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KLUNK
KLUNK

2009 Acura Tl

The Verdict

90 Smooth Ride

The 2009 Acura Tl has 42 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. The most reported issues are electrical (22 complaints) and body (13 complaints). With a Klunk Score of 90/100, it earns a "Smooth Ride" rating. If you're shopping for a Acura Tl, consider the 2014 model year which has 59% fewer complaints.

Safe Bet

The 2014 has 59% fewer complaints

View the 2014 Acura Tl dashboard →

90

Klunk Score: Smooth Ride

This vehicle year has significantly fewer complaints than average. A reliable choice.

How is this calculated?

The Klunk Score ranks this vehicle year against all others in our database based on total owner complaints filed with NHTSA. 100 = fewest complaints (top tier), 0 = most complained-about. Scores above 60 are better than average; below 40 means more problems than most.

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Under the Hood

Each number is a complaint. Darker = bigger problem.

YearBodyBrakesElectricalEngineTransmission
20004897116105
2001253228103
200247164318218
20035976725239
2004258162081553
200516771601834
20069891131016
200737761127
200850548156
20091322223
201013235410
2011201341
2012333521923
20132802643
201470811

By Category

Electrical
22
Body
13
Transmission
3
Brakes
2
Engine
2

By Severity

1
17
2
19
3
1
4
5

Worst Problems

Complaints

Electrical 2

The Acura key has a hinge on it with a release button and a spring where the keys open when the button is pressed and the key locks in place. The locking mechanism on the hinge failed. This means that when enough items are on a keychain on the key the weight will rotate the keys into a lever and pull the car into the off position on its own while driving on the road. My car has turned off without warning due to the key hinge lock failure on the highway ant speed and well as on bumpy roads and at stoplights.

11mo ago
Brakes 2

Intermitten problem with brakes becoming soft/spongy. I have taken my vehicle to Hondaa and a few local shops no one could identify the issue but confirmed brakes rotors were good and no leakes. After searching online I found many people experiencing the same issue which seems to be a known issue Acura is aware of....there seems to be a problem with the VSA Modular failing which is leaking air into the brake line and causing spongy brakes. This is sooooo dangerous as it happens out of no where Im driving normal and suddenly it feels like I have no brakes. The spongy brakes cause a lag in stopping and if for some reason I have to suddenly stop I would be unable to...this symptom last sometimes minutes, hours, and days with no reason and then brakes return to normal. Im afraid to drive my vehicle as this is dangerius and a safety issue. Acura should issue a recall as this is putting lives in danger.

42mo ago
Engine 2

I'VE HAD MY VEHICLE STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD DUE TO A MECHANICAL RECALL THAT WENT UNDIAGNOSED.( OVER OIL CONSUMPTION RECALL, IN WHICH I WAS COMPLETELY UNAWARE UNTIL FINALLY RECEIVING THE LETTER PRODIVIDED) I WAS DRIVING OFF OF PLEASANT STREET IN HANSON MA, CROSSING ONTO THE MAIN ROAD WHEN MY VEHICLE ENGINE JUST SHUT DOWN AND FROZE THE STEERING WHEEL. ALSO A POLICE OFFICER WAS ON THE SCENE TO HELP ME SAFELY OFF THE ROAD. I HAVE BEEN CALLING ACURA OF HONDA AND THEY HAVE BEEN RUNNING ME IN CIRCLES WITH NUMEROUS PEOPLE ON THE PHONE AND DENIED THAT THEY ARE WILLING TO COVER THIS PROBLEM, AND THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE. WHICH THE CLAIM SAFETY IS FIRST AND FOR THE CLIENT, BUT THEY HAVE FAILED TO DELIVER ON THEIR OWN WORDS IN THE SAFETY RECALL. THE CAR IS CURRENTLY DOWN IN HOPES THAT THEY SUPPLY A REPAIR SINCE THEY HAVE BEEN MUCH AWARE OF THIS ISSUE, ANY HELP WOULD BE MUCH APPRECIATED. THANK YOU

