1996 Acura TL Recalls, Complaints & Specs
2 safety recalls list the 1996 Acura TL, and owners have filed 26 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.
2 safety recalls for the 1996 Acura TL
Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.
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Automatic transmission (power train)
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. A transmission case bolt can loosen and fall out allowing the transmission to disengage from the differential.
Remedy: Dealers will install a redesigned bolt.
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Suspension: lower ball joint
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. Certain vehicles were manufactured with ball joints that can prematurely wear out and, in the worse case, the ball joint would separate causing the front suspension to collapse.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the front suspension lower ball joints.
26 owner complaints filed with NHTSA
Owners of the 1996 Acura TL have filed 26 complaints with NHTSA; 3 describe a crash. Reports cite 2 injuries and 0 deaths. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 97,351 miles. Complaints peaked in 1997 with 6 filed that year.
Most-reported components
What owners are reporting
“Yea the vehicle was purchased september 2019 @185k miles and started having problems around april 2020 @ 250k miles my , this month after driving for about an hour you could say , my car over heated a”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, May 3, 2020 · Electronic stability control (esc)
“I was headed up a hill when i pulled over to the side of the road to let an emergency vehicle pass. When i attempted to reenter traffic, there was a loud bang, some grinding noise, and a jolt as the v”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, September 19, 2014 · Power train
Fuel economy and specs
EPA ratings for the 1996 Acura TL (2.5TL/3.2TL). Ranges cover every tested configuration.
| Combined | 19–20 mpg |
|---|---|
| City / Highway | 17–18 / 22–23 |
| Fuel | Premium |
| EPA class | Compact Cars |
| Engine | 5/6 cyl, 2.5/3.2 L |
| Transmission | Automatic 4-spd |
Compare Acura TL model years
Recall and complaint counts for every Acura TL model year in NHTSA's database.
| Model year | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|
| 1995 Acura TL | 0 | 1 |
| 1996 Acura TL | 2 | 26 |
| 1997 Acura TL | 2 | 23 |
| 1998 Acura TL | 2 | 20 |
| 1999 Acura TL | 4 | 157 |
| 2000 Acura TL | 6 | 249 |
| 2001 Acura TL | 3 | 149 |
| 2002 Acura TL | 7 | 333 |
| 2003 Acura TL | 5 | 391 |
| 2004 Acura TL | 4 | 551 |
| 2005 Acura TL | 5 | 388 |
| 2006 Acura TL | 4 | 247 |
| 2007 Acura TL | 2 | 124 |
| 2008 Acura TL | 2 | 124 |
| 2009 Acura TL | 3 | 42 |
| 2010 Acura TL | 3 | 64 |
| 2011 Acura TL | 3 | 20 |
| 2012 Acura TL | 3 | 130 |
| 2013 Acura TL | 3 | 62 |
| 2014 Acura TL | 3 | 17 |
Checking a specific 1996 Acura TL
How do I know if my 1996 Acura TL has an open recall?
Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle. 2 campaigns currently list the 1996 Acura TL; your car may already have been repaired under some of them.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised Acura dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number (for example 99V069000).
What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?
A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.
Other Acura models
- MDX3,296 complaints
- RDX2,164 complaints
- TLX891 complaints
- TSX671 complaints
- Integra657 complaints
- Cl586 complaints
- RL423 complaints
- Legend382 complaints
Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.