dash is cracked air bag is not secure seat are torn
2008 Acura Tl
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 2008 Acura Tl do not stand out strongly from 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
91 reports with mileage · 33 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.
- Air Bags. Review the 34 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Steering. Review the 26 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Structure. Review the 20 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
124 reportsI was driving down HWY 101 in Oregon State in the rain. I was accelerating because I had just turned onto the highway, I got up to about 60 mph whe the car started dinging as it does when you open the door with the keys still in the ignition. The VSA light, as well as the engine, oil, abs and battery lights all started flashing …
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I was driving down HWY 101 in Oregon State in the rain. I was accelerating because I had just turned onto the highway, I got up to about 60 mph whe the car started dinging as it does when you open the door with the keys still in the ignition. The VSA light, as well as the engine, oil, abs and battery lights all started flashing on the dash and the car turned off. The steering wheel locked up and I had to throw it in neutral, turning the key back and forth from the off position to the start position to get it to unlock right before I crashed into on coming traffick! There has been nothing wrong with the car other than routine maintenance an absolutely no signs anything is wrong with the car. It has 168436 miles on it and has been religiously maintained. There is a SERIOUS problem with this vehicle for something like this to happen. I've owned hundreds of cars and never experienced anything like this happening, ever!
Random slipping/stalling causes not to go in gear.. torque converter could. coolant expansion tank needs replacement hoses and cap causes car not to heat up and operate at regulating temperature. Power steering pump replacement
I noticed a vertical straight line/crack in the dashboard of my 2008 Acura TL located on the passenger side, which is directly in the area of the air bag system. Oddly enough it seemed to appear literally overnight. I’ve noticed the crack seems to expand when in cooler temperatures, however the crack appears to fuse back togethe…
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I noticed a vertical straight line/crack in the dashboard of my 2008 Acura TL located on the passenger side, which is directly in the area of the air bag system. Oddly enough it seemed to appear literally overnight. I’ve noticed the crack seems to expand when in cooler temperatures, however the crack appears to fuse back together when the temperature is warmer and/or hot outside, which is concerning in itself. My vehicle has been stored in a garage since it’s purchase and when not in use a sunshade is used to protect the dash when exposed outside. I am very concerned that there may be a bigger problem with the air bag system that may result in the air bags being inadvertently deployed resulting in an accident, injury or even greater death. Internet searches reveal this a common problem among individuals similarly situated with the same make and model, and Acura is apparently aware. My vehicle is regularly serviced and maintained at the Acura Dealership in Memphis. I have reached out to the dealership regarding this issue, however I have not heard back from them regarding a possible resolution. I believe this issue warrants some type of safety recall before someone or their loved ones become seriously injured.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2008 ACURA TL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH, HE DETECTED A FUEL AND OIL ODOR. THE CONTACT THEN SAW SMOKE AND FLAMES COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD NEAR THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE WINDSHIELD. THE FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED BY THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND A FIRE DEPARTMENT REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WA…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2008 ACURA TL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH, HE DETECTED A FUEL AND OIL ODOR. THE CONTACT THEN SAW SMOKE AND FLAMES COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD NEAR THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE WINDSHIELD. THE FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED BY THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND A FIRE DEPARTMENT REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S FRIEND'S RESIDENCE. THE DEALER LYLE PEARSON ACURA (7675 W GRATZ DR, BOISE, ID 83709) AND MANUFACTURER WERE MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND OPENED A CASE, HOWEVER NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE HAD BEEN PROVIDED. THE CONTACT WAS RELATING THE FAILURE TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 12V222000 (STEERING). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000. *DT
STEERING: HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST: HOSE, PIPING, AND CONNECTIONS, SUSPENSION: FRONT: CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT, STEERING: HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST: HOSE, PIPING, AND CONNECTIONS, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL: ACCELERATOR PEDAL02
WAS LOOKING TO SELL MY CAR SOON AND WAS LOOKING ON KELLY BLUE BOOKS AND TURNED OUT MY CAR HAD AN UNRESOLVED RECALL BUT I WAS NEVER GIVEN A NOTICE OR ANY PAPER WORK FROM THE CURRENT DEALERSHIP I AM BUYING FROM. I DID NOTICE THE SAME EXACTLY PROBLEM ON MY CAR THAT WAS LISTED ON THE RECALL INFORMATION PROVIDED TO ME.
