The Acura TL is a midsize car built from 1987 to 2014 over 7 generations. Most were assembled in the United States — 98% of those on record. Between 1996 and 2014 it grew 6 cm longer and gained 215 kg. Engines offered: V6, 5-cyl. Worth buying? It holds up well, with the usual caveat about model years at 4.0/5 — and the year you pick matters far more than the badge (best and worst years →).
What the TL is
The Acura TL is a midsize car that Acura built from 1987 to 2014 — 28 model years. Our measurements put it at 7 generations, the current one starting in 2014. It has been offered with V6, 5-cyl power. Its closest siblings in the Acura range: RL, RLX.
Where the TL is built
A badge says where the company is registered; the VIN says where the car was bolted together. We counted the first three characters — the manufacturer identifier — across 2,564 TLs on record.
| Assembled in | Share | VIN starts with | Years seen |
|---|---|---|---|
| the United States | 19U | 1995-2014 | |
| Japan | JH4 | 1996-2003 |
Check your own: the first three characters of a Acura VIN decide which of these 7 lines your TL belongs to. What every character in a TL VIN means →
Got the full 17 characters? A free VIN check on a Acura TL adds what the decoder can't see: open recalls, theft and total-loss records, and the safety ratings for that exact build.
TL generations, and what changed
These boundaries are not copied from a brochure — they fall out of the measurements. Where the TL's length or wheelbase jumps between consecutive model years the platform changed: a facelift moves a bumper by centimetres, a new generation moves the whole car — for the TL that gives 7 distinct generations below.
| Generation | Length | Wheelbase | Weight | vs previous | Weight change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | 487 cm | 284 cm | 1480 kg | - | - |
| 1999 | 490 cm | 275 cm | 1565 kg | +3 cm | +85 kg |
| 2002 | 489 cm | 275 cm | 1584 kg | -1 cm | +19 kg |
| 2005 | 481 cm | 274 cm | 1585 kg | -8 cm | +1 kg |
| 2008 | 481 cm | 274 cm | 1642 kg | +0 cm | +57 kg |
| 2011 | 497 cm | 278 cm | 1682 kg | +16 cm | +40 kg |
| 2014 | 493 cm | 278 cm | 1695 kg | -4 cm | +13 kg |
Between 1996 and 2014 the TL gained 6 cm in length (+1.2%) and 215 kg in weight (+14.5%). Cars did not so much grow as thicken — crash structures, airbags and equipment weigh more than the metal they replaced, and on the TL that is 215 kg against 6 cm. Full dimensions by year →
Acura TL tire size, oil type & owner specs
The fitment TL owners look up most — tires, wheels, oil and batteries. Exact wheel and tire sizes decode from your VIN or the driver's door-jamb placard; the universal items are listed below.
Exact tire, wheel, oil grade, capacity and battery group are added per trim and model year — decode your VIN above for the factory fitment. Universal items shown as-is.
What engines does the Acura TL have? Power & range
The Acura TL is offered with 2 powertrains — 3.5L 6-cyl, 2.5L 5-cyl. Here's the lineup by engine, transmission and drivetrain — 2 for the Acura TL, against one or two on most rivals.
| Engine | Displacement | Transmission | Drive | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| V6 | 3.5L · 6-cyl | Automatic (S6) | FWD | Premium |
| 5-cyl | 2.5L · 5-cyl | Automatic 4-spd | FWD | Premium |
Horsepower, torque and fuel-tank size decode from your VIN — exact figures vary by engine and trim.
Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov (engines, drivetrain, range, charge time). Horsepower & torque from NHTSA vPIC on VIN decode.
The TL by the numbers
What the federal and market records say about the Acura TL. Each line opens the full breakdown by year.
| Topic | TL | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Recalls | 78 campaigns | NHTSA, all years |
| Owner complaints | 3,189 filed | What breaks and when |
| Reliability | 4.0 / 5 | Best and worst years |
| Crash safety | ★★★★ NHTSA | Frontal, side, rollover |
| Insurance | $1,294/yr | Estimated full coverage |
| Used value | 968 listings | What it sells for now |
Frequently asked questions
What kind of car is the Acura TL?
The TL is a midsize car, built from 1987 to 2014 across 7 generations. Engines offered: V6, 5-cyl.
Where is the Acura TL made?
Across 2,564 cars in our records the split is: the United States (98%), Japan (2%). The first three characters of a VIN identify the plant's manufacturer and country — that is where these shares come from, not from a press release.
How many generations does the TL have?
7 by our measurements, the latest starting in 2014. We draw the boundaries where length or wheelbase jumps between model years — a facelift moves a bumper, a new generation moves the whole car. Over its life the TL grew 6 cm longer and gained 215 kg.
What is the Acura TL warranty?
New models carry 4 years / 50,000 miles basic cover and 6 years / 70,000 miles on the powertrain. Worth knowing: across our complaint records the typical car reaches the halfway point of its faults at five years, so most repairs land after the basic warranty ends.
Is the TL reliable?
It scores 4.0/5 in our data. The honest answer depends on the year far more than the model — see the best and worst years, and when this car starts to break.
How do I check a specific TL?
This page describes the model; it cannot tell you whether that car has an open recall or a branded title. Run its VIN against the records — free, and matched to the exact production run.
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