Acura TL Problems by Model Year
NHTSA recorded 3,117 consumer complaints across the 19 model years of the Acura TL (1996–2014) that have at least 5 complaints. 2004 has the most, with 551. Across all years, the part named most often is transmission and drivetrain (904 mentions). Pick a model year below to see its parts, mileage, recalls and service bulletins.
All TL model years
Years with fewer than 5 complaints are not listed. The score compares years of the same model, allowing for the era and for how long each year has collected complaints: 50 is a typical year, lower means fewer complaints. It is not adjusted for sales volume.
| Year | Complaints | Median mi | Recalls | TSBs | Score (50 = typical) | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 17 | 36,000 | 3 | 87 | — | Falling |
| 2013 | 62 | 69,503 | 3 | 107 | 20 · Fewer | Falling |
| 2012 | 130 | 55,000 | 3 | 114 | 81 · More | Falling |
| 2011 | 20 | 89,500 | 3 | 84 | — | Falling |
| 2010 | 64 | 62,830 | 3 | 93 | 50 · Typical | Falling |
| 2009 | 42 | 60,038 | 3 | 89 | 50 · Typical | Rising |
| 2008 | 124 | 76,589 | 2 | 33 | 61 · Typical | Falling |
| 2007 | 124 | 79,000 | 2 | 36 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 2006 | 247 | 88,000 | 4 | 40 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 2005 | 388 | 91,000 | 5 | 70 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 2004 | 551 | 90,000 | 4 | 90 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 2003 | 391 | 75,900 | 5 | 102 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 2002 | 333 | 64,500 | 7 | 90 | Not compared (before 2008) | Rising |
| 2001 | 149 | 81,936 | 3 | 47 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 2000 | 249 | 110,400 | 6 | 46 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 1999 | 157 | 112,000 | 4 | 28 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 1998 | 20 | 77,500 | 2 | 5 | — | Stable |
| 1997 | 23 | 86,260 | 2 | 5 | — | Stable |
| 1996 | 26 | 68,100 | 2 | 6 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
Parts named most often, all years
Counts add up complaint mentions across the listed years. A complaint can name several parts.
- Transmission and drivetrain904 28%
- Air bags826 26%
- Body and structure548 17%
- Electrical system260 8.0%
- Other or unknown249 7.7%
- Steering209 6.5%
- Brakes122 3.8%
- Vehicle speed control116 3.6%
Example complaints
One per model year, chosen for length and detail. Personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
2004: “I have not been contacted about the airbag recall, the potential problem with the accelerator pedal and the driver side lower ball joint recall. Several years ago I exited a highway, came to a stop sign and when I made a right turn the drivers side ball joint broke. I had the repair done and luckily I didn't hurt ao or myself. Thank you stay safe. I think it was in 2015.”
NHTSA complaint #11365409, filed 2020-10, 5 miles2012: “I had the recall done on the takata steering wheel airbag, then in jan 2019 I got a airbag warning 31-1 airbag system. Acura reset the warning , but 3 month later it happen again and now I need to replace the driverside airbag curtain. This is not covered anymore, but I would think Acura would help there long term customers.”
NHTSA complaint #11192833, filed 2019-04, 75,000 miles2005: “My Acura 2005 TL has several cracks throughout the dashboard. I have filed previously, this filing is another concern that can be added to the ones I just submitted regarding the cracked dashboard - will the damaged dashboard break apart easily and cause injury during a minor accident? This concern is additional to the airbag concerns I articulated in my previous submission.”
NHTSA complaint #11166189, filed 2019-01, 85,000 milesOther Acura models
3,322 complaintsAcura RDX
2,177 complaintsAcura TLX
891 complaintsAcura TSX
671 complaintsAcura Integra
658 complaintsAcura CL
585 complaintsAcura RL
417 complaintsAcura Legend
382 complaints
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Methodology