1997 Acura TL Problems, Recalls & Reliability
29 owner complaints sit in the federal file for the 1997 Acura TL, alongside 2 recall campaigns and 0 defect investigations. It scores 6/100 on the trouble index — too lightly reported for a fair score.
Few reports
Where 1997 sits among all TL years
What owners report
Recalls (2)
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. A TRANSMISSION CASE BOLT CAN LOOSEN AND FALL OUT ALLOWING THE TRANSMISSION TO DISENGAGE FROM THE DIFFERENTIAL.
Fix: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A REDESIGNED BOLT.
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.
Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FRONT SUSPENSION LOWER BALL JOINTS.
Technical service bulletins
24 manufacturer communications — service bulletins, the biggest share on airbags and transmission & drivetrain — are on file for the 1997 Acura TL. A TSB is factory repair guidance, not a recall — the repair is not automatically free.
Complaint history for this model year
When owners filed their reports — a long tail means problems kept surfacing for years.
Questions buyers ask
Is the 1997 Acura TL reliable?
The 1997 Acura TL drew 29 complaints in federal safety records — too lightly reported for a fair score. Its trouble index is 6/100, scored against the model's worst year (2004).
What are the most common 1997 Acura TL problems?
The top reported problems for the 1997 Acura TL are electrical (8 complaints), speed control (4), and other (3).
Does the 1997 Acura TL have recalls?
2 recall campaigns apply to the 1997 Acura TL. Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer.
Every number on this page is a count of records in the federal complaint, recall, and investigation files published by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation. Check any specific vehicle's open recalls by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.