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 not start my engine and has gotten stuck inside the cylinder many times. I just replaced the battery as well due to my vehicle stalling when I turn it on. There should be no reason other than the faulty machinery that's giving me all this trouble. Many of the people who have this make, model, and year have expirenced these exact issues. I believe you guys have issued a recall which is why I'm informing the company. Hopefully you can help. Thank you .
The worst 1997 Acura TL problems
Ranked by number of owner complaints. Mileage and cost come from what owners wrote.
- Electrical8
- Acceleration4
- Transmission3
- Brakes2
- Airbags1
Problems by type
Tap a problem to see which part fails, at what mileage and in which other years.
- Electrical8
- Acceleration4
- Transmission3
- Brakes2
- Airbags1
- Body1
- Engine1
- Steering1
- Suspension1
- Tires1
- Visibility1
- Wheels1
Recalls 2
Power train: automatic transmission
- What is wrong
- Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. A transmission case bolt can loosen and fall out allowing the transmission to disengage from the differential.
- Risk
- 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.
Recall number 99V227000 · Recall details
Suspension: front: control arm: lower ball joint
- What is wrong
- 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.
- Risk
- 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.
Recall number 99V069000 · Recall details
Technical service bulletins for the 1997 Acura TL 24
Bulletins tell dealers how to fix known problems. A warranty extension means the manufacturer pays for that repair for longer.
- Sending vehicle data to tech line.
- Special Tool Loan Program: Under TOOLS AVAILABLE FOR LOAN, the list has been updated.
- Acura: there are guidelines for various situations and procedures including: tire pressure valve stem...
- Don't test-drive with the malfunction indicator lamp or d indicator on
- Airbag on off switch
- Airbag on/off switch application chart
- Letter to service manager regarding ignition switch recall campaign
- Troubleshooting ABS or tcs diagnostic trouble code 51 and/or 53
- Air conditioning (a/c) compressor control logic
- A/c compressor control logic
1997 Acura TL fuel economy
Official EPA estimates in miles per gallon (MPGe for electric). Ranges cover trims that share the same engine.
| Engine | Drive | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.5L 5‑cyl | FWD | 18 | 23 | 20 |
| 3.2L 6‑cyl | FWD | 17 | 22 | 19 |
What 1997 Acura TL owners say
Most recent owner complaints, unedited.
My 1997 acura tl 2.5 spontaneously burst into flames in the area of the starter. This was clearly an electrical problem.
My 1997 acura tl has been acting up. It would stall periodically without any warning (I.e when I was going on the highway, the car ran just fine; but all the sudden I lose power and the car stall. It also happen when I took the inside road.) when I tried to restarted the car. It wouldn't started. I waited 10 minutes later, it started, but only to stall again after 5 minutes.) I had to have tow it to my mechanic but the car started fine when he tried it. He ran a computer diagnostic test but couldn't not find any thing wrong with it. The car work fine for about a week; then it start stalling again. I have to wait from 10 min to an hour sometime for the car to start up again. This problem has cause me to almost get into several wrecks and made other drivers angry at me. I called the dealer and they said my car has some recalls which previous owner had already had it fixed. I do not have the money to bring it to my dealer. And I cannot figure out what is wrong with it.
Dt: there was heavy rain the night before the incident occurred. The vehicle was parked in driveway when the consumer got up and went to get in the car and found that the driver's side door, driver side dash , and driver side seat had burned. The floorboard was damaged by dripping plastic. The only hot wire was in the door locking mechanism. The fire would not have happened if there was a fuse operational in the circuit. The battery was almost brand new, and it was almost dead. The caller stated that the only reason the fire died out was because it ran out of oxygen. The manufacturer was called, and has not returned the call. Also the caller indicated that the door lock made a noise even after the doors were locked but not all the time. *ak the vehicle was determined unrepairable. *sc
Automatic transmission keeps popping when changing gears. Brought back for service when under warranty. Transmission fluid was flushed. Problem went away for a month. After a month problem would arise again. This has been going on since purchase of vehicle. I friend was the same model, has the same problem.
1997 acura 3.2 tl faulty airbag. My acura recently displayed a SRS error. I brought the car into radley acura in falls church where they told me that a potentially faulty airbag is not covered by acura and that to have the airbag replaced to prevent it from either deploying randomly or not deploying at all it would cost me over $1200.
Digital A/C display stopped functioning. Dealer said component cost would be @ $1,600.00 (85% value of car). Offered no alternative (after-market, used part). Coincided with dash lights going out, indicated gear position (nuetral, reverse, drive, etc).
Transmission failure on my 97 acura 3.2tl
Called dealership, acura of boardman service dept., said they didn't know what it was and had never heard of ingnition failure being a problem. Did research because of the odd and damaging behavior of the ignition switch to my vehicle and became aware of major recal on ignition switches. However the recall does not include my specific maker in my specific year but it does include my make and a different year. Will contact acura/honda about having them replace. It is definitely a hazard! Dt
Abs light illuminated. Took vehicle to dealer, and they stated brakes were good. Abs light is still coming on, consumer feels there is a problem because ABS light keeps coming on. Please provide any further information.
Compare the 1997 Acura TL
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Questions about the 1997 Acura TL
Is the 1997 Acura TL reliable?
Owners have filed 23 complaints about the 1997 Acura TL, fewer than a typical TL model year.
What is the most common problem with the 1997 Acura TL?
Electrical system, with 8 complaints. Next is acceleration (4).
How many recalls does the 1997 Acura TL have?
2 recalls, covering power train and suspension.
What year does the Acura TL have the most electrical problems?
The Acura TL model years with the most electrical complaints are 1999 (58 complaints), 2006 (31 complaints) and 2005 (28 complaints).
What gas mileage does the 1997 Acura TL get?
Official estimates for the 1997 Acura TL range from 19 to 20 mpg combined. The most efficient version (2.5L 5-cyl, FWD) gets 18 city and 23 highway.
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