Acura

TL

Midsize Cars · model years 2004 to 2014

Includes TL, TL 2WD and TL 4WD as listed by the EPA.

See all 29 TL trims All Acura cars

The verdict

Best year: 2014. complaints: 17, below this model's typical 124; recalls: 3, in line with this model's typical 3.

Worst year: 2005. complaints: 388, about 4.7x this model's typical 83; recalls: 5, about 1.7x this model's typical 3.

Year by year

Year by year summary for the Acura TL
Year	Trims	MPG	HP	Fuel cost	Recalls	Complaints	Investigations	TSBs	Top complaints
2004	2Gas	21	no data	$3,650	4	551	0	no data	STRUCTURE 30%, AIR BAGS 26%, POWER TRAIN 7%
complaints: 551, about 6.6x this model's typical 83 recalls: 4, above this model's typical 3 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 17 complaints reporting a fire: 6 Score: 8 of 100, where higher is better.
2005	2Gas	21	no data	$3,650	5	388	0	no data	STRUCTURE 28%, AIR BAGS 26%, UNKNOWN OR OTHER 12%
complaints: 388, about 4.7x this model's typical 83 recalls: 5, about 1.7x this model's typical 3 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 7 complaints reporting a fire: 3 Score: 5 of 100, where higher is better.
2006	2Gas	21	no data	$3,650	4	247	0	no data	AIR BAGS 25%, STRUCTURE 19%, UNKNOWN OR OTHER 13%
complaints: 247, about 3x this model's typical 83 recalls: 4, above this model's typical 3 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 5 complaints reporting a fire: 2 Score: 13 of 100, where higher is better.
2007	3Gas	21	no data	$3,650	2	124	0	no data	AIR BAGS 25%, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 15%, STRUCTURE 12%
complaints: 124, in line with this model's typical 124 recalls: 2, below this model's typical 3 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 5 complaints reporting a fire: 5 Score: 63 of 100, where higher is better.
2008	3Gas	21	no data	$3,650	2	124	0	no data	AIR BAGS 19%, STEERING 14%, STRUCTURE 11%
complaints: 124, in line with this model's typical 124 recalls: 2, below this model's typical 3 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 3 complaints reporting a fire: 7 Score: 65 of 100, where higher is better.
2009	2Gas	20.5	no data	$3,750	3	42	0	no data	AIR BAGS 38%, STRUCTURE 12%, VISIBILITY 12%
complaints: 42, below this model's typical 83 recalls: 3, in line with this model's typical 3 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 3 Score: 74 of 100, where higher is better.
2010	3Gas	20	305	$3,850	3	64	0	67	AIR BAGS 45%, POWER TRAIN 13%, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 5%
complaints: 64, below this model's typical 124 recalls: 3, in line with this model's typical 3 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 1 complaints reporting a fire: 1 Score: 71 of 100, where higher is better.
2011	3Gas	20	305	$3,850	3	20	0	59	AIR BAGS 56%, ENGINE 13%, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 4%
complaints: 20, below this model's typical 124 recalls: 3, in line with this model's typical 3 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 1 complaints reporting a fire: 2 Score: 77 of 100, where higher is better. Theft rate: 0.8 per 1,000 produced (federal data, last published for 2014).
2012	3Gas	21	293	$3,650	3	130	1	80	AIR BAGS 27%, POWER TRAIN 17%, STEERING 15%
complaints: 130, above this model's typical 124 recalls: 3, in line with this model's typical 3 deaths reported in NHTSA complaints: 1 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 5 Score: 48 of 100, where higher is better. Theft rate: 0.5 per 1,000 produced (federal data, last published for 2014).
2013	3Gas	21	no data	$3,650	3	62	1	66	STEERING 38%, AIR BAGS 26%, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 8%
complaints: 62, below this model's typical 124 recalls: 3, in line with this model's typical 3 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 2 Score: 76 of 100, where higher is better. Theft rate: 0.5 per 1,000 produced (federal data, last published for 2014).
2014	3Gas	21	305	$3,650	3	17	1	58	AIR BAGS 47%, STEERING 12%, VISIBILITY 12%
complaints: 17, below this model's typical 124 recalls: 3, in line with this model's typical 3 Score: 83 of 100, where higher is better. Theft rate: 0.6 per 1,000 produced (federal data, last published for 2014).

How the numbers moved

Combined MPG, median2004: 21 to 2014: 21

Owner complaints2004: 551 to 2014: 17

How we score each year

We compare each year of the Acura TL to the model's own typical numbers, not to other cars. A year reads solid when its recalls, owner complaints, and federal investigations sit at or below what is typical for this model, mixed when some of those numbers run above typical, and avoid when they run far above it. Deaths, reported fires, and an NHTSA advisory to park outside count against a year no matter what this model's baseline looks like.

A year is scored only when NHTSA has both complaint and recall counts for it. Complaint data often lags for the newest years, so a recent year can read not enough data even while its recall count already shows in the table. When the history is too thin, we say not enough data instead of guessing. Service bulletins are routine maintenance guidance from the manufacturer and do not lower a year's score.

Scores run 0 to 100, higher is better. Recall, complaint, and investigation figures come from NHTSA records. Fuel economy, fuel cost, and horsepower figures come from the EPA, shown as the median across the year's trims.

Information is gathered on a best-effort basis from public sources, may be incomplete or out of date, and is not purchasing or financial advice. Verify with the manufacturer or dealer before buying.