2013 Acura TL

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Average

Quick Summary

The 2013 Acura TL has 73 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 0.9x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is steering problems (37% of all complaints), specifically: tl* the contact owns a 2013 acura tl. while driving approximately 40 mph, the steering warning indicator illuminated and the steering seized. the vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the power steering control module needed to be replaced. the vehicle was repaired. the manufac.

1 crash report 2 injuries

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

0.9x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

STEERING

27 complaints

37%

• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 ACURA TL. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE STEERING WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE STEERING SEIZED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE POWER STEERING CONTROL MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFAC
• EPS FAILURE WHILE DRIVING THE CAR STARTED TO BEEP AND THE STEERING FAILURE LIGHT TURNED ON IN THE DASH. THE STEERING FELT LIKE IT LOCKED UP, BUT IT WAS JUST VERY VERY VERY HARD TO TURN THE WHEEL. I HAD TO STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET AND WAIT FOR HELP. WHEN THE CAR WAS TURNED BACK ON EVERY
• LOST POWER STEERING WHILE DRIVING. ALSO AT THE SAME TIME TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING SYSTEM LIT UP SAYING TIRES WERE LOW, WHEN CHECKED THE TIRES WERE AT PROPER PRESSURE.

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 ACURA TL. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE STEERING WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE STEERING SEIZED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE POWER STEERING CONTROL MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFAC”

— NHTSA complaint filing

AIR BAGS

19 complaints

26%

• TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 ACURA TL. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V061000 (AIR BAGS) AND FELT THAT THE PART EXPECTED AVAILABILITY DATE WAS UNREASONABLE. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE DEALER WOULD NOT PROVIDE A LOANER VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT
• TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 ACURA TL. 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 MANUFACT
• TAKATA RECALL-MY VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN ACURA (MACCHURCHILL) SINCE FEBRUARY 23, 2016. THEY SAID IT COULD TAKE AS LONG AS UNTIL SEPTEMBER BEFORE MY VEHICLE IS REPAIRED. IN ADDITION, I RECENTLY DISCOVERED THAT MY AIRBAGS HAD BEEN PREVIOUSLY DEPLOYED ON THIS VEHICLE. I WAS NEVER NOTIFIED OF THIS, NOR DID

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 1 crashes

“TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 ACURA TL. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V061000 (AIR BAGS) AND FELT THAT THE PART EXPECTED AVAILABILITY DATE WAS UNREASONABLE. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE DEALER WOULD NOT PROVIDE A LOANER VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ELECTRICAL

6 complaints

• ACCORDING TO STATE FARM, THE RUBBER BOOTS IN THE FRONT DOOR JAMS WERE DEFECTIVE. THIS CAUSED THE CAR TO HAVE A WATER LEAK INTO THE FLOOR BOARDS CAUSING ALL OF THE WIRING, INCLUDING THE AIRBAGS WIRE HARNESS TO BE SUBJECT TO MOISTURE, LEADING TO FUTURE CORROSION, INCLUDING WHAT IS REFERRED TO GFS - GR
• LOST POWER STEERING WHILE DRIVING. ALSO AT THE SAME TIME TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING SYSTEM LIT UP SAYING TIRES WERE LOW, WHEN CHECKED THE TIRES WERE AT PROPER PRESSURE.
• POWER STEERING EPS FAILURE RIGHT AROUND 60,000 MILES MY ACURA TL'S POWER STEERING EPS FAILED. THE CAR WAS DRIVING ~45MPH ON A STRAIGHT 2-LANE HIGHWAY WHEN THE INDICATOR LIGHTS WENT OFF AND THE POWER STEERING FAILED. AFTER PULLING OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND LETTING THE CAR SIT FOR SEVERAL

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“ACCORDING TO STATE FARM, THE RUBBER BOOTS IN THE FRONT DOOR JAMS WERE DEFECTIVE. THIS CAUSED THE CAR TO HAVE A WATER LEAK INTO THE FLOOR BOARDS CAUSING ALL OF THE WIRING, INCLUDING THE AIRBAGS WIRE HARNESS TO BE SUBJECT TO MOISTURE, LEADING TO FUTURE CORROSION, INCLUDING WHAT IS REFERRED TO GFS - GR”

