17 of the
197 complaints about the 1999 Acura TL are about the
engine — 9% of everything
reported for this model year.
Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before
163,900 miles.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 ACURA TL. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED AND THE ENGINE STOPPED. THE BRAKE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT HAD TO TURN THE KEY TO THE OFF POSITION, SHIFT INTO PARK, AND TURN THE KEY IN THE IGNITION IN ORDER FOR THE VEHICLE TO START. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. TWO DAYS LATER, THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 225,000. UPDATED 01/25/2017*CT THE CONSUMER HAS SINCE SOLD THE VEHICLE. UPDATED 02/14/17.
NHTSA complaint #10924247 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 198,000 milesWest Melbourne, FL
ENGINE
ENGINE SHUTS OFF WHILE DRIVING AT ABOUT 65 MPH CAUSING THE CAR TO LOSE SPEED, HARD TO STEER AND HARD TO BRAKE. I HEARD THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ABOUT THIS CARS (ACURA).WITH THE SAME (SWITCH) PROBLEM. WHY MY CAR IS NOT INCLUDED ??
NHTSA complaint #10782054 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 132,000 milesDedham, MS
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 ACURA TL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN DECELERATING, THE ENGINE STALLED AND THE KEY WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 132,000.
NHTSA complaint #10748549 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 163,900 milesJacksonville, FL
ENGINE
THE VEHICLE JERK WHEN YOU SHIFT THE GEARS WOULD SLIP INTERMITTENTLY WHILE IN DRIVE, REVERSE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION MAY GO OUT,THE TCC SOLENOID AND THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 164,000.
NHTSA complaint #10652200 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 163,000 milesBrookeville, MD
ENGINE
ON 3/15/14 MY 1999 ACURA TL STALLED/ENGINE SHUT OF COMPLETELY WITHOUT ANY WARNING WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT 65 MPH. 2ND TIME IT HAPPENED, I WAS DRIVING 40 MPH ON 3/22/14 & 3RD TIME IT HAPPENED I WAS DRIVING 10 MPH ON 3/27/14. EACH TIME IT HAPPENED THE ENGINE SHUT OFF COMPLETELY BUT, THE RADIO AND WARNING LIGHT IN THE DASH FLASHED ON AND OFF. I WAS ABLE TO COAST TO A STOP WITHOUT POWER STEERING. AFTER 3-4 ATTEMPS TO RESTART THE CAR, I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE OFF WITHOUT INCIDENT. IT HAPPENS SO RANDOM AND WITHOUT WARNING THAT I AM TERRIFIED TO DRIVE THIS CAR. THE CAR HAS HAD A RECALL OF THE IGNITION SWITCH PERFORMED IN 2003 BY THE ACURA DEALER. ON 3/24/14 I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER AND THEY HAVE TROUBLE DIAGNOSING THE PROBLEM. THEY KEPT THE CAR FOR 4 DAYS. THEY REPLACED THE MAIN FUEL RELAY, PERFORMED AN ENGINE DIAGNOSTIC CHECK, PERFORMED A RECALL ON THE IGNITION INTERLOCK AND ROAD TESTED THE CAR. I PICKED UP THE CAR ON 3/27/14 AND IT STALLED LATER THAT DAY AS I WAS DRIVING AWAY FROM MY HOME. I TOOK THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALER ON 3/28/14 AND THEY STILL HAVE THE CAR. I WANT THE NTSA TO INVESTIGATE THIS ENGINE STALL ISSUE WITH THE 1999 ACURA TL. I CALLED ACURA CLIENT RELATIONS TO REPORT THE PROBLEM ON 3/26/14. I ASKED THEM TO SERIOUSLY LOOK INTO THIS COMPLAINT. I BELIEVE NTSA SHOULD GET INVOLVED TO GET ACURA TO CHECK/REBUILD THE FAULTY IGNITION SWITCH AND CONDUCT A FRESH RECALL. THIS IS A DANGEROUS & SERIOUS PROBLEM THAT IS SIMILAR TO THE RECENT GM IGNITION SWITCH RECALL. ANY VEHICLE THAT SUDDENLY AND SILENTLY SHUT DOWN WHILE DRIVING INSTANTLY AND WITHOUT WARNING NEEDS NTSA'S IMMEDIATE ATTENTION BEFORE INJURYS AND DEATHS OCCUR. I HAVE LOST ALL FAITH IN ACURA TO SUCCESSFULLY REPAIR THIS IGNITION SWITCH/STALLING ISSUE AND CALL UPON NTSA TO GET INVOLVED TO INVESTIGATE THIS COMPLAINT TO DO WHAT IT IS SUPPOSED TO DO..SAVE LIVES AND PREVENT INJUTY.
