VEHICLE BUYER'S GUIDE
Acura TL1999–2014
Year-by-year buyer intelligence from NHTSA safety data — reliability, value, and which years to target or avoid.
Best Years to Buy a Acura TL
Buyer Score combines reliability (65%) and depreciation value (35%) — higher is better.
Acura TL Years to Avoid
2 recalls · 337 complaints
8 reported injuries
Top issue: STRUCTURE
2 recalls · 234 complaints
13 reported injuries
Top issue: POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
4 recalls · 261 complaints
6 reported injuries
Top issue: AIR BAGS
Federal Defect Investigations
NHTSA investigations are the stage that precedes a recall. 4 past investigations into the TL became recalls.
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Data current as of October 28, 2026.
Acura TL — Year-by-Year Comparison
Every model year ranked by Buyer Score. Click any year for its detailed problem report.
| Year | Recalls | Complaints | Injuries | Deaths | Reliability | Value | Buyer Score | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 3 | 10 | — | — | 68 | 49 | 61 | Excellent |
| 2013 | 3 | 41 | — | — | 52 | 44 | 49 | Good |
| 2012 | 3 | 67 | 2 | 1 | 52 | 40 | 48 | Good |
| 2011 | 3 | 14 | — | — | 64 | 37 | 55 | Excellent |
| 2010 | 3 | 38 | — | — | 52 | 37 | 47 | Good |
| 2009 | 3 | 19 | 3 | — | 53 | 37 | 47 | Excellent |
| 2008 | 1 | 92 | — | — | 52 | 37 | 47 | Good |
| 2007 | 1 | 96 | 6 | — | 52 | 37 | 47 | Good |
| 2006 | 2 | 157 | 3 | — | 52 | 37 | 47 | Caution |
| 2005 | 4 | 261 | 6 | — | 52 | 37 | 47 | Avoid |
| 2004 | 2 | 337 | 8 | — | 52 | 37 | 47 | Avoid |
| 2003 | 2 | 234 | 13 | 4 | 52 | 37 | 47 | Avoid |
| 2002 | 4 | 192 | 11 | 1 | 52 | 37 | 47 | Caution |
| 2001 | 2 | 79 | 2 | — | 52 | 37 | 47 | Good |
| 2000 | 5 | 160 | 3 | — | 52 | 37 | 47 | Caution |
| 1999 | 3 | 80 | 8 | 1 | 52 | 37 | 47 | Good |
Buyer Score = Reliability (65%) + Value window (35%). Deaths and injuries sourced from NHTSA complaint filings. Year links open full NHTSA problem reports.
Known Acura TL Problems
Most frequently reported components across all model years, from NHTSA owner complaints.
Complaint counts across all model years. Numbers indicate frequency, not severity.
Shopping by Era
How each generation of the TL compares — best year within each era shown.
2013–2017
Mid-decade models in the depreciation sweet spot — typically 35–55% below original MSRP. Inspect carefully for powertrain wear and recall completion. Best: 2014 (Buyer Score 61).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best year TL to buy?+
The 2014 Acura TL scores highest on our Buyer Score (61/100) — combining a reliability score of 68/100 with a value score of 49/100. It has 3 recalls and 10 NHTSA complaints on record.
Which TL years have the most problems?+
The 2004, 2003, 2005 model years have the highest problem scores in our analysis. The 2004 TL leads with 2 recalls and 337 owner complaints.
What is the Buyer Score?+
The Buyer Score is a composite metric that combines reliability (65% weight) and depreciation value (35% weight). Reliability reflects recall and complaint severity. Value reflects how much of the vehicle's depreciation has already been absorbed by prior owners — a 4–6 year old vehicle typically sits in the sweet spot.
What are the most common TL problems?+
The most frequently reported Acura TL issues involve: AIR BAGS, POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, STRUCTURE, POWER TRAIN. These are aggregated across all model years from NHTSA owner complaint filings. Frequency of complaints does not necessarily indicate severity.
Deep-Dive Research
A buyer's guide shows model-level risk. A VIN report shows the individual vehicle — accidents, odometer history, open recalls, and auction records.