— NHTSA complaint filing

TRANSMISSION

4 complaints

• APPEARS TO BE TRANSMISSION RELATED PROBLEM. I CURRENTLY HAVE APPROXIMATELY 47,XXX MILES ON MY VEHICLE WHICH I HAD PURCHASED BRAND NEW. I'VE TAKEN MY VEHICLE INTO THE DEALER MULTIPLE TIMES FOR THE SAME CONCERN BUT THEY HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO FIX THE PROBLEM. THE FIRST COUPLE OF TIMES I TOOK THE VEHICL
• TORQUE CONVERTER SHUDDER/ PREMATURE FAILURE. JERKY TRANSMISSION. SHIFTING HARD. WENT TO 2 TORQUE CONVERTERS IN A YEAR.
• I HAVE EXPERIENCED TACH HUNTING WHEN YOU'RE DRIVING AND THE VEHICLE SHIFTS INTO THE HIGHEST GEAR AND THE RPMS SHOULD BE STEADY, YOU'RE GOING AT A STEADY SPEED DOWN A CITY STREET AND THE TACHOMETER STARTS JUMPING AROUND IT WILL NOT STAY STEADY. IT FIRST STARTED HAPPENING WHEN THE CAR HAD AROUND 36,00

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“APPEARS TO BE TRANSMISSION RELATED PROBLEM. I CURRENTLY HAVE APPROXIMATELY 47,XXX MILES ON MY VEHICLE WHICH I HAD PURCHASED BRAND NEW. I'VE TAKEN MY VEHICLE INTO THE DEALER MULTIPLE TIMES FOR THE SAME CONCERN BUT THEY HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO FIX THE PROBLEM. THE FIRST COUPLE OF TIMES I TOOK THE VEHICL”

— NHTSA complaint filing

BODY/STRUCTURE

3 complaints

• ACCORDING TO STATE FARM, THE RUBBER BOOTS IN THE FRONT DOOR JAMS WERE DEFECTIVE. THIS CAUSED THE CAR TO HAVE A WATER LEAK INTO THE FLOOR BOARDS CAUSING ALL OF THE WIRING, INCLUDING THE AIRBAGS WIRE HARNESS TO BE SUBJECT TO MOISTURE, LEADING TO FUTURE CORROSION, INCLUDING WHAT IS REFERRED TO GFS - GR
• I HAD THE HOOD UP IN ORDER TO PUT IN WINDSHIELD WASHER FLUID. JUST WHEN I STEPPED AWAY THE HOOD FELL DOWN. I TESTED IT AGAIN AND NOTICED THAT IT WOULD STAY UP ONLY IF IT WAS UP ALL THE WAY. HOWEVER, IF IT I TOUCHED IT LIGHTLY OR MOVED IT DOWN JUST A TINY AMOUNT, THE HOOD THEN FALLS DOWN LUCKILY MY
• THE STRUTS/SHOCKS NO LONGER HOLD THE HOOD OPEN/UP. UNABLE TO CHECK ENGINE/FLUIDS WITHOUT USING SOME OTHER MEANS TO HOLD THE HOOD OPEN/UP. FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED I WAS ALMOST STRUCK BY THE UNEXPECTEDLY CLOSING HOOD.

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

STEERING(~50K mi)

$500

AIR BAGS(~50K mi)

$500

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

TRANSMISSION(~50K mi)

$500

BODY/STRUCTURE(~50K mi)

$500

Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 73 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
STEERING: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 ACURA TL. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE STEERING WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE STEERING SEIZED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE POWER STEERING CONTROL MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFAC
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
AIR BAGS: TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 ACURA TL. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V061000 (AIR BAGS) AND FELT THAT THE PART EXPECTED AVAILABILITY DATE WAS UNREASONABLE. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE DEALER WOULD NOT PROVIDE A LOANER VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ELECTRICAL: ACCORDING TO STATE FARM, THE RUBBER BOOTS IN THE FRONT DOOR JAMS WERE DEFECTIVE. THIS CAUSED THE CAR TO HAVE A WATER LEAK INTO THE FLOOR BOARDS CAUSING ALL OF THE WIRING, INCLUDING THE AIRBAGS WIRE HARNESS TO BE SUBJECT TO MOISTURE, LEADING TO FUTURE CORROSION, INCLUDING WHAT IS REFERRED TO GFS - GR
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
TRANSMISSION: APPEARS TO BE TRANSMISSION RELATED PROBLEM. I CURRENTLY HAVE APPROXIMATELY 47,XXX MILES ON MY VEHICLE WHICH I HAD PURCHASED BRAND NEW. I'VE TAKEN MY VEHICLE INTO THE DEALER MULTIPLE TIMES FOR THE SAME CONCERN BUT THEY HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO FIX THE PROBLEM. THE FIRST COUPLE OF TIMES I TOOK THE VEHICL
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)