center almost entirely on the automatic transmission, which frequently slipped, downshifted unexpectedly, or failed outright, and which many owners say was replaced more than once. The issues reported most often: Automatic transmission slip, harsh shifts and failure; Driver airbag inflator recalls and deployment concerns.

How many NHTSA complaints does the 2002 Acura TL have?

NHTSA recorded 333 consumer complaints for the 2002 Acura TL as of Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 2002 Acura TL is reported most often?

Transmission and drivetrain is named most often, in 224 complaints (67% of the total), followed by air bags with 42.

Has the 2002 Acura TL been recalled?

NHTSA lists 7 recall campaigns for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

At what mileage are problems with the 2002 Acura TL reported?

Among the 213 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 64,500 miles and the middle half falls between 34,000 and 103,500 miles; 42% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Crash ratings are from NHTSA’s New Car Assessment Program.

Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.