YearToAvoid

2010 Acura TL Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls

Good The 2010 Acura TL ranks 7th of 10 model years, with a complaint index of 33 and a Good verdict relative to other TL years. It has 64 complaints, 3 recalls, and its top problem area is Airbags (53% of complaints, median mileage 80,000).

Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology

YearToAvoid Scorecard

Complaint Index
33/100
#7 of 10 TL years
Verdict
Good
vs. other years of this model
Complaints
64
unique NHTSA reports
Recalls
3
distinct NHTSA campaigns
Crashes
4
reported in complaints
Fires
1
Injuries
1
Top issue
Airbags
Best nearby year
2011
rated Best
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
20
17 city / 25 hwy
Injuries / deaths
1 / 0

Top 2010 Acura TL problems

Share of this year’s NHTSA 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%)

A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.

What owners report

  • Airbags reportedly deployed without warning or impact, sometimes during low-speed maneuvers like swerving to avoid road hazards.
  • Owners describe transmission slipping or hesitating between 1st, 2nd, and 3rd gears, particularly when the engine is warm or during cold starts.
  • Some report the vehicle continuing to move or lunge forward unexpectedly even with the brake pedal depressed, at very low speeds.
  • A whistling noise reported coming from the front or rear passenger side at speeds above 40 mph.
  • One owner reported the engine consuming a quart of oil roughly every 4,000 miles, dropping below the normal dipstick range.
  • Takata airbag inflators in some cases reportedly failed to deploy properly during side-impact crashes.
2010 Acura TL complaints: complaints filed per month4Apr 2010Apr 2012Jun 2014May 2016Nov 2016Nov 2017Oct 2019May 2023
64 complaints filed with NHTSA from Apr 2010 to Jul 2025; peak Jun 2016 (4).

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)02550751002005200620072008200920102011201220132014
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2008Caution67124221
2009Good4442320.5
2010Good3364320
2011Best1120320
2012Avoid78130321

All Acura TL years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2010 Acura TL reliable?
Among the 10 TL model years with data, 2010 ranks 7th with a complaint index of 33 and a Good verdict. It has fewer complaints (64) than earlier years like 2005 (388) and 2006 (247).
What is the biggest problem with the 2010 Acura TL?
Airbags are the top problem area, making up 53% of complaints (34 of 64), with a median failure mileage of 80,000 miles.
Does the 2010 Acura TL have a recall?
Yes, NHTSA lists 3 recalls for the 2010 Acura TL, all related to airbags, including Takata inflator replacement campaigns.
How does the 2010 Acura TL compare to other years?
The 2010 TL has a complaint index of 33, better than 2005 (100), 2006 (89), 2012 (78), 2008 (67), 2007 (56), and 2009 (44), but higher than 2011 (11), 2013 (22), and 2014 (0).

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.