Illustration2004 ACURA TL SEDAN DASHBOARD CRACKS AND SPLITS AROUND PASSENGER AIRBAG. SRS WARNING LIGHT BECOMES ILLUMINATED AFTERWARDS. CONCERN OVER PROPER AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT. *TR
2004 Acura Tl
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
More warning signs than most Tl years
Owner complaints for the 2004 Acura Tl are substantially higher than the model-year median of 124.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Tl years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
400–25K
3425–50K
7750–75K
9375–100K
113100–150K
46150K+
403 reports with mileage · 148 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Structure. Review the 232 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Air Bags. Review the 199 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Power Train. Review the 56 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
13 crash reports6 fire reports9 injury reports
Air Bags complaints
199 reports2004 ACURA TL - DASH HAS A 2' CRASH ON THE PASSENGER SIDE RUNNING TOP TO BOTTOM AND INTO SRS AIRBAG AREA. CRACK STARTED AT 90, 000 MILES. DEALERSHIP ACKNOWLEDGED PROBLEM BUT SINCE CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY WANTS $580.00 TO FIX. THIS CRACK MAY SERIOUSLY AFFECT AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT ON PASSENGER SIDE. *TR
I HAVE AN ACURA TL 04 WITH A CRACKED DASHBOARD WHERE THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG IS LOCATED. A CRACK APPEARED ON THE DRIVER SIDE BACK IN FEBRUARY, BUT NOW ITS CRACKING WHERE THE AIRBAG IS LOCATED. *TR
DASHBOARD CRACKED WHERE PASSENGER AIRBAG IS LOCATED. ON THE INTERNET, SEEING A HIGH FREQUENCY OF COMPLAINTS. CONCERNS ARE THE AIRBAG MAY NOT WORK CORRECTLY NOW. *TR
2004 ACURA TL WITH CRACKED DASHBOARD AROUND PASSENGER AIRBAG. OUTLINE OF THE AIRBAG WAS VISIBLE SINCE THE CAR HAD APPROXIMATELY 50000 MILES. NOW THE CRACKS ARE VERY VISIBLE AND GETTING WORSE. SAFETY CONCERN BECAUSE OF PASSENGER AIRBAG. CALLED ACURA CORPORATE, THEY OFFERED A 25% DISCOUNT TO REPLACE THE DASHBOARD WHICH I BELIEV…
Read full complaint
2004 ACURA TL WITH CRACKED DASHBOARD AROUND PASSENGER AIRBAG. OUTLINE OF THE AIRBAG WAS VISIBLE SINCE THE CAR HAD APPROXIMATELY 50000 MILES. NOW THE CRACKS ARE VERY VISIBLE AND GETTING WORSE. SAFETY CONCERN BECAUSE OF PASSENGER AIRBAG. CALLED ACURA CORPORATE, THEY OFFERED A 25% DISCOUNT TO REPLACE THE DASHBOARD WHICH I BELIEVE IS AN ADMISSION THAT IT IS A DEFECT. I COULD NOT AFFORD TO PAY $1500 TO HAVE IT REPLACED AND FEEL THAT ACURA SHOULD REPLACE THE DASH. MANY PEOPLE HAVE A SIMILAR PROBLEM. ACURA HAS NOT ISSUED A RECALL. I AM HOPING THAT NHTSA CAN INFLUENCE ACURA TO DO THE RIGHT THING AND PROTECT THE CONSUMER. MY CAR NOW HAS 100,000 MILES AND THE CRACKS ARE VERY NOTICEABLE. I AM CONCERNED FOR SAFETY OF PASSENGERS BECAUSE OF THE AIRBAG. IN ADDITION, THE CAR IS SUPPOSED TO BE A LUXURY CAR AND THIS DEFECTS DETRACTS FROM THE APPEARANCE AND DRAMATICALLY IMPACTS THE RESALE VALUE. PLEASE DO WHAT YOU CAN TO FORCE ACURA TO STEP UP AND FIX THE KNOWN DEFECT. *TR
THIS COMPLAINT IS IN REGARDS TO 2004 ACURA TL DASH BOARDS CRACKING IN THE AREA OF THE PASSENGER AIRBAG. MY CAR WITH 94K MILE DASH CRACKED YESTERDAY PERFECTLY ALONG THE PASSENGER DASH. WHILE RESEARCHING THIS ONLINE I SEE THAT SEVERAL PEOPLE HAVE COMPLAINED AND HAVE PICTURES OF THE EXACT SAME ISSUE WHICH CAN POSSIBLY BE HAZARDOUS …
Read full complaint
