The Lemon Index
20012nd generation
Better than average · most complaints: airbags
52 owner complaints, first 3 years — combined, EPA
Similar cars, same year
2000 BMW 3 Series 702000 Audi A6 1342000 Cadillac DeVille 76
Lemon Index: 100 = the average car, lower is better.
What breaks most on the 2000 Acura TL
- Transmission failure37 complaintsmostly at 92,000–138,000 miles (148,000–222,000 km)
- Engine stalling20 complaintsmostly at 100,000–144,000 miles (161,000–232,000 km)
- Airbag light / sensor14 complaintsmostly at 71,000–150,000 miles (114,000–241,000 km)
Specific parts named in the 249 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2000 Acura TL (all dates). Miles = the odometer owners typed in (middle half); cost = the repair bills owners wrote in those same complaints, in U.S. dollars. Owners' reports, not confirmed defects.
When problems show up
Only 10 complaints listed a mileage: too few to say when problems show up.
Questions to ask the seller
- Were recalls 20V027000 (airbags), 20V026000 (airbags) and 05V025000 (electrical) done? It has 6 recalls in all. Ask for the dealer printout, or check the VIN.
- Is the airbag light off, and were any airbag recalls done?
- Any slipping, hard or late shifts, or a transmission warning light? Ask for transmission fluid service records.
- Do the brakes feel even, with no ABS or brake warning light? When were the pads and brake fluid last done?
- Acura sent dealers 176 repair notes for this car. Was this one done: “Information on servicing erratic shifting, slipping, and flare at upshifts”?
From this year's own recalls, top problems, top repair bills and Acura's repair notes. Recall repairs are free at any dealer.
How serious. Out of all 52 owner complaints filed so far (every year since it was sold, not just the first 3), owners reported:
“Average car” = what the same number of complaints would include at the rate across every model year we track. Owners report these themselves; NHTSA doesn't confirm the cause.
What owners complain about most. From owner complaints to the government.
Share of this year's owner complaints filed with NHTSA, not the share of cars that break. One complaint can name more than one area.
Check engine light on? Look up any code →
When owners reported problems. From owner complaints to the government.
Most owners who filed a complaint with NHTSA had 40K to 75K miles (64K to 121K km) on the car (10 of all 52 complaints filed so far listed the miles). This shows when people who had a problem reported it, not the odds that your car will have it.
In owners' words
Air bags deployed in an accident where vehicle was at a stop sign and only going approx 5 mph. Air bag replacement was 80% of repair bill no other major damage to vehicle.
2000 Acura TL owner · NHTSA complaint 737046
More owner reports
Nar 1/29/2003. The consumer was concerned about irregular shifting behavior that other drivers have been experiencing. The consumer also owns the same type of vehicle.
NHTSA complaint 10006055
Vehicle was involved in a frontal collision and driver's airbag did not deploy, resulting in minor chest injuries. Manufacturer will be notified.
NHTSA complaint 855420
Problems Acura told dealers about
Acura sent dealers 176 repair notes for this car. The ones about its biggest problems:
- Information on servicing erratic shifting, slipping, and flare at upshifts
- Information on servicing the odometer, sport shift indicator illumination inoperative
- Concerns with automatic transmission fluid leak at axle seals, roaring noise, erratic shifting
Ask a seller or mechanic if these were done. Some are free under warranty or a special program.
Recalls 6
- Airbags · recall issued 2020
These vehicles may have received a replacement driver frontal air bag module as part of a vehicle repair.
- Airbags · recall issued 2020
These vehicles were equipped with Non-Azide Driver air bag Inflators (NADI) and do not contain phase stabilized ammonium nitrate (PSAN) propellant.
- Electrical · recall issued 2005
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 TRANSMISS…
Show all 6 recalls
- Transmission & drivetrain · recall issued 2004
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 LEADIN…
- Airbags · recall issued 2002
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, A COMPONENT IN THE INFLATOR OF SOME PASSENGER AIR BAG MODULES WAS NOT WELDED PROPERLY.
- Seat belts · recall issued 2001
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: THE FOLLOWING VEHICLES WERE REPAIRED WITH INCORRECT PARTS: 2002 ACURA 3.2TL SEDANS WITH REPLACEMENT BUCKLES INSTALLED PER RECALL 01V-166001; CERTAIN 2000 ACURA 3.2TL VEHICLES WITH REPLACEMENT BUCKLES…
Recall repairs are free at any dealer. A recall only matters if it's still open on that exact car, so check its VIN.
Canada? See recalls at Transport Canada
Government investigations
- ClosedIgnition-park interlock2005
- ClosedAutomatic transmission sudden downshift2002–2003
NHTSA looks into a problem when enough owners report it. Many end in a recall.
Every Acura TL year. 2000 is highlighted. Lower is better.
Newest year first. Red = worse than average, gray = about average or too few complaints to score.
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Put this chart on your site, blog or forum. Free, with the credit line built in; the 2000 bar is highlighted.
<iframe src="https://lemonindex.com/embed/cars/acura-tl/?y=2000" title="Acura TL reliability by model year (The Lemon Index)" width="100%" height="445" style="border:0;max-width:720px" loading="lazy"></iframe><p style="font-size:13px;margin:4px 0 0">Data: <a href="https://lemonindex.com/cars/acura-tl/2000/">Lemon Index</a> (2000 Acura TL reliability)</p>Quick answers
Is the 2000 Acura TL reliable?
Yes, better than average by government complaints. It drew about two-thirds as many complaints as the average car filed with NHTSA in its first 3 years, per car sold (Lemon Index 70; 100 is average, lower is better). The Acura TL year with the fewest complaints per car sold since 2010 is 2010.
What are the most common 2000 Acura TL problems?
In owner complaints to the government, the parts named most are airbags (38%), transmission & drivetrain (27%) and brakes (15%). That is the share of complaints, not the share of cars that break.
How many recalls does the 2000 Acura TL have?
6 safety recalls (latest: airbags). Recall repairs are free at any dealer; check a specific car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Does the 2000 Acura TL have transmission problems?
Transmission and drivetrain issues make up 27% of its owner complaints.
Is there a better Acura TL year than the 2000?
Not nearby: the 2000 drew the fewest complaints per car sold of the Acura TL years within 3 model years of it. Across every year, 2010 drew the fewest.
The Lemon Index counts owner complaints filed with the U.S. government (NHTSA) in a car's first 3 years, per car sold, against the average car of the same model years (100 = average, lower is better). It measures complaints, not crash safety. A complaint is an owner's report, not a confirmed defect. How it works