Car stopped working three days after I purchased it.
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
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.
Unknown Or Other complaints
49 reports16 y/o driving and stopped at a traffic light. He attempted to go when the light turned green, heard a pop, engine was revving but the car was not moving. It was acting as if it was in neutral. Luckily a police car was right there and they helped him push it to a parking lot. This car has 99K miles on it. He almost got hammered …
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16 y/o driving and stopped at a traffic light. He attempted to go when the light turned green, heard a pop, engine was revving but the car was not moving. It was acting as if it was in neutral. Luckily a police car was right there and they helped him push it to a parking lot. This car has 99K miles on it. He almost got hammered by the car behind him. This is a transmission issue and we had absolutely no warning and has been driving and servicing this car with no issues. There are a lot of info online with transmission issues in these year/model cars. This put my son in extreme danger.
I have a defective dashboard in my Acura TL. The dashboard is cracking. One of the crack pieces popped out and flew into my eye while driving. I almost rear-ended someone. I would hate for this to happen to anyone else. There needs to be a recall on all dashboards. 2. I can not see through my review mirror. The top half is ligh…
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I have a defective dashboard in my Acura TL. The dashboard is cracking. One of the crack pieces popped out and flew into my eye while driving. I almost rear-ended someone. I would hate for this to happen to anyone else. There needs to be a recall on all dashboards. 2. I can not see through my review mirror. The top half is light grey and the lower half is blacked out/tinted. A rearview mirror is needed to drive safely and I can not see out of mine. It is very difficult to use. I am unsafe trying to use it. 3. Cracked seats. The cracked seats are cutting my legs and my passenger's legs. With the way the world is today, we can not drive around in cars with cracked seats. This is hazardous to our health. There heighten the chances of spreading diseases by exchanging blood and body fluids through the cuts. The cracking of the seats is not safe.
The dashboard on 3rd generation Acura TL has a design defect to where they will crack all over. In the event of a crash which results in a passenger-side dashboard airbag deployment, the dashboard can rip uncontrollably and send shards of rubber flying at everyone's face in the car and prevent the airbag from deploying properly…
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The dashboard on 3rd generation Acura TL has a design defect to where they will crack all over. In the event of a crash which results in a passenger-side dashboard airbag deployment, the dashboard can rip uncontrollably and send shards of rubber flying at everyone's face in the car and prevent the airbag from deploying properly. This is a very well known problem with this generation of Acura TL and the dealership refuses to address as a warrantied safety concern.
Transmission is going out an a lot of people say after 200,000 miles Acura TL the 2004 transmissions start to go out which mines is doing now what can I do this is a know problem with 2004-2006 Acura TL
DASHBOARD HAS CRACK FROM PASSENGER SIDE MIDDLE ALL THE WAY TOWARD DRIVER SIDE. STARTED ABOUT YEAR 10 AND GOT WORSE OVER THE YEARS. AFTER READING SOME OTHER COMPLAINTS HERE I AM ALSO WORRIED AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT COULD EITHER NOT TRIGGER OR TRIGGER ACCIDENTALLY HURTING A PASSENGER IN MY VEHICLE. I ALSO TOOK TO DEALER AND WAS INSTRUCT…
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DASHBOARD HAS CRACK FROM PASSENGER SIDE MIDDLE ALL THE WAY TOWARD DRIVER SIDE. STARTED ABOUT YEAR 10 AND GOT WORSE OVER THE YEARS. AFTER READING SOME OTHER COMPLAINTS HERE I AM ALSO WORRIED AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT COULD EITHER NOT TRIGGER OR TRIGGER ACCIDENTALLY HURTING A PASSENGER IN MY VEHICLE. I ALSO TOOK TO DEALER AND WAS INSTRUCTED AS OUT OF POCKET EXPENSE EVEN THOUGH SEEMS TO BE MANUFACTURE DEFECT.
THERE ARE EXTREMELY DEEP CRACKS THAT HAVE DEVELOPED ON THE DASHBOARD. CURRENTLY, YOU CAN SEE THE OUTLINE OF THE HOUSING FOR THE AIRBAG ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE DASHBOARD. WHEN IT'S QUIET, I CAN SOMETIMES HEAR NOISE FROM WHERE THE FRONT AIRBAG IS LOCATED. VERY SCARY. I AM HESITANT FOR ANYONE TO SIT IN THE PASSENGER SEAT AND …
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THERE ARE EXTREMELY DEEP CRACKS THAT HAVE DEVELOPED ON THE DASHBOARD. CURRENTLY, YOU CAN SEE THE OUTLINE OF THE HOUSING FOR THE AIRBAG ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE DASHBOARD. WHEN IT'S QUIET, I CAN SOMETIMES HEAR NOISE FROM WHERE THE FRONT AIRBAG IS LOCATED. VERY SCARY. I AM HESITANT FOR ANYONE TO SIT IN THE PASSENGER SEAT AND AVOID IT IF AT ALL POSSIBLE. MY CAR HAS ALWAYS BEEN GARAGED UNTIL RECENTLY - BOTH AT HOME AND DURING THE DAY AT A COMMERCIAL GARAGE. THE CRACKS DEVELOPED EVEN THOUGH THE CAR WAS GARAGED WHEN NOT DRIVEN. DISAPPOINTING THAT ACURA REFUSES TO ADDRESS THIS WIDESPREAD SAFETY HAZARD.
