1997 Acura TL: common problems and reliability

33 owner complaints on record.

Most complaints are about electrical system. 2 recalls.

Should I buy a 1997 TL?

The 1997 Acura TL has 33 owner-filed NHTSA complaints and 2 recalls on record. The most-reported areas are electrical system and air bags.

Safety record for the 1997 model year

33
Owner complaints
2
Recalls
5
Crash reports
2
Fire reports

Source: NHTSA complaints and recalls filed for 1997 Acura TL vehicles (US, public record).

How we score it

Is 1997 a good year for the TL?

Across the 19 TL model years we track, complaint volume runs from 17 (2014) to 551 (2004). With 33 complaints, the 1997 TL sits below the model's median of 124.

These are raw NHTSA complaint totals, not adjusted for how many cars sold or how long each model year has been on the road. Older and higher-selling years accumulate more complaints.

Where owners report problems

electrical system
9
air bags
5
vehicle speed control
5
power train
4
steering
2

Recalls affecting the 1997 TL

power train:automatic transmission

Campaign 99V227000

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. A TRANSMISSION CASE BOLT CAN LOOSEN AND FALL OUT ALLOWING THE TRANSMISSION TO DISENGAGE FROM THE DIFFERENTIAL.

suspension:front:control arm:lower ball joint

Campaign 99V069000

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.

What owners say across generations

Owner sentiment is sharply divided by transmission choice rather than by the car itself.

Owner insights cover all generations of the TL. See the full TL owner picture and every model year.

Typical used price

Used TL listings typically run $8,537–$13,495 across 2002 to 2014 model years.

Other TL model years

Compare every TL year side by side to see how 1997 ranks against the rest.

2014 TL2013 TL2012 TL2011 TL2010 TL2009 TL2008 TL2007 TL2006 TL2005 TL2004 TL2003 TL2002 TL2001 TL2000 TL1999 TL1998 TL1996 TL

Compare the TL against its rivals

TL vs Acura TSXTL vs Audi A4TL vs Infiniti I30TL vs Mercedes-Benz C-class

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