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ProblemsByVin File / 2006-ACURA-TL NHTSA data synced 1 day ago
Acura

2006 Acura TL problems

The 2006 Acura TL has 1 critical safety recall on file — the kind NHTSA opens when crashes, fires, or injuries are documented. 247 owner complaints alongside. Read those first.

The 2006 Acura TL has 247 NHTSA owner complaints and 6 recalls on file (U.S. federal records, as of August 2026). The most-reported system is airbags at 78 complaints, typically surfacing around 103,877 miles (~$1,100 to repair). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.

Acura TL owner complaints by model year
Model yearOwner complaintsRecalls
2005 TL 387 7
2006 TL (this page) 247 6
2007 TL 124 4
2008 TL 124 4
2009 TL 42 3
2006 Acura TL
Photo: IFCAR / Wikimedia Commons, Public domain · representative photo of the Acura TL
0 5 10
Reliability score
6.0 / 10

Average for the segment. Some recurring trouble spots worth knowing about.

1
Critical
4
Severe
1
Moderate
Should you avoid this 2006 TL?
Acceptable — with caveats

Worth owning if you verify the specific issues below before you buy.

Our read of the federal NHTSA complaint and recall record for this exact year and model — not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection. How we score.

Buying a used 2006 Acura TL? Check these first

Here's what this model is known to do — so you can inspect for it, price it in, or make the seller fix it before you sign.

What to inspect on this specific car

⚠ The one to take seriously: airbags is flagged severe on this model , showing up around 103,877 mi. Inspect it closely on a test drive.

Recalls to confirm are done

Run the VIN from the listing — 6 active recalls on this model. Recall repairs are always free.

Verdict for buyers: 6.0/10 model. The priciest documented failure is powertrain (~$2,500) — get the seller's service records for it or inspect closely. Otherwise an average-risk used buy at a fair price.

We tell you what this model is known for and what to inspect — a vehicle-history report tells you what this exact car has been through. Smart buyers get both.

See the full pre-purchase inspection checklist →
✦ Ask the data · AI

Ask anything about your 2006 Acura TL

A noise, a warning light, a repair quote, "should I buy this?" — get an answer grounded in this vehicle's actual NHTSA record, not generic advice.

Dash light, leak, worn part — snap it and we'll read it against this car's record.

Answers use this vehicle's NHTSA complaint & recall record — owner-reported and unverified, not a diagnosis. Verify anything safety-critical with a mechanic.

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<iframe src="https://problemsbyvin.com/embed/reliability/2006-acura-tl/" width="100%" height="340" style="border:1px solid #e2e8f0;border-radius:8px;max-width:640px" title="2006 Acura TL reliability snapshot" loading="lazy"></iframe> <p style="font:12px/1.5 system-ui,sans-serif;color:#64748b;max-width:640px;margin:6px 0 0">Source: <a href="https://problemsbyvin.com/2006-acura-tl/" style="color:#b8540a;font-weight:600">2006 Acura TL reliability snapshot — ProblemsByVin</a></p>

Top trouble spots 8 categories with 3+ complaints

airbags
78 reports · fails ~103,877 mi · avg $1,100
severe
body
36 reports · fails ~85,867 mi · avg $1,500
moderate
steering
28 reports · fails ~123,724 mi · avg $700
moderate
electrical
27 reports · fails ~84,272 mi · avg $850
severe
powertrain
18 reports · fails ~114,349 mi · avg $2,500
moderate
brakes
8 reports · fails ~81,807 mi · avg $450
moderate
cruise control
6 reports · fails ~75,401 mi · avg $600
severe
suspension
6 reports · fails ~45,200 mi · avg $900
severe

Your road ahead on this 2006 Acura TL

When owners report each system failing, in actual miles — so you can see what's likely behind you, what's due around now, and what to budget for next. Enter your mileage to mark where you are.

  1. ~75,000 mielectrical~$850
  2. ~84,900 mibody~$1,500
  3. ~102,000 miairbags~$1,100
  4. ~108,353 mipowertrain~$2,500
  5. ~120,000 misteering~$700

"Typical" = median owner-reported failure mileage from the NHTSA complaint record for this exact year and model. Not a maintenance schedule — a heads-up on where this model's failures cluster.

Buyer's checklist
Going to look at one? Use the pre-purchase inspection list.
Generated from this 2006 TL's actual NHTSA complaint history — every item points at a documented failure pattern on this exact vehicle, not generic walkaround filler.
See the checklist ->
Honest Calculator
Should you buy an extended warranty on this 2006 TL?
We pulled the math: risk-weighted exposure, typical contract cost, and our verdict on whether coverage pencils out for this specific vehicle.
See the calculator ->