THIS COMPLAINT IS IN REGARDS TO 2004 ACURA TL DASH BOARDS CRACKING IN THE AREA OF THE PASSENGER AIRBAG. MY CAR WITH 94K MILE DASH CRACKED YESTERDAY PERFECTLY ALONG THE PASSENGER DASH. WHILE RESEARCHING THIS ONLINE I SEE THAT SEVERAL PEOPLE HAVE COMPLAINED AND HAVE PICTURES OF THE EXACT SAME ISSUE WHICH CAN POSSIBLY BE HAZARDOUS IF THE AIRBAG DEPLOYS. *TR
OUTLINE OF PASSENGER AIRBAG HAS APPEARED AS A CRACK IN THE DASH ON MY 04 ACURA TL. IT HAS 63000 MILES AND WAS BOUGHT AS CERTIFIED. *TR
2004 ACURA TL: AIRBAG COVER ON DASH HAS CRACKED OPEN ON BOTH SIDES OF AIRBAG. AFRAID AIRBAG WILL DEPLOY RANDOMLY. THE CRACK STARTED SMALL BUT HAS GROWN TO ALMOST THE SIZE OF THE DASH CAR IS GARAGED AND DASH COVERED IN SUNLIGHT. ACURA DOES NOT SEEM TO WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE DEFECT. *TR
THIS INVOLVES MY 2004 ACURA TL, WHICH I HAVE OWNED SINCE OCTOBER 2007. IN THE TWO AND A HALF YEARS SINCE THE PURCHASE, SIGNIFICANT CRACKS HAVE APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD OF THIS CAR. THERE ARE SEVERAL CRACKS ON THE DASH IN FRONT OF THE DRIVING PANEL. THERE ARE ALSO TWO MAJOR CRACKS ON THE PASSENGER SIDE, EACH ONE RUNNING FROM THE…
Read full complaint
THIS INVOLVES MY 2004 ACURA TL, WHICH I HAVE OWNED SINCE OCTOBER 2007. IN THE TWO AND A HALF YEARS SINCE THE PURCHASE, SIGNIFICANT CRACKS HAVE APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD OF THIS CAR. THERE ARE SEVERAL CRACKS ON THE DASH IN FRONT OF THE DRIVING PANEL. THERE ARE ALSO TWO MAJOR CRACKS ON THE PASSENGER SIDE, EACH ONE RUNNING FROM THE WINDSHIELD ALL THE WAY TO THE GLOVE BOX. WHAT MAKES THIS WORRISOME IS THAT EACH CRACK RUNS ALONG THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG, WHICH IS WEAKENING THE INTEGRITY OF THAT AIRBAG. I AM CONCERNED THAT THESE CRACKS COULD CAUSE THE PASSENGER AIRBAG TO DEPLOY UNEXPECTEDLY, INJURING ANY PASSENGER IN THAT SEAT AND POSSIBLY EVEN CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. IT COULD ALSO CAUSE THE AIRBAG TO DEPLOY IMPROPERLY DURING AN ACCIDENT, AND EITHER FAIL TO PREVENT INJURY OR MAKE THE PASSENGER'S INJURIES WORSE. THIS DEFECT IS OCCURRING IN THE 2004 AND 2005 MODELS, BUT ACURA IS TREATING IT AS A COSMETIC ISSUE RATHER THAN A SAFETY ONE, AND REFUSING TO COVER THE EXPENSE OF REPLACING THE DASH, WHICH COSTS ALMOST $2000 INCLUDING LABOR AND PARTS. OTHER 2004/2005 TL OWNERS WHO HAD THE DASH REPLACED WERE TOLD THAT THE NEW DASH WAS MADE WITH DIFFERENT MATERIALS AND WOULD NOT HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. THIS IS A DE FACTO ADMISSION THAT THESE DASHBOARDS WERE MADE WITH INADEQUATE MATERIALS. THIS IS INDEED A SAFETY ISSUE, AS IT INVOLVES THE AIRBAG. THESE CRACKS ARE SIGNIFICANTLY COMPROMISING THE SAFETY OF THIS CAR, AND ACURA NEEDS TO ISSUE A SAFETY RECALL RATHER THAN TREAT IT LIKE A COSMETIC ISSUE. *TR
2004 ACURA TL, PASSENGER SIDE AREA OF DASHBOARD STARTING TO CRACK ABOVE WHERE AIRBAG IS LOCATED. COULD THIS CAUSE PROBLEM WITH AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT WHEN DASH HAS NUMEROUS CRACKS. HAVE FOUND OTHER TL'S IN THE 2004-2006 RANGE WITH SIMILAR PROBLEMS ON FORUMS AND FACEBOOK LINKS AS WELL. *TR
Official recalls
419V182000 · Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module
Mar 6, 2019
