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2011 Acura TL airbags problems
severe
Owners of the 2011 Acura TL have filed 13 NHTSA complaints about the airbags at roughly $1,100 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of August 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.See airbags across all vehicles →
Of the 13 airbags complaints filed for the 2011 Acura TL,
here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 25,000-50,000 mi.
0-25k
0 (0%)
25-50k
2 (66.7%)
50-75k
0 (0%)
75-100k
0 (0%)
100-125k
1 (33.3%)
125-150k
0 (0%)
150k+
0 (0%)
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted.
Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits
and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
All 3 active airbags recalls on this vehicle are classified critical — based on documented crash, fire, or fatality outcomes in NHTSA's record.
No new NHTSA airbags complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 9 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
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.
An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began August 12, 2019. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are S5B and W59.
In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the inflator, free of charge. The recall began March 2017. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are JY0, JY1, and JY2.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering airbags on this vehicle — documented
repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall
(it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
Service BulletinB18-020Feb 2026
Service Bulletin - Warranty Extension: Customer Support Program For Driver's Airbag Inflator for 2013-14 ILX Hybrid and Other Listed Years and Models.
Service bulletin - This bulletin is a notification of a class action settlement relating to airbag inflators. American Honda is offering a Customer Support Program (Warranty Extension) to cover any manufacturing defects in the replacement driver's airbag inflator only.
Service Bulletin - This bulletin is a notification of a class action settlement relating to airbag inflators. American Honda is offering a Customer Support Program (Warranty Extension) to cover any manufacturing defects in the replacement driver's airbag inflator only.
Service Bulletin - This bulletin is a notification of a class action settlement relating to airbag inflators. American Honda is offering a Customer Support Program (Warranty Extension) to cover any manufacturing defects in the replacement driver's airbag inflator only.
Service Bulletin - This bulletin is a notification of a class action settlement relating to airbag inflators. American Honda is offering a Customer Support Program (Warranty Extension) to cover any manufacturing defects in the replacement driver's airbag inflator only.
Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners of 2011 Acura TLs faced a Takata airbag recall (NHTSA 16V061000) that dragged on with major execution problems. One owner was in a moderate-speed crash (27 mph) when the passenger-side airbag deployed and its inflator ruptured, fragmenting and injuring the occupant's face, neck, nose, chest, hands, and spine—exactly the catastrophic failure the recall was meant to prevent.
The recall itself became a logistical mess. Multiple owners received recall notices in early 2016 but were told parts wouldn't be available until summer, then the timeline kept slipping. By August 2016, parts were still unavailable on some vehicles. Some dealers claimed to complete the repair but left the work unfinished—one owner's vehicle had an unopened replacement airbag sitting in the trunk and the old one still installed. Another owner's service triggered an airbag warning light that the dealer didn't disclose, and months later a second recall notice arrived.
One owner with a salvage-title TL was refused service because the airbag module showed prior damage and repair attempts. The manufacturer also raised eyebrows by offering owners a low-quality rental car during the wait, then requiring them to sign a declination—a practice the owner suspected was designed to shield Acura and Takata from litigation if an accident occurred before the recall was fixed.
Inflator ruptured during airbag deployment in crash, causing fragmentation injuries to occupant.
When: Approximately 32,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Airbag deployed in low-speed frontal crash (27 mph impact); Inflator ruptured; Occupant sustained face, neck, nose, chest, hand, and spine injuries requiring medical attention
Codes mentioned:16V061000
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle towed to body shop and repaired; occupant required medical attention and police report filed.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Campaign 16V061000 (airbags). Manufacturer not made aware of this specific failure.
Airbag warning light after recall service
Airbag warning light illuminated after dealer completion of recall repair, indicating repair may not have been successful or properly performed.
When: After service for NHTSA Campaign 19V182000 and 16V061000
Symptoms owners cite: Airbag warning light illuminated after vehicle serviced for recall; Second recall notification sent months later; Dealer did not inform owner about warning light
Codes mentioned:19V182000, 16V061000
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle was retained for service; vehicle was not repaired despite both campaigns being processed by dealer.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Campaigns 19V182000 and 16V061000. Manufacturer was notified but vehicle not repaired.
Incomplete recall repair—wrong airbag left in trunk
Two dealers claimed to have completed recall repair, but unopened replacement airbag was left in vehicle trunk; side airbag remained unrepaired.
When: 102,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Airbag indicator light illuminated on and off while driving at 50 mph; Unopened box of replacement airbags found in trunk; Side airbag still in trunk, not installed
Codes mentioned:16V061000
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer diagnosed side airbag was in trunk instead of properly installed. Repair not completed.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Campaign 16V061000. Manufacturer not made aware of the failure.
Prolonged delay in recall parts availability
Multiple owners reported recall notification but parts were unavailable for extended periods. Manufacturer exceeded reasonable timeframe for recall remedy without parts in inventory.
