AcuraTL1995Overview/acura/tl/1995/base/

1995 Acura TL

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1995 TL.

The 1995 Acura TL enters the market with a 4.5-quart engine oil specification requiring 5W-30 API viscosity, establishing the mechanical baseline for a lineage that would persist through 2014. This inaugural model year records merely a single owner complaint targeting steering, vehicle speed control, and service brakes, alongside zero recalls. Against the broader 1995–2014 production span, where complaint volumes would eventually peak at 551 in 2004, the 1995 edition represents the definitive low-water mark for reported issues, offering researchers a benchmark for the model’s earliest reliability profile.

Model year201420132012201120102009200820071995

Quick specs

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

Engine oil capacity4.5 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 35 · 450 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 35 · 450 CCAOEM · verified
Tire size205-60HR15OEM · verified
Wheel / rim6-JJ inOEM · verified

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.

9.0 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 9.00 sec — 1995 2.5 Premium Sedan
YearTrim / engine0–60¼ mileHPDrivetrain
19952.5 Premium Sedan 2.5L I-59.00 sec17.00 sec176 hpFWD
19963.2 Sedan 3.2L V68.80 sec16.70 sec200 hpFWD

Service quick specs OEM factory data

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

This engine holds 4.5 qt of 5W-30 API engine oil, 80W-90 · API 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 1-2-4-5-3.

Lubricants & capacities

Automatic Transmission FluidATF
Automatic Transmission Fluid Capacity2.9
Brake FluidDOT 3
Differential Gear Oil80W-90 · API
Differential Gear Oil Capacity2 Pints
Engine CoolantETHYLENE GLYCOL
Engine Oil5W-30 · API
Engine Oil Capacity4.5 qt

Engine torques

Camshaft Bearing/Carrier Cap Bolts or Studs8mm Bolts: 16 ft-lbs, 6mm Bolts: 9 ft-lbs
Connecting Rod (Large End) Bearings24 ft-lbs
Engine Flywheel Bolts54 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
Oil Pump to Cylinder BLock Bolts/Studs9 ft-lbs
Engine Valve Cover Bolts7 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts80 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order1-2-4-5-3
Curb Idle Speed (No Load)700 rpm
Curb Idle Speed Variance (No Load)50 rpm
Curb Idle Speed (Secondary Under Load)770 rpm
Curb Idle Speed Variance (Secondary Under Load)50 rpm
Spark Plug ManufacturerHonda
Spark Plug Gap0.039-0.0.043 in
Spark Plug Torque13.0 ft-lbs

Battery & A/C

RefrigerantR134a
Refrigerant Capacity1.50-1.70 lbs
Oil TypeND 8 oil
Oil Capacity5.30 oz
Standard BCI Group Number35
Standard BCI Cranking Performance450 cca

Service checks

Pressure Test14-18 psi
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief14-18 psi
Thermostat Opening TemperaturePrimary: 176-183, Secondary: 181-189 °F
Engine Compression135
Engine Oil Pressure50 psi
Engine Oil Pressure RPM3000 rpm

Brakes

Torque Caliper to Bracket17 ft-lbs
Torque to Knuckle28 ft-lbs
Minimum Pad Thickness0.060 in
Rotor Max Parallel Variation0.0006 in
Rotor Runout Limit0.004 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness From0.9 in / 0.35 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness To0.91 in / 0.358 in
Rotor Minimum Machining0.83 in / 0.3 in

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Main Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages
122 ft. lbs., Step 2: 5422 ft. lbs

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; 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) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
At 15,000 miSteering System (inspect)
Every 15,000 miAxle Shaft Oil Seal (inspect) · Brake Linings (inspect) · Brake System (inspect) · CV Joint Boot (inspect) · Exhaust System (Complete) (inspect) · Fuel Line (inspect)
Every 30,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Brake Hydraulic System (drain, refill & bleed) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill) · Engine Coolant System Hoses (inspect) · Engine Valves (inspect valve lash)
At 45,000 miEngine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill) · Engine Coolant System Hoses (inspect)
Every 60,000 miDistributor Cap (inspect) · Distributor Rotor (inspect) · Exhaust System Heat Shield (inspect) · Fuel Filter (replace) · PCV System (inspect) · Universal Vehicle Operation (inspect idle speed)
Every 90,000 miTiming Belt (replace) · 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 1995 Acura TL marks the quietest year in the generation's federal record, logging just 1 complaint, 0 recalls, and 12 technical service bulletins (TSBs). In contrast, 1996 saw a sharp increase to 39 complaints and 2 recalls, with TSBs more than tripling to 38. This relatively low-volume pattern holds through 1998 before complaints and recalls spike dramatically starting in 1999, eventually peaking at 551 complaints and 6 recalls in 2004. The single 1995 complaint spans steering, vehicle speed control, and service brakes, with no associated crash or fire incidents reported. The data does not specify the root cause of the 1996 jump, but the 1995 model's minimal federal footprint suggests either a very limited initial production run or a remarkably clean launch. From a purely data-driven perspective, the 1995 model year presents as a low-risk purchase relative to the rest of the generation's escalating complaint arc.

0
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
12
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
0
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
1
Owner complaints
0 involved a crash · 0 a fire
Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 1 complaints on record, top 1 components.

Steering,Vehicle Speed Control,Service Brakes1

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

No recall campaigns on record with NHTSA for this vehicle as of the last data refresh.

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 12 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
B980152016-03-18EquipmentSpecial Tool Loan Program: Under TOOLS AVAILABLE FOR LOAN, the list has been updated.
SB-07082010-11-01TiresACURA: THERE ARE GUIDELINES FOR VARIOUS SITUATIONS AND PROCEDURES INCLUDING: TIRE…
090120042004-09-04Engine And Engine CoolingDTC P0441( INCORRECT PURGE FLOW) AFTER ENGINE OR THROTTLE BODY REPLACEMENT. *NM
8042004-08-16Engine And Engine CoolingDTC (DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE) P1457 (EVAP LEAK AT CANISTER) *SC
020120042004-02-01Air BagsAIRBAG ON OFF SWITCH. *EH

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

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VIN
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Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.
Recalls
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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 1995 TL take?

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

Does the 1995 TL have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 0 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.