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling specific 2003 Acura 3.2CL, 2013-2016 ILX, 2013-2014 ILX Hybrid, 2003-2006 MDX, 2007-2016 RDX, 2002-2003 3.2TL, 2004-2006, and 2009-2014 TL, 2010-2013 ZDX and 2001-2007 and 2009 Honda Accord, 2001-2005 Civic, 2003-2005 Civic Hybrid, 2001-2005 Civic GX NGV, 2002-2007 and 2010-2011 CR-V, 2003-2011 Element, 2007 Fit, 2002-2004 Odyssey, 2003-2008 Pilot, and 2006-2014 Ridgeline vehicles. The affected vehicles received a replacement driver air bag inflator as part of a previous Takata inflator recall remedy or a replacement driver air bag module containing the same inflator type as a service part. Due to a manufacturing error, in the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver frontal air bag, these inflators may explode.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: An explosion of an inflator within the driver frontal air bag module may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver, front seat passenger or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's air bag inflator with an alternate inflator, free of charge. The recall began April 10, 2019. Honda owners may contact customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for this recall is O41. Acura owners may contact customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Acura's number for this recall is U40.
08V091000 · Steering:hydraulic Power Assist:hose, Piping, And Connections
Feb 27, 2008
HONDA IS RECALLING 273,000 MY 2004-2008 ACURA TL VEHICLES. PROLONGED HIGH UNDER-HOOD TEMPERATURES MAY CAUSE THE POWER STEERING HOSE TO DETERIORATE PREMATURELY CAUSING THE HOSE TO CRACK AND LEAK POWER STEERING FLUID.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: POWER STEERING FLUID LEAKING ONTO A HOT CATALYTIC CONVERTER WILL GENERATE SMOKE AND POSSIBLY LEAD TO AN UNDER-HOOD FIRE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW HEAT RESISTANT POWER STEERING HOSE FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 28, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT ACURA AT 800-382-2238. THIS IS AN EXPANSION OF A PREVIOUS RECALL (PLEASE SEE 07V551).
08V092000 · Visibility:windshield Wiper/washer:motor
Feb 27, 2008
HONDA IS RECALLING 129,600 MY 2004-2005 ACURA TL VEHICLES. IF WATER ENTERS THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR BREATHER PORT, WHICH IS DESIGNED TO ALLOW THE MOTOR TO VENT WARM AIR DURING NORMAL OPERATION, IT CAN RESULT IN CORROSION INSIDE THE MOTOR HOUSING. THIS COULD CAUSE A FAILURE OF THE ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT BREAKER INSIDE THE MOTOR HOUSING.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF THE CIRCUIT BREAKER FAILS, IT WILL CAUSE THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR TO BECOME INOPERATIVE, WHICH CAN INCREASE THE LIKELIHOOD OF A CRASH IN CERTAIN CONDITIONS.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR FOR SIGNS OF CORROSION. IF NO SIGNS OF CORROSION ARE PRESENT, A SNORKEL TUBE WILL BE ADDED TO THE WIPER MOTOR BREATHER PORT TO PREVENT WATER FROM ENTERING THE WIPER MOTOR HOUSING AND FOAM TAPE WILL BE INSTALLED ON THE COWL ABOVE THE WIPER MOTOR TO DIRECT WATER AWAY FROM THE WIPER MOTOR. IF SIGNS OF CORROSION DAMAGE ARE OBSERVED ON THE WIPER MOTOR, THE MOTOR WILL BE REPLACED, AND THE BREATHER TUBE AND FOAM TAPE WILL ALSO BE INSTALLED TO PREVENT WATER INTRUSION ON THE NEW WIPER MOTOR. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 28, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT ACURA AT 1-800-382-2238.
04V176000 · Power Train:automatic Transmission
Apr 15, 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 LEADING TO GEAR TOOTH CHIPPING OR GEAR BREAKAGE.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: GEAR FAILURE COULD RESULT IN TRANSMISSION LOCKUP, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.
