Acura TL Years to Avoid — Worst & Best Years to Buy
Every Acura TL model year (1999–2014) ranked by recall count, complaint volume, deaths, and injuries. Data sourced directly from NHTSA.
Acura TL Years to Avoid
2 recalls · 337 complaints
8 reported injuries
Top issue: STRUCTURE
Problem score: 359
3 recalls · 234 complaints
13 reported injuries
4 reported deaths
Top issue: POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
Problem score: 289
3 recalls · 259 complaints
6 reported injuries
Top issue: AIR BAGS
Problem score: 280
Best Acura TL Years to Buy
3 recalls · 10 complaints
Main area: AIR BAGS
Problem score: 19
3 recalls · 14 complaints
Main area: AIR BAGS
Problem score: 23
3 recalls · 19 complaints
Main area: AIR BAGS
Problem score: 34
Found the right year? Verify that specific TL with a free VIN report.
Acura TL — Year-by-Year Problem Report
| Year | Recalls | Complaints | Injuries | Deaths | Problem Score | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 3 | 10 | — | — | 19 | Excellent |
| 2013 | 3 | 41 | — | — | 50 | Good |
| 2012 | 3 | 67 | 2 | 1 | 85 | Good |
| 2011 | 3 | 14 | — | — | 23 | Excellent |
| 2010 | 3 | 38 | — | — | 47 | Good |
| 2009 | 3 | 19 | 3 | — | 34 | Excellent |
| 2008 | 1 | 92 | — | — | 95 | Good |
| 2007 | 1 | 96 | 6 | — | 111 | Good |
| 2006 | 2 | 157 | 3 | — | 169 | Caution |
| 2005 | 3 | 259 | 6 | — | 280 | Avoid |
| 2004 | 2 | 337 | 8 | — | 359 | Avoid |
| 2003 | 3 | 234 | 13 | 4 | 289 | Avoid |
| 2002 | 4 | 191 | 10 | 1 | 228 | Caution |
| 2001 | 2 | 79 | 2 | — | 89 | Good |
| 2000 | 3 | 160 | 3 | — | 175 | Caution |
| 1999 | 3 | 80 | 8 | 1 | 110 | Good |
All 16 model years shown. Deaths and injuries from NHTSA complaint filings. Higher problem scores indicate more reported safety issues.
Acura TL Shopping Guide by Era
2013–2017
Best: 2014Mid-decade TL units are entering high-mileage territory. Inspect carefully for powertrain wear and verify recall completion status. The 2014 shows the lowest problem count for this era.
Pre-2013
Proceed with CautionOlder TL models have more accumulated wear and a larger recall history. These are higher-risk purchases without documented maintenance records and a clean VIN history report.
Frequently Asked Questions
What year TL should I avoid?+
Avoid the 2004 Acura TL if possible. It has 2 recalls, 337 owner complaints. The overall problem score is 359 — the highest in our dataset.
What is the best year TL to buy?+
The 2014 Acura TL is the lowest-risk year in our analysis, with a problem score of 19. It has only 3 recalls and 10 complaints on record with NHTSA.
Which TL has the fewest problems?+
The 2014, 2011, 2009 model years have the fewest documented problems. Even for low-problem years, verifying a specific vehicle's history via its VIN is always recommended before purchase.
More Acura TL Research
Check a Specific Acura TL VIN
Model-year rankings show statistical risk. A VIN-specific report reveals the individual vehicle's full history — accidents, odometer rollbacks, auction records, and open recall status.
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