2012 Acura TL Problems & Complaints

Most common 2012 Acura TL problems

• Air bags~50,000 miles
  4333%
• Transmission & drivetrain~40,000 miles
  2721%
• Steering~72,000 miles
  2519%
• Engine & cooling~71,000 miles
  1814%
• Electrical system~80,000 miles
  118%
• Speed control & acceleration~30,000 miles
  65%
• Wheels & tires~1,000 miles
  43%
• Body & structure~1,000 miles
  43%
• Brakes~10,000 miles
  43%
• Other / not specified
  43%
• Stability & traction control~135,000 miles
  32%
• Equipment & accessories~22,000 miles
  32%
• Seats~0 miles
  22%
• Fuel & propulsion system~71,000 miles
  22%
• Suspension~13,000 miles
  22%
• Seat belts~7,000 miles
  22%
• Lights~90,000 miles
  11%
• Windows, wipers & sunroof~112,000 miles
  11%

Share of the 130 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 →

2012 Acura TL recalls (3)

NHTSA defect investigations

Federal safety investigators have looked into a possible defect involving the 2012 Acura TL:

What 2012 Acura TL owners say

Air bags all 43 →

In an auto collision where a car rear end the vehicle from an idle position into an 18-foot box truck in front which was also idle. The vehicle smashed in the front and back which it was deemed a total loss and the airbag did not deploy. This caused the driver to have several injuries including a head concussion. When contacted the dealer service department where recall maintenance had been performed, I was instructed to contact the airbag manufacturer. The vehicle inspected by insurance adjuster (GEICO). There were no warning lamps or messages prior to the failure of the airbag deploy.

TL* Takata recall. The contact owns a 2012 Acura TL. While at a red light, another vehicle crashed into the contact's vehicle from the rear. The air bags did not deploy. A police report was filed. The contact sustained neck and back injuries that required medical attention. The vehicle was towed to the towing facility. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 16V061000 (air bags); however, the part to do the repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 48,000.

Transmission & drivetrain all 27 →

This is a *well documented* problem with Acura torque converters affecting the 4th generation TL with the 5-speed auto--so much so that a TSB letter was sent out. When leisurely accelerating (light throttle application), the vehicle exhibits a characteristic "low growl" and sort of rhythmically surges forward as power is alternately applied and reduced by the torque converter; this symptom is also visible on the tachometer, as the revs oscillate up and down a couple hundred RPM. On my 2012 TL, this mostly occurs between 1st/2nd gear (this is the 6-speed auto), but also between 2nd/3rd. Based on only cursory searching of owner forums, this is also becoming commonplace on the 2012 models. Failing torque converters in these cases have also LED to failures in the transmission itself, a much costlier repair. …

There has to be a recall on 4th generation Acura TL's with the 6 speed auto transmission (mine is a 2012 sh-AWD tech package). My car produces the tachometer jumping approximately 300-500 RPM when cruising in 5th gear around 35-45 MPH. The tach jump is so large I actually have looked at it while driving, it's distracting and needs to be fixed, I am willing to bet it's the torque converter. Car is going to Acura dealer on 12/3/2015 for "diagnostic testing:". Below is a link to a youtube video which is almost identical to the video on my cell phone that the service manager will see this coming Thursday (around 19 seconds in, the car is in fifth gear and does exactly what mine does). Read the acurazine.com forums, this is a huge problem and Acura is hoping their customers ignore it or just plain don't notice it. Https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a-dwnej3g74.

Steering all 25 →

While driving in heavy traffic and making a right turn,the power steering screen began to blink and immediately the power steering locked up. I had to manually turn the wheel and was able to over to the side and stop. After several minutes, the wheel finally unlocked and I pulled into a parking lot where it occurred again. I turned the key on and the unlocked wheel began to work again After making it home, I checked the drivers manual and found nothing. I checked complaints and found 95 instances but no recalls. It was very frightening for this situation and dangerous. This happened on July 14,2021.

Electronic power steering failure. I had just driven my Acura for approximately 60 miles and stopped to get a bottle of water. When I came back out and restarted the car, the EPS failure warning appeared in the info center an a code 32 showed up in the message center.. I had to drive my vehicle for over 700 miles until I was able to get it to my local Acura dealer. They diagnosed the problem and ordered a new EPS module. Total cost of the repair exceeded $1100. I contacted Acura to request a goodwill discount since I have never experienced a catrophic steering failure in any vehicle. They told me that since I was not the original purchaser of the vehicle, they would not assist. The car is outside the warranty, however it seems ridiculous that a critical component part that fails within the first 10 years or 150,000 mile in a new vehicle is uncomprehensible to me. …

2012 Acura TL engines & fuel economy

EPA ratings. Class: Midsize car.