Acura TL Problems by Year

We compared every Acura TL model year from 1996–2014 using 3,117 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, 25 recalls and federal defect investigations. The years to avoid are 2004, 2003, 2002, 2005 and 2000, which drew far more complaints than other TL years at the same age. The best years are 2011, 2014 and 2009.

19model years
3,117complaints
25recalls
2004, 2003worst years
2011, 2014best years

Complaints by model year

’96’97’98’99’00’01’02’03’04’05’06’07’08’09’10’11’12’13’142623201572491493333915513882471241244264201306217
Owner complaints per model year, Acura TL. Colour = our verdict for that year (red: avoid, orange: caution, green: better than average, blue: too new).
YearComplaintsvs. typical*RecallsTop problemVerdict
201417−78%3AirbagGood
201362−21%3SteeringAverage
20121301.6×3AirbagCaution
201120−79%3AirbagGood
201064−28%3AirbagAverage
200942−51%3AirbagGood
2008124typical2AirbagAverage
2007124typical2AirbagAverage
20062471.8×4AirbagCaution
20053882.8×5BodyAvoid
20045514.5×4BodyAvoid
20033913.6×5TransmissionAvoid
20023333.5×7TransmissionAvoid
20011491.5×3TransmissionCaution
20002491.9×6TransmissionCaution
1999157typical4ElectricalAverage
199820−78%2EngineGood
199723−70%2ElectricalGood
199626−74%2BrakeGood

* Complaints compared with the median TL year at the same age, so new and old years are judged fairly. How this works.

Most common Acura TL problems

Latest Acura TL recalls

Air bags › Frontal › Driver side › Inflator module

NHTSA recall 20V-026 · Jan 17, 2020 · 1,439,841 vehicles

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 1998 Acura 2.2CL, 1998-1999 Acura 2.3CL, 1998-1999 Acura 3.0CL, 2001 Acura 3.2CL and Acura MDX, 1998-2000 Honda Accord Coupe, Accord Sedan, Civic Sedan, Odyssey and Acura 3.5RL, 1999-2000 Acura 3.2TL, 1996-2000 Civic Coupe, 1997-2000 CR-V, 1997-1998 EV Plus, and 1998-1999…

Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the driver frontal air bag inflator, and replace it if necessary, with an inflator of a different design, free of charge. The recall began October 1, 2020.

Air bags › Frontal › Driver side › Inflator module

NHTSA recall 20V-027 · Jan 17, 2020 · 875,966 vehicles

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2001-2002 Acura 3.2CL, 2000-2003 Acura 3.5RL, 2000-2001 Acura 3.2TL, Honda CR-V and Honda Odyssey, 2001-2002 Acura MDX and 2000 Accord Coupe, Accord Sedan, Civic Coupe, and Civic Sedan vehicles.

Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the air bags in the vehicles, replacing the driver frontal air bag inflator with an inflator of a different design, as necessary, free of charge.

Air bags › Frontal › Driver side › Inflator module

NHTSA recall 19V-499 · Jun 27, 2019 · 3,947 vehicles

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2003 Acura 3.2CL, 2002-2003 3.2TL, 2003-2006 MDX, 2001-2007 Honda Accord, 2001-2005 Civic, 2003-2005 Civic Hybrid, 2001-2005 Civic GX NGV, 2002-2006 CR-V, 2003-2011 Element, 2002-2004 Odyssey, 2003-2008 Pilot and 2006 Ridgeline vehicles.

Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began August 12, 2019. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138.

Air bags › Frontal › Driver side › Inflator module

NHTSA recall 19V-500 · Jun 27, 2019 · 1,558 vehicles

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2013 Acura ILX, 2015 RDX, 2005-2010 and 2012 RL, 2009-2014 TL, 2010 and 2012 ZDX, 2007-2011 CR-V, 2011-2013 and 2015 CR-Z, 2009-2013 Fit, 2013 Fit EV, 2010-2011 and 2013 Insight and 2007-2014 Ridgeline vehicles.

Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began August 12, 2019. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138.

Air bags › Frontal › Driver side › Inflator module

NHTSA recall 19V-182 · Mar 6, 2019 · 1,101,534 vehicles

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…

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.

All 25 Acura TL recalls by year →

Frequently asked questions

What years of the Acura TL should you avoid?

2004, 2003, 2002, 2005, 2000 and 2006 — these years have the most complaints relative to other TL years at the same age, led by body & structure problems in the 2004.

What is the best year for the Acura TL?

2011 has the fewest complaints compared with other TL years at the same age, followed by 2014 and 2009. Newer years can look better simply because fewer complaints have come in yet, so we compare like with like.

What are the most common Acura TL problems?

Across all years, owners report the most problems with the transmission & drivetrain (904), air bags (826) and body & structure (548). Transmission complaints peak in the 2003 model year.

How many recalls has the Acura TL had?

25 recalls across 1996–2014. The model year with the most is 2002. See all Acura TL recalls by year.

Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.