83mo ago
Transmission 1

RADUAL ACCELERATION ELICITS THE SYMPTOMS OF SHUDDER AND TACH HUNTING THE TRANSMISSION HESITATES AND SHUDDERS WHEN SHIFTING INTO 2ND AND 3RD GEARS. DRIVING TO WORK 128 MASS HIGHWAY

88mo ago
Brakes 4

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2009 ACURA TL. WHILE DRIVING OUT OF A PARKING LOT, THE VEHICLE DID NOT STOP WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE DROVE OVER A CURB AND CRASHED INTO A TREE. THE AIR BAG DEPLOYED AND THE ENGINE REVVED AND DID NOT STOP UNTIL HELP ARRIVED. THERE WAS NO WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS DAMAGED AND TOWED BY AAA. THE VEHICLE WAS DECLARED TOTALED BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT NOTHING COULD BE DONE SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 120,000.

88mo ago
Transmission 1

VEHICLE OCCASIONALLY HESITATES, VERY HEAVILY, WHEN ACCELERATING UPHILL, LIKE ON FREEWAY ENTRANCE RAMPS. WHEN TRYING TO ACCELERATE ABRUPTLY, OR FROM FIRST OF SECOND GEAR, IT FEELS LIKE THE TRANSMISSION IS DOWN SHIFTING, WHICH COULD BE DANGEROUS IN CERTAIN SITUATIONS OR WHEN USING A FREEWAY ENTRANCE RAMP IN HEAVY TRAFFIC.

97mo ago
Engine 1

MY 2009 ACURA TL STALLS FOR NO APPARENT REASON. I CAN BE PULLING OUT FROM A TRAFFIC LIGHT, PULLING OFF AFTER PAUSING AT A STOP SIGN, CHANGING GEARS FROM DRIVE TO REVERSE, OR JUST SIMPLY DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY OR A CITY STREET. MY CAR CAN HAVE A FULL TANK OF GAS OR LESS THAN HALF OF A TANK OF GAS, IT CAN BE COLD OR HOT OUTSIDE, IT CAN BE THE FIRST TIME I MOVE MY CAR FOR THE DAY OR THE TENTH TIME, ETC. I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO PINPOINT THE EXACT ISSUE WITH MY VEHICLE. I AM GROWING MORE AND MORE CONCERNED THAT THIS STALLING COULD PLACE ME IN IMMINENT DANGER BUT UNEXPECTEDLY CAUSING AN ACCIDENT IN WHICH MY VEHICLE IS REAR-ENDED. PRAYERFULLY, THIS DOESN'T OCCUR ON THE HIGHWAY (IN WHICH I DRIVE TO WORK DAILY!) IN WHICH SPEEDS COULD EXCEED 80-MPH. I INITIALLY NOTICED THE PROBLEM IN LATE JANUARY/FEBRUARY. I JUST ASSUMED THAT IT WAS IN RELATION TO THE COLD WEATHER. I TOOK MY VEHICLE TO ACURA AT OXMOOR TWICE IN RELATION TO THIS PROBLEM - RESULTING IN ALMOST $700 WORTH OF EXPENSES. THEY COMPLETED A DIAGNOSTICS AND ENDED UP 1. REPLACING THE CRANK POSITION SENSOR; 2. PERFORMING TRANSMISSION SERVICE; AND PERFORMING FUEL INDUCTION SERVICE. THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS AND I AM NOT SURE HOW TO PROCEED. BASED ON MY REVIEW OF ACURA BLOGS ON THE INTERNET, IT SEEMS THAT THE PROBLEM IS EXTREMELY PREVALENT AMONGST OTHER ACURA TL OWNERS AND MIGHT BE RELATED TO THE TORQUE CONVERTER. THE PROBLEM COULD BE RELATED TO ACURA TSB #B16033. MY CAR HAS MORE THAN 120K MILES ON IT. BUT CONSIDERING THE MANUFACTURER, COST, AND CONTINUED PROPER MAINTENANCE (WHICH HAS ONLY BEEN PERFORMED AT ACURA OF OXMOOR), I WOULD EXPECT MY CAR TO LAST AT LEAST 10 YEARS WITHOUT MAJOR TRANSMISSION OR ENGINE PROBLEMS.

