NHTSA — Structure: Body Problems

2005 Acura TL (Page 1 of 2)

1.8

hardly worth mentioning
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
93,688 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2005 Acura TL body / paint problems

body / paint problem

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2005 Acura TL Owner Comments (Page 1 of 2)

problem #38

Jun 122020

TL

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The dash has developed a crack on the passenger side right over the area where the front passenger side airbag is located. This could possibly create a problem in the proper deployment of that air bag. Apparently, this is a common problem with this generation (3rd- '04 to '08) Acura TL. There are many similar complaints by owners posted online going back many years now about this very problem, yet Acura/Honda has apparently never addressed it. They apparently seem content to consider it a cosmetic problem only as several posters/owners have mentioned, rather than addressing the potential safety issue regarding proper airbag deployment. From the numerous reports of other owners found online, it would seem logical to presume that this is a result from a manufacturers defect or design flaw that Acura seems to want to ignore.

- San Jose, CA, USA

problem #37

Aug 142015

TL

  • miles
Air 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

- Hampton, VA, USA

problem #36

Jun 122019

TL

  • 206,786 miles
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.

- Lenexa, KS, USA

problem #35

Aug 202020

TL

  • 122,170 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

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.

- Santa Monica, CA, USA

problem #34

Jul 172020

TL 6-cyl

  • miles
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!

- Waycross, GA, USA

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problem #33

Jan 282020

TL 6-cyl

  • 0 miles
Power steering problem. Inside permanent problem.

- Van Nuys, CA, USA

problem #32

Jan 122020

TL

  • 180,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Dash is cracking on passenger side.

- New York, NY, USA

problem #31

Sep 252019

TL

  • miles
2005 Acura TL, very well maintained. Jun 2019, a crack appeared in dashboard on the right side of the passenger side airbag. Airbag dashboard light came on 3 months later and stays on. Dealer said they had never seen that before, but now I know this is a known problem. Love the car, but feel Acura needs to resolve this defect. The risk of air bag deployment is serious.

- Leonardtown, MD, USA

problem #30

Feb 082019

TL

  • miles
I entered my vehicle yesterday moring an noticed three two large crack across the dashboard starting at the winshield moving toward the passenger compartment. I did not notice the cracks when cleaning my car last week = sudden event occurance. A google search indicates many 2004 to 2008 Acura TL's experience this issue. I am concerned about these cracks effecting the air bag deployment process and subsequent loss of passenger protection/safety during a collosion. Google search results imply these cracks will continue to develop and spread across the entire dashboard due to a design or manufacturing defect. Can you help us?

- Cranston, RI, USA

problem #29

May 052014

TL

