THE TRANSMISSION JUST QUIT ON ME. NO POWER AT ALL.
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.
What owners actually said
551 reportsAS WITH OTHER POSTS, CRACKS IN THE DASHBOARD AROUND THE PERIMETER OF THE PASSENGER AIRBAG ARE PRONOUNCED AND GETTING WORSE OVER TIME. VERY CONCERNED FOR THE SAFETY OF PASSENGERS IN AN OTHERWISE RELIABLE VEHICLE WHICH HAS MANY MORE YEARS (AND MILES) OF USEFUL SERVICE.
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.
I AM TEXTING YOU BECAUSE THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE TRANSMISSION AND IT BROKE DOWN ON ME WHEN I WENT OUT OF TOWN SO IT IS STILL SITTING IN THE TOWN I WENT TO AND THE RECALL WAS ON POWER TRAIN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION RECALL NUMBER 08V091000 ON 2/7/2008 AND I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHEN I CAN GET MY VEHICLE REPAIRED. *TR
CAR RUNS GREAT BUT WILL SKIP OUT OF GEAR AND NOT MOVE. CHANGED TRANNY FLUID AND FILTERS AND IT WAS GOOD FOR A COUPLE DAYS AND STARTED ALL OVER AGAIN HAD TO CALL A TOW TRUCK TO PICK ME UP ON THE BUSY FREEWAY. NOW CAR WILL NOT EVEN SHIFT FROM PARK AND WHEN I USE THE SIDE RELEASE BUTTON AND PUT CAR IN R IT ROLLED FORWARD. DEALER …
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CAR RUNS GREAT BUT WILL SKIP OUT OF GEAR AND NOT MOVE. CHANGED TRANNY FLUID AND FILTERS AND IT WAS GOOD FOR A COUPLE DAYS AND STARTED ALL OVER AGAIN HAD TO CALL A TOW TRUCK TO PICK ME UP ON THE BUSY FREEWAY. NOW CAR WILL NOT EVEN SHIFT FROM PARK AND WHEN I USE THE SIDE RELEASE BUTTON AND PUT CAR IN R IT ROLLED FORWARD. DEALER SAYS THERE IS NO RECALL ON MY VEHICLE BUT THERE IS IN OTHERS LIKE MINE AND SAME PROBLEMS. 3000 DOLLAR TRANSMISSION AND IT'S TO MUCH TO FIX SO IT'S SCRAP METAL???
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.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 ACURA TL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DASHBOARD WAS FRACTURED IN CLOSE PROXIMITY TO THE AIR BAG HOUSING. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED THAT IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH THAT THE AIR BAG MAY DEPLOY IMPROPERLY WHICH MAY CAUSE SEVERE INJURY TO THE VEHICLE OCCUPANTS FROM DEBRIS FROM THE DASHBOARD. THE VEHICLE WAS …
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 ACURA TL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DASHBOARD WAS FRACTURED IN CLOSE PROXIMITY TO THE AIR BAG HOUSING. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED THAT IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH THAT THE AIR BAG MAY DEPLOY IMPROPERLY WHICH MAY CAUSE SEVERE INJURY TO THE VEHICLE OCCUPANTS FROM DEBRIS FROM THE DASHBOARD. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO BE DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. A DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND INFORMED OF THE FAILURE, CASE NUMBER: 10142090. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 97,000.
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
THE DASHBOARD HAS DEVELOPED CRACKS IN THE AREA AROUND THE PASSENGER-SIDE AIRBAG. DOES THIS CONSTITUTE A POTENTIAL SAFETY ISSUE AFFECTING THE AIRBAG DEPLOYING PROPERLY OR POSSIBLY SHARDS FROM THE DASHBOARD CAUSING ADDITIONAL INJURY? THERE HAS NOT BEEN AN ACCIDENT BUT AM CONCERNED IF A COLLISION DOES HAPPEN IN THE FUTURE.
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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