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Acura TLYears to avoid, problems & recalls

Based on 3,117 NHTSA owner complaints across 19 model years, the Acura TL years to avoid are 2003 and 2004, and the strongest years are 1996, 2009, 2010 and 2013. The TL has 25 safety recalls on record.

Acura TL
Years to avoid'03 '04Use caution: 2000, 2002, 2005, 2006Best years'96 '09 '10 '13Fewest complaints for their ageOwner complaints3,117Top: Power trainSafety recalls251996–2014 model years

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports. Updated daily. How we score years. Photo: Elise240SX, CC BY-SA 4.0.

Best & worst years

Acura TL years to avoid

Complaints by model year, colored by the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the TL median. Tap a year for its full report.

'96'97'98'99'00'01'02'03'04'05'06'07'08'09'10'11'12'13'14
  • Avoid
  • Caution
  • Solid
  • Best
  • Not rated
2014Not rated–/10017 complaints · 3 recalls2013Best72/10062 complaints · 3 recalls2012Solid55/100130 complaints · 3 recalls2011Not rated–/10020 complaints · 3 recalls2010Best70/10064 complaints · 3 recalls2009Best76/10042 complaints · 3 recalls2008Solid54/100124 complaints · 2 recalls2007Solid55/100124 complaints · 2 recalls2006Caution39/100247 complaints · 4 recalls2005Caution30/100388 complaints · 5 recalls2004Avoid23/100551 complaints · 4 recalls2003Avoid27/100391 complaints · 5 recalls2002Caution30/100333 complaints · 7 recalls2001Solid50/100149 complaints · 3 recalls2000Caution36/100249 complaints · 6 recalls1999Solid45/100157 complaints · 4 recalls1998Not rated–/10020 complaints · 2 recalls1997Not rated–/10023 complaints · 2 recalls1996Best83/10026 complaints · 2 recalls
Complaints by system

Most common Acura TL problems

All model years combined: 3,117 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.

Box size = number of complaints naming that system. Darker = larger share. One complaint can name more than one system.
Complaints by system
SystemComplaintsCrash, fire or injury
Power train90340
Air bags82671
Structure54812
Electrical system26030
Steering21026
Vehicle speed control11732
Tires1087
Suspension969
Visibility936
26 other systems60263
25 recalls

Acura TL recalls

Newest first. The ring shows the share of affected vehicles repaired, from the manufacturer's latest report to NHTSA.

8%Driver side: inflator module20V-027 · 2000–2001 · Jan 17, 2020 · 875,966 vehicles4%Driver side: inflator module20V-026 · 1999–2000 · Jan 17, 2020 · 1,439,841 vehicles67%Driver side: inflator module19V-500 · 2009–2014 · Jun 27, 2019 · 1,558 vehicles22%Driver side: inflator module19V-499 · 2002–2003 · Jun 27, 2019 · 3,947 vehicles49%Driver side: inflator module19V-182 · 2002–2014 · Mar 6, 2019 · 1,101,534 vehicles82%Driver side: inflator module16V-061 · 2009–2014 · Feb 3, 2016 · 2,232,187 vehicles68%Driver side: inflator module15V-320 · 2002–2003 · May 28, 2015 · 6,281,043 vehicles–Hydraulic power assist: hose, piping, and connections12V-222 · 2007–2008 · May 17, 2012 · 625,762 vehicles–Windshield wiper/washer: motor08V-092 · 2004–2005 · Feb 27, 2008 · 129,600 vehicles–Hydraulic power assist: hose, piping, and connections08V-091 · 2004–2008 · Feb 27, 2008 · 273,000 vehicles–Delivery: fuel pump07V-097 · 2005 · Mar 14, 2007 · 166,561 vehicles–Other: owners/service/other manual06V-270 · 2006 · Jul 26, 2006 · 1,190,000 vehicles

Showing the 12 newest of 25 recalls. Each model-year page lists all recalls for that year.

8 investigations

NHTSA investigations of the TL

  1. Desiccated Air Bag Inflator RuptureEA21002 · 2002–2003 · still open
    Open
  2. Electrical overstressEA19001 · 2012–2014 · closed Sep 19, 2024
    Led to recall 20V-024
  3. Air Bag Inflator RuptureEA15001 · 2002–2003 · still open
    Led to recall 14V-668
  4. Air Bag Inflator RupturePE14016 · 2002–2003 · closed Mar 2, 2015
    Led to recall 13V-172
  5. RUPTURING DRIVER'S AIR BAG INFLATORSRQ09004 · 2002 · closed May 6, 2010
    No recall
  6. WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR FAILUREPE07060 · 2004–2005 · closed Mar 5, 2008
    Led to recall 08V-092
  7. IGNITION-PARK INTERLOCKPE05002 · 1999–2000 · closed Feb 2, 2005
    Led to recall 05V-025
  8. AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SUDDEN DOWNSHIFTPE02081 · 2000–2003 · closed Mar 5, 2003
    No recall