2007 Acura Tl

THE DASHBOARD, IN THE AREAS OF THE FRONT PASSENGER-SIDE AIRBAG, IF BEGINNING TO CRACK. DUE TO THE CRACK APPEARING IN A STRAIGHT LINE, SEEMING TO OUTLINE THE AIRBAG LOCATED UNDER THE DASH, I BELIEVE IT TO BE A DEFECT WITH THE AIRBAG. I HAVE CONTACTED MY LOCAL ACURA DEALER AND AM WAITING FOR THEM TO NOTIFY ME REGARDING "NEXT STEPS."

THERE IS A LARGE CRACK (ROUGHLY 10 IN.) ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE DASHBOARD. BELOW THE CRACK IS WHERE THE PASSENGER AIR BAG IS LOCATED. UPON FURTHER RESEARCH, THIS APPEARS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM IN ACURA TL PRODUCTION (2004-2007). SINCE THE PASSENGER AIR BAG IS LOCATED RIGHT BELOW THE CRACK, THERE IS A POSSIBILITY THAT THE DEPLOYMENT MAY BE COMPROMISED.

WHILE DRIVING AT A STEADY 35 MPH ON ROUTE 9 IN CROTON-ON-HUDSON, NEW YORK THE DRIVER SIDE CURTAIN AND FRONT SEAT AIRBAG DEPLOYED FOR NO REASON ALMOST CAUSING A CATASTROPHIC ACCIDENT. THE SEAT BELT ACTUATOR IS NOW LOCKED RENDERING THE SEAT BELT USELESS. ACURA TOWED THE CAR TO A DEALER WHO UPLOADED ALL THE COMPUTER CODES AND CLAIMS THAT THE OWNER IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE AIRBAG REPLACEMENT! THE CODES LISTED ON THE RECEIPT ARE F3-11, 61-1, 81-55, 25-11. THEY LIST A DEFECT CODE 03217. CUSTOMER SERVICE AT ACURA NORTH AMERICA CITED THE CONDITION OF THE 4 RIMS, (WHICH ARE ALL SCUFFED AT THE EDGES), AND SCUFFS ON THE BUMPER INDICATE POSSIBLE REASONS FOR AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT. IF THIS WAS POSSIBLE, SHOULDN'T THE AIRBAG HAVE DEPLOYED WHEN THE SCUFFS OCCURRED? THERE WAS NO EVENT THAT SHOULD HAVE CAUSED THE AIRBAG ACTIVATION UNDER STEADY DRIVING. ACURA SEEMS TO HAVE HAD MORE EXAMPLES OF THIS PROBLEM AS EVIDENCED ON VARIOUS ACURA FORUM WEB PAGES WHERE UNPROVOKED SIDE AND SEAT AIRBAGS UNEXPLAINABLY DETONATE. THE CUSTOMER SERVICE AGENT AT ACURA HAD NO EXPLANATION FOR THIS. HAD THIS RESULTED IN A PHYSICAL INJURY RATHER THAN AND EMOTIONAL/PSYCHOLOGICAL ONE, A COURT CASE COULD HAVE BEEN PURSUED.

