Best Acura Tl Years to Buy
Based on federal NHTSA complaint and recall records, the best Acura Tl years to buy are 2011 and 2014 — the lowest severity-weighted complaint rates among years with enough road time to judge, while 2008 and 2012 are the years to skip.
Source: NHTSA owner complaints & recall campaigns · Data as of October 2026 · How we rate model years
Buy these years
Every Acura Tl year, ranked by federal record
| Model year | NHTSA complaints | Recalls | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 0 | 0 | OK |
| 2024 | 0 | 0 | OK |
| 2023 | 0 | 0 | OK |
| 2022 | 0 | 0 | OK |
| 2021 | 0 | 0 | OK |
| 2020 | 0 | 0 | OK |
| 2019 | 0 | 0 | OK |
| 2018 | 0 | 0 | OK |
| 2017 | 0 | 0 | OK |
| 2016 | 0 | 0 | OK |
| 2015 | 0 | 0 | OK |
| 2014 | 17 | 3 | BEST |
| 2013 | 61 | 3 | OK |
| 2012 | 130 | 3 | AVOID |
| 2011 | 20 | 3 | BEST |
| 2010 | 64 | 3 | OK |
| 2009 | 42 | 3 | OK |
| 2008 | 124 | 4 | AVOID |
Counts are raw federal filings, not adjusted for sales volume; verdicts are severity-weighted rates per year on the road, compared within the model’s own history.
Picked your Acura Tl year? Have the agent negotiate it.
Our AI agent emails the dealers, negotiates in writing, and brings you itemized out-the-door quotes — you approve every move. No calls, no showroom, your info stays private.
CarWhere AI Car Buying — $34.99/month, cancel anytime.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best year for the Acura Tl?
2011 and 2014 — based on federal NHTSA records, they show the lowest severity-weighted complaint rates of any Acura Tl model year with meaningful time on the road. Counts are raw federal filings, not adjusted for sales volume.
Which Acura Tl years should I avoid?
2008 and 2012 — they carry the model's highest severity-weighted complaint rates, led by steering issues. The full breakdown is on our Acura Tl years-to-avoid page.
Is a used Acura Tl a good buy?
Year-dependent. Across 458 NHTSA owner complaints on record, the spread between the cleanest and worst Acura Tl years is significant — pick from the best-year list, confirm the specific car's history by VIN, and negotiate from what buyers actually paid rather than asking prices.
How do I buy the best Acura Tl year for the right price?
Two steps: verify the exact car (free VIN decode, then the recall/complaint record for that VIN), and negotiate the out-the-door price in writing. CarWhere's AI car-buying agent does the second part for you — it contacts dealers about the exact Acura Tl you pick, requests written itemized out-the-door quotes, and negotiates them down while you approve every message ($34.99/month, includes Pro pricing data).