Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2012 Acura TL owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
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.
I have been complaining to Acura about the transmission "tach hunting" and car vibrations since the car was between 1-2 years old. No one could figure out the problem. They did find and repair a leak on the drive shaft that they said might have been the cause of my complaints. That did not fix it and I was told that Honda/Acura transmissions were abrupt in their changes, and tended to favor lower gears, as a method of increasing fuel economy. Progressively the problem has gotten worse and now the Acura dealer is telling me that the problem is the torque converter.
TL* the contact owns a 2012 Acura TL. While the accelerator pedal was gradually depressed, the vehicle hesitated. The failure recurred numerous times. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where the cause of the failure was undetermined. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 29,700.
TL contact owns a 2012 Acura TL. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 10 MPH, the transmission suddenly failed and the vehicle would not accelerate. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, who diagnosed that the clutch assembly needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 30,000.
Automatic transmission does not shift smoothly, dealer completed a software update which only temporarily made the situation better. Dealer claims there is nothing further that can be done. Shift from 1st to 2nd gear is rough at times and transmission downshifts making it feel like a drag on the engine. Transmission is abrupt at times.
While driving vehicle down the road vehicle shut off un-commanded. Car came to stop while in traffic. Placed car in park and re-started. Drove approximately 10 miles and car shut off again while driving. Car came to a stop in traffic placed car in park and re-started. Drove car approximately 6 miles home and parked it.
This vehicles 6 speed automatic transmission randomly downshifts and slips on 3rd and 4th gears on both city and highways. It makes the car unsafe to drive cause you could get rear ended cause random downshift will cause the car to slow down from 65mph to 15mph in a matter of seconds
After owning my 2012 Acura TL for roughly 2yrs, I've become concerned with the engine workmanship. Acceleration seems to be at a loss between 30-45mph in between gear changes. It's almost as though the transmission doesn't know what to do. You have to either let up on the acceleration or increase your speed to avoid that annoying hesitation. The second problem is what I would describe as lifter/valve noise. The noise occurs when accelerating, intermittently though. Although it is embarrassing driving a vehicle that looks as good as the TL looks and have it sound like an old Chevy when you accelerate, I hate it. I took it to the dealer, they could not replicate the noise, of course. They told me the car was fine. I told them specifically I believed the noise was coming from lifter/valve. They told me it was probably poor gas selection. …
On 7/20/2017, I was driving on I-680 s towards fremont ca. I was driving roughly 70 MPH. When I was about to pass a car, all of a sudden, the engine lost power. I hit the gas paddle all the way down, and it didn't work. As I felt a significant loss of power, I pull over to the side and stopped the vehicle. The engine shut down immediately when I came to a complete stop. I tried to restart my car, but it does not work, and the engine check light popped up. I had my insurance towed my car to oakland Acura, as I did an oil change there on 7/19/2017. After an inspection, oakland Acura indicated that the intake and exhaust valve does not open and close normally. A value adjustment will solve the problem. I felt that it's pretty impossible for all the valves to be malfunction all at once. Thus, I asked the technician are all the valves malfunctioning, the technician said should be. …
Transmission complaints in other TL years
Frequently asked questions
How common are transmission problems on the 2012 Acura TL?
NHTSA has 27 complaints about the transmission & drivetrain of the 2012 Acura TL, 21% of the model year's 130 complaints.
Is there a recall for 2012 Acura TL transmission problems?
No. NHTSA lists no transmission & drivetrain recall for the 2012 Acura TL, though it has 3 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2012 Acura TL transmission problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 40,000 miles, and 30% before 25,000 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.