2006 Acura TL Problems, Recalls & Reliability
Verdict
AvoidComplaint Index
89/100
#2 most-complained of 10 TL years
Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology
The 2006 Acura TL ranks 2nd worst out of 10 model years, with a complaint index of 89 and 247 complaints, mostly involving airbags (34%) and structure/body issues (26%). It carries 4 recalls, including one for airbag inflators, earning it an Avoid verdict relative to other TL years.
- Complaints
- 247
- Recalls
- 4
- Crashes / fires
- 8 / 2
- Injuries / deaths
- 5 / 0
- NHTSA overall rating
- Not rated
- EPA combined MPG
- 21
- 18 city / 26 hwy
Top 2006 Acura TL problems
NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Airbags85 (34%)
- Structure & Body65 (26%)
- Other48 (19%)
- Electrical System34 (14%)
- Steering28 (11%)
- Transmission & Powertrain19 (8%)
- Brakes18 (7%)
- Engine17 (7%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires16 (6%)
- Visibility & Wipers5 (2%)
What owners report
- Wheels have come loose or detached after curb impacts, even following dealer repairs, at around 11,000 miles.
- Front airbags have deployed unexpectedly after minor road impacts like hitting a pothole at 19,000 miles.
- Airbags have also failed to deploy in frontal collisions, leaving drivers without protection at mileages as low as 15,000 miles.
- Owners describe sudden unintended acceleration and hard braking events, sometimes leading to a crash, at low mileages like 4,140 miles.
- Electrical fires have started under the hood, with smoke visible before flames spread, in one case at 18,000 miles.
- A vibration felt in the floor, seat, and steering wheel occurs between certain highway speeds, especially when the car is cold, reported around 2,000 miles.
2006 Acura TL recalls
4 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.
- NHTSA 19V182000Mar 6, 2019Airbags1,101,534 vehicles
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 CR-V, 2003-2011 Element, 2007 Fit, 2002-2004 Odyssey, 2003-2008 Pilot, and 2006-2014 Ridgeline vehicles. The affected vehicles received a replacement driver air bag inflator as part of a previous Takata inflator recall remedy or a replacement driver air bag module containing the same inflator type as a service part. Due to a manufacturing error, in the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver frontal air bag, these inflators may explode.
Risk: An explosion of an inflator within the driver frontal air bag module may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver, front seat passenger or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
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. Honda's number for this recall is O41. Acura owners may contact customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Acura's number for this recall is U40.
- NHTSA 08V091000Feb 27, 2008Steering273,000 vehicles
Steering:hydraulic power assist:hose, piping, and connections
Honda is recalling 273,000 my 2004-2008 acura tl vehicles. Prolonged high under-hood temperatures may cause the power steering hose to deteriorate prematurely causing the hose to crack and leak power steering fluid.
Risk: Power steering fluid leaking onto a hot catalytic converter will generate smoke and possibly lead to an under-hood fire.
Remedy: Dealers will install a new heat resistant power steering hose free of charge. The recall began on april 28, 2008. Owners may contact acura at 800-382-2238. This is an expansion of a previous recall (please see 07v551).
- NHTSA 06V270000Jul 26, 2006Other1,190,000 vehicles
Equipment:other:owners/service/other manual
On certain passenger vehicles and motorcycles, the owner's manuals contain incorrect contact information for the national highway traffic safety administration's (NHTSA) vehicle safety hotline.
Risk: The language in the owner's manuals is not in accordance with the current mandatory requirements.
Remedy: Honda will send a postcard to dealers and owners with the correct NHTSA vehicle safety hotline information and with instructions to insert the card into the "reporting safety defects" section of the owner's manual. The recall began on august 2, 2006. Owners may contact honda at 1-800-999-1009, acura at 1-800-382-2238 or honda motorcycles at 1-866-784-1870.
2006 Acura TL fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 18 MPG
- Highway
- 26 MPG
- Combined
- 21 MPG
- Annual fuel cost (EPA)
- $3,800
- 15,000 mi/yr
- Fuel
- Premium
- Current regular gas
- $4.32/gal
- national avg.
EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.
2006 compared with other TL years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2006 Acura TL reliable?
- Based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2006 TL ranks 2nd worst of 10 model years with a complaint index of 89, giving it an Avoid verdict relative to other TL years.
- What are the most common complaints on the 2006 Acura TL?
- Airbags account for 34% of complaints (85 total) with a median failure mileage of 101,000, followed by structure and body issues at 26% (65 complaints) with a median mileage of 90,000.
- Does the 2006 Acura TL have any recalls?
- NHTSA lists 4 recalls for the 2006 TL, covering airbag inflators, a power steering hose that can crack and leak, a mislabeled safety hotline number in the owner's manual, and improperly torqued airbag sensor bolts.
- How does the 2006 TL compare to other years?
- The 2006 TL's complaint index of 89 is close to the 2005 TL's 100, the worst year in the lineup, while later years like 2011, 2013, and 2014 score much lower and earn Best verdicts.
- What is the fuel economy of the 2006 Acura TL?
- The 2006 TL is EPA-rated at 21 mpg combined (18 city / 26 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $3,800.