PASSENGER DASH ABOVE AIRBAG, IS CRACKED. THE CRACK BEGAN AS A SINGLE PERFORATION, COMING FROM THE WINDSHIELD DIRECTION OUTWARD, DIRECTLY ABOVE WHERE THE AIRBAG IS HOUSED. ONE DAY TO THE NEXT IT JUST APPEARED. IT BEGAN WITH A SINGLE CRACK IN JULY 2017, NOW IN NOV 2017, AN IDENTICAL CRACK LAYS ADJACENT TO THE FIRST, APPROX. 6 INCHES APART. I USE A SUNSHADE WHENEVER I'M NOT UTILIZING A COVERED PARKING SPOT. I'VE NEVER LEFT MY CAR WITHOUT A SHADE DURING ANY HOT DAYS (LEATHER SEATS GET FAR TOO HOT TO SIT ON EVEN WEARING PANTS, LET ALONG SHORTS OR SKIRTS). I'VE TAKEN MY VEHICLE INTO 2 DIFFERENT ACURA DEALERSHIPS, WHO'VE QUOTED $2,000+ TO REPLACE, WITH ZERO HELP FROM ACURA SINCE THERE'S NOT AN ACTIVE RECALL. I'VE HAD TO RESTRICT ALL PASSENGERS TO SIT IN MY BACK SEAT, WHICH ACCORDING TO MY GRANDMOTHER, "IS DISRESPECTFUL & DEMEANING". THE PERFORATIONS ARE LOOKING MORE LIKE THE SEALANT USED TO CLOSE A HIDDEN COMPARTMENT (AIRBAG?) HAS WORN OUT, AND THE AIRBAG IS CLOSE TO EXPLODING. I PLANNED TO UPGRADE TO AN ACURA SUV LAST MONTH, BUT IT APPEARS I'M NOW FORCED TO RESELL TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR $2000-$3000 LESS THAN THE 2 FAILED DEALS DUE TO VALID CONCERNS. I JUST CAN'T PHANTOM HOW ACURA REFUSES TO RECALL AN OBVIOUS DEFECT IN THEIR WORKMANSHIP THAT PUTS SO MANY OF THEIR OWN CUSTOMERS LIVES AT RISK. SO MANY COMPLAINTS OF THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM, BUT THE COSTLY REMEDY REMAINS MY PROBLEM TO PAY FOR 1 WAY OR ANOTHER?! WITH THE RAPID RATE AT WHICH THESE CRACKS ARE GROWING AND THREATENING THE INTEGRITY OF WHAT'S SUPPOSE TO BE A SAFETY DEVICE, I MAY NOT HAVE A CHOICE OF HOW TO HANDLE THIS SOON. I CAN'T AFFORD TO FIX IT AND EATING IT BY TRADING IT IN ISN'T SOMETHING I CAN AFFORD EITHER.

MY DASHBOARD HAS TWO LONG VERTICAL CRACKS DIRECTLY OVER THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG. THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THIS VEHICLE AS NOTED BY THE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS RECEIVED. THE CAR HAS BEEN GARAGED CONTINUOUSLY SINCE I HAVE OWNED IT OVER 7 YEARS. THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT OR INCIDENT TO CAUSE THE CRACKING. IT IS A SERIOUS POTENTIAL AIRBAG SAFETY ISSUE. ACURA DOES NOT WANT TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE DESPITE A MULTITUDE OF COMPLAINTS. MY WIFE WILL NO LONGER SIT IN THE PASSENGER SEAT DUE TO FEAR FOR HER SAFETY AND POSSIBLE AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT.

PROLONGED HIGH TEMPERATURES AND/ OR HIGH HUMIDITY CAUSE THE DASHBOARD TO CRACK ALONG THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG. IN A MATTER OF DAYS, THE CRACK SPREADS ALL OVER THE AIRBAG AREA AND DASHBOARD. THE MATERIAL DEFECT EFFECTS ACURA TLS AND TL TYPES FROM 2004-2008. CRACKS IN THE DASHBOARD CAN RESULT IN PIECES OF THE DASHBOARD BEING PROJECTED INTO THE EYES AND FACE OF PASSENGERS ONCE THE PASSENGER AIRBAG DEPLOYS. THE CRACKS ALLOW MOISTURE INTO THE AIRBAG MODULE WHICH CAN CREATE THE RISK OF A FAULTY AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT OR FAILING TO DEPLOY WHICH CAN LEAD TO SEVER INJURY OR DEATH. ACURA VEHICLES WITH AS FEW AS 60K MILES UP TO 160K ARE AFFECTED BY THIS PROBLEM. ACURA IS WELL AWARE OF THIS ISSUE AND REFUSE TO ASSIST CONSUMERS WITH THE REPLACEMENT OF THE DEFECTIVE DASHBOARD. THERE IS A FACEBOOK FORUM (HTTPS://WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/ACURATLDEFECTIVEDASH AND CAR PROBLEMS FORUM (HTTP://WWW.CARPROBLEMZOO.COM/ACURA/TL/2007/AIR-BAG-PROBLEMS.PHP) WHERE NUMEROUS CONSUMERS HAVE REPORTED THEIR ISSUE WITH THE CRACKED DASHBOARD ON ACURA TLS. ALL CONSUMERS ARE CONCERNED THAT WITH THE DEFECT OCCURRING ALONG THE SIDE OF THE AIRBAG AND SPREADING ACROSS THE ENTIRE DASH. MY CAR WAS PARKED JUST LIKE ALL THE OTHER CONSUMERS. SOME VEHICLES ARE HOUSED IN A GARAGE WHILE OTHERS HAVE BEEN OUTSIDE IN A PARKING LOT OR YARD.