Acura TL problems
Light NHTSA footprint — 42 owner complaints. Either a clean record or thin data; we'll show what's there.
Solid reliability overall. Common issues are concentrated in a few systems.
Buyable on the data — keep up the usual maintenance and inspect normally.
- No systemic severe-failure pattern in the complaint record
- Reliability score 8.2/10 — above the segment average
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.
Top trouble spots 5 categories with 3+ complaints
What owners are saying recent NHTSA-filed complaints · verbatim
Because of the reflective material used in the construction of the dash lower dash components on the far left and far right side of the dash, there is a blind spot created by sun glare into the left and right mirrors from the refection off the lower left and right dashboard. The…
Growling and vibration from the transmission when going 35-40 MPH. Was told it's the torque converter again. Have had it replaced twice now, got it back from the dealer last night and it's doing it again. This is the 4th time I have had this car to the dealer for the same…
Tl* the contact owns a 2009 Acura tl. While driving approximately 5 MPH, the air bags deployed independently and caused the vehicle to crash into a fence. A police report was filed. The contact sustained hand and face injuries that required medical attention. The vehicle was…
Tl* takata recall. The contact owns a 2009 Acura tl. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 16v061000 (air bags); however, the parts to do the repair were unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the…
Estimate your repair exposure
Drag to your current mileage. Numbers are derived from this vehicle's complaint history.
Common questions
Is the 2009 Acura TL reliable?
Mostly yes. With a reliability score of 8.2 out of 10 based on 42 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2009 Acura TL is generally a sound vehicle. The areas to watch are listed in the top problem section above — most are budget items, not deal-breakers.
Should you avoid the 2009 Acura TL?
On the NHTSA data, the 2009 Acura TL does not need avoiding. Buyable on the data — keep up the usual maintenance and inspect normally. The record behind that call: No systemic severe-failure pattern in the complaint record; Reliability score 8.2/10 — above the segment average. This is our read of the federal complaint and recall data — not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection.
What's the most common problem on the 2009 Acura TL?
Based on NHTSA records, the most-reported issue is airbags, with 19 complaints filed. Typical failure occurs around 64,296 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 64,296 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 2009 Acura TL?
Math is straightforward: a quality service contract runs $1,800–3,500 over 3 years. With 42 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.