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2005 Acura Tl

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

More warning signs than most Tl years

Owner complaints for the 2005 Acura Tl are substantially higher than the model-year median of 124.

About this comparison →

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

277 reports with mileage · 111 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 156 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Air Bags. Review the 144 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 36 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

7 crash reports3 fire reports6 injury reports

Unknown Or Other complaints

64 reports
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Mileage unknown · Aug 6, 2025
SteeringSuspensionUnknown Or OtherInjury

My wife, [XXX] , purchased a 2005 Acura TL on [XXX]. The car was not inspected, it had a hole in the oil tank, was leaking battery acid, had broken control arms, wore out rotors, wore out brake pads, bald tires, Vehicle Stability Control disabled, no AC, cracked dashboard where the passenger air bag is located, and the alignme…

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My wife, [XXX] , purchased a 2005 Acura TL on [XXX]. The car was not inspected, it had a hole in the oil tank, was leaking battery acid, had broken control arms, wore out rotors, wore out brake pads, bald tires, Vehicle Stability Control disabled, no AC, cracked dashboard where the passenger air bag is located, and the alignment was so bad that the car would try to pull very hard off of the road. Toxic hot fumes entered the cockpit during my wife's drive home from the car dealership. The fumes made her feel sick and gave her a horrible headache because of the leaking battery acid and perhaps the hole in the oil tank. It's a health and safety issue that needs to be taken seriously. The used car dealership (Premium Auto Outlet Inc.) is selling vehicles to customers and are not providing them with the title. My wife paid in full, yet she had to fight to receive the title. The employees scream at there customers, including my wife and also tell them to leave the property when asking for the title and when confronted about vehicle mechanical issues. The female employee even screamed over the phone at our mechanic (Delran Auto Repair) who tried to tell the employee that the car was not is sellable condition due to the safety and mechanical problems. Please review the Google reviews and Facebook reviews for more horrible customer experiences when it comes vehicles being sold in horribly unsafe mechanical condition, withholding titles, unlawfully repossessing, screaming at customers and ignoring customer complaints. The best resolution for my wife and I would be for the dealership to pay for all of the repair bills that accrued (roughly $4K) due to the car being sold in unsafe condition and most importantly the prevention of any health and safety issues due to the selling of unsafe mechanically condition vehicles to future customers. Please investigate this issue for the health and safety of people. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ODI #11678771

Mileage unknown · Oct 19, 2024
Unknown Or Other

The driver and passenger side mirror lenses will click randomly while driving on the interstate going at a relatively good speed. When these click and move, it causes a distraction and I can no longer see what’s coming next to me. I have to turn the mirror lenses back to their original position in order to view my blind spot.

NHTSA ODI #11620737

Mileage unknown · Feb 1, 2022
Unknown Or Other

The dash on the car is cracking, large cracks. The cracks are on the same area of the passenger airbag. In an accident, I am afraid that the airbag section of the dash will not separate correctly and that pieces of the dash will injure the passenger in the car.

NHTSA ODI #11449660

Mileage unknown · Jan 27, 2022
Unknown Or Other

In both 2012 and 2014 I complained to Acura CS and was told that they wouldnt do anything for me when their hands free unit refered to in TSB 08-057 This was causing a parasitic power leak draining the battery overnight. After researching the cause online and the solution which was to remove the defective HFL unit which was …

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In both 2012 and 2014 I complained to Acura CS and was told that they wouldnt do anything for me when their hands free unit refered to in TSB 08-057 This was causing a parasitic power leak draining the battery overnight. After researching the cause online and the solution which was to remove the defective HFL unit which was done. Yesterday I came across that TSB and contacted Acura with my correspondence from 2012, 2014 and the TSB. So far I'm getting the run around. I just want a replacement module for the one that I have kept as a reminder of how I was screwed by Acura. The TSB states all 2005 TL's are affected yet today they had the gaul to say it was no longer in warranty. This is a critical safety item in that it provides hands free utilization of the cellular phone. This came defective from the factory in that I was never able to either connect to the garage door opener or to the phone and was extremely angered by the dealer insisting that I just didnt know what I was doing. I perform surgery in peoples mouths for a living and build and program computers and networks on the side. I know that this module with part number 1135133c1m3m04 or 3qc32dc2 on 2 stickers on back of the circuit board are defective. The TSB only lists what is on the plastic cover to the module and not the module itself. Please verify that these modules are in fact garbage.

