2003 Acura TL Overview, Reviews, Ratings & Specs

2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001
Crash Test Rating
Source   NHTSA
MPG (up to)
19 City / 29 HWY
Source FuelEconomy.gov
Horsepower
225 -260
Seats
5
Front angle view.

Positive Owner Reviews

accountCircle Karen S
That it is a reliable vehicle.
I love the way this car handles. It looks great and drives better. I like that it is a large car and feel secure driving it. The sunroof is an added feature that. I enjoy.
accountCircle Lisa M
Still going strong after 200,000
I've driven over 200,000 in my Acura and it's still going strong. I love the great horsepower, gas mileage, overall comfort, and smooth ride. The one major frustration is that the paint job hasn't held up and the exterior does not look as sharp any longer.
accountCircle A T
I have to say it is reliability.
My acura gets the best gas mileage. It is the most reliable vehicle I have owned. I hate my power steering. An the stereo system is whack.
accountCircle Michelle S
This car is reliable. I know I can always expect it to perform beautifully and not have to worry if it's going to break down.
This car is very reliable. I feel very comfortable and safe driving around with my family. The trunk is large enough to hold strollers and more gear for the know kids. The performance of the vehicle is very good. We haven't had any major issues at all.
accountCircle Megan D
2003 Acura still runs great!
This car is fully functioning. Super reliable. My car is currently at 160, 000 miles and has had no history of breaking down and no issues. Still has a cassette player and features a 6 CD player but no Bluetooth or AUX cord inputs. What it lacks in extra features, it makes up for in reliability. No complaints.
accountCircle Gillian M
The comfort and smooth ride are just great and it turns on a dime.
Drives beautifully, seat are really comfortable and heated. The stereo is Bose with great sound. Wonderful air conditioner and good on gas.
accountCircle linda R
Lives up to the Honda/Acura great reputation.
Looks great, high end vehicle. Great gas mileage. Very reasonable maintenance costs. Good trunk size. Good feel on the road.
accountCircle Jane S
People should know how to take care of it properly.
The paint is not the best and started to come off a while ago. It is reliable and comfortable. I will drive it for the foreseeable future.

Negative Owner Reviews

accountCircle Bryant L
It takes a lot of gas to drive long distances. Not very ideal.
Very reliable vehicle. However, due to its 6 cylinders, it consumes a lot of gas. To fill up, it would cost me $45, however that would only take me 250 miles, which sucks
accountCircle Brian D
Great ac, great heat, sunroof is in great shape.
Aged, cosmetic issues, very high mileage. Overall, very good car. Purchased it with 115,000 miles. Currently has 262,000 miles. There are a lot of little things that need to be maintenance more often than not.. Can become frustrating. Then you have to consider cost benefit between having car payment and not having one.
accountCircle Christine F
Pros and cons of my Acura tl.
Transmission slips when going into 3rd gear. The seats need replacing and the heads as well, and they are too expensive. The sunroof is a great thing to have. Although it has issues, it still runs good. It's been quite reliable for me. I would rather have a smaller sized car.
accountCircle Brandon A
The Acura TL is a good car for everyday use.
When I first got the Acura TL I loved it. Drives smooth and fast with nice steering. The design of the vehicle is great for comfort and safety. I especially love the sunroof and back windows that go all the way down. The problems I have with the TL is that it's low to the ground and absolutely cannot drive in any shallow water. The radio locks automatically if you disconnect the battery. The only way to unlock is to call manufacturer for the code.
accountCircle Jim m
It does It's job and gets me too and from work each day and doesn't have a lot of issues
My car is an older vehicle it's in good shape but has a lot of miles on it. I am sure it would have been considered a luxury vehicle when new but now just gets me to and from work.
accountCircle saul H
It has a fairly new transmission and its reliable.
My car is all black. All leather seats and also heated seats. It was a luxury car back in 2003. I have recently had to replace many malfunctioning parts.
accountCircle Christina H
It's a good size and can help short people see out the front
I like the size of my vehicle. It drives well and works which is all that I need it to do.
accountCircle Cassidy M
2003 Acura TL 3.2 Review!
I did not buy my car new, but bought it in great condition with few miles. For its age, it runs fantastically. However, I have had multiple electrical issues with this car which no mechanic can seem to fully fix.

