AI Damage2012 Acura TL: common problems
Owners of the 2012 Acura TL filed 130 complaints with NHTSA, most often about air bags and powertrain. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 130
- involving a crash
- 3
What fails most often
- 1 Air bags 33% of all complaints
- 2 Powertrain 21% of all complaints
- 3 Steering 19% of all complaints
- 4 Engine 14% of all complaints
- 5 Electrical system 8% of all complaints
- 6 Vehicle speed control 5% of all complaints
- 7 Service brakes 3% of all complaints
- 8 Structure 3% of all complaints
- Air bags: 43 complaints (33% of all), 2 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Powertrain: 27 complaints (21% of all).
- Steering: 25 complaints (19% of all).
- Engine: 18 complaints (14% of all).
- Electrical system: 11 complaints (8% of all).
Engines and transmissions
US-market versions per EPA. On the right: how many NHTSA complaints name this engine or transmission type.
- 3.5 L · petrol · 6 cyl
- 3.7 L · petrol · 6 cyl
- automatic, 6-speed
- manual, 6-speed
Drive: AWD, FWD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 130 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air bags | 43 | 2 | 0 |
| Powertrain | 27 | 0 | 0 |
| Steering | 25 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine | 18 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical system | 11 | 0 | 0 |
| Vehicle speed control | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 4 | 1 | 0 |
| Structure | 4 | 1 | 0 |
| Wheels | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Electronic stability control | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Equipment | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Seat belts | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Seats | 2 | 0 | 0 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
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.
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.
I was trying to make a stop at an intersection and there was a car in front of me. I slowed down and when I attempted to make the stop and placed my foot on the brake the car began to accelerate.
This results in money being paid for unnecessary repairs for batteries, alternators, and testing Just think if you were a handicap person who had to rely on your vehicle for medical services on a weekly basis and every time you went to your vehicle it would not start because of this issue that has been unresolved by…
Immobilizer unit (recognizes/reads chip in key fob) failure led to the car shutting off the fuel pump leading to the car shutting down. The car could not be started again leaving the driver stranded by the side of the road.
There are not any warning lights on the dash board only cited by law enforcement. On 12/19/2020 Officer [XXX] with Guadelupe Sheriffs Officer issued a warning. The warning cited No License Plate Light. I took photos of the license plate light and took had the vehicle inspected by the Acura dealership.
unknown, i cant keep a mobil phone connected to the car bluetooth and tpms system always seems to show light as well as all the other senors. lots of parts have been tampered with
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.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 2,953 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 8% most complained about).
On average one model year of the TL has 156 complaints (20 years in the data). This year has 130, below average.
What to check before buying
- Air bags. Check the SRS light, stored codes and airbag/curtain status after any impact.
- Powertrain. Shift quality under load, harsh shifts, transmission codes, CV joints.
- Steering. Steering play, power assist, rack and tie rods after a wheel impact.
- Engine. Cold start, unusual noises, oil leaks and engine codes.
Other years of this model
- TL 199626 sources
- TL 199723 sources
- TL 199820 sources
- TL 1999157 sources
- TL 2000249 sources
- TL 2001149 sources
- TL 2002333 sources
- TL 2003391 sources
- TL 2004551 sources
- TL 2005388 sources
- TL 2006247 sources
- TL 2007124 sources
- TL 2008124 sources
- TL 200942 sources
- TL 201064 sources
- TL 201120 sources
- TL 201362 sources
- TL 201417 sources
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 2012 Acura TL?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: air bags, powertrain, steering. Total complaints: 130. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: steering or power steering problems (16%), warning lights, check engine (11%), vibration (6%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2012 Acura TL?
NHTSA lists 0 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.
Should I buy a 2012 Acura TL from a US auction?
Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.
Other 2012 models
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-05.