Most common 2011 Acura TL problems
Share of the 20 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 →
2011 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 2011 Acura TL owners say
Air bags
I purchased a 2011 Acura TL with a salvaged title. The steering wheel airbag appeared to have been repaired with certain glue or epoxy after appearing to have been deployed by previous owner. However the airbag is fully intact. The Acura dealership refused to conduct the recall due to this issue. Would this warrant a refusal to be replaced by the dealership? Thank you
TL* Takata recall. The contact owns a 2011 Acura TL. While driving approximately 27 MPH, another vehicle ran a stop sign and crashed into the front passenger side of the contact's vehicle. The front air bags deployed. The inflator ruptured. The contact sustained injuries to the face, neck, nose, chest, hands, and spine. The contact required medical attention. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to a body shop where it was repaired. The contact later received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 16V061000 (air bags). The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 32,000. Updated 05/18/16
Engine & cooling
TL* the contact owns a 2011 Acura TL. The contact stated that after parking the vehicle, there was smoke coming from the engine compartment. The fire department was called out and dispersed the smoke. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer bradshaw Acura (2450 laurens rd, greenville, sc 29607, [phone]) where it was diagnosed with needing an unknown box assembly, EPS, aps unit, and sub-harness to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 105,000.
My wife was driving,I was in the front passenger seat and we smelled rubber burning next we noticed smoke from the hood area. We pulled over turned on the flashers and opened the hood and smoke came out heavy and I saw a fire at the bottom of engine area.we called 911 and a fire truck put out the flames. The engine was destroyed. They towed it to a auto shop and we are waiting for an insurance agent to contact us. Fyi we were driving on a three lane street called portola drive in san francisco ca.
2011 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 | 18 / 24 / 20 |
| 3.7L 6-cyl | 5-speed automatic | AWD | 17 / 24 / 20 |
EPA ratings. Class: Midsize car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2011 Acura TL a good car?
Based on 20 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2011 TL rates better than average: 79% fewer complaints than a typical year of the TL at the same age. It is one of the best TL years by this measure. 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 2011 Acura TL?
The air bags — 13 complaints, 65% of all complaints for this model year. Next are the engine & cooling (3) and steering (1).
How many recalls does the 2011 Acura TL have?
There are 3 recalls for the 2011 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 2011 Acura TL problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 102,000 miles; 25% 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.