A Acura TL VIN opens with 19U (the United States). Position 11, the plant, shows 4 codes, most often A (97%); a 2014 TL carries E in position 10. Decoding one also brings up 27 recall campaigns and 2,584 owner complaints from NHTSA.
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How to read a Acura TL VIN
Here is a real 2014 Acura TL VIN from our database, split into its parts:
VIN 19UUA8F51EA002357 — decoded free on its own report page.
| Position | Section | What it tells you |
|---|---|---|
| 1–3 | WMI | World Manufacturer Identifier — country, manufacturer and vehicle type. |
| 4–8 | VDS | Vehicle Descriptor Section — body style, engine, restraint system, series. |
| 9 | Check digit | A calculated digit that validates the whole VIN. Wrong digit = wrong VIN. |
| 10 | Model year | One character for the model year. Letters skip I, O, Q, U and Z. |
| 11 | Plant | The assembly plant that built the car. |
| 12–17 | Serial | Sequential production number of this exact vehicle. |
Where Acura TL VINs say the car was built
The first three characters are the World Manufacturer Identifier. Across 46 Acura TL VINs we have on file, these are the codes that actually show up — and the plants behind them:
| WMI | Built in | Vehicle type | VINs on file | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 19U | United States | — | 45 | |
| JH4 | Japan | — | 1 |
Country and vehicle type come from the NHTSA manufacturer registry. Share is measured across VINs decoded on ForCar, not production volume.
Model-year codes for the Acura TL
Position 10 carries the model year, skipping I, O, Q, U and Z. The alphabet comes round every 30 years, which the Acura TL has not yet outlived: its 28 years still map one-to-one. All 28 model years of the Acura TL, 1987 to 2014, with the character each one carries:
| Model year | VIN character (position 10) | Same character as |
|---|---|---|
| 2014 | E | — |
| 2013 | D | — |
| 2012 | C | — |
| 2011 | B | — |
| 2010 | A | — |
| 2009 | 9 | — |
| 2008 | 8 | — |
| 2007 | 7 | — |
| 2006 | 6 | — |
| 2005 | 5 | — |
| 2004 | 4 | — |
| 2003 | 3 | — |
| 2002 | 2 | — |
| 2001 | 1 | — |
| 2000 | Y | — |
| 1999 | X | — |
| 1998 | W | — |
| 1997 | V | — |
| 1996 | T | — |
| 1995 | S | — |
| 1994 | R | — |
| 1993 | P | — |
| 1992 | N | — |
| 1991 | M | — |
| 1990 | L | — |
| 1989 | K | — |
| 1988 | J | — |
| 1987 | H | — |
Body and engine characters we see on Acura TL VINs
Positions 4–8 are the maker's own build code. Across 46 VINs the Acura TL uses 8 different characters in positions 4, 5 and 8:
| Position | Characters seen on real VINs | Variety |
|---|---|---|
| 4 — body | U (100%) | 1 distinct |
| 5 — series | A (100%) | 1 distinct |
| 8 — engine | 5 (43%) · 2 (37%) · 7 (9%) · 6 (4%) · 8 (4%) · 4 (2%) | 6 distinct |
What a decoded Acura TL VIN gets you
Behind a Acura TL VIN: 2,584 owner complaints and every recall campaign NHTSA has on record:
| Data | For this model | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Recall campaigns | 27 campaigns | NHTSA |
| Owner complaints | 2,584 filed | NHTSA |
| Fuel economy | 21 mpg combined (avg) | EPA |
| Crash-test ratings | 3 rated model years | NHTSA |
| Model years covered | 28 years | ForCar catalog |
Where to find the VIN on a Acura TL
A Acura TL VIN normally opens with 19U; the full number sits in four places, and all four must match.
| Where | How to see it | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Dashboard, driver side | Through the windshield, bottom corner | Easiest to check before you touch anything |
| Driver door jamb | Open the door, sticker on the pillar | Also lists tire pressures and build date |
| Under the hood | Firewall or strut tower plate | Survives a windshield replacement |
| Title and insurance | Paper documents | Must match the car — a mismatch means fraud or a swapped panel |
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Frequently asked questions
Is this Acura TL VIN decoder free?
Yes, with no account. Besides the year, plant and build characters it shows 27 recall campaigns and 2,584 owner complaints NHTSA holds on the Acura TL.
What year is my TL by its VIN?
Read position 10: a 2014 TL carries E, a 2013 TL carries D, a 2012 TL carries C.
Where was my TL built?
Position 11 names the plant. Across 2,582 dated Acura TL VINs it reads A 97%, C 2%, 0 0%, 2 0%.
What does position 4 mean on a Acura TL VIN?
It is part of the maker's own build code, so read it against this model, not a generic chart. On 46 Acura TL VINs here, U is the most common character in position 4, on 100% of them.
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