NHTSA vehicle safety data

1996 Acura TL Recalls, Ratings & Complaints

The 1996 Acura TL has 2 NHTSA recall campaigns and 26 owner complaints on file as of November 3, 2026. Recall repairs are usually free at an authorized Acura dealer.

NHTSA recall and complaint data for the 1996 Acura TL, plus NCAP crash-test ratings. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.

1996 Acura TL owner complaints

Owners have filed 26 complaints with NHTSA about the 1996 Acura TL, describing incidents dated February 1, 1996 to April 14, 2020.

Most-cited components

  • Engine 5 complaints
  • Service Brakes 5 complaints
  • Air Bags 3 complaints
  • Power Train 3 complaints
  • Suspension 3 complaints
  • Visibility/Wiper 3 complaints

Of the 26 complaints on file, 3 report a crash; across all 26 complaints, owners report 2 injuries (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).

Newest complaints

  • ODI #11323115 · Filed

    YEA THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED SEPTEMBER 2019 @185K MILES AND STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS AROUND APRIL 2020 @ 250K MILES MY , THIS MONTH AFTER DRIVING FOR ABOUT AN HOUR YOU COULD SAY , MY CAR OVER HEATED AND THE BATTERY AND ELECTRICITY SENSORS AND SUCH STOPPED WORKING WHICH CAUSES ALL MY LIGHTS TO COME…

  • ODI #10637525 · Filed

    I WAS HEADED UP A HILL WHEN I PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD TO LET AN EMERGENCY VEHICLE PASS. WHEN I ATTEMPTED TO REENTER TRAFFIC, THERE WAS A LOUD BANG, SOME GRINDING NOISE, AND A JOLT AS THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO ROLL BACKWARDS. I WAS STARTLED WHEN I IMMEDIATELY PLACED THE VEHICLE IN PARK BUT IT…

  • ODI #10558754 · Filed

    MAY 2013, ON A STRAIGHT ROAD, AT 8:55PM. MOTORIST TRAVELING TOWARDS ME SPEEDING WITH BRIGHT LIGHTS ON. MOTORIST MADE CONTACT WITH MY CAR ON PASSENGER SIDE FENDER AND DOOR. MOTORIST HIT AND RAN AND LATER TOLD POLICE SHE THOUGHT SHE HIT AN OBJECT. AT THE TIME OF IMPACT THERE WAS A LOUD EXPLOSION AS…

Read all 26 complaints

HONDA/TRANSMISSION

NHTSA #99V227000 · Power Train — Automatic Transmission · NHTSA notice

Reported August 19, 1999 · AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO.

Potentially affected: 96,518 vehicles

Manufacturer campaign K68 · Owners notified August 30, 1999 · Vehicles built April 10, 1995 – August 2, 1996 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. A TRANSMISSION CASE BOLT CAN LOOSEN AND FALL OUT ALLOWING THE TRANSMISSION TO DISENGAGE FROM THE DIFFERENTIAL.

Safety consequence

THE VEHICLE COULD LOSE POWER TO THE DRIVE WHEELS WITHOUT WARNING. ALSO, SHIFTING THE TRANSMISSION INTO THE PARK POSITION WOULD NOT LOCK THE WHEELS, AND A PARKED VEHICLE COULD MOVE UNEXPECTEDLY IF THE PARKING BRAKE IS NOT SET.

Manufacturer remedy

DEALERS WILL INSTALL A REDESIGNED BOLT.

Notes

OWNER NOTIFICATION IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING AUGUST 1999.OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT HONDA AT 1-800-999-1009.ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S AUTO SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236).

HONDA/BALL JOINTS

NHTSA #99V069000 · Suspension — Front — Control Arm — Lower Ball Joint · NHTSA notice

Reported May 10, 1999 · AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO.

Potentially affected: 124,875 vehicles

Owners notified May 17, 1999 · Vehicles built May 8, 1996 – August 7, 1996 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. CERTAIN VEHICLES WERE MANUFACTURED WITH BALL JOINTS THAT CAN PREMATURELY WEAR OUT AND, IN THE WORSE CASE, THE BALL JOINT WOULD SEPARATE CAUSING THE FRONT SUSPENSION TO COLLAPSE.

Safety consequence

THIS CONDITION WOULD RESULT IN VEHICLE DECELERATION AND A SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER. ALSO STEERING CONTROLLABILITY WOULD BE REDUCED.

Manufacturer remedy

DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FRONT SUSPENSION LOWER BALL JOINTS.

Notes

OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN MAY 17, 1999.OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT HONDA AT 1-800-999-1009 OR ACURA 1-800-382-2238.ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S AUTO SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236).

Other Acura TL model years

Check your 1996 Acura TL VIN

Not every recall applies to every VIN in a given year. Enter the 17-character VIN from your Acura TL at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether your specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.

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