1997 Acura TL Recalls, Complaints & Specs
2 safety recalls list the 1997 Acura TL, and owners have filed 23 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.
2 safety recalls for the 1997 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.
23 owner complaints filed with NHTSA
Owners of the 1997 Acura TL have filed 23 complaints with NHTSA; 3 describe a crash and 2 describe a fire. Reports cite 4 injuries and 0 deaths. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 82,003 miles. Complaints peaked in 1999 with 5 filed that year.
Most-reported components
What owners are reporting
“Although my car is about 20 years old now, i've done a lot of research about the problems i've experienced and it appears cars made from 1997 experienced malfunctioning ignition switches. My key will”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, August 29, 2018 · Electrical system
“My 1997 acura tl 2.5 spontaneously burst into flames in the area of the starter. This was clearly an electrical problem. *tr”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, July 10, 2008 · Electrical system
Fuel economy and specs
EPA ratings for the 1997 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 1997 Acura TL
How do I know if my 1997 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 1997 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.