Service Bulletin - Due to high demand for repairs under this warranty extension, pistons and rings required to complete this repair are currently backordered. Acura has provided this service bulletin (19-052) as a mechanism to cover clients that were not able to have repairs completed during the initial 6-month eligibility period on service bulletin (19-006).
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2012 Acura TL engine problems
moderate Owners of the 2012 Acura TL have filed 14 NHTSA complaints about the engine, typically surfacing around 83,000 miles at roughly $3,100 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See engine across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
14
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$3,100
| Model year | engine complaints |
|---|---|
| 2008 TL | 7 |
| 2010 TL | 3 |
| 2011 TL | 3 |
| 2012 TL (this page) | 14 |
When does it fail?
Of the 14 engine complaints filed for the 2012 Acura TL, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 25,000-50,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
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
Of the 6 model years of Acura TL we track for engine problems, this one carries the most owner complaints on file — 14.
No new NHTSA engine complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 10 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering engine 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.
Dealer Message - On January 16, 2019, Acura announced a warranty extension for certain 2009-14 Acura vehicles equipped with a 3.7L V6 engine to address client concerns related to excessive oil consumption. Acura extended the powertrain warranty coverage to address engine issues related to excessive oil consumption from the original 6 years/70,000 miles to 8 years/125,000 miles, whichever comes first. In addition, all vehicles were provided a grace period until August 31, 2019 and were covered regardless of time in service or mileage.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Service Bulletin - The oil control rings may become clogged with carbon deposits. These deposits restrict the ring's ability to scrape and return oil from the cylinder wall to the crankcase, which can result in excessive engine oil consumption that may exceed client expectations.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Service Bulletin - The oil control rings may become clogged with carbon deposits. These deposits restrict the ring's ability to scrape and return oil from the cylinder wall to the crankcase, which can result in excessive engine oil consumption that may exceed client expectations.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Service Bulletin - The oil control rings may become clogged with carbon deposits. These deposits restrict the ring's ability to scrape and return oil from the cylinder wall to the crankcase, which can result in excessive engine oil consumption that may exceed client expectations. To increase client confidence, American Honda is extending the engine warranty related to oil consumption to 8 years from the original date of purchase or 125,000 miles, whichever comes first. This warranty extension does not apply to any vehicle that has ever been declared a total loss or sold for salvage by a financial institution or insurer, or has a branded or similar title under any states law. To check for veh
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
The 2012 Acura TL engine failures break down into a few overlapping patterns. Most common is excessive oil burning with no visible leaks—owners report consuming 1 quart per 500 to 1,000 miles. Multiple owners cite the J37 engine and defective piston rings or camshaft wear as the root cause, with some documenting hardness inconsistencies in failed camshaft lobes. One owner reported a missing piston ring at the factory.
Engine knocking at idle and low RPM accompanies the oil loss in several complaints. Some vehicles developed sluggish acceleration and loss of power—one owner owned two separate 2012 TLs with identical symptoms and never saw the problem in four older-generation models.
One owner experienced sudden total compression loss at highway speed (98,000 miles), with dealer unable to determine cause. Another faced repeated stalling during acceleration for over a year before transmission failure was finally diagnosed.
Dealership diagnostics have been unreliable. Multiple owners reported returning to dealers repeatedly without finding the problem, or had tests botched (one dealer allegedly added oil right before an oil consumption test). Acura has issued an oil consumption campaign but denied coverage to owners claiming they found oil leaks—which owners disputed. Post-warranty, Acura refused field investigation, citing out-of-warranty status.
Failure modes owners describe
Excessive Oil Consumption
Engine burns or consumes oil at abnormally high rates (1 quart per 500–1,000 miles reported) with no visible leaks detected. Owners report needing oil top-ups every 2,500–3,000 miles. Multiple owners cite faulty piston rings and camshaft/rocker arm deterioration as underlying causes. Oil consumption test (OCT) results by dealerships confirmed significant loss. One owner reported the engine was missing a piston ring on one cylinder from the factory. Another noted the J37 engine design as the source defect, present across multiple Acura and Honda vehicles.
When: Reported across 33,000 to 123,000 miles; some owners noted the issue from purchase or early ownership.
Symptoms owners cite: Oil level drops rapidly between service intervals; Engine knocking or ticking noise at idle and low RPM; No visible oil leaks under the vehicle; Engine light warning (in some cases); Loss of power during acceleration; Sluggish acceleration, especially at stops and low speeds
Repairs/costs cited: Dealerships performed oil consumption tests (OCT) over 1,000+ miles. Repairs included engine replacements (in at least 3 documented cases where owners had to replace the entire engine). One owner replaced their engine twice and had a third engine installed. Costs not specified by owners, but Acura dealerships performed the replacements under warranty for some owners while out-of-warranty owners paid out-of-pocket.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Acura issued an oil consumption campaign/recall, but one owner reported being denied coverage because the dealership identified three oil leaks (though the owner disputed ever seeing oil on their driveway). Another owner mentioned a lawsuit settlement document promising free recall repair, but the recall was not completed before the vehicle was sold used. Acura client services responses described as unhelpful; manufacturer refused to investigate once vehicles fell out of warranty. Honda customer service declined responsibility citing out-of-warranty status and dealership choice.
