MY SON WAS DRIVING STRAIGHT DOWN THE ROAD WHEN THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAGS SUDDENLY DEPLOYED.
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 →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
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.
What owners actually said
388 reportsAIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON AND AIR BAG WAS DEFECTED AND I HAD TO PAY FOR IT . MY DASHBOARD CRACKED CND MY DASH LIGHT S DON'T WORK THEY SOMETIME COME ON AND GO OFF
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 ACURA TL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DASHBOARD WAS CRACKED. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED THAT THE AIR BAGS MAY NOT DEPLOY IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH OR THAT THE AIR BAGS MAY INADVERTENTLY DEPLOY WITHOUT THE VEHICLE BEING INVOLVED IN A CRASH. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO BE DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. NEITHER T…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 ACURA TL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DASHBOARD WAS CRACKED. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED THAT THE AIR BAGS MAY NOT DEPLOY IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH OR THAT THE AIR BAGS MAY INADVERTENTLY DEPLOY WITHOUT THE VEHICLE BEING INVOLVED IN A CRASH. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO BE DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. NEITHER THE MANUFACTURER NOR A DEALER WERE MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 206,786.
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.
MY BATTERY WOULD BE DEAD IF I DIDN'T DRIVE MY CAR EVERY DAY. THEN I FOUND OUT THERE IS A PARASITIC DRAIN ON THE BATTERY FROM A FAULTY HANDS-FREE BLUETOOTH MODULE. I WATCHED A VIDEO THEN DISCONNECTED MINE MYSELF, PROBLEM SOLVED. I'VE USED A HEADLIGHT RESTORATION KIT BECAUSE THE LIGHTS ARE YELLOW AND THEY HAVE SPIDER-CRACKS ALL IN…
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MY BATTERY WOULD BE DEAD IF I DIDN'T DRIVE MY CAR EVERY DAY. THEN I FOUND OUT THERE IS A PARASITIC DRAIN ON THE BATTERY FROM A FAULTY HANDS-FREE BLUETOOTH MODULE. I WATCHED A VIDEO THEN DISCONNECTED MINE MYSELF, PROBLEM SOLVED. I'VE USED A HEADLIGHT RESTORATION KIT BECAUSE THE LIGHTS ARE YELLOW AND THEY HAVE SPIDER-CRACKS ALL IN THEM, IT REALLY AFFECTS THE BRIGHTNESS OF THE LIGHT ITSELF. THE DASHBOARD IS CRACKED BEYOND REPAIR AND I'M TERRIFIED OF GETTING INTO A WRECK IN MY CAR, THE DASH WOULD BECOME SHRAPNEL!
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
2005 ACURA TL- PARKED WINTERS, GARAGED, BABIED AND ALL SERVICE COMPLETED AT THE ACURA DEALERSHIPS. CAR HAS 141,000 ON IT AND WAS NEAR 50,000 WHEN PURCHASED (ASPEC PACKAGE ETC). CAR HAS DEVELOPED CRACKS IN THE DASHBOARD FROM THE WINDSHIELD TO THE INSTRUMENT PANEL, ACROSS THE CENTER SPEAKER AND NOW DIRECTLY ON THE INDENTATION WH…
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2005 ACURA TL- PARKED WINTERS, GARAGED, BABIED AND ALL SERVICE COMPLETED AT THE ACURA DEALERSHIPS. CAR HAS 141,000 ON IT AND WAS NEAR 50,000 WHEN PURCHASED (ASPEC PACKAGE ETC). CAR HAS DEVELOPED CRACKS IN THE DASHBOARD FROM THE WINDSHIELD TO THE INSTRUMENT PANEL, ACROSS THE CENTER SPEAKER AND NOW DIRECTLY ON THE INDENTATION WHERE THE AIRBAG IS LOCATED ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. REACHED OUT TO ACURA FOR ASSISTANCE ((ATTACHED)) AND THEY SAID THE CAR IS TOO OLD AND OUTSIDE WARRANTY TO HELP ME. IRREGARDLESS OF THE FACT I HAVE ALWAYS TAKEN IT TO ACURA AND ONE LOOK AT THE CARS EXTERIOR AND INTERIOR *PAINT AND LEATHER INTERIOR* SHOWS THAT THIS CAR HAS BEEN SPOILED. THE DASHBOARD IS A KNOWN ISSUE FOR THIS GENERATION AND EVEN MADE THE NEWS FROM COMPLAINTS. I AM NOW CONCERNED THAT THE AIRBAG WILL NOT WORK PROPERLY OR CAUSE HARM DUE TO THE STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY OF THE DASHBOARD BEING ALTERED DUE TO SHODDY CRAFTSMANSHIP THAT IS NOT BEING BACKED UP BY ACURA. I HAVE ALSO RAISED CONCERN THAT THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY ARE BOTH CRACKING AND DISCOLORED. I HAVE HAD THEM PROFESSIONALLY *REFURBISHED* BUT THE DEALERSHIP SAID THAT THEY NEED TO BE REPLACED AS THEY TOO ARE A SAFETY ISSUE NOT ALLOWING PROPER LIGHT TO BE ILLUMINATED ON THE HIGHWAY DUE TO MANUFACTURE DEFECT- AGAIN -- CAR PARKED WINTERS, JUST LOOK AT THE PAINT AND QUALITY OF THE CAR THAT IS 15 YEARS OLD.*DT*JB *TR
THESE PROBLEMS ARE NOT ACCIDENT RELATED BUT NEED TO BE ADDRESSED.MY CAR BATTERY KEPT DRAINING. I REPLACED THE BATTERY JUST UNDER A YEAR AGO AND IT KEPT HAPPENING UNLESS I DROVE THE CAR EVERY DAY. FINALLY TOOK IT IN TO HAVE IT CHECKED. THE BLUETOOTH DEVICE UP IN THE HEADLINER WAS SHORTED OUT. GOT THAT FIXED BUT FOUND OUT THAT THE…
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THESE PROBLEMS ARE NOT ACCIDENT RELATED BUT NEED TO BE ADDRESSED.MY CAR BATTERY KEPT DRAINING. I REPLACED THE BATTERY JUST UNDER A YEAR AGO AND IT KEPT HAPPENING UNLESS I DROVE THE CAR EVERY DAY. FINALLY TOOK IT IN TO HAVE IT CHECKED. THE BLUETOOTH DEVICE UP IN THE HEADLINER WAS SHORTED OUT. GOT THAT FIXED BUT FOUND OUT THAT THERE IS A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT AGAINST ACURA FOR THIS VERY PROBLEM. IT'S BEEN ONGOING FOR 5 YEARS! THE AIRBAG ISSUE HAS TO TO DO WITH THE FACT THAT MY DASHBOARD IS CRACKED, HORRIBLY, EVEN THOUGH MY CAR HAS BEEN GARAGED AND PROTECTED FROM THE SUN MOST OF THE TIME SINCE I BOUGHT IT IN 2011. IF THE AIRBAGS DEPLOY IN AN ACCIDENT, THERE WILL BE MAJOR SHRAPNEL FROM THE DASHBOARD DAMAGE THAT WILL CAUSE EVEN GREATER INJURY. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHY ACURA IS NOT DOING ANYTHING ABOUT THE FAULTY DASHBOARD MATERIALS.
POWER STEERING PROBLEM. INSIDE PERMANENT PROBLEM. *TR
(INSIDE VEHICLE/STATIONARY) DRIVER SIDE DOOR LOCK FAILS TO POP UP AND DOWN WHEN BUTTON IS PUSHED/ACTIVATED.
Official recalls
519V182000 · 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
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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