Is the 2000 Acura TL a bad year?
249 owner complaints to NHTSA. Transmission complaints: 111, 11× a quiet TL year.
Consider selling
Half of all transmission complaints about the 2000 Acura TL were filed between 92k and 138k miles. You're at 112,000 miles.
The verdict moves with mileage: the same car reads differently at 30,000 and at 150,000 miles.
What 2000 TL owners report, by mileage
Each system owners named in five or more complaints, with the mileage range where the middle half of those complaints were filed. Read at 112,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Transmission and drivetrainSTANDS OUT | 111 (45%) | 92k–138k miles · around this mileage | CV axle / CV joint replacement (one side) $300–$1,500 · Automatic transmission replacement $2,500–$7,000 |
| Air bagsSTANDS OUT | 62 (25%) | 73k–128k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Visibility and wipers | 31 (12%) | 62k–131k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Electrical system | 25 (10%) | 80k–142k miles · around this mileage | 12-volt battery replacement $100–$400 · Starter motor replacement $350–$1,200 |
| Engine | 13 (5%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Brakes | 12 (5%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Speed control | 11 (4%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Equipment | 7 (3%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Seat belts | 6 (2%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Tires | 6 (2%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Body structure | 5 (2%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Exterior lighting | 5 (2%) | too few with a mileage | — |
Bills are typical US ranges from the sources named in the tool (J.D. Power, Kelley Blue Book, CarParts.com and others), printed only for systems that stand out or sit at or ahead of 112,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 249 complaints: 18 mention a crash · 3 mention a fire · 12 report an injury · 1 says the car was towed.
1 complaint was filed in the last 12 months, the newest in May 2026.
Counts of what owners wrote in their complaints, not verified by anyone.
In owners' own words
While starting up the car and shifting to reverse, the car accelerated up to a high speed. I was not able to stop the car until it hit a tree and the impact of the car cause me to hit the gear shift to park.
Acura does not whant to replace the transmission that shoud be under warantie because they said tha the car is whith a salvage title and they dont respont to recalls or waranties of those cars.
While driving on the highway the vehicle wouldnt shift. Luckily I was able to pull to the side to prevent an accident being that I had my three year old in the car.
Unedited excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, chosen by mileage (nearest 112,000 miles), not by content. Unverified.
Recalls for the 2000 Acura TL: 6
These vehicles may have received a replacement driver frontal air bag module as part of a vehicle repair. Due to a manufacturing issue, the replacement NADI inflator may absorb moisture, causing the inflator to rupture or the air bag cushion to underinflate. In the event of a crash necessitating air bag deployment, an inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants. An underinflated air bag cushion may not properly protect the occupant.
These vehicles were equipped with Non-Azide Driver air bag Inflators (NADI) and do not contain phase stabilized ammonium nitrate (PSAN) propellant. Due to a manufacturing issue, the NADI inflators may absorb moisture, causing the inflators to rupture or the air bag cushion to underinflate. In the event of a crash necessitating air bag deployment, an inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants. An underinflated air bag cushion may not properly protect the occupant.
On certain passenger vehicles, the interlock operation of the ignition switch may not function properly, making it possible to turn the ignition key to the "Off" Position and remove the key without shifting the transmission to park. If the driver does not shift to park before removing the key and fails to engage the parking brake, the vehicle could roll and a crash could occur.
On some Mini vans, sport utility and passenger vehicles, certain operating conditions can result in heat build-up between the countershaft and secondary shaft second gears in the automatic transmission, eventually leading to gear tooth chipping or gear breakage. Gear failure could result in transmission lockup, which could result in a crash.
On certain passenger vehicles, a component in the inflator of some passenger air bag modules was not welded properly. As a result, the affected air bags may not deploy correctly in a crash, increasing the risk of injury to a front seat passenger.
Repairs were made from march 9 through july 27, 2001. Honda also determined that incorrect front seat belt buckle replacement parts were used for some product update repairs of 2000 Acura 3.2TL vehicles, and warranty or collision repairs of 2000-2002 3.2TL vehicles. In the event of a crash, the seat occupant may not be properly restrained.
A recall may cover only some cars of a model year; the campaign size counts every model and year it lists. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls: dealers fix open recalls free.
Service bulletins from Acura: 8
Repair instructions Acura sent its dealers for symptoms seen in the shop on the 2000 Acura TL. Ask a dealer or mechanic for a bulletin by its number.
You are required to install a remanufactured A/T (automatic transmission) and torque converter on any vehicle with an internal failure that calls for A/T…
There are guidelines for various situations and procedures including: tire pressure valve stem installation, trailer stability malfunction light…
NHTSA defect investigations: 2
Ignition-park interlock
Automatic transmission sudden downshift
Neighbouring years
2001 TL: 148 complaints, consider selling.
Every Acura TL year
2000 · 2001 · 2002 · 2003 · 2004 · 2005 · 2006 · 2007 · 2008 · 2009 · 2010 · 2011 · 2012 · 2013 · 2014 · All TL years side by side
Other Acura models: Acura CL · Acura ILX · Acura Integra · Acura MDX · Acura RDX · Acura RL · Acura RSX · Acura TLX · Acura TSX. All makes and models.
Questions
Is the 2000 Acura TL a bad year?
249 owner complaints to NHTSA. Transmission complaints: 111, 11× a quiet TL year. At 112,000 miles the tool says: Consider selling. Half of all transmission complaints about the 2000 Acura TL were filed between 92k and 138k miles. You're at 112,000 miles.
What are the most common problems with the 2000 Acura TL?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: transmission and drivetrain (111), air bags (62), visibility and wipers (31), electrical system (25), engine (13). Half of the transmission complaints were filed between 92k–138k miles.
How many recalls does the 2000 Acura TL have?
6 recall campaigns list this model year: Air bags (NHTSA 20V-027), Air bags (NHTSA 20V-026), Electrical system (NHTSA 05V-025), Transmission and drivetrain (NHTSA 04V-176) and more. A recall may cover only some cars; check by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Method: counts of unverified owner complaints filed with NHTSA, compared only with other years of the same model (sales volumes are unknown, so no failure rate is computed). A system stands out at 40+ complaints and at least twice the model's quiet (lower-quartile) year, or twice the share across every vehicle of that model year. The mileage range is the 25th to 75th percentile of the mileages owners reported. Data received by NHTSA through November 5, 2026. Repair prices are typical US ranges from named sources, not quotes. Not a diagnosis and not financial advice. PulsCar is not affiliated with NHTSA. Check this car at your own mileage.