Reliability & 5-year cost of ownership — 2012 Acura TL
NHTSA data on file today
The 2012 Acura TL has 3 NHTSA recall campaigns and 130 owner complaints on file as of . Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.
NCAP overall rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars, averaged across 4 NHTSA-tested trims.
Recall campaigns on file
- NHTSA #19V500000 Driver Frontal Air Bag Inflator May Explode NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #19V182000 Driver Frontal Air Bag Inflator May Explode NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #16V061000 Driver's Frontal Air Bag Inflator May Rupture NHTSA notice
Most-cited components in owner complaints
- Air Bags 43 complaints
- Power Train 27 complaints
- Steering 25 complaints
- Engine 18 complaints
- Electrical System 11 complaints
- Vehicle Speed Control 6 complaints
Of the 130 complaints on file, 3 report a crash; across all 130 complaints, owners report 5 injuries and 1 death (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).
Average
Estimated 5-year repair + maintenance cost: $6,000–$13,000AI estimate — not from NHTSA data
The 2012 Acura TL has an average reliability rating based on moderate owner complaints and three recalls, primarily affecting air bags. The data does not reveal severe or widespread issues; however, air bag concerns are notably frequent. With 130 complaints, attention to air bag and powertrain components is recommended.
Most-common failures
| Part | Typical mileage (AI estimate) | Cost range (AI estimate) | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| air bags | Unknown | $300–$1,000 | very common |
| powertrain | 80,000-120,000 miles | $1,200–$4,000 | common |
| steering | 60,000-100,000 miles | $400–$1,500 | common |
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
- Brake fluid replacement
- Transmission fluid change
- Tire rotation and balance
- Coolant flush
- Spark plug replacement
- Air filter replacement
Warning signs to watch for
Symptoms that signal a major upcoming repair.
- Airbag warning light
- Transmission slipping
- Steering wheel vibration
- Check engine light
- Unusual noises from powertrain
Generated by gpt-4o on from the NHTSA recall campaigns and owner-complaint counts on file for the 2012 Acura TL at the time. The rating is an AI assessment; cost and mileage figures are AI estimates, not NHTSA data.