NHTSA ODI #11449082

Mileage unknown · Aug 30, 2021
Air BagsUnknown Or Other

A crack has developed on the passenger side of the dash running directly over the location of the airbag located on the same side. This has not resulted in any failure or malfunction as of now, but it raises concerns over the potential given the location. If you research the internet, you will find a plethora of similar complain…

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A crack has developed on the passenger side of the dash running directly over the location of the airbag located on the same side. This has not resulted in any failure or malfunction as of now, but it raises concerns over the potential given the location. If you research the internet, you will find a plethora of similar complaints and concerns from many other third generation (‘04-‘08) Acura TL owners dating back many years now. In spite of this, Acura/Honda has failed to offer any type of solution or even recognize it for the potential safety issue that it represents. To answer the questions you ask, I have not had it inspected by any dealer, mechanic or insurance representative at this time, nor have there been any warning lights appearing. However, common sense tells me that there is the “ potential “ for a problem given the nature of the crack and its location. Acura/Honda needs to step up and acknowledge and address this issue!!

NHTSA ODI #11431110

Mileage unknown · Jul 7, 2021
Air BagsUnknown Or Other

It happened years ago - the passenger side dash cracked. Now there are more cracks and I am reading that this could pose a risk if the passenger side airbag deployed. I’ve always thought it was a manufacturing flaw for the dashboard to crack in the first place but never did or said anything about it before. Now I am concerned …

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It happened years ago - the passenger side dash cracked. Now there are more cracks and I am reading that this could pose a risk if the passenger side airbag deployed. I’ve always thought it was a manufacturing flaw for the dashboard to crack in the first place but never did or said anything about it before. Now I am concerned about the safety of my passengers.

NHTSA ODI #11423825

Mileage unknown · May 2, 2021
Air BagsUnknown Or Other

CRACKING DASH BOARD. DOUBTFUL THAT THERE ISN'T A TAKATA AIRBAG AT THE ROOT OF IT THAT ACURA IS NOT INCLUDING WITH THE OTHER YEARS OF THAT RECALL. SUSPECT DANGERS IF BAG GETS DEPLOYED AS DASH WOULD FRAGMENT OUT IN EXPULSION.

NHTSA ODI #11414876

Mileage unknown · Mar 13, 2021
Air BagsUnknown Or Other

BOUGHT THE CAR USED FROM ORIGINAL OWNER. DASH HAD A SINGLE CRACK ALONG PASSENGER SIDE/AIR BAG. NOW DASH HAS MULTIPLE CRACKS SURROUNDING PASSENGER AIR BAG AREA. EXTREMELY CONCERNED REGARDING AIR BAG OPERATING PROPERLY IF DEPLOYED AS WELL AS SHARDS/SHARP PIECES OF DASH FLYING IF AIR BAG IS DEPLOYED. DISTURBED THAT ONLY SOME OF THE…

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BOUGHT THE CAR USED FROM ORIGINAL OWNER. DASH HAD A SINGLE CRACK ALONG PASSENGER SIDE/AIR BAG. NOW DASH HAS MULTIPLE CRACKS SURROUNDING PASSENGER AIR BAG AREA. EXTREMELY CONCERNED REGARDING AIR BAG OPERATING PROPERLY IF DEPLOYED AS WELL AS SHARDS/SHARP PIECES OF DASH FLYING IF AIR BAG IS DEPLOYED. DISTURBED THAT ONLY SOME OF THE 2005 ACURA TL'S HAVE BEEN RECALLED AND NOT ALL FROM THIS YEAR.

NHTSA ODI #11402814

122,170 miles · Aug 27, 2020
Air BagsStructureUnknown Or Other

DATE: 08/27/2020 MY 2005 ACURA TL HAS A SAFETY ISSUE WITH THE AIRBAG SYSTEM. THE PASSENGER DASH HAS CRACKED ON BOTH SIDES OF WHERE THE AIRBAG IS LOCATED. THIS ISSUE OCCURRED SLOWLY OVER THE COURSE OF ABOUT A YEAR WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY. AS OF A WEEK AGO, THE RED AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT GOES ON AND STAYS ON (BY THE SPEED…