112mo ago
Electrical 2

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 ACURA TL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED MORE THAN TWICE WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE ALTERNATOR ASSEMBLY WAS REPLACED THREE TIMES AND THE BATTERY HAD BEEN REPLACED MORE THAN FIVE TIMES. THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE CONTACT ALSO TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE ALTERNATOR ASSEMBY AND BATTERY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC REPLACED THE PARTS, BUT THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER FOR FURTHER DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE RADIO NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE VIN AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE NOT AVAILABLE.

114mo ago
Electrical 1

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 ACURA TL. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V061000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

114mo ago
Electrical 1

TAKATA RECALL- WE RECEIVED A PHONE CALL FROM THE FAYETTEVILLE ACURA DEALERSHIP IN MARCH 2016 INFORMING US OF THE RECALL. WE WERE TOLD THE AIRBAGS IN OUR 2009 ACURA TL SHOULD BE REPLACED IN THE EARLY PORTION OF THE SUMMER 2016. IN JULY 2016 WE HAD NOT RECEIVED ANY UPDATED INFO ON THE RECALL/REPLACEMENT OF OUR AIRBAGS. I CONTACTED FAYETTEVILLE ACURA AND THEY INFORMED US THE PARTS WERE TAKING LONGER TO COME INTO THE DEALERSHIP FOR REPLACEMENT. IN OCTOBER 2016 WE STILL HAD NOT BEEN CONTACTED TO HAVE OUR AIRBAG REPLACED. AS OF JANUARY 20, 2017, WE STILL HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANY WORD FROM THE DEALERSHIP ON WHEN OUR AIRBAG WOULD BE REPLACED.

115mo ago
Transmission 1

GROWLING AND VIBRATION FROM THE TRANSMISSION WHEN GOING 35-40 MPH. WAS TOLD IT'S THE TORQUE CONVERTER AGAIN. HAVE HAD IT REPLACED TWICE NOW, GOT IT BACK FROM THE DEALER LAST NIGHT AND IT'S DOING IT AGAIN. THIS IS THE 4TH TIME I HAVE HAD THIS CAR TO THE DEALER FOR THE SAME ISSUE SINCE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE NEW (REPLACED TORQUE CONVERTER TWICE AND UPDATED SOFTWARE TWICE.) IT'S HAPPENING LIKE CLOCK WORK - EVERY 2 YEARS THE ISSUE RESURFACES.

116mo ago
Electrical 4

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 ACURA TL. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED INDEPENDENTLY AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO CRASH INTO A FENCE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED HAND AND FACE INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS UNDETERMINED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 92,000.

118mo ago
Electrical 1

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 ACURA TL. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V061000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

118mo ago
Electrical 1

2009 ACURA TL. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO REPLACEMENT PARTS NOT AVAILABLE TO REPAIR DRIVER AIRBAG INFLATOR RECALL NOTICE. *SMD

118mo ago
Electrical 2

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 ACURA TL. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V061000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

120mo ago
Electrical 2

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 ACURA TL. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V061000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION CONNECT.....UPDATED 08/29/16 *BF UPDATED 08/30/16.*JB

121mo ago
Electrical 1

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 ACURA TL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V061000 (AIR BAGS) AND STATED THAT THE PART NEEDED FOR THE REPAIR WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 117,000. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

122mo ago
Electrical 1

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 ACURA TL. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V061000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PARTS FOR THE RECALL REPAIR WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE VIN WAS INVALID. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

122mo ago
Electrical 2

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 ACURA TL. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V061000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT RECEIVED A RESPONSE IN REGARDS TO TEMPORARY PROVISIONAL TRANSPORTATION. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

123mo ago
Electrical 2

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 ACURA TL. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V061000 (AIR BAGS) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. THE VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

123mo ago

42 total

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