YearToAvoid

2010 Acura TL Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Avoid

Complaint Index

75/100

#2 most-complained of 5 TL years

The 2010 Acura TL ranks 2nd worst out of 5 model years, with a complaint index of 75 and 64 complaints, 53% involving airbags. NHTSA lists 3 recalls, all related to airbag inflators, making this year one to approach with caution relative to other TL years.

Complaints
64
Recalls
3
Crashes / fires
4 / 1
Injuries / deaths
1 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
20
17 city / 25 hwy

Top 2010 Acura TL problems

NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Airbags34 (53%)
  2. Transmission & Powertrain10 (16%)
  3. Engine7 (11%)
  4. Structure & Body4 (6%)
  5. Suspension, Wheels & Tires4 (6%)
  6. Brakes3 (5%)
  7. Other3 (5%)
  8. Electrical System2 (3%)
  9. Seat Belts2 (3%)
  10. Collision Avoidance & Cameras1 (2%)

What owners report

  • Airbags reportedly deployed without warning or impact while driving around 50 mph, causing injury.
  • Airbags failed to deploy during a crash at 35 mph despite a Takata recall being in effect.
  • Transmission slips between 1st, 2nd, and 3rd gears when warm, causing hesitation that other drivers mistake for stalling.
  • Manual transmission resists shifting into 3rd gear during cold starts.
  • Vehicle unexpectedly lunged forward at low speed in traffic when the brake pedal was depressed, resulting in a crash.
  • Engine reportedly consumes oil at a notable rate between oil changes, dropping below the normal dipstick range.
2010 Acura TL complaints: complaints filed per month5Apr 2010Apr 2012Jun 2014May 2016Nov 2016Nov 2017Oct 2019May 2023
73 complaints filed with NHTSA from Apr 2010 to Jul 2025; peak Jan 2018 (5).

2010 Acura TL recalls

3 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 19V500000Jun 27, 2019Airbags1,558 vehicles

    Air bags:frontal:driver side:inflator module

    Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2013 Acura ILX, 2015 RDX, 2005-2010 and 2012 RL, 2009-2014 TL, 2010 and 2012 ZDX, 2007-2011 CR-V, 2011-2013 and 2015 CR-Z, 2009-2013 Fit, 2013 Fit EV, 2010-2011 and 2013 Insight and 2007-2014 Ridgeline vehicles. These vehicles are equipped with driver frontal air bag inflators assembled as a recall remedy part or replacement service part, that may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.

    Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

    Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began August 12, 2019. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are S5B and W59.

  2. 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.

  3. NHTSA 16V061000Feb 3, 2016Airbags2,232,187 vehicles

    Air bags:frontal:driver side:inflator module

    Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain model year 2007-2011 Honda CR-V, 2011-2015 CR-Z, 2010-2014 FCX, and Insight, 2009-2013 Fit, 2013-2014 Fit EV, 2007-2014 Ridgeline, 2013-2016 Acura ILX, 2013-2014 Acura ILX Hybrid, 2007-2016 RDX, 2005-2012 Acura RL, 2009-2014 Acura TL, and 2010-2013 Acura ZDX vehicles. The affected vehicles are equipped with a dual-stage driver frontal air bag that may be susceptible to moisture intrusion which, over time, could cause the inflator to rupture.

    Risk: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

    Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the inflator, free of charge. The recall began March 2017. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are JY0, JY1, and JY2.

2010 Acura TL fuel economy and fuel cost

City
17 MPG
Highway
25 MPG
Combined
20 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$4,000
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.

2010 compared with other TL years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)025507510020102011201220132014
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2010Avoid7564320
2011Good2520320
2012Avoid100130321

All Acura TL years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2010 Acura TL reliable?
Compared with other TL model years, the 2010 ranks 2nd worst out of 5 years tracked, with a complaint index of 75 versus a low of 0 for the 2014 TL. NHTSA logged 64 complaints and 3 recalls for this year, with airbags being the top problem area.
What is the biggest problem with the 2010 Acura TL?
Airbags are the top complaint area, accounting for 34 of 64 complaints (53%), with a median failure mileage of 80,000 miles. Transmission and powertrain issues are the second most common, at 10 complaints (16%).
Does the 2010 Acura TL have an airbag recall?
Yes. NHTSA lists 3 recalls for the 2010 TL, all involving airbag inflators, tied to the wider Takata inflator recall campaigns (19V500000, 19V182000, and 16V061000).
How does the 2010 Acura TL compare to other years?
The 2010 TL's complaint index of 75 is worse than 2011 (25, Good), 2013 (50, Caution), and 2014 (0, Best), but better than 2012 (100, Avoid), which is the worst year in the lineup.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.