Remedy: ON VEHICLES WITH 15,000 MILES OR LESS, THE DEALER WILL UPDATE THE TRANSMISSION WITH A SIMPLE REVISION TO THE OIL COOLER RETURN LINE TO INCREASE LUBRICATION TO THE SECOND GEAR. ON VEHICLES WITH MORE THAN 15,000 MILES, THE DEALER WILL INSPECT THE TRANSMISSION TO IDENTIFY GEARS THAT HAVE ALREADY EXPERIENCED DISCOLORATION DUE TO OVERHEATING. IF DISCOLORATION EXISTS, THE TRANSMISSION WILL BE REPLACED IF DISCOLORATION IS NOT PRESENT, THE DEALER WILL PERFORM THE REVISION TO THE OIL COOLER RETURN LINE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 21, 2004, FOR PILOT, ODYSSEY, AND MDX OWNERS. OWNERS OF THE ACCORD VEHICLES WILL START RECEIVING LETTERS ON JUNE 28, 2004, AND ON JUNE 29, 2004, FOR OWNERS OF THE TL AND CL VEHICLES. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT HONDA AT 1-800-999-1009 OR ACURA AT 1-800-382-2238.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
1PE07060 · Windshield Wiper Motor Failure
Opened Nov 29, 2007 · Closed Mar 5, 2008
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Visibility:windshield Wiper/washer:motor
THE MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED NHTSA BY LETTER DATED FEBRUARY 26, 2008, THAT A SAFETY RELATED RECALL HAS BEEN INITIATED TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM ON CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2004 AND 2005 ACURA TL VEHICLES.THE RECALL AFFECTS APPROXIMATELY 129,600 SUBJECT VEHICLES MANUFACTURED BETWEEN MARCH 2003 AND MAY 2005.THE DEFECT INVOLVES WATER INTRUSION INTO THE WIPER MOTOR HOUSING THAT MAY RESULT IN CORROSION AND FAILURE OF A CIRCUIT BREAKER THAT WILL DISABLE THE WIPER MOTOR.CORRECTIVE ACTION CONSISTS OF INSTALLING A NEW WIPER MOTOR WHERE CORROSION IS FOUND AS WELL AS A BREATHER TUBE ON BOTH NEW AND EXISTING WIPER MOTORS TO PREVENT WATER INTRUSION INTO THE HOUSING.NHTSA HAS ASSIGNED NUMBER 08V-092 TO THIS RECALL ACTION.
Additional source detail variants (2)
Visibility:windshield Wiper/washer:motor
THE MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED NHTSA BY LETTER DATED FEBRUARY 26, 2008, THAT A SAFETY RELATED RECALL HAS BEEN INITIATED TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM ON CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2004 AND 2005 ACURA TL VEHICLES.THE RECALL AFFECTS APPROXIMATELY 129,600 SUBJECT VEHICLES MANUFACTURED BETWEEN MARCH 2003 AND MAY 2005.THE DEFECT INVOLVES WATER INTRUSION INTO THE WIPER MOTOR HOUSING THAT MAY RESULT IN CORROSION AND FAILURE OF A CIRCUIT BREAKER THAT WILL DISABLE THE WIPER MOTOR.CORRECTIVE ACTION CONSISTS OF INSTALLING A NEW WIPER MOTOR WHERE CORROSION IS FOUND AS WELL AS A BREATHER TUBE ON BOTH NEW AND EXISTING WIPER MOTORS TO PREVENT WATER INTRUSION INTO THE HOUSING.NHTSA HAS ASSIGNED NUMBER 08V-092 TO THIS RECALL ACTION.
Visibility:windshield Wiper/washer:motor
THE MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED NHTSA BY LETTER DATED FEBRUARY 26, 2008, THAT A SAFETY RELATED RECALL HAS BEEN INITIATED TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM ON CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2004 AND 2005 ACURA TL VEHICLES.THE RECALL AFFECTS APPROXIMATELY 129,600 SUBJECT VEHICLES MANUFACTURED BETWEEN MARCH 2003 AND MAY 2005.THE DEFECT INVOLVES WATER INTRUSION INTO THE WIPER MOTOR HOUSING THAT MAY RESULT IN CORROSION AND FAILURE OF A CIRCUIT BREAKER THAT WILL DISABLE THE WIPER MOTOR.CORRECTIVE ACTION CONSISTS OF INSTALLING A NEW WIPER MOTOR WHERE CORROSION IS FOUND AS WELL AS A BREATHER TUBE ON BOTH NEW AND EXISTING WIPER MOTORS TO PREVENT WATER INTRUSION INTO THE HOUSING.NHTSA HAS ASSIGNED NUMBER 08V-092 TO THIS RECALL ACTION.