2001 Acura Tl: Recalls, Problems & MPG
Here are the deets on the 2001 Acura Tl: 3 recalls, 149 owner complaints.

Recalls
3 vehicle recalls from the manufacturer. Repairs are free. Check your VIN to see if one is still open on your car.
Seat belts Vehicle recall #01V166002 · 2001 · 8,168 vehicles
What's wrong: 2tl sedans with replacement buckles installed per recall 01v-166001; certain 2000 Acura 3.2tl vehicles with replacement buckles installed as product update repairs; and certain 2000-2002 Acura 3.2tl vehicles with replacement buckles installed as warranty or collision repairs. Repairs were made from March 9 through July 27, 2001. Some of the noncompliant buckles were mislabeled and redistributed to Acura dealers to…
Why it matters: In the event of a crash, the seat occupant May not be properly restrained.
The fix: Dealers will inspect, and if necessary, replace the front seat belt buckles. Owner notification began August 20, 2001.
Transmission & drivetrain Vehicle recall #04V176000 · 2004 · 1,099,796 vehicles
What's wrong: On some MINI vans, sport utility and passenger vehicles, certain operating conditions can result in heat build-up between the countershaft and secondary shaft second gears in the automatic transmission, eventually leading to gear tooth chipping or gear breakage.
Why it matters: Gear failure could result in transmission lockup, which could result in a crash.
The fix: On vehicles with 15,000 miles or less, the dealer will update the transmission with a simple revision to the oil cooler return line to increase lubrication to the second gear. On vehicles with more than 15,000 miles, the dealer will inspect the transmission to identify gears that have already…
Airbags Vehicle recall #20V027000 · 2020 · 875,966 vehicles
What's wrong: Honda (american Honda motor Co.) is recalling certain 2001-2002 Acura 3.2cl, 2000-2003 Acura 3.5rl, 2000-2001 Acura 3.2tl, Honda cr-v and Honda odyssey, 2001-2002 Acura mdx and 2000 accord coupe, accord sedan, civic coupe, and civic sedan vehicles. These vehicles May have received a replacement driver frontal air bag module as part of a vehicle repair. Due to a manufacturing issue, the replacement nadi inflator May…
Why it matters: In the event of a crash necessitating air bag deployment, an inflator rupture May result in metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants. An underinflated air bag cushion May not properly protect the occupant. These scenarios increase the risk of serious injury or death.
The fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the air bags in the vehicles, replacing the driver frontal air bag inflator with an inflator of a different design, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began October 1, 2020.
Most-reported problems
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component. One complaint can list several components. 2 mention a fire, 5 injuries and 0 deaths were reported.
What owners describe
- Transmission & drivetrain (102): the most common themes are hard / delayed shifting (48), stalls / loses power (12), warning light on (10).
- Airbags (15): the most common themes are warning light on (2), fails to deploy (2).
- Speed control / throttle (9): the most common themes are sudden acceleration (2).
- Visibility (wipers, glass) (7): no single recurring theme in the descriptions.
The 2001 Acura Tl has 149 owner complaints, ranking #8 of 20 Tl model years for complaints (about average; the typical year has 156). Complaints peaked in 2002 (26 filed that year). The typical problem showed up when the car was about 4 years old, at a median of 81,936 miles. Neighboring years: 2000 (249 complaints, 6 recalls), 2002 (333 complaints, 7 recalls).
Want the full repair deets? Get the factory manual.
Recall and complaint data tells you what goes wrong. A service manual tells you how to fix it: torque specs, wiring diagrams, fluid capacities and step-by-step procedures for the 2001 Acura Tl.
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FAQ
Does the 2001 Acura Tl have any recalls?
Yes. NHTSA lists 3 vehicle recalls for the 2001 Acura Tl. Recall repairs are free at any dealer, no matter how old the car is. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What are the most common 2001 Acura Tl problems?
Owners have filed 149 complaints with NHTSA. The most-reported areas are transmission & drivetrain (102), airbags (15), speed control / throttle (9).
Where can I get a 2001 Acura Tl repair manual?
eManualOnline sells downloadable manuals, Mitchell 1 DIY and ALLDATAdiy sell online access to factory repair data, and Haynes sells printed guides and online access. Pick a download if you want to keep it, or a subscription for wiring diagrams and TSBs.