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DATE: 08/27/2020 MY 2005 ACURA TL HAS A SAFETY ISSUE WITH THE AIRBAG SYSTEM. THE PASSENGER DASH HAS CRACKED ON BOTH SIDES OF WHERE THE AIRBAG IS LOCATED. THIS ISSUE OCCURRED SLOWLY OVER THE COURSE OF ABOUT A YEAR WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY. AS OF A WEEK AGO, THE RED AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT GOES ON AND STAYS ON (BY THE SPEEDOMETER) WHEN A PASSENGER SITS IN THE FRONT SEAT. I HAVE RESEARCHED THIS ISSUE AND THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF ACURA TL OWNERS THAT HAVE THIS SAME PROBLEM WITH THE DASH ON THE PASSENGER SIDE CRACKING AND MANY HAVE FILED COMPLAINTS WITH THE NHTSA AND HAVE CONTACTED ACURA. EVEN THOUGH ALL OF THE OTHER ACURA TL MODEL YEARS THROUGH 2014 WERE PART OF THE TAKATA AIRBAG RECALL, FOR SOME REASON THE 3RD GENERATION ACURA TL MODEL YEARS 2004 - 2008 HAVE NOT BEEN RECALLED DUE TO THE TAKATA AIRBAG ISSUE. I HAVE READ THAT IT MAY BE DUE TO ACURA NEEDING TO REMOVE THE DASH IN ORDER TO REPLACE THE AIRBAGS, AND THAT THEY DON'T WANT TO INCUR THE EXPENSE OF REPLACING THE ENTIRE DASH. ACCORDING TO SEVERAL ACURA TL OWNERS, REPLACING THE DASH COSTS BETWEEN $1,000 - $2,000 (FOR THE OWNER) AND DOESN'T TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THE SAFETY ISSUE REGARDING HAVING THE PASSENGER AIRBAG DAMAGED DUE TO THE CRACKS IN THE DASH AND HUMIDITY GETTING IN. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE AS THE CRACKS COULD AFFECT DEPLOYMENT OF THE PASSENGER AIRBAG, OR CAUSE IT TO DEPLOY WHILE DRIVING AND CAUSE INJURY TO THE PASSENGER OR THE DRIVER. ACCORDING TO MANY POSTS I HAVE SEEN ONLINE, THIS ISSUE HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR OVER 5 YEARS. PLEASE INVESTIGATE THIS SAFETY HAZARD AND NOTIFY ACURA. ACURA NEEDS TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS WIDESPREAD SAFETY ISSUE.

NHTSA ODI #11351709

194,000 miles · Jun 16, 2020
Electronic Stability Control (esc)SuspensionUnknown Or Other

I WENT TO GO AT A STOP LIGHT I GOT TO ABOUT 15 MPH AND MY CAR JUS LOST ALL POWER AND DIDN'T RESTART. WHEN I TRIED TO TURN THE KEY ON AND OFF AGAIN NO POWER AS WELL AS EVERYTIME I PUT THE KEY IN THE IGNITION IT MAKES THIS WEIRD BUZZING NOISE WHEN I TRY TO TURN IT OVER. *TR

NHTSA ODI #11329095

Official recalls

5

19V182000 · 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.

07V097000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:fuel Pump

Mar 14, 2007

ON CERTAIN VEHICLES, A COIL WIRE INSIDE THE FUEL PUMP RELAY MAY BREAK, CAUSING THE FUEL PUMP TO LOSE POWER. IF THE FUEL PUMP BECOMES INOPERATIVE, THE ENGINE MAY NOT START.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IF THE FUEL PUMP LOSES POWER WHILE DRIVING, THE ENGINE COULD STALL WITHOUT WARNING, AND A CRASH COULD OCCUR.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND REPLACE THE FUEL PUMP RELAY FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 2, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT HONDA AT 1-800-999-1009.

05V132000 · Electrical System:wiring:fuses And Circuit Breakers

Apr 5, 2005

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, A LOOSE TERMINAL IN THE MAIN FUSE BOX MAY CAUSE THE FUEL PUMP TO LOSE POWER. IF THE FUEL PUMP BECOMES INOPERATIVE, THE ENGINE MAY NOT START.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IF THE FUEL PUMP LOSES POWER WHILE DRIVING THE ENGINE COULD STALL WITHOUT WARNING WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE ENTIRE FUSE BOX FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 13, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT HONDA AT 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

1

PE07060 · 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.