NHTSA has 42 owner complaints on file for the 2009 Acura TL[1]. The air bags group is the biggest, with 19 complaints[2].
Most reported problems
Here are the complaint groups in the NHTSA record, biggest first.
- Air Bags. 19 complaints[2]. In the stories we read, owners describe warning lights, bags that went off at very low speed, and frustration over waiting for repair parts after a recall notice.
- Visibility. 6 complaints[5]. Owners describe sun glare bouncing off the lower dash trim into the side mirrors, plus a cracked windshield.
- Structure. 6 complaints[6]. Owners describe a rattling driver window, paint that cracks and peels, and a hood that dropped while they checked the oil.
- Power Train. 5 complaints[7]. Owners describe shuddering and hesitation while shifting, and a car that stalled in traffic.
- Electrical System. 3 complaints[8].
- Steering. 2 complaints[9].
- Engine. 2 complaints[10].
- Fuel/Propulsion System. 2 complaints[11].
Recalls
Newest first. Each recall covers only certain vehicles, so not every 2009 TL is necessarily included.
- Air Bags › Frontal › Driver Side › Inflator Module (19V500), June 2019. About 1,558 vehicles are potentially affected across every model and year the recall names. The recall names these risks: explosion, injury, death. Dealers do the repair free of charge.[12]
- Air Bags › Frontal › Driver Side › Inflator Module (19V182), March 2019. About 1,101,534 vehicles are potentially affected across every model and year the recall names. The recall names these risks: explosion, injury, death, an air bag that may not work as intended. Dealers do the repair free of charge.[13]
- Air Bags › Frontal › Driver Side › Inflator Module (16V061), February 2016. About 2,232,187 vehicles are potentially affected across every model and year the recall names. The recall names these risks: a crash, injury, death, an air bag that may not work as intended. Dealers do the repair free of charge.[14]
Fuel economy
EPA ratings depend on the engine and drive. Annual fuel cost uses EPA's current fuel price assumptions, not prices when the car was new.
Safety ratings
| Version | Overall | Frontal | Side | Rollover | Rollover risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 DR AWD/FWD[16] | n/a | n/a | n/a | 5 | 9.3% |
How 2009 compares with other years
Show the numbers
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 1995 | 1 | 0 |
| 1996 | 26 | 2 |
| 1997 | 23 | 2 |
| 1998 | 20 | 2 |
| 1999 | 157 | 4 |
| 2000 | 249 | 6 |
| 2001 | 149 | 3 |
| 2002 | 333 | 7 |
| 2003 | 391 | 5 |
| 2004 | 551 | 4 |
| 2005 | 388 | 5 |
| 2006 | 247 | 4 |
| 2007 | 124 | 2 |
| 2008 | 124 | 2 |
| 2009 | 42 | 3 |
| 2010 | 64 | 3 |
| 2011 | 20 | 3 |
| 2012 | 130 | 3 |
| 2013 | 62 | 3 |
| 2014 | 17 | 3 |
NHTSA's counts for the TL show 42 complaints and 3 recalls for 2009[3]. Among the 20 model years listed, 6 have fewer complaints than 2009 and 13 have more[3]. The fewest complaints are for 1995 (1) and the most are for 2004 (551)[3]. These counts are not adjusted for sales, so treat them as a rough guide. The chart above shows every year.
Should you buy a used 2009 TL?
The record for this car is fairly small, at 42 complaints in total[1]. The largest group is air bags[2], so it is worth checking that any recall work on the car was finished. Visibility and structure each have 6 complaints, ranging from dash glare and a rattling window to paint wear and a hood that dropped, so read the details before deciding how much each matters[5][6]. These are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so treat them as a guide to what to check.
Frequently asked questions
- What are the most common problems with the 2009 Acura TL?
- Air bags lead the complaint list with 19 complaints[2]. Visibility and structure follow with 6 each[5][6].
- Does the 2009 Acura TL have recalls?
- Yes. The by-year record shows 3 recalls for 2009[3]. See the Recalls section on this page for the list.
- How many complaints are on file for the 2009 Acura TL?
- NHTSA has 42 owner complaints on file[1].
- Is the 2009 Acura TL reliable?
- The record is small at 42 complaints, with air bags the biggest group at 19[1][2]. The reports are unverified, so a pre-purchase inspection still makes sense.
- What is the gas mileage of the 2009 Acura TL?
- See the fuel economy section on this page for the figures.
Keep exploring
Other model years of the Acura TL
Compare all model years of the Acura TL
Similar cars from 2009: midsize cars
Facts and sources
- NHTSA has 42 owner complaints on file for the 2009 Acura TL (5 mention a crash, 0 a fire, 3 injuries, 0 deaths reported). NHTSA vehicle records
- 19 complaints name the air bags component group (2 crashes, 0 fires, 2 injuries, median mileage at failure 50,075). NHTSA vehicle records
- Owner complaints and recalls for every Acura TL model year (chart above). NHTSA recall database
- EPA rating for TL 2WD, 3.5L 6-cyl, Automatic (S5), Premium, Front-Wheel Drive: 18 city / 26 highway / 21 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $3,900. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
- 6 complaints name the visibility component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, median mileage at failure 1,000). NHTSA vehicle records
- 6 complaints name the structure component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, median mileage at failure 27,000). NHTSA vehicle records
- 5 complaints name the power train component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries). NHTSA vehicle records
- 3 complaints name the electrical system component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries). NHTSA vehicle records
- 2 complaints name the steering component group (2 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries). NHTSA vehicle records
- 2 complaints name the engine component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries). NHTSA vehicle records
- 2 complaints name the fuel/propulsion system component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries). NHTSA vehicle records
- Recall 19V500, filed June 27, 2019: Air Bags › Frontal › Driver Side › Inflator Module. NHTSA recall database
- Recall 19V182, filed March 6, 2019: Air Bags › Frontal › Driver Side › Inflator Module. NHTSA recall database
- Recall 16V061, filed February 3, 2016: Air Bags › Frontal › Driver Side › Inflator Module. NHTSA recall database
- EPA rating for TL 4WD, 3.7L 6-cyl, Automatic (S5), Premium, 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive: 17 city / 25 highway / 20 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $4,100. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
- NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings, 4 DR AWD/FWD: rollover 5 stars; rollover risk 9.3%. NHTSA vehicle records