When: Recall notifications received April 2016 onwards; parts not available through summer 2016 and beyond
Symptoms owners cite: Recall notification received but parts unavailable; Manufacturer stated remedy would be available in April (not met); SaferCar.gov website showed remedy still unavailable as of August 2016; Owners unable to schedule repair due to parts shortage
Codes mentioned:16V061000
Repairs/costs cited: VIN Tool confirmed parts not available. No repair could be performed.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Campaign 16V061000. Manufacturer advised parts would be available but did not meet promised timelines; parts distribution disconnect noted.
Dealer refusal to repair airbag on salvage-title vehicle
Dealership refused to perform recall repair on vehicle with salvage title, citing prior damage/repair to steering wheel airbag module.
When: At time of recall notification
Symptoms owners cite: Steering wheel airbag appeared to have been previously repaired with glue or epoxy; Airbag module appeared to have been previously deployed; Dealer refused to conduct recall work citing this condition
Codes mentioned:16V061000
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer refused recall service; no repair completed.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Campaign 16V061000. Dealer refused service on salvage-title vehicle.
Recall declination liability waiver concerns
Owner offered undesirable temporary replacement vehicle (rental-quality) during extended recall wait period, then required to sign declination letter, raising concerns about manufacturer strategy to limit litigation exposure.
When: During recall delay period (summer 2016 timeline)
Symptoms owners cite: Owner offered enterprise rental-quality temporary vehicle as replacement; Offered vehicle deemed undesirable and of lower quality; Required to sign declination letter despite unclear whether refusal was truly optional; Owner questioned whether this was ploy to escape future litigation
Codes mentioned:<UNKNOWN>
Repairs/costs cited: Owner declined offered temporary vehicle and signed declination letter.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Offered temporary vehicle replacement during recall delay; required owner signature on declination.
Synthesized from 13 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer
allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting
13 most recent
airbags
· filed 12/27/2016
Tl* takata recall. The contact owns a 2011 Acura tl. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 16v061000 (air bags). The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure.
airbags
· filed 10/20/2023
I purchased a 2011 Acura TL with a salvaged title. The steering wheel airbag appeared to have been repaired with certain glue or epoxy after appearing to have been deployed by previous owner. However the airbag is fully intact. The Acura dealership refused to conduct the recall due to this issue. Would this warrant a refusal to be replaced by the dealership? Thank you
airbags
· filed 09/16/2016
Tl* the contact owns a 2011 Acura tl. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 16v061000 (air bags); however, the part to do the repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure.
airbags
· filed 08/18/2016
Tl* the contact owns a 2011 Acura tl. The contact received a recall notification for NHTSA campaign number: 16v061000 (air bags) and stated that the part needed was unavailable to perform the recall repair. The manufacturer was notified of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.
airbags
· filed 08/10/2016
Takata recall - airbags. Received a notice in april 2016 from Acura that there had been a recall on airbags for my auto due to possible injuries including fatality should they implode. The notice advised I would be notified this summer when parts were available. I have yet to be notified and the safercar.gov website indicates a remedy is still not yet available as of 8.9.16 for my vehicle. So…
airbags
· filed 07/01/2016
Tl* takata recall. The contact owns a 2011 Acura tl. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 16v061000 (air bags); however, the part to do the repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms…
airbags
· filed 05/18/2016
Tl* the contact owns a 2011 Acura tl. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 16v061000 (air bags) however, the part to do the repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact had not experienced any failures. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue and informed the contact that the…
airbags
· filed 05/10/2019
Tl* takata recall. The contact owns a 2011 Acura tl. The contact stated that the air bags warning light illuminated after the vehicle was serviced for NHTSA campaign number: 19v182000 (air bags). The contact was uncertain if the repair was completed because after the repair the vehicle was retained and months later another notification was sent for NHTSA campaign number: 16v061000 (air bags). The…
airbags
· filed 04/20/2016
Tl* the contact owns a 2011 Acura tl. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 16v061000 (air bags); however, the part needed to repair the vehicle was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not notified of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts…
airbags · 32,000 mi
· filed 03/29/2016
Tl* takata recall. The contact owns a 2011 Acura tl. While driving approximately 27 MPH, another vehicle ran a stop sign and crashed into the front passenger side of the contact's vehicle. The front air bags deployed. The inflator ruptured. The contact sustained injuries to the face, neck, nose, chest, hands, and spine. The contact required medical attention. A police report was filed. The…
Had airbags trouble with your 2011 Acura TL?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the airbags problem on the 2011 Acura TL?
It's a meaningful issue. 13 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $1,100.
At what mileage does the airbags typically fail?
Based on the 13 complaints filed, airbags issues most often appear around 60,500 miles. Some report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 with no symptoms. Maintenance habits matter — vehicles that received timely fluid services and were not regularly overworked tend to last longer.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $1,100 for airbags repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to airbags?
Yes — 3 active recall(s) cover airbags issues on this vehicle. Recall fixes are always free regardless of mileage or warranty status. Use the VIN decoder at the top of the page to check if your specific vehicle is affected.
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2011/Acura/TL.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.