MY 2004 ACURA TL DASHBOARD ON THE PASSENGER SIDE IS CRACKED ON BOTH SIDES OF THE AIRBAG.I AM CONCERNED FOR MY SAFETY AND THE SAFETY OF THE PASSENGER BECAUSE OF THE POSITION OF THE CRACKS COULD POSSIBLY DEPLOY THE AIRBAG AND CAUSE INJURY.
THE TRANSMISSION IS LACKING AT ANY MOMENT THAT HAPPENS TO ME IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET. NO SAFE ANOTHER CAR ALMOST HIT ME. NO SAFE .... MY DASH IS HORRIBLE COMPLETELY CRACKE AND THIS DEFINITELY IS GOING TO AFFECT THE AIRBAGS IN MY ACURA 2004 TL. SORRY IS THE WORS OF WORST .YES I WAS DRIVING GOING IN TO THE GAS STATION …
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THE TRANSMISSION IS LACKING AT ANY MOMENT THAT HAPPENS TO ME IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET. NO SAFE ANOTHER CAR ALMOST HIT ME. NO SAFE .... MY DASH IS HORRIBLE COMPLETELY CRACKE AND THIS DEFINITELY IS GOING TO AFFECT THE AIRBAGS IN MY ACURA 2004 TL. SORRY IS THE WORS OF WORST .YES I WAS DRIVING GOING IN TO THE GAS STATION AND CAR JUST LACK I COULDN'T DO ANYTHING AFTER ABOUT 20 MINUTES. THE CAR GETS ON GEAR AGAIN AND I GET IN GAS STATION
I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER, WITH AN ALWAYS GARAGED, 2004 ACURA TL THAT HAS ADHERED TO A STRICT DISCIPLINE OF MAINTENANCE. BUT, THE DASH HAS ACCUMULATED 'NUMEROUS' CRACKS FROM SIDE TO SIDE, WITH A 'PREVALENT' OUTLINE AROUND THE AIRBAG ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. EVERY TIME I HIT A BUMP IN THE ROAD, I HAVE NO IDEA WHETHER THE AIRBAG WILL…
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I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER, WITH AN ALWAYS GARAGED, 2004 ACURA TL THAT HAS ADHERED TO A STRICT DISCIPLINE OF MAINTENANCE. BUT, THE DASH HAS ACCUMULATED 'NUMEROUS' CRACKS FROM SIDE TO SIDE, WITH A 'PREVALENT' OUTLINE AROUND THE AIRBAG ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. EVERY TIME I HIT A BUMP IN THE ROAD, I HAVE NO IDEA WHETHER THE AIRBAG WILL DEPLOY. I'M SURE THERE ARE MANY, MANY DRIVERS LIKE MYSELF WITH THIS CONCERN WITH AN UNCONSCIOUS DISTRACTION ON THIS CORRUPTED DASH WITH AN OUTLINED AIRBAG ALWAYS IN VIEW. ACURA HAS ASSUMED ABSOLUTELY NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS FACTORY DEFECT. I COMPLAINED THROUGH AN OFFICIAL FILING WITH ACURA CLIENT RELATIONS SEVERAL YEARS AGO REGARDING THIS POSSIBLE SAFETY HAZARD, BUT OF COURSE, TO NO AVAIL. AS PREVIOUSLY STATED, I HAVE KEPT UP WITH ALL MY VEHICLE'S MAINTENANCE AS PRESCRIBED, AND HAVE ALWAYS BEEN DILIGENT IN USING A DASH SHIELD. UPON REVIEW, YOU WILL FIND THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF REPORTS AND CONCERNS THROUGHOUT THE INTERNET COMPLAINING ABOUT THE SAME ISSUE INCLUDING FRUSTRATION LEVELS REACHING THREATS OF A CLASS ACTION SUIT. THANKS FOR YOUR ATTENTION TO THIS MATTER.
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.
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