2003 Acura TL Electrical system Problems
- Complaints
- 15about this part
- Share
- 4%of 391 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 84,836miles
- Trend
- StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 15 complaints about the electrical system of the 2003 Acura TL, 4% of the 391 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 84,836 miles. 4 of these say a crash was involved and 1 a fire, according to the filers.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“By accident, I am able to turn off the engine and remove the key from the ignition with the transmission still in gear. Campaign #10v364000 covers honda version of my car, #12v573000 covers Acura mdx only, nothing for my Acura version of the honda sedans.”
NHTSA complaint #10904919, filed 2016-09, 220,000 miles“My daughter died in a accident on november 7, 2013 in the Acura TL 2003. She had been telling me that it felt like the ignition was sticking and would speed up. I would check with my local mechanic and he told me acuras are known to idle high. I believe that her car problem was the cause of the accident and the police could not give me a reason for the accident. She was 19 and a senior in high school and was a good child.”
NHTSA complaint #10595989, filed 2014-06, 120,000 miles“My brother was driving my car one then it all the sudden car just stopped when was going and bad part was it stopped in traffic he almost got hit it was scary. I got lots of problems with this car please help!”
NHTSA complaint #10851525, filed 2016-03, 55,000 miles“Interlock operation of ignition switch does not function properly allowing ignition key to be turned off and the key removed without shifting the transmission to park. This is the same defect described in NHTSA campaign no. 05v025000, although that campaign was for Acura TL model years 1999-2000, and did not include model year 2003. I have recently experienced this problem where the car rolled back after I exited the vehicle requiring that I open the driver's door, jump into the car while in motion and depress the brake. …”
NHTSA complaint #10903329, filed 2016-09, 119,500 miles“In forward motion, freeway. Electrical. Tranny. Car currently reads 138,356 miles. Around roughly 134,000 miles the vehicle check engine light began to flash as a result from rpms reaching about 6 on the cluster RPM display due what felt like slipping into to 3rd or 4th gear. Slipping however usually results with what I would consider a slamming experience from eventually catching and shifting into the correct gear. This happened as I was merging onto freeway. Car did not catch gear but nuetralized until I switched to sport shift mode and displayed 4 gear and the vehicle jetted off. …”
NHTSA complaint #11081151, filed 2018-03, 138,000 milesRelated service bulletins
- 10130044Jan 10, 2018Servicenews article - Is the navigation screen clock reading 00:00? We?re aware of this issue and have it under investigation.
- 10127358Jan 10, 2018Servicenews article - Is the navigation screen clock reading 00:00? We?re aware of this issue and have it under investigation.
- 10117869Aug 31, 2017Tech line summary article - Is the navigation screen clock reading 00:00? We?re aware of this issue and are looking for a solution.
- 10032775May 9, 2008Acura: warranty extension: vehicle warranty mileage. A federal court provided final approval of the settlement of a class action lawsuit alleging that the odometers on certain…
- 10024561Feb 5, 2008Acura service campaign: see document search button for owner letter. Warranty extension: opds unit or opds sensor triggers srs dtc's 15-1, 15-2, 15-3. Csc was received.
- 10018038Jul 1, 2005Speedometer shops can transfer odometer mileage. Acura. Servicenews.
- 10014093Aug 16, 2004Navigation error message-dvd disk read error.
- 10014049Jun 16, 2004If navigation system intermittently displays the message, database old see your dealer, apply the navigational system operating system software patch.
- 10012658Apr 23, 2004Srs indicator comes on with srs diagnostic trouble code.
- 10014075Nov 16, 2002Srs warning light on after body shop repair.
Electrical system: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2013 | 6 | 10% |
| 2012 | 11 | 8% |
| 2010 | 2 | 3% |
| 2009 | 3 | 7% |
| 2008 | 15 | 12% |
| 2007 | 25 | 20% |
| 2006 | 31 | 13% |
| 2005 | 28 | 7% |
| 2004 | 11 | 2% |
| 2003 | 15 | 4% |
| 2002 | 12 | 4% |
| 2001 | 5 | 3% |
| 2000 | 25 | 10% |
| 1999 | 58 | 37% |
| 1998 | 3 | 15% |
| 1997 | 8 | 35% |
| 1996 | 2 | 8% |
Other parts of the 2003 Acura TL
246 complaintsAir bags
50 complaintsVehicle speed control
20 complaintsOther or unknown
18 complaintsBody and structure
15 complaintsEngine cooling
14 complaintsSuspension
14 complaintsExterior lighting
10 complaintsTires
10 complaintsBrakes
9 complaintsEngine
8 complaintsEquipment
8 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2003 Acura TL
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 29, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology