Every generation
Power
Combined, EPA 2014
What owners say
Our take, from owner reports
Owner sentiment is sharply divided by transmission choice rather than by the car itself.
17 problems reported (1 very frequent, 7 recurrent, 9 isolated) · high confidence
Problems owners report
- Very frequent2004-2006 automatic transmission failure
Owners report failures as early as 60,000 miles and as late as 190,000 miles, with multiple owners replacing the transmission two or more times.
- Recurrent2007-2008 automatic transmission failure
Described as significantly more robust than 2004-2006 but not immune, with one owner reporting failure at 210,000 miles.
- RecurrentManual transmission third gear grind or pop-out
Reported as occasional and often linked to abusive driving, with a fluid swap cited as a workaround.
+ 14 more issuesShow fewer
- RecurrentTiming belt, water pump, and tensioner service cost
Due around 105,000 miles and reported to cost roughly $1,000-1,500.
- RecurrentInterior deterioration, including cracked dashboard, torn seats, and sagging headliner
Most often associated with high-mileage 3rd generation cars.
- RecurrentPaint and clearcoat failure
Owners describe 2000s Honda paint as poor and note sun damage is nearly universal.
- RecurrentEngine oil consumption
Reported on the 4th generation, with one owner noting a low oil warning and an oil consumption test.
- RecurrentPremium fuel requirement
Owners note 2004-2014 TLs require premium fuel per the owner's manual and gas lid sticker, and describe the car as thirsty.
- IsolatedEngine mounts
- IsolatedRear main seal leak
Described as common on J-series engines but minor.
- IsolatedPower steering recall
- IsolatedFront lower ball joint and tie rod wear
- IsolatedAxle failure
One owner reported a snapped axle under 81,000 miles.
- IsolatedBluetooth hands-free link module failure draining the battery
- IsolatedNavigation unit read errors
- IsolatedElectric power steering module failure
Reported on a 4th generation car and covered by Acura.
- IsolatedHeadlight replacement cost
One owner reported over $1,000 for a headlight.
The version owners recommend
The 2007-2008 3rd generation TL and the 4th generation TL (2009-2014), particularly the SH-AWD with the 6-speed manual, are the versions owners most often endorse. The 2007-2008 cars are singled out for receiving a revised, beefier automatic transmission, and the 4th generation SH-AWD 6MT is called by multiple owners arguably the best sport sedan Acura ever made.
Competitors to consider
Owners compare it most often with the Honda Accord, Acura TSX, Lexus ES330, Lexus ES350 and Infiniti G35.
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Overall sentiment
Owner sentiment is sharply divided by transmission choice rather than by the car itself. The 3rd generation TL (2004-2008) draws heavy criticism for its automatic transmission, which owners repeatedly describe as failure-prone, while the same car with the 6-speed manual is widely praised as durable and fun. The 4th generation (2009-2014), especially the SH-AWD with the 3.7L V6 and 6-speed manual, is regarded as one of the best sport sedans Acura built, with owners citing the combination of a naturally aspirated V6, torque-vectoring all-wheel drive, four doors, and a manual as something no longer made. Common praise centers on the engine, driving feel, sound system, and value; common complaints center on automatic transmission failures, timing belt service costs, brittle interiors, poor paint, and premium fuel requirements.
Positioning vs competitors
Owners position the TL as a more premium, sportier alternative to the Accord, though several note it is not simply a fancy Accord and that parts and labor cost more than expected. Against the Mercedes E350, owners consistently frame the TL as the cheaper-to-repair choice but warn that an automatic TL can become just as much of a money pit. Against Lexus, owners describe Lexus as the more reliable but less fun option, with several recommending a Lexus ES330 or ES350 for buyers prioritizing low running costs. Against the Infiniti G35/G37, owners suggest the Infiniti as the better pick for someone who wants an automatic V6 with reliability. The TSX is repeatedly recommended over the TL for its K-series four-cylinder engine and lighter, sportier feel.
Recommended configurations
Owners strongly recommend the 6-speed manual over the automatic in every generation discussed. For the 3rd generation, owners advise avoiding the 2004-2006 automatic and seeking a 2007-2008 model if an automatic is required. For the 4th generation, the SH-AWD with the 3.7L V6 and 6-speed manual is the most praised configuration, with the automatic considered acceptable but less desirable. Owners also note the manual is rare and often commands a price premium of roughly $2,000-3,000 over an equivalent automatic.
General recommendations
Owners recommend the TL for buyers who can drive a manual, are willing to do some of their own maintenance, and want a quick, comfortable sport sedan on a budget. Owners advise against buying an automatic 2004-2006 TL, and several recommend avoiding the TL entirely for college students or anyone who needs the cheapest possible transportation, steering them toward a four-cylinder Honda/Acura, a Lexus, or an Infiniti instead. Inspection advice from owners includes verifying timing belt, water pump, and tensioner replacement (due around 105,000 miles and costing roughly $1,000-1,500), confirming automatic transmission fluid changes every 60,000 miles or sooner, checking for the power steering recall, inspecting front lower ball joints and tie rods, checking engine mounts, looking for rear main seal leaks, checking for rust on the rear quarter panel lips and under the spare tire, and watching for cracked dashboards. Owners also recommend pulling a vehicle history report and test driving on the freeway and in stop-and-go traffic to stress the transmission.
Remarks
Several owners note that low mileage on an older TL is not necessarily a good thing, since aged rubber seals and deferred maintenance can cost more than a higher-mileage, well-documented car. Owners repeatedly emphasize that a manual-transmission TL is the only version worth pursuing and that the automatic can rival a high-mileage German sedan for repair costs. One owner reported a rolled-back odometer on a TL, reinforcing the recommendation to verify mileage through a vehicle history report. Owners also note that 4th generation cars are less likely to have been modified or abused due to limited aftermarket support. Analysis based on approximately 62 substantive owner discussions.
Generation by generation
Owner insights per generation and US complaint/recall records (NHTSA).
Complaints and recalls by model yearWorst year: 2004. Years to avoid: 2005, 2004, 2003, 2002, 2000Source: NHTSA (US)Show table
Each year graded against the model's other years: Year Score. See all Acura TL years to avoid
| Year | Complaints | Recalls | Most-reported area |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 17 | 3 | air bags |
| 2013 | 62 | 3 | steering |
| 2012 | 130 | 3 | air bags |
| 2011 | 20 | 3 | air bags |
| 2010 | 64 | 3 | air bags |
| 2009 | 42 | 3 | air bags |
| 2008 | 124 | 4 | air bags |
| 2007 | 124 | 4 | air bags |
| 2006 | 247 | 6 | air bags |
| 2005 | 388 | 7 | structure |
| 2004 | 551 | 6 | structure |
| 2003 | 397 | 5 | power train |
| 2002 | 353 | 7 | power train |
| 2001 | 162 | 3 | power train |
Complaint counts come from owner reports filed with the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Higher-selling years naturally accumulate more complaints.
Recall notices76 on record · Source: NHTSA (US)Show recalls
2014 · air bags:frontal:driver side:inflator modulecampaign 19V182000
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling specific 2003 Acura 3.2CL, 2013-2016 ILX, 2013-2014 ILX Hybrid, 2003-2006 MDX, 2007-2016 RDX, 2002-2003 3.2TL, 2004-2006, and 2009-2014 TL, 2010-2013 ZDX and 2001-2007 and 2009 Honda Accord, 2001-2005 Civic, 2003-2005 Civic Hybrid, 2001-2005 Civic GX NGV, 2002-2007 and 2010-2011 CR-V, 2003-2011 Element, 2007 Fit, 2002-2004 Odyssey, 2003-2008 Pilot, and 2006-2014 Ridgeline vehicles. The affected vehicles received a replacement driver air bag inflator as part of a previous Takata inflator recall remedy or a replacement driver air bag module containing the same inflator type as a service part. Due to a manufacturing error, in the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver frontal air bag, these inflators may explode.
2014 · air bags:frontal:driver side:inflator modulecampaign 19V500000
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2013 Acura ILX, 2015 RDX, 2005-2010 and 2012 RL, 2009-2014 TL, 2010 and 2012 ZDX, 2007-2011 CR-V, 2011-2013 and 2015 CR-Z, 2009-2013 Fit, 2013 Fit EV, 2010-2011 and 2013 Insight and 2007-2014 Ridgeline vehicles. These vehicles are equipped with driver frontal air bag inflators assembled as a recall remedy part or replacement service part, that may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.
2014 · air bags:frontal:driver side:inflator modulecampaign 16V061000
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain model year 2007-2011 Honda CR-V, 2011-2015 CR-Z, 2010-2014 FCX, and Insight, 2009-2013 Fit, 2013-2014 Fit EV, 2007-2014 Ridgeline, 2013-2016 Acura ILX, 2013-2014 Acura ILX Hybrid, 2007-2016 RDX, 2005-2012 Acura RL, 2009-2014 Acura TL, and 2010-2013 Acura ZDX vehicles. The affected vehicles are equipped with a dual-stage driver frontal air bag that may be susceptible to moisture intrusion which, over time, could cause the inflator to rupture.
2013 · air bags:frontal:driver side:inflator modulecampaign 19V182000
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling specific 2003 Acura 3.2CL, 2013-2016 ILX, 2013-2014 ILX Hybrid, 2003-2006 MDX, 2007-2016 RDX, 2002-2003 3.2TL, 2004-2006, and 2009-2014 TL, 2010-2013 ZDX and 2001-2007 and 2009 Honda Accord, 2001-2005 Civic, 2003-2005 Civic Hybrid, 2001-2005 Civic GX NGV, 2002-2007 and 2010-2011 CR-V, 2003-2011 Element, 2007 Fit, 2002-2004 Odyssey, 2003-2008 Pilot, and 2006-2014 Ridgeline vehicles. The affected vehicles received a replacement driver air bag inflator as part of a previous Takata inflator recall remedy or a replacement driver air bag module containing the same inflator type as a service part. Due to a manufacturing error, in the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver frontal air bag, these inflators may explode.
2013 · air bags:frontal:driver side:inflator modulecampaign 19V500000
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2013 Acura ILX, 2015 RDX, 2005-2010 and 2012 RL, 2009-2014 TL, 2010 and 2012 ZDX, 2007-2011 CR-V, 2011-2013 and 2015 CR-Z, 2009-2013 Fit, 2013 Fit EV, 2010-2011 and 2013 Insight and 2007-2014 Ridgeline vehicles. These vehicles are equipped with driver frontal air bag inflators assembled as a recall remedy part or replacement service part, that may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.
2013 · air bags:frontal:driver side:inflator modulecampaign 16V061000
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain model year 2007-2011 Honda CR-V, 2011-2015 CR-Z, 2010-2014 FCX, and Insight, 2009-2013 Fit, 2013-2014 Fit EV, 2007-2014 Ridgeline, 2013-2016 Acura ILX, 2013-2014 Acura ILX Hybrid, 2007-2016 RDX, 2005-2012 Acura RL, 2009-2014 Acura TL, and 2010-2013 Acura ZDX vehicles. The affected vehicles are equipped with a dual-stage driver frontal air bag that may be susceptible to moisture intrusion which, over time, could cause the inflator to rupture.
2012 · air bags:frontal:driver side:inflator modulecampaign 19V182000
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling specific 2003 Acura 3.2CL, 2013-2016 ILX, 2013-2014 ILX Hybrid, 2003-2006 MDX, 2007-2016 RDX, 2002-2003 3.2TL, 2004-2006, and 2009-2014 TL, 2010-2013 ZDX and 2001-2007 and 2009 Honda Accord, 2001-2005 Civic, 2003-2005 Civic Hybrid, 2001-2005 Civic GX NGV, 2002-2007 and 2010-2011 CR-V, 2003-2011 Element, 2007 Fit, 2002-2004 Odyssey, 2003-2008 Pilot, and 2006-2014 Ridgeline vehicles. The affected vehicles received a replacement driver air bag inflator as part of a previous Takata inflator recall remedy or a replacement driver air bag module containing the same inflator type as a service part. Due to a manufacturing error, in the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver frontal air bag, these inflators may explode.
2012 · air bags:frontal:driver side:inflator modulecampaign 19V500000
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2013 Acura ILX, 2015 RDX, 2005-2010 and 2012 RL, 2009-2014 TL, 2010 and 2012 ZDX, 2007-2011 CR-V, 2011-2013 and 2015 CR-Z, 2009-2013 Fit, 2013 Fit EV, 2010-2011 and 2013 Insight and 2007-2014 Ridgeline vehicles. These vehicles are equipped with driver frontal air bag inflators assembled as a recall remedy part or replacement service part, that may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.
2012 · air bags:frontal:driver side:inflator modulecampaign 16V061000
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain model year 2007-2011 Honda CR-V, 2011-2015 CR-Z, 2010-2014 FCX, and Insight, 2009-2013 Fit, 2013-2014 Fit EV, 2007-2014 Ridgeline, 2013-2016 Acura ILX, 2013-2014 Acura ILX Hybrid, 2007-2016 RDX, 2005-2012 Acura RL, 2009-2014 Acura TL, and 2010-2013 Acura ZDX vehicles. The affected vehicles are equipped with a dual-stage driver frontal air bag that may be susceptible to moisture intrusion which, over time, could cause the inflator to rupture.
2011 · air bags:frontal:driver side:inflator modulecampaign 19V182000
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling specific 2003 Acura 3.2CL, 2013-2016 ILX, 2013-2014 ILX Hybrid, 2003-2006 MDX, 2007-2016 RDX, 2002-2003 3.2TL, 2004-2006, and 2009-2014 TL, 2010-2013 ZDX and 2001-2007 and 2009 Honda Accord, 2001-2005 Civic, 2003-2005 Civic Hybrid, 2001-2005 Civic GX NGV, 2002-2007 and 2010-2011 CR-V, 2003-2011 Element, 2007 Fit, 2002-2004 Odyssey, 2003-2008 Pilot, and 2006-2014 Ridgeline vehicles. The affected vehicles received a replacement driver air bag inflator as part of a previous Takata inflator recall remedy or a replacement driver air bag module containing the same inflator type as a service part. Due to a manufacturing error, in the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver frontal air bag, these inflators may explode.
2011 · air bags:frontal:driver side:inflator modulecampaign 19V500000
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2013 Acura ILX, 2015 RDX, 2005-2010 and 2012 RL, 2009-2014 TL, 2010 and 2012 ZDX, 2007-2011 CR-V, 2011-2013 and 2015 CR-Z, 2009-2013 Fit, 2013 Fit EV, 2010-2011 and 2013 Insight and 2007-2014 Ridgeline vehicles. These vehicles are equipped with driver frontal air bag inflators assembled as a recall remedy part or replacement service part, that may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.
2011 · air bags:frontal:driver side:inflator modulecampaign 16V061000
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain model year 2007-2011 Honda CR-V, 2011-2015 CR-Z, 2010-2014 FCX, and Insight, 2009-2013 Fit, 2013-2014 Fit EV, 2007-2014 Ridgeline, 2013-2016 Acura ILX, 2013-2014 Acura ILX Hybrid, 2007-2016 RDX, 2005-2012 Acura RL, 2009-2014 Acura TL, and 2010-2013 Acura ZDX vehicles. The affected vehicles are equipped with a dual-stage driver frontal air bag that may be susceptible to moisture intrusion which, over time, could cause the inflator to rupture.
2010 · air bags:frontal:driver side:inflator modulecampaign 19V182000
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling specific 2003 Acura 3.2CL, 2013-2016 ILX, 2013-2014 ILX Hybrid, 2003-2006 MDX, 2007-2016 RDX, 2002-2003 3.2TL, 2004-2006, and 2009-2014 TL, 2010-2013 ZDX and 2001-2007 and 2009 Honda Accord, 2001-2005 Civic, 2003-2005 Civic Hybrid, 2001-2005 Civic GX NGV, 2002-2007 and 2010-2011 CR-V, 2003-2011 Element, 2007 Fit, 2002-2004 Odyssey, 2003-2008 Pilot, and 2006-2014 Ridgeline vehicles. The affected vehicles received a replacement driver air bag inflator as part of a previous Takata inflator recall remedy or a replacement driver air bag module containing the same inflator type as a service part. Due to a manufacturing error, in the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver frontal air bag, these inflators may explode.
2010 · air bags:frontal:driver side:inflator modulecampaign 19V500000
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2013 Acura ILX, 2015 RDX, 2005-2010 and 2012 RL, 2009-2014 TL, 2010 and 2012 ZDX, 2007-2011 CR-V, 2011-2013 and 2015 CR-Z, 2009-2013 Fit, 2013 Fit EV, 2010-2011 and 2013 Insight and 2007-2014 Ridgeline vehicles. These vehicles are equipped with driver frontal air bag inflators assembled as a recall remedy part or replacement service part, that may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.
2010 · air bags:frontal:driver side:inflator modulecampaign 16V061000
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain model year 2007-2011 Honda CR-V, 2011-2015 CR-Z, 2010-2014 FCX, and Insight, 2009-2013 Fit, 2013-2014 Fit EV, 2007-2014 Ridgeline, 2013-2016 Acura ILX, 2013-2014 Acura ILX Hybrid, 2007-2016 RDX, 2005-2012 Acura RL, 2009-2014 Acura TL, and 2010-2013 Acura ZDX vehicles. The affected vehicles are equipped with a dual-stage driver frontal air bag that may be susceptible to moisture intrusion which, over time, could cause the inflator to rupture.
61 older recalls not shown. Check nhtsa.gov with your VIN for the full history.
Specifications
3.7 V6
6-cylinder · 305 hp · FWD · automatic
Built 2011–2014