2003 Acura TL problems and complaints

Owners have filed 397 complaints with NHTSA about the 2003 Acura TL. The most-reported areas: Power Train (246), Air Bags (52), Vehicle Speed Control (20).

Key takeaways

  • 397 owner complaints on file with NHTSA.
  • 26 involve a crash, 4 a fire, 24 reported injuries.
  • Complaints are unverified owner reports; recalls are confirmed defects.
Complaints by component
ComponentComplaintsShare
Power Train24662%
Air Bags5213%
Vehicle Speed Control205%
Unknown Or Other185%
Structure154%
Electrical System154%
Suspension144%
Engine And Engine Cooling144%
Tires144%
Exterior Lighting113%
Service Brakes103%
Equipment92%

One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.

NHTSA 5-Star crash ratings
VersionOverallFrontSideRollover
2003 Acura 3.2 TL 4-DR. w/SABNot ratedNot ratedNot ratedNot rated

Latest complaints, as filed

Owner-written and unverified by NHTSA.

Unknown Or Other - filed 2025-07-12

It's like when my transmission gets warmed up the RPM's will rev up and then it will come out of gear. Then I have to pull over put it in park and turn the car off. Let it sit for a minute or two then it will drive fine for 10 to 15 minutes before doing it again.

Air Bags - filed 2024-09-20

This complaint relates to safety recall campaigns work regarding my 2003 Acura TL car's SRS (air bags). I took my car to the Acura Service Center in Guaynabo, PR, for recall related repairs at various times during 2022 and 2023. The last time was [XXX]. The PROBLEM is that the Acura center's initial recall-related repa...

Power Train - filed 2024-01-20

Driving on Highway going 65mph vehicle suddenly jerked and dropped to 20 mph. Causing my entire body to collide with the steering wheel. Luckily there no cars behind me. Was on my way to work when this happened too far from home. So when I got at work which is thirty minutes from where I live I had to get a tow truck t...

Diagnose it yourself

As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you.

More for the 2003 Acura TL

Complaints are reports filed by owners with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. NHTSA publishes them without verifying them, and counts rise with how many cars were sold, so compare years of the same model rather than different models. Crash ratings are NHTSA's own 5-Star Safety Ratings results.