NHTSA complaint #10576477 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 116,500 milesRIO Linda, CA
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
I WAS DRIVING AT APPROX. 45 MPH WHEN I FELT MY CAR DIE, ALL MY GAUGES WENT DOWN AND I LOST POWER STEERING. LUCKILY I WAS CLOSE TO AN INTERSECTION AND PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. I PUT THE CAR IN PARK AND IT STARTED AGAIN. THEN ON THE WAY HOME, IT DID THE SAME THING IN THE MIDDLE OF A BUSY ROAD. THE CAR DIED AND I PULLED OVER AND TRIED TO START IT SEVERAL TIMES. IT FINALLY STARTED AND NOW I AM SCARED TO DRIVE IT! I LOOKED ON THE ACURA FORUMS- HTTP://TL.ACURAZINE.COM/FORUMS/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?T=719910 ACURA HAD A RECALL FOR THE IGNITION SWITCH. HOWEVER, THEY ONLY REPLACE IT ONCE AND UNFORTUNATELY IT APPEARS THAT SEVERAL PEOPLE HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THEIR IGNITION SWITCHES SEVERAL TIMES. ACURA ONLY PAYS FOR THE 1ST REPLACEMENT. THAT'S AN OUTRAGE! THIS IS DANGEROUS. I HAD MY KIDS IN THE CAR AND THESE [XXX] CAR MANUFACTURERS NEED TO STEP UP AND FIX THEIR LIABILITIES AND GET IT RIGHT. THEY HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO MAKE THEIR PRODUCT SAFE AND CARE FOR THE LIVES OF THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE PURCHASED THEIR VEHICLES. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
NHTSA complaint #10440932 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Miramar, FL
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
I WAS ABOUT TO COME TO A COMPLETE STOP AT A STOP SIGN IN THE PARKING LOT (ABOUT 6 FEET FROM STOP SIGN) AND THE CAR SHUT OFF COMPLETELY. I WAS GOING ABOUT 10 MILES/HR. I STARTED THE CAR - NO RESPONSE; IT WAS DEAD. TURNED ON 4 WAY HAZARD LIGHTS AND TRIED TO START IT AGIN - STILL NOTHING. MADE A PHONE CALL TO A FRIEND. AFTER ABOUT 5 MINUTES, STARTED THE CAR AGAIN AND THIS TIME IT STARTED. HOW SCARY!!
NHTSA complaint #10432858 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 170,000 milesPanama City Beach, FL
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
OUT OF THE WHOLE MONTH OF DEC UNTIL NOW,I AM DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD, AND MY CAR JUST CUTS OFF, NO WARNING AT ALL, I HAVE ALMOST BEEN IN 2 ACCIDENTS DUE TO THIS AS I HAVE A SMALL CHILD, I AM CONCERNED ABOUT THIS..ALSO MY CHECK ENGINE N EMISSIONS LIGHT HAS BEEN ON SINCE ACURA FIXED MY TRANSMISSION BACK IN 2005 WHY DID THEY NOT CHECK THE RECALLS FOR THIS? I HAD NO CLUE ABOUT THE RECALLS AS I WAS THE NEW OWNER OF WHAT I THOUGHT WAS A 'SAFE" CAR FOR MY CHILD!NEVER AGAIN WILL I PURCHASE ONE OF THESE. I AM A SINGLE MOTHER WHO NEEDS THIS COMPLETED NOT MY FAULT THIS CAR HAD RECALLS...
NHTSA complaint #10298379 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 101,000 milesRancho Palos Verdes, CA
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:GAS RECIRCULATION VALVE (EGR VALVE)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 ACURA 3.2 TL. WHILE DRIVING THE TRANSMISSION SLIPS GEARS. THE TRANSMISSION HAD INTERNAL FAILURE. THERE WAS AN EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR THE TRANSMISSION. HOWEVER, SINCE THE WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED HE WAS INELIGIBLE FOR A FREE REPLACEMENT OF THE TRANSMISSION. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 103,000. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 101,000. UPDATED 01/05/10 *BF THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED THE EGR VALVE WAS DEFECTIVE. THE CONSUMER STATED ACURA EXTENDED THE WARRANTY COVERAGE FOR THE EGR VALVE. THE EGR VALVE WAS STUCK AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. UPDATED 01/07/10.
NHTSA complaint #10291691 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 170,000 milesOklahoma City, OK
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
CAR ENGINE STALLS WHILE DRIVING. THIS PROBLEM WAS ADDRESSED WITH A RECALL IN 2004 WHICH REPLACED THE IGNITION SWITCH. THE CAR IS A 1999 ACURA 3.2TL. I CALLED HONDA RECENTLY AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE REPAIR WAS A ONE-TIME FIX ONLY. MY QUESTION IS WHETHER THE SWITCH WAS IN FACT REPLACED AND IF IT WAS REPLACED WHY IS IT FAILING? CONVERSATIONS WITH AUTO MECHANICS INDICATE THE SWITCH SHOULD NEVER FAIL IF THE DESIGN IS SOUND. SINCE JUNE 22, 2009, THE ENGINE HAS STALLED A NUMBER OF TIMES. I ONLY RECENTLY DETERMINED THAT THE CAUSE OF THE STALLING WAS THE IGNITION SWITCH PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #10277941 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 164,000 milesRidgeland, MS
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 ACURA TL. WHILE DRIVING LESS THAN 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON MORE THAN FOUR OCCASIONS. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A REPAIR SHOP AND THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON HER VEHICLE. SHE THEN TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE RECALL REPAIR HAD PREVIOUSLY BEEN PERFORMED; THEREFORE, THEY WOULD NOT TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR A SECOND REPAIR. THE REPAIR WOULD COST APPROXIMATELY $251. THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE LESS THAN 164,000.
NHTSA complaint #10260153 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Yorktown, VA
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM
I HAVE AN ACURA TL 2003 VIN [XXX]. EVER SINCE I BOUGHT THIS CAR (NEW, PURCHASED ON NOV 7, 1998) ON SEVERAL TIMES ITS 'CHECK ENGINE' INDICATOR LIGHT COMES ON AND GOES OFF WITHOUT ANY REPAIR OR ANY CHANGE. ACURA HAD A RECALL ON EGR SYSTEM CLOGGING. BUT IN MY CAR THIS INDICATOR LIGHT STILL COMES ON AND THEN GOES OFF WITHOUT ANY INDICATION OF A PROBLEM. I TOOK MY CAR TO SERVICE CENTER THEY TOLD ME THAT CATALYTIC CONVERTER WAS BAD, BEFORE I COULD GET IT FIXED THE INDICATOR LIGHT WENT OFF. BUT IN FEW DAYS "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT CAME BACK AGAIN. THIS INDICATOR LIGHT OFF-ON CYCLE STILL GOING ON, IT GOES OFF FOR WEEKS AND COMES BACK ON FOR WEEKS. I CAN'T SEEM TO FIGURE OUT THIS ERRATIC BEHAVIOR OF SUCH AN IMPORTANT SAFETY INDICATOR. *LA INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
NHTSA complaint #10049513 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 60,000 milesAliquippa, PA
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
THE VEHICLE STALLED, WHICH RESULTED IN A BROKE ENGINE BOLT AND FRAGMENTS JAMMED THE CAMS, WHICH CAUSED THE TIMING BELT TO STOP WORKING.
NHTSA complaint #10011264 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Wappingers Falls, NY
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM
WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AT 65 MPH AND OUT OF NO WHERE THE CARS TRANSMISSION DOWN SHIFTED INTO FIRST GEAR. MY CAR HOPPED AND KICKED ME THREW TWO LANES OF TRAFFIC. I MANAGED TO GET THE CAR TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD BUT I COULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY HURT. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THE TRANSMISSION AND OTHER COMPONENTS HAD TO BE CHANGED IN THIS VEHICLE AND THIS TIME I COULD HAVE KILLED MY SELF OR OTHERS. DT
NHTSA complaint #770417 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Brandywine, MD
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CATALYTIC CONVERTOR
WHILE DRIVING ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED, INDICATING THAT CATALYTIC CONVERTER MALFUNCTIONED. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED.
NHTSA complaint #8015920 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Stockton, CA
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE FREEWAY AT 80 MPH ENGINE SHUT OFF. THEN, AFTER MANAGING TO PULL TO SIDE AND CHECKED UNDER THE HOOD, NOTHING SEEMED TO BE WRONG. THEN, AFTER WAITING ABOUT 3-4 MINUTES RE-STARTED VEHICLE, AND IT STARTED RIGHT UP. THEN ON 22 APRIL, VEHICLE DID THE SAME IDENTICAL THING. DEALER COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #8008646 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Bayside, NY
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #721270 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.