AcuraTL1999Overview/acura/tl/1999/base/

1999 Acura TL

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1999 TL.

The 1999 Acura TL carries a 4.6-quart oil fill specified for 5W-30 API viscosity and accumulated 159 total owner complaints dominated by electrical system issues across three recalls. Within the model’s 1995–2014 timeline, this model year sits between the inaugural 1995’s single complaint and the 2004 peak of 551 reports. This positions the vehicle in the early production phase with moderate complaint exposure relative to the maximum recorded in later years.

Model year201420132012201120102009200820071999

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

Engine oil capacity4.6 qtOEM · verified
Engine oil type5W-30 APIOEM · verified
Lug nut torque80 ft-lbsOEM · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI 24 · 550 CCA battery. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.

Battery groupBCI 24 · 550 CCAOEM · verified
Tire sizeP205-60VR16OEM · verified
Wheel / rim6.5-JJ inOEM · verified

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length192.9 in
Overall width70.5 in
Overall height56.3 in
Wheelbase108.3 in
Curb weight3450 lb
Track (front / rear)61.4 / 60.6 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)62/38

Performance & power Independent road tests

0–60 mph, quarter-mile, horsepower and torque from independent road tests.

Independent road tests for the TL of this era, listed by trim and engine — this page spans more than one engine, so no single horsepower figure is shown.

7.4–7.6 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 7.40 sec — 1999 3.2 Sedan
YearTrim / engine0–60¼ mileHPDrivetrain
19993.2 Sedan 3.2L V67.40 sec15.70 sec225 hpFWD
19993.2 Sedan 3.2L V67.60 sec15.80 sec225 hpFWD
20003.2 Coupe 3.2L V67.40 sec15.90 sec225 hpFWD
20023.2 Type-S Sedan 3.2 L V66.20 sec14.80 sec260 hpFWD
20023.2 Type-S Sedan 3.2L V66.60 sec15.10 sec260 hpFWD
20023.2 Type-S Sedan 3.2L V67.60 sec16.00 sec260 hpFWD
20033.2 Type-S Sedan 3.2L V66.50 sec14.90 sec260 hpFWD

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine holds 4.6 qt of 5W-30 API engine oil, GL-4 · GL-5 · 80W-90 in the differential, DOT 3 brake fluid. Torque lug nuts to 80 ft-lbs, the oil drain plug to 29.0 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-4-2-5-3-6.

Lubricants & capacities

Brake FluidDOT 3
Differential Gear OilGL-4 · GL-5 · 80W-90
Differential Gear Oil Capacity2.2 Pints
Engine CoolantETHYLENE GLYCOL
Engine Oil5W-30 · API
Engine Oil Capacity4.6 qt

Engine torques

Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts181 ft-lbs
Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts16 ft-lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts23 ft-lbs
Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug29.0 ft-lbs
Engine Valve Cover Bolts9.0 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts80 ft-lbs
Front Wheel Hub181 ft-lbs
Rear Wheel Hub134 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order1-4-2-5-3-6
Curb Idle Speed (No Load)AT: 780, MT: 800 rpm
Curb Idle Speed Variance (No Load)50 rpm
Curb Idle Speed (Secondary Under Load)AT: 780, MT: 800 rpm
Curb Idle Speed Variance (Secondary Under Load)50 rpm
Ignition Coil Primary Resistance.34-.42 ohms
Ignition Coil Secondary Resistance17,100-20,900 ohms
Spark Plug ManufacturerHonda

Battery & A/C

RefrigerantR134a
Refrigerant Capacity1.30-1.40 lbs
Oil GroupPAG
Oil Type46
Oil Capacity5.33 oz
Standard BCI Group Number24
Standard BCI Cranking Performance550 cca

Service checks

Pressure Test14-18 psi
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief14-18 psi
Thermostat Opening Temperature169-176 °F
Regulated Fuel System Pressure (Without Vacuum)41.0-48.0 psi
Regulated Fuel System Pressure (With Vacuum)37.0-44.0 psi
Engine Compression142
Engine Oil Pressure10 psi @ idle, 50 psi @ 3000 rpm psi
Intake Valve Lash0.006-0.007 in

Brakes

Torque Caliper to Bracket80 ft-lbs / 17 ft-lbs
Torque to Knuckle80 ft-lbs / 41 ft-lbs
Minimum Pad Thickness0.060 in
Rotor Max Parallel Variation0.0006 in
Rotor Runout Limit0.004 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness From0.35 in / 1.098 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness To0.358 in / 1.106 in
Rotor Discard at or Under0.295 in / 1.024 in

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter every 7,500 mi; spark plugs at 105,000 mi; coolant every 30,000 mi. The big-interval services (every 30,000 mi for coolant, and the transmission fluid) are the ones owners most often skip — on a lower-mileage example, assume the original fluids are still in it and check them first.