Acura TL Models

Models also known as Trim Levels, are used to identify a vehicle's level of equipment or special features.

car
Base
225 HP 24-24 MPG 5 Seats
car
w/Navigation System
225 HP 24-24 MPG 5 Seats
car
Type S
260 HP 24-24 MPG 5 Seats
car
Type S w/Navigation System
260 HP 24-24 MPG 5 Seats
Photos may not match model

2003 Acura TL Owner Reviews

4.24
68 Reviews
close Write Review
5 stars 46%
4 stars 35%
3 stars 16%
2 stars 3%
1 star 0%
accountCircle saul H on February 24, 2021
It has a fairly new transmission and its reliable.
My car is all black. All leather seats and also heated seats. It was a luxury car back in 2003. I have recently had to replace many malfunctioning parts.
accountCircle Lisa M on January 29, 2021
Still going strong over 200, 000 miles.
I love the great gas mileage, comfort, horsepower, and overall driving experience of my Acura tl. I have driven over 200, 000 miles so far and I have not had to do much more than routine maintenance. The greatest frustration is that the paint job has not held up at all.
View All Reviews (68) chevronRightAlternative

Ranks #7 Luxury Small Cars by Owners

The 2003 Acura TL has an average owner rating of 4.24 out of 5 which ranks it #7 of 9 other Luxury Small Cars.

1
car
2003 INFINITI Q45
5
2
car
2003 Lexus IS
4.7
7
car
2003 Acura TL
4.24

Ranks #3 Luxury Small Cars by Fuel Economy

The 2003 Acura TL has a combined MPG of 30 which ranks it #3 of 10 other Luxury Small Cars.

1
car
2003 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
32 MPG
2
Tie
car
2003 Volvo S40
30 MPG
3
car
2003 Acura TL
29 MPG

Is The 2003 Acura TL A Good Car?

Yes, it has lasted through 5 years of being driven by two teenagers across thousands of miles with minimal damage to the car.
Bud C.
Yeah runs clean after 200,000 miles just kept up with the the maintenance oil changes and such belts and stuff oil changes took it to a mechanic only a couple times
Aisha G.

How Reliable Is The 2003 Acura TL?

It is reliable. I've had issues with every part of the car that isn't the engine, but that’s because it’s incredibly used and honestly not super well taken care of. The car is like the Nokia of... Read More
Samantha S.
Yes it is very reliable never really had any problem with it just a couple things flat tires lights going out but besides that overall great car not the best on mileage but it is a 2003 so there's... Read More
Anna C.

Is The 2003 Acura TL A Good Value?

I think the current value of my Acura is $800 which seems about right for what it is. It drives though, and has air conditioning and heat so I’d say it’s a great value.
Anthony H.

Related Articles for 2003 Acura TL

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Frequently Asked Questions

What's the 2003 Acura TL Type S oil capacity?

Answer: The 2003 Acura TL holdS4.65 quarts of SAE 52-20 oil in engine. Acura recommends that You use synthetic oil whenever You need to change it in Your car. Synthetic oil is a newer type of oil that is engineered to...

What's the 2003 Acura TL main relay location?

Answer: The main under-hood fuse box on the 2003 Acura TL is located in the back of the engine compartment on the passenger's side. Once You have located the fuse box, remove the cover. There may also be a fuse laYout...

What is the 2003 Acura TL 3.2 Fuel pump relay location?

Answer: The 2003 Acura TL 3.2 fuel pump relay location can be found by watching: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-UPSfbYU_Qs Car parts eventually will become ineffective. The fuel filter needs to be replaced every...
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Answers are provided by third parties. We do not guarantee accuracy of responses

Safety & Reliability

NHTSA Logo
NHTSA Crash Test

Overall

Front

Rollover

Side

*National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
IIHS Logo
IIHS Crash Test

Moderate Overlap Front

Side

Not Rated

Roof Strength

Not Rated

Driver-side Overlap Front

Not Rated
*Insurance Institute for Highway Safety