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Acura TLModel year report

2009 Acura TL Problems

Compared with other Acura TL years

Typical for this model

50/100 1.0× a typical year · 50 = typical

Based only on NHTSA complaints, recalls and investigations. Not adjusted for how many vehicles were sold, and not a reliability rating. How this is calculated

Complaints
42filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
60,038miles, 24 complaints with mileage
Recalls
3campaigns on record
Trend
RisingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% higher than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA crash rating
—overall rating starts with 2011 models
EPA fuel economy
21 mpgcombined, 3.5L 6-cyl FWD · 18 city / 26 hwy

Sources: NHTSA records for the 2009 Acura TL (complaints, recalls, investigations), NHTSA crash tests, EPA fuel economy. Report an error

NHTSA recorded 42 consumer complaints for the 2009 Acura TL. The part named most often is air bags, with 19 complaints (45% of the total), followed by body and structure (6) and visibility (6). 24 of the complaints include a mileage, and 42% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 60,038 miles. Of all complaints, 5 involved a crash, 3 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns and 89 technical service bulletins for this model year. Air bags complaints overlap with 3 recall campaigns covering the inflator module and 32 technical service bulletins filed under the same part. Body and structure complaints overlap with 2 technical service bulletins filed under the same part. Compared with the other 4 Acura TL model years that have at least 25 complaints and are old enough to compare, this one scores 50 out of 100, where 50 is a typical year for the model (typical for this model). The comparison allows for the era and for how long each year has had to collect complaints, but not for how many vehicles were sold.

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: Other or unknown (1), Seats (1).

Example complaints

Air bags: “Takata recall- we received a phone call from the fayetteville Acura dealership in march 2016 informing us of the recall. We were told the airbags in our 2009 Acura TL should be replaced in the early portion of the summer 2016. In july 2016 we had not received any updated info on the recall/replacement of our airbags. I contacted fayetteville Acura and they informed us the parts were taking longer to come into the dealership for replacement. In october 2016 we still had not been contacted to have our airbag replaced. …”

NHTSA complaint #10946740, filed 2017-01, 50,000 miles

Body and structure: “I just bought the Acura TL 2009 at 4/23/2013 and with a month driving the car the paint begin cracking ,fading and peeling in the all body part of the car and I look ugly when you look the car from any view no matter if raining or sunny you still see the cracking in the car and getting ugly day by day and the dealer don't want to deal with this matter what I can do with this problem??”

NHTSA complaint #10523173, filed 2013-07, 91,000 miles

Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors): “About 2 weeks after I purchased my brand new Acura TL, I noticed that my driver side window rattles loudly when I shut the door, especially when my window is rolled down part way. Each day the rattle gets worse and now the window rattles when I drive on bumpy roads. I called the dealership and made an appointment to have my driver side window fixed. The rattling noise is so loud that I am concerned that the window will break and will cause bodily harm. The service advisor insisted that there wasn't a problem and refused to take any sort of action. …”

NHTSA complaint #10326860, filed 2010-04, 1,000 miles

Transmission and drivetrain: “I've had my vehicle stop in the middle of the road due to a mechanical recall that went undiagnosed.( over oil consumption recall, in which I was completely unaware until finally receiving the letter prodivided) I was driving off of pleasant street in hanson ma, crossing onto the main road when my vehicle engine just shut down and froze the steering wheel. Also a police officer was on the scene to help me safely off the road. …”

NHTSA complaint #11251847, filed 2019-08, 186,000 miles

Mileage when problems were reported

42% of the 24 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 16,000 and 96,000 miles.

17%0–1013%10–2513%25–5013%50–7525%75–10017%100–1504%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (24 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 60,038 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.

20092013201516201720192025
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 2009 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 AWD/FWDnot rated5 / 5——5 · 9.3% risk

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.

Fuel economy and running cost

EPA ratings for each 2009 Acura TL version. Annual fuel cost is the EPA's estimate at its current fuel prices for 15,000 miles a year (55% city driving).

VersionEngineTransmissionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yr
TL 2WD3.5L 6-cyl5-speed automatic182621$3,900
TL 4WD3.7L 6-cyl5-speed automatic172520$4,100

Source: U.S. EPA and Department of Energy, fueleconomy.gov. Ratings are for comparing vehicles; real-world mileage varies with driving and conditions.

Recalls and investigations

Recall details for the 2009 Acura TL → · Check a VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls

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. 89 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 89 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

How many NHTSA complaints does the 2009 Acura TL have?

NHTSA recorded 42 consumer complaints for the 2009 Acura TL as of Oct 29, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 2009 Acura TL is reported most often?

Air bags is named most often, in 19 complaints (45% of the total), followed by body and structure with 6.

Has the 2009 Acura TL been recalled?

NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What gas mileage does the 2009 Acura TL get?

The EPA rates the 2009 Acura TL (TL 2WD, 3.5L 6-cyl) at 21 mpg combined, 18 city and 26 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $3,900 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.

At what mileage are problems with the 2009 Acura TL reported?

Among the 24 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 60,038 miles and the middle half falls between 16,000 and 96,000 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 29, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Crash ratings are from NHTSA’s New Car Assessment Program. Fuel economy is from the EPA and DOE (fueleconomy.gov).

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.