What owners are saying recent NHTSA-filed complaints · verbatim

2006 TL · steering
2006 Acura tl issues with component suspension:front: control arm: lower ball joint- steering: hydraulic power assist: hose, piping, and connections- cracked dashboard leaves exposures to the actual airbags on the vehicle. *ln*jb
12/26/2019 · at 138,000 mi · NHTSA ODI #11291323.0 · see steering pattern →
2006 TL · body
Tl* the contact owns a 2006 Acura tl. The contact stated that the hood failed due to defective struts the vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure and current mileage was 32,000.
12/24/2013 · at 32,000 mi · NHTSA ODI #10557159.0 · see body pattern →
2006 TL · airbags
There are four long cracks developed on the dashboard that surrounds the passenger side airbag and above the driver side console. We are concerned whether these crack will impede the functionality of the air bags. *tr
12/22/2014 · at 98,000 mi · NHTSA ODI #10667775.0 · see airbags pattern →
2006 TL · engine
Engine mounts are broken. I have own more than 10 cars and I have never had the engine mounts fail. The car has 75000 miles. Acura should replace the engine mounts. It appears that I am not the only one with the same problem. *tr
12/22/2014 · at 75,000 mi · NHTSA ODI #10667808.0
View all 247 owner complaints →
Had a problem with your 2006 Acura TL? File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free and official — owner filings are what build the federal safety record behind this page.

Estimate your repair exposure

Drag to your current mileage. Numbers are derived from this vehicle's complaint history.

0 mi 200k mi
At 80,000 miles
Likely repair cost in next 24 months
$0

Active recalls showing 3 of 6

critical NHTSA 19V182000 March 6, 2019

Honda (American Honda Motor Co

An explosion of an inflator within the driver frontal air bag module may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver, front seat passenger or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's air bag inflator with an alternate inflator, free of charge. The recall began April 10, 2019. Honda owners may contact customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for this recall is O41. Acura owners may contact customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Acura's number for this recall is U40.
severe NHTSA 19E068000 October 10, 2019

Dorman Products, Inc

If the accelerator pedal binds, the engine may not quickly return to idle after the pedal is no longer pressed, increasing the risk of a crash.

Fix: Dorman will notify owners, and qualified service facilities will replace the affected accelerator pedal assemblies, free of charge. The recall began December 9, 2019. Owners may contact Dorman customer service at 1-800-523-2492, using option 5. Dorman's number for this recall is AS1019XXXX.
severe NHTSA 11E022000 June 22, 2011

Affinia is recalling certain aftermarket front suspension lower ball joints, napa part no

Misapplication of this part could lead to separation of the ball joint from the lower control arm and collapse of the front suspension, which could potentially cause a vehicle crash.

Fix: Affinia is working with napa to identify any owners that have had this part mistakenly installed on to an Acura tl vehicle, and will replace the part free of charge. The safety recall began on july 20, 2011. Owners may contact affinia group's warranty administrator at 1-815-759-7757.
View all 6 recalls →

Common questions

Is the 2006 Acura TL reliable?

It's got known weak points. With a reliability score of 6.0 out of 10 based on 247 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2006 Acura TL has a higher-than-average rate of reported issues. The areas to watch are listed above. Whether it's worth owning depends on price, condition, and how much repair exposure you can absorb.

Should you avoid the 2006 Acura TL?

The 2006 Acura TL is acceptable, with specific caveats. Worth owning if you verify the specific issues below before you buy. The record behind that call: Electrical system: 27 complaints, classified severe, failures cluster 55,000–100,000 mi; Reliability score 6.0/10 — around the segment average; 6 recall campaigns on file. This is our read of the federal complaint and recall data — not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection.

What should I check before buying a used 2006 Acura TL?

Inspect the airbags first — it's the most-reported issue on this model, with 78 owner complaints filed. Typical failure occurs around 103,877 miles. Average repair cost runs about $1,100 at an independent shop. Also confirm any open recalls have been completed by running the VIN, and ask for service records covering the problem areas listed above.

Is the 2006 Acura TL a good used car to buy?

It scores 6.0 out of 10 on our NHTSA-based read of 247 owner complaints. The main thing to watch is airbags. Typical failure occurs around 103,877 miles. Priced fairly and clean on inspection, it's a reasonable used buy. Our data covers what this model is known for — pair it with a vehicle-history report on the VIN to see what that specific car has been through.

What's the most common problem on the 2006 Acura TL?

Based on NHTSA records, the most-reported issue is airbags, with 78 complaints filed. Typical failure occurs around 103,877 miles. Average repair cost runs about $1,100 at an independent shop.

What's the most expensive thing that goes wrong?

The airbags is one of the costlier repair items. Average repair cost runs about $1,100 at an independent shop. Typical failure occurs around 103,877 miles. Catching early warning signs can sometimes extend life by 20–30,000 miles.

How do I check if my Acura TL has open recalls?

Paste your VIN into the decoder at the top of this page. We pull live from NHTSA, so you'll see exactly which campaigns apply to your vehicle and whether the dealer has logged the fix. Recall repairs are always free regardless of mileage or warranty status.

Is an extended warranty worth it on a 2006 Acura TL?

Math is straightforward: a quality service contract runs $1,800–3,500 over 3 years. With 247 complaints on file and the costliest repair averaging $1,100, one major failure more than pays for it. The catch is reading the contract — many providers exclude wear items and require pre-authorization, so cheaper plans are not always better value.

Related

Recall and complaint data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) public records database, last synced 1 day ago. Verify the raw federal record at nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2006/Acura/TL. Editorial commentary written by ProblemsByVin contributors and reviewed by ASE-certified mechanics. We are not affiliated with Acura. Some links on this page are affiliate links and we may earn a commission if you complete a quote or purchase.
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