Every 7,500 miEngine Oil (drain & refill) · Power Steering System (inspect) · Steering System (inspect) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 15,000 miAxle Shaft Oil Seal (inspect) · Body Latches, Locks & Hinges (inspect) · Brake Linings (inspect) · Brake System (inspect) · CV Joint Boot (inspect) · Engine Air Filter Element (inspect)
At 30,000 miFinal Drive (drain & refill)
Every 30,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Cabin Air Filter (replace) · Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill) · Transmission Assembly (drain & refill)
Every 45,000 miBrake Hydraulic System (drain, refill & bleed)
At 75,000 miEngine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)
At 105,000 miEngine Valves (inspect valve lash) · Spark Plugs (replace) · Timing Belt (replace) · Universal Vehicle Operation (inspect idle speed) · Water Pump (inspect)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

The 1999 Acura TL represents a dramatic inflection point in this generation's federal record, marking the transition from the relatively quiet 1995-1998 era—which peaked at just 39 complaints in 1996—to a severe upward trend in reported issues. For the target year, federal complaints skyrocketed to 159, accompanied by 3 recalls, 1 investigation, and 144 technical service bulletins, with the primary failure areas being the Electrical System (44 complaints) and Power Train (25 complaints). While the 1999 model initiated this problematic arc, the situation worsened significantly in subsequent years, with complaints peaking at 551 in 2004; notably, the 1999 model also logged 18 crash complaints and 4 fire complaints, though the data does not specify the root causes for these failures. Because the 1999 TL sits at the very beginning of a prolonged, generation-wide spike in federal scrutiny and severe component complaints, it is not a recommended year to purchase.

3
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
144
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
1
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
159
Owner complaints
18 involved a crash · 4 a fire
Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 159 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Electrical System44
Power Train25
Air Bags9
Engine & Engine Cooling9
Visibility7
Unknown Or Other7
Power Train,Electrical System5
Structure4

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 4 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

20V026000Air Bags:Frontal:Driver Side:Inflator ModuleReported 17/01/2020

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 1998 Acura 2.2CL, 1998-1999 Acura 2.3CL, 1998-1999 Acura 3.0CL, 2001 Acura 3.2CL and Acura MDX, 1998-2000 Honda Accord Coupe, Accord Sedan, Civic Sedan, Odyssey and… Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the driver frontal air bag inflator, and replace it if necessary, with an inflator of a different design, free of charge. The…

02V120000Electrical System:Ignition:SwitchReported 16/05/2002

ON CERTAIN SEDANS, COUPES, HATCHBACKS, AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, ELECTRICAL CONTACTS IN THE IGNITION SWITCH CAN DEGRADE DUE TO THE HIGH ELECTRICAL CURRENT PASSING THROUGH THE SWITCH WHEN THE VEHICLE IS STARTED. Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE IGNITION SWITCH. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JUNE 14, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT…

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 144 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
BBOM080920189012018-08-09Engine And Engine CoolingDealer message - Today, Acura is notifying dealers of a voluntary noncompliance recall…
B180342018-08-09EquipmentService bulletin - Emission certification labels that were replaced on a small number of…
B90-0092017-08-30Power TrainService bulletin - You are required to install a remanufactured A/T (automatic…
BJA461672017-01-01EquipmentSending vehicle data to tech line.
B980152016-03-18EquipmentSpecial Tool Loan Program: Under TOOLS AVAILABLE FOR LOAN, the list has been updated.

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420
Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1
P0300
Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected
P0171
System too lean — Bank 1
P0455
Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak
P0128
Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature
P0442
Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN
Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific TL. OEM
Build data
Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.
Recalls
Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 1999 TL take?

4.6 qt of 5W-30 API, per the factory manual.

Does the 1999 TL have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 3 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.