1996 Acura TL
The Verdict
Worst problem area
Brakes
Brakes leads by volume: 6 of 26 complaints (23%) mention it. Complaints mentioning Airbags & Restraints include more reported injuries (2) than those mentioning any other identified area.
Complaints filed rose from 1 in 1995 to 26 in 1996.
Data last changed . Sources: NHTSA complaints and recalls, EPA fuel economy data. Methodology
Cost, Fuel Economy & Complaint History
| Category | 1995 | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | vs. 1996 Compact Cars |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual fuel cost ($) | 3,900 | 3,900–4,100 | 3,900–4,100 | 3,900–4,100 | |
| Combined MPG | 20 | 19–20 | 19–20 | 19–20 | |
| City / Highway MPG | 18 / 23 | 17–18 / 22–23 | 17–18 / 22–23 | 17 / 22–23 | |
| CO₂ tailpipe (g/mi) | 444 | 444–468 | 444–468 | 444–468 | |
| Complaints filed | 1 | 26 | 23 | 20 | |
| Recalls issued | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | |
| Crash-involved complaints | 0 | 3 | 3 | 3 | |
| Fire-involved complaints | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | |
| Injuries reported | 0 | 2 | 4 | 3 | |
| Deaths reported | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Configurations compared | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
Not compared: this database has no vehicle sales or registration figures, so a raw count mostly reflects how many were sold, not how safe the vehicle is.
Common questions
How many recalls does the 1996 Acura TL have?
2 NHTSA recall campaigns as of Sep 16, 2026. Check your VIN with NHTSA to see whether one applies to your car.
What is the most common complaint about the 1996 Acura TL?
Brakes: 6 of 26 NHTSA complaints (23%) mention it.
What gas mileage does the 1996 Acura TL get?
EPA rates it 19–20 MPG combined across 2 configurations.
How much does it cost to fuel a 1996 Acura TL?
EPA estimates $3,900–$4,100 a year in fuel costs, using EPA's assumptions.
Similar Vehicles
EPA-Rated Configurations (2)
| Configuration | Transmission | Cylinders | Displacement | Drivetrain | Fuel Type | Vehicle Class | City | Highway | Combined | Annual Fuel Cost | CO₂ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Configuration 1 | Automatic 4-spd | 5 | 2.5L | Front-Wheel Drive | Premium | Compact Cars | 18 mpg (high) | 23 mpg (high) | 20 mpg (high) | $3,900 (low) | 444 g/mi (low) |
| Configuration 2 | Automatic 4-spd | 6 | 3.2L | Front-Wheel Drive | Premium | Compact Cars | 17 mpg (low) | 22 mpg (low) | 19 mpg (low) | $4,100 (high) | 468 g/mi (high) |
Complaints by Category
| Category | Complaints | Crash-Involved | Fire-Involved | Injuries | Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Transmission & Drivetrain | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel System | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Brakes | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Steering | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Suspension, Wheels & Tires | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Airbags & Restraints | 3 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Driver Assistance & Speed Control | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Body, Seats & Latches | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Visibility & Lighting | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Other | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
A complaint that names more than one category is counted in each, so the rows can add up to more than the total number of complaints.
Recalls (2)
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION · Campaign 99V227000 · Aug 30, 1999
Defect: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. A TRANSMISSION CASE BOLT CAN LOOSEN AND FALL OUT ALLOWING THE TRANSMISSION TO DISENGAGE FROM THE DIFFERENTIAL.
Consequence: THE VEHICLE COULD LOSE POWER TO THE DRIVE WHEELS WITHOUT WARNING. ALSO, SHIFTING THE TRANSMISSION INTO THE PARK POSITION WOULD NOT LOCK THE WHEELS, AND A PARKED VEHICLE COULD MOVE UNEXPECTEDLY IF THE PARKING BRAKE IS NOT SET.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A REDESIGNED BOLT.
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT · Campaign 99V069000 · May 10, 1999
Defect: 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.
Consequence: THIS CONDITION WOULD RESULT IN VEHICLE DECELERATION AND A SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER. ALSO STEERING CONTROLLABILITY WOULD BE REDUCED.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FRONT SUSPENSION LOWER BALL JOINTS.