YearToAvoid

2012 Acura TL Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls

Avoid The 2012 Acura TL has 130 NHTSA complaints and a complaint index of 78, ranking 3rd worst of 10 model years, with an Avoid verdict. Airbags are the top problem area (43 complaints, 33% share), tied to three recall campaigns for Takata inflators.

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

YearToAvoid Scorecard

Complaint Index
78/100
#3 of 10 TL years
Verdict
Avoid
vs. other years of this model
Complaints
130
unique NHTSA reports
Recalls
3
distinct NHTSA campaigns
Crashes
3
reported in complaints
Fires
0
Injuries
5
Top issue
Airbags
Best nearby year
2013
rated Best
NHTSA overall rating
4 / 5 ★
EPA combined MPG
21
18 city / 26 hwy
Injuries / deaths
5 / 1

Top 2012 Acura TL problems

Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Airbags43 (33%)
  2. Transmission & Powertrain27 (21%)
  3. Steering25 (19%)
  4. Engine24 (18%)
  5. Electrical System12 (9%)
  6. Other7 (5%)
  7. Brakes6 (5%)
  8. Structure & Body6 (5%)
  9. Suspension, Wheels & Tires5 (4%)
  10. Fuel System2 (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 fail to deploy in rear-end and frontal collisions, sometimes tied to the Takata inflator recall.
  • Passenger airbag warning light comes on intermittently even with a passenger seated, and dealers report it fixed only for it to recur.
  • Power steering suddenly stiffens or loses assist while driving, including one case on a freeway at low speed.
  • Vehicle hesitates or fails to accelerate when the pedal is pressed, with the issue occurring intermittently at different speeds.
  • A vibration comes through the gas pedal and driver's side floor when accelerating between 65 mph and 80 mph.
  • The front passenger seat has been reported as loose, rocking side to side and front to back.
2012 Acura TL complaints: complaints filed per quarter112012 Q22013 Q42015 Q32017 Q12018 Q32020 Q12022 Q12025 Q3
130 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2012 Q2 to 2026 Q1; peak 2016 Q3 (11).

2012 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.

2012 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.

2012 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
2010Good3364320
2011Best1120320
2012Avoid78130321
2013Best2262321
2014Best017321

All Acura TL years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2012 Acura TL reliable?
Among 10 model years of the Acura TL, 2012 ranks 3rd worst with a complaint index of 78 and an Avoid verdict, based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls.
What problems does the 2012 Acura TL have?
NHTSA data shows airbags as the top problem area with 43 complaints (33% share), followed by transmission and powertrain issues (27 complaints) and steering problems (25 complaints).
Does the 2012 Acura TL have a recall?
Yes, NHTSA lists three recall campaigns for the 2012 Acura TL, all related to airbags, including Takata inflator replacements.
What mileage do airbag problems show up at in the 2012 Acura TL?
NHTSA complaint data shows a median mileage of 52,500 miles at the time airbag problems were reported.
Which Acura TL years are better than 2012?
Other Acura TL years like 2011, 2013, and 2014 carry Best verdicts with much lower complaint indexes (11, 22, and 0 respectively) compared to the 2012 model's index of 78.

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.