FEBRUARY 2020 GOING DOWNHILL AT 30MPH ON A CURVED ROAD, AND MY WHEEL SNAPS TO THE RIGHT THANKS TO RECALLED BALL JOINTS!!!!!!!!! HIT THE CURB, SNAPPED MY ROTOR IN HALF AND THE BRAKE LINE. LOWER CONTROL ARM WENT THRU MY CRADLE. SPINNING OUT OF CONTROL WITH NO STEERING AND NO FREAKING BRAKES AT ALL. OUT OF NOWHERE! TOTALED SUSPENSI…
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FEBRUARY 2020 GOING DOWNHILL AT 30MPH ON A CURVED ROAD, AND MY WHEEL SNAPS TO THE RIGHT THANKS TO RECALLED BALL JOINTS!!!!!!!!! HIT THE CURB, SNAPPED MY ROTOR IN HALF AND THE BRAKE LINE. LOWER CONTROL ARM WENT THRU MY CRADLE. SPINNING OUT OF CONTROL WITH NO STEERING AND NO FREAKING BRAKES AT ALL. OUT OF NOWHERE! TOTALED SUSPENSION ALL THE WAY AROUND. ONLY FREAKIN AIRBAG TO GO OFF WAS THE PASSENGER WINDOW AIRBAG. WHOLE CAR WAS [XXX] BECAUSE OF MANUFACTOR ISSUES! SOUNDS LIKE ACURA SHOULD REPLACE MY FREAKING CAR. OH WAIT.. I DID. AND TODAY THE ONE IM DRIVING RIGHT NOW RANDOMLY HAD THE POWER STEERING EXPLODEEEEEE AND I ALMOST GOT HIT BY A SEMI WHILE TURNING AND RANDOMLY LOSING STEERING OUT OF NOWHERE ONCE AGAIN!! WHICH FRIED MY COOLING FAN, AND OVERHEATED MY MOTOR ON MY ATTEMPT TO DRIVE HOME WITH NO POWER STEERING.... SO YEAH. NEVER BUYING ANOTHER ACURA AGAIN, PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
BRAKES FEEL SPONGY EVEN AFTER MULTIPLE BRAKE BLEEDING AS WELL AS A MASTER CYLINDER REPLACEMENT. PEOPLE ON ACURA TL TYPE S FORUMS ARE REPORTING THAT AIR IS BEING INTRODUCED THROUGH THE VSA/ABS MODULATOR.
THERE IS A LONG GASH IN THE DASHBOARD BY THE PASSENGER AIRBAG. APPARENTLY THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE BASED ON INTERNET SEARCHES AND ACURA HAS NOT ISSUED ANY RECALL FOR THE SAME EVEN THOUGH IT POSES A POTENTIAL SAFETY RISK. I REACHED OUT TO ACURA CORPORATE AND THEIR RESPONSE WAS THAT BECAUSE MY VEHICLE IS OUTSIDE THE INITIAL WARRANTY …
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THERE IS A LONG GASH IN THE DASHBOARD BY THE PASSENGER AIRBAG. APPARENTLY THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE BASED ON INTERNET SEARCHES AND ACURA HAS NOT ISSUED ANY RECALL FOR THE SAME EVEN THOUGH IT POSES A POTENTIAL SAFETY RISK. I REACHED OUT TO ACURA CORPORATE AND THEIR RESPONSE WAS THAT BECAUSE MY VEHICLE IS OUTSIDE THE INITIAL WARRANTY PERIOD, THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO. THERE ARE NUMEROUS ONLINE RECORDS OF INDIVIDUALS WITH THE SAME MODEL YEAR REPORTING THIS ISSUE. I AM CONCERNED THAT THIS NOT BEING RESOLVED POSES A SAFETY RISK TO MY FAMILY AND OTHER OCCUPANTS OF MY 2008 ACURA TL WHICH WAS PURCHASED BRAND NEW. THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP.
Official recalls
212V222000 · Steering:hydraulic Power Assist:hose, Piping, And Connections
May 17, 2012
Honda is recalling certain model year 2007 and 2008 Acura TL and model year 2003-2007 Accord V6 vehicles. In May 2012, Honda filed a defect report to recall certain model year 2007 and 2008 Acura TL vehicles. In September 2012, Honda informed the agency that it was including an additional 573,147 vehicles including certain model year 2003 through 2007 Accord V6 vehicles. The total number of vehicles being recalled is now 625,762. Prolonged under-hood and power steering fluid temperatures may cause the power steering hose to deteriorate prematurely, resulting in cracks and power steering fluid leakage.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: If this occurs, power steering fluid can leak onto a hot catalytic converter, leading to smoke and possibly an under-hood fire.
Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will install a new heat resistant power steering hose, free of charge. The original recall began in June 2012, and owners of those vehicles may obtain the free remedy. Sufficient parts are not yet available for owners of the vehicles covered by the September 2012 expansion, but are expected to be available in early 2013. Honda will notify owners of these vehicles beginning on October 26, 2012, and will notify these owners again when parts are available so those vehicles can be brought to dealers for applications of the free remedy. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-800-999-1009.
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).
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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.
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