Loss of Engine Compression / Catastrophic Engine Failure
Engine lost all compression during highway driving, resulting in complete power loss. Dealer diagnosed a blown engine with no apparent cause. Owner's certified mechanic independently confirmed loss of compression. Dealer could not identify the root cause despite post-failure testing. Owner alleged slow coolant leak, but dealer's investigation was deemed inadequate by the owner.
When: 98,000 miles; sudden onset during 8-minute highway drive at 70 MPH
Symptoms owners cite: Abrupt loss of engine power while driving at highway speed; Complete engine shutdown
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer diagnosed blown engine; no repair pathway outlined. Owner covered cost of initial dealer diagnosis but Acura refused to authorize further investigation or pay for engine replacement. Vehicle outcome not stated.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Acura client services initially refused to investigate. Claimed vehicle was out of warranty and required owner-paid diagnosis before any review. After diagnosis, Acura deemed it a customer issue, not an Acura issue, and refused to have field technicians or warranty group investigate. Refused to authorize dealer to conduct proper testing.
Engine Stalling and Transmission Issues
Vehicle stalled repeatedly during acceleration from stops and while driving, initially misdiagnosed or not diagnosed by dealership for over one year. Problem worsened progressively. After multiple failed diagnostics, owner was finally told transmission replacement was needed. One complaint also references another 2012 TL receiving a transmission replacement for the same issue.
When: Began June 2013 (shortly after May 2013 purchase); stalled again during vacation in summer 2014; final transmission diagnosis in August 2014 at approximately 50,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Stalling while driving, especially when stopped at lights and accelerating from stops; Jerking sensation (3 jerks noted during one incident); Loss of acceleration; Progressive worsening over months
Repairs/costs cited: Dealership finally diagnosed transmission failure requiring replacement. No cost stated. Vehicle had 7-year/100,000-mile warranty at time of diagnosis.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealership repeatedly stated they could not find anything wrong despite six or more visits over approximately one year. Finally diagnosed transmission failure after owner persisted with complaints.
Camshaft Lobe Hardness Defect
During routine 100K service, a bad camshaft was identified as the cause of engine noise. Upon inspection by owner (50-year automotive veteran), one lobe on the original camshaft showed unusual wear. Rockwell hardness testing revealed a significant hardness difference between the worn lobe (42.0C) and the adjacent lobe (47.9C), indicating a manufacturing or heat-treat defect. Owner notes this is not normal wear. Multiple Acura and Honda owners reported identical failures online.
When: Discovered at 100,000 miles during routine service
Symptoms owners cite: Engine noise requiring valve adjustment investigation; Single camshaft lobe with premature wear
Repairs/costs cited: Camshaft replaced. Cost covered by owner; Honda dealership performed the work (not Acura dealer).
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Honda customer service declined responsibility, citing out-of-warranty status and the fact that repair was performed at a Honda dealer rather than an Acura dealer. Owner disputes this reasoning, noting J37 engines are nearly identical across brands.
Engine Knocking and Power Loss
Multiple owners reported engine knocking sounds from idle to 2,500 RPM, combined with loss of engine power, sluggish acceleration, and poor response during low-speed driving. One owner owned two 2012 TLs (different cars, same year) and experienced the same problem in both, having owned four prior-generation TLs without issue. Another owner noted engine tick at 120,000 miles with deteriorating rear camshaft and rocker arms.
When: Reported at 33,000 miles and 120,000+ miles; one owner noted 70% oil consumption within one month / 12,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Knocking or ticking noise from engine; Sluggish acceleration, especially at low speed and from stops; Reduced power output; Car feels out of power
Repairs/costs cited: One owner reported rocker arm and camshaft deterioration requiring replacement at 120,000 miles. No repairs detailed for other knocking complaints; dealers reportedly found no problems on inspection.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealers initially said they could not find any problem. One owner reported Acura released an oil consumption campaign but was denied coverage. No field investigation or proactive outreach documented.
Synthesized from 14 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 1 most recent
Excessive oil consumption has now LED to 2 engine replacements (this is the cars 3rd engine, original plus 2 replacements). I have had 3 oil consumption test (oct), all showing that there was significant consumption. The local Acura dealership (auto nation Acura of spokane (ana)), is unable of being trusted and incapable of any significant repair so I have been traveling to another Acura…
Had engine trouble with your 2012 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 engine problem on the 2012 Acura TL?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 14 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $3,100 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the engine typically fail?
Across the 12 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most engine failures cluster between 39,500 and 105,000 miles, with the median around 83,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 39,500; a quarter make it past 105,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $3,100 for engine 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 engine?
No active recalls currently cover engine issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
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/2012/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.