2012 Acura TL Airbags Problems
NHTSA lists 43 airbag complaints for the 2012 Acura TL, 33% of all complaints filed for the year. Two crashes and two injuries are linked to this area, and three separate Takata-related airbag recalls cover this model year, with a median failure mileage of 52,500.
- Airbags complaints
- 43
- 33% of 130
- Crashes reported
- 2
- Fires reported
- 0
- Injuries reported
- 2
- Median mileage
- 52,500 mi
- Related recalls
- 3
Typical airbag symptoms owners report
- Owners report the driver or passenger frontal airbag failed to deploy during a rear-end or frontal collision, resulting in injuries.
- Some drivers describe waiting extended periods for Takata inflator recall replacement parts, with dealers reporting the parts unavailable.
- A passenger-side airbag warning light reportedly turns on and off intermittently even when a passenger is seated, despite repeated dealer visits.
- Other owners report the passenger airbag warning light fails to illuminate at all when a passenger occupies the seat, so the system does not warn of a deactivated airbag.
- Some owners state that after having the recall repair performed, the airbag warning light stayed on, suggesting the original problem was not fully resolved.
When 2012 Acura TL airbag complaints were filed
First complaint Nov 26, 2012, latest Oct 21, 2025.
Airbags recalls for the 2012 Acura TL
- 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.
- 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 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.
Airbags complaints by TL model year
Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.
Frequently asked questions
- How many airbag complaints does NHTSA have for the 2012 Acura TL?
- NHTSA lists 43 airbag complaints for the 2012 Acura TL, which is 33% of all 130 complaints filed for this model year.
- Is there an airbag recall for the 2012 Acura TL?
- Yes. Three separate recalls tied to Takata airbag inflators cover the 2012 Acura TL: campaigns 19V500000, 19V182000, and 16V061000, all involving replacement of the airbag inflator.
- Did the airbag problems cause any crashes or injuries?
- NHTSA data links 2 crashes and 2 injuries to airbag complaints on the 2012 Acura TL, including cases where owners report the airbag did not deploy during a collision.
- At what mileage do airbag problems typically show up?
- The median mileage at failure for airbag complaints on the 2012 Acura TL is 52,500 miles.
- Is the 2012 airbag complaint rate worse than other TL years?
- The 2012 TL's airbag complaints are 33% of its total complaints, lower in share than 2010 (53%) and 2011 (65%), but higher in raw count (43) than any other year listed.