Owner complaints, recalls, fuel economy and safety ratings from public NHTSA and EPA data, updated Oct 17, 2026.
Fuel economy
21 mpgcombined; city 18, highway 26; every version of this model year
Five years of fuel
$19,160U.S. average; Ohio $18,060 at local prices; every version of this model year; fuel only, not other costs of owning it; 15,000 miles a year, at EIA fuel prices for the week of Oct 12, 2026
NHTSA overall safety rating
Not ratedNHTSA has no overall rating for this year
Owners have filed 247 complaints with NHTSA about the 2006 TL. These are unverified owner reports, counted by the part of the car they name; one complaint can name several parts. Counts aren't adjusted for how many were sold, so they don't show how reliable a car is.
Complaints by part of the car
Part
Complaints
Crashes
Fires
Injuries
Air bags
85
5
0
3
Structure
64
1
0
0
Unknown or other
44
1
0
0
Electrical system
31
0
2
1
Steering
28
0
1
0
Power train
19
0
0
0
Engine
10
0
1
0
Service brakes
9
0
0
0
Suspension
9
1
0
0
Vehicle speed control
9
2
0
1
Wheels
7
2
0
0
Electronic stability control (ESC)
6
0
0
0
10 more parts
Equipment
4
0
0
0
Exterior lighting
4
0
0
0
Service brakes, hydraulic
4
0
0
0
Visibility
3
0
0
0
Tires
2
0
0
0
Visibility/wiper
2
0
0
0
Fuel/propulsion system
1
0
0
0
Interior lighting
1
0
0
0
Seat belts
1
1
0
0
Seats
1
0
0
0
Complaints by model year
Newer years have had less time to collect complaints, and counts aren't adjusted for sales, so a shorter bar doesn't mean a more reliable year.
NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns for the 2006 TL over its history. Campaigns are matched by model and year, so each one may apply to a given car, and its repair may already be done: check a VIN on NHTSA's recall lookup for the open recalls on that exact car.
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling specific 2003 Acura 3.2CL, 2013-2016 ILX, 2013-2014 ILX Hybrid, 2003-2006 MDX, 2007-2016 RDX, 2002-2003 3.2TL, 2004-2006, and 2009-2014 TL, 2010-2013 ZDX and 2001-2007 and 2009 Honda Accord, 2001-2005 Civic, 2003-2005 Civic Hybrid, 2001-2005 Civic GX NGV, 2002-2007 and 2010-2011 CR-V, 2003-2011 Element, 2007 Fit, 2002-2004 Odyssey, 2003-2008 Pilot, and 2006-2014 Ridgeline vehicles. The affected vehicles received a replacement driver air bag inflator as part of a previous Takata inflator recall remedy or a replacement driver air bag module containing the same inflator type as a service part. Due to a manufacturing error, in the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver frontal air bag, these inflators may explode.
Risk: An explosion of an inflator within the driver frontal air bag module may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver, front seat passenger or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's air bag inflator with an alternate inflator, free of charge. The recall began April 10, 2019. Honda owners may contact customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for this recall is O41. Acura owners may contact customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Acura's number for this recall is U40.
HONDA IS RECALLING 273,000 MY 2004-2008 ACURA TL VEHICLES. PROLONGED HIGH UNDER-HOOD TEMPERATURES MAY CAUSE THE POWER STEERING HOSE TO DETERIORATE PREMATURELY CAUSING THE HOSE TO CRACK AND LEAK POWER STEERING FLUID.
Risk: POWER STEERING FLUID LEAKING ONTO A HOT CATALYTIC CONVERTER WILL GENERATE SMOKE AND POSSIBLY LEAD TO AN UNDER-HOOD FIRE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW HEAT RESISTANT POWER STEERING HOSE FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 28, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT ACURA AT 800-382-2238. THIS IS AN EXPANSION OF A PREVIOUS RECALL (PLEASE SEE 07V551).
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES AND MOTORCYCLES, THE OWNER'S MANUALS CONTAIN INCORRECT CONTACT INFORMATION FOR THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S (NHTSA) VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE.
Risk: THE LANGUAGE IN THE OWNER'S MANUALS IS NOT IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CURRENT MANDATORY REQUIREMENTS.
Remedy: HONDA WILL SEND A POSTCARD TO DEALERS AND OWNERS WITH THE CORRECT NHTSA VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE INFORMATION AND WITH INSTRUCTIONS TO INSERT THE CARD INTO THE "REPORTING SAFETY DEFECTS" SECTION OF THE OWNER'S MANUAL. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 2, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT HONDA AT 1-800-999-1009, ACURA AT 1-800-382-2238 OR HONDA MOTORCYCLES AT 1-866-784-1870.
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, ON THE FRONTAL AIRBAG SYSTEM WHERE THE TWO EXTERNAL IMPACT SENSORS IS MOUNTED, NEAR THE FRONT HEADLIGHTS THE FRONT IMPACT SENSOR BOLTS WERE NOT PROPERLY TORQUED.
Risk: IF THE BOLTS LOOSEN OR FALL OUT, THE SENSOR MAY FAIL TO PROPERLY DETECT A CRASH, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN DELAYED OR NON-DEPLOYMENT OF THE FRONT AIRBAG INCREASING THE RISK OF INJURY.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND REMOVE THE BUMPER AND RETORQUE THE LOOSE BOLTS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 7, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT HONDA AT 1-800-999-1009 AND ACURA AT 1-800-382-2238.
Carmakers sent NHTSA 40 service bulletins and notices that cover the 2006 TL, the latest on Jul 11, 2019. They tell dealers how to fix known issues.
The parts they mention most: electrical system (12), engine (7), equipment (7), engine and engine cooling (4), power train (4).
NHTSA hasn't opened a defect investigation that covers this model year.
Maintenance
Oil
The owner's manual gives the oil and how often to change it. We show oil facts only once we've checked them against the manual, and we haven't yet for the 2006 TL.
NHTSA manufacturer communications, file of Oct 17, 2026
NHTSA defect investigations, file of Oct 17, 2026
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings, file of Aug 7, 2026
U.S. Energy Information Administration, file of Oct 12, 2026
Fuel cost: EPA mpg with fuel prices for the week of Oct 12, 2026 and electricity prices for Jul 2026. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (Oct 2026). Complaints are unverified reports owners filed with NHTSA. About the data