Reliability & 5-year cost of ownership — 2002 Acura TL
NHTSA data on file today
The 2002 Acura TL has 7 NHTSA recall campaigns and 333 owner complaints on file as of . Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.
Recall campaigns on file
- NHTSA #19V499000 Driver Frontal Air Bag Inflator May Explode NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #19V182000 Driver Frontal Air Bag Inflator May Explode NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #15V320000 Driver's Frontal Air Bag May Rupture NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #04V176000 HONDA/AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #01V166002 HONDA/FMVSS 209/SEAT BELT BUCKLE NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #01V166001 HONDA/FMVSS 209/SEAT BELT BUCKLE NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #01V161000 HONDA/POWER WINDOW NHTSA notice
Most-cited components in owner complaints
- Power Train 224 complaints
- Air Bags 42 complaints
- Vehicle Speed Control 15 complaints
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic 13 complaints
- Electrical System 12 complaints
- Equipment 10 complaints
Of the 333 complaints on file, 25 report a crash and 2 a fire; across all 333 complaints, owners report 17 injuries and 1 death (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).
Below average
Estimated 5-year repair + maintenance cost: $6,000–$11,000AI estimate — not from NHTSA data
The 2002 Acura TL has significant issues, notably with the power train and air bags. High complaint numbers indicate recurring problems, and recalls suggest potential safety risks. Owners may encounter substantial repair costs and frequent maintenance needs.
Most-common failures
| Part | Typical mileage (AI estimate) | Cost range (AI estimate) | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| automatic transmission | 70,000–120,000 miles | $1,500–$3,500 | very common |
| airbag inflator module | any mileage | No reliable estimate | very common |
| seat belt buckle | any mileage | $200–$400 | common |
| power window motor | 60,000–100,000 miles | $250–$450 | occasional |
| brake system | 80,000–120,000 miles | $300–$600 | occasional |
AI estimate — not from NHTSA data: the mileage bands and repair-cost ranges above. Get a written repair quote before you budget.
Scheduled maintenance to budget
Routine items every owner should plan for.
- oil and filter change
- spark plug replacement
- brake fluid flush
- transmission fluid change
- timing belt replacement
- coolant system flush
- tire rotation and balance
Warning signs to watch for
Symptoms that signal a major upcoming repair.
- transmission slipping
- airbag light on
- seat belt not latching
- window malfunctions
- grinding noise from brakes
Generated by gpt-4o on from the NHTSA recall campaigns and owner-complaint counts on file for the 2002 Acura TL at the time. The rating is an AI assessment; cost and mileage figures are AI estimates, not NHTSA data.