Most common 2010 Acura TL problems
Share of the 64 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Acura TL complaints by model year
Best TL years: 2011, 2014, 2009. Years to avoid: 2004, 2003, 2002, 2005, 2000. Compare all years →
2010 Acura TL recalls (3)
Air bags › Frontal › Driver side › Inflator module
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2013 Acura ILX, 2015 RDX, 2005-2010 and 2012 RL, 2009-2014 TL, 2010 and 2012 ZDX, 2007-2011 CR-V, 2011-2013 and 2015 CR-Z, 2009-2013 Fit, 2013 Fit EV, 2010-2011 and 2013 Insight and 2007-2014 Ridgeline vehicles.
Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began August 12, 2019. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138.
Air bags › Frontal › Driver side › Inflator module
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling specific 2003 Acura 3.2CL, 2013-2016 ILX, 2013-2014 ILX Hybrid, 2003-2006 MDX, 2007-2016 RDX, 2002-2003 3.2TL, 2004-2006, and 2009-2014 TL, 2010-2013 ZDX and 2001-2007 and 2009 Honda Accord, 2001-2005 Civic, 2003-2005 Civic Hybrid, 2001-2005 Civic GX NGV, 2002-2007 and 2010-2011…
Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's air bag inflator with an alternate inflator, free of charge. The recall began April 10, 2019. Honda owners may contact customer service at 1-888-234-2138.
Air bags › Frontal › Driver side › Inflator module
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain model year 2007-2011 Honda CR-V, 2011-2015 CR-Z, 2010-2014 FCX, and Insight, 2009-2013 Fit, 2013-2014 Fit EV, 2007-2014 Ridgeline, 2013-2016 Acura ILX, 2013-2014 Acura ILX Hybrid, 2007-2016 RDX, 2005-2012 Acura RL, 2009-2014 Acura TL, and 2010-2013 Acura ZDX vehicles.
Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the inflator, free of charge. The recall began March 2017. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138.
What 2010 Acura TL owners say
Air bags all 34 →
TL* the contact owns a 2010 Acura TL. While driving approximately 50 MPH, the contact swerved into the median to avoid a dog in the road. The air bag independently deployed without warning or impact. The contact sustained three fractured ribs that required medical attention. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to a collision lot and the body damage was repaired. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer. The manufacturer was not notified. The VIN was invalid. The approximate failure mileage was 28,000.
Takata recall. Car was t-boned by a vehicle pulling out of a driveway in passenger side hard enough to damage both doors needed replacement and caused enough frame damage that caused the frame to be pulled and right rear quarter panel to be replaced from the rocker panel under the right rear door to halfway down the roof however the Takata passenger side curtain airbags did not deploy. The vehicle was going 14mph and hit by a car going approx 15-20mph and accelerating.
Transmission & drivetrain
Takata recall. Car was t-boned by a vehicle pulling out of a driveway in passenger side hard enough to damage both doors needed replacement and caused enough frame damage that caused the frame to be pulled and right rear quarter panel to be replaced from the rocker panel under the right rear door to halfway down the roof however the Takata passenger side curtain airbags did not deploy. The vehicle was going 14mph and hit by a car going approx 15-20mph and accelerating.
While shifting from 2nd to 3rd gear, the 3rd gear does not fully engage, it pops back into neutral. I then had to shift back to 2nd and back into 3rd gear (which was successful). This happens multiple times a week. This is very dangerous as you are put into neutral in the middle of traffic. Acura has issues a TSB for the previous generation TL, but not this generation even though many customers have had the same issue. Acura refuses to do anything about it until they can replicate it themselves. This is nearly impossible as it is an intermittent issue that does not happen every single time. There are no issues with any other gears.
Engine & cooling
I changed my oil and drove my vehicle roughly 1500 miles in over a month timeframe and I properly checked my oil while the car was stationary on level ground to find that my oil level was very low. I thoroughly checked my engine for any oil leaks and there was no leaks to be found. There is never an oil leak in my garage where I park my vehicle everyday. At this point it is reasonable to assume that the engine is burning oil in some way.
Upon keyless ignition, engine continues to race even though gas pedal is not depressed. When applying brakes, engine continues to accelerate, and gas pedal seems to stick even after foot is removed from gas pedal and placed on brake pedal. This happens intermittently without any warning, and speed doesn't seem to come into play. I am afraid to drive this car with this condition. It has happened when I have other people in the car, and now they refuse to drive with me for fear that I am not going to be able to stop. It happened 4 times last Thursday evening 9/1/11 on the nj turnpike going north after the toll at 16w going west to route 3, past the meadowlands. Traffic was heavy because of an nfl game, and was moving very slowly (no more than 20 miles an hour). When gas pedal was released to reduce speed, the engine was still accelerating, even after the brake was depressed. …
2010 Acura TL engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5L 6-cyl | 5-speed automatic | FWD | 18 / 26 / 21 |
| 3.7L 6-cyl | 6-speed manual | AWD | 17 / 25 / 20 |
| 3.7L 6-cyl | 5-speed automatic | AWD | 17 / 25 / 20 |
EPA ratings. Class: Midsize car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2010 Acura TL a good car?
Based on 64 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2010 TL rates average: 28% fewer complaints than a typical year of the TL at the same age. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2010 Acura TL?
The air bags — 34 complaints, 53% of all complaints for this model year. Next are the transmission & drivetrain (10) and engine & cooling (4).
How many recalls does the 2010 Acura TL have?
There are 3 recalls for the 2010 Acura TL, the most recent from June 27, 2019 (inflator module). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Acura TL?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2011, 2014 and 2009. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2004, 2003, 2002, 2005 and 2000. See the full Acura TL years comparison.
At what mileage do 2010 Acura TL problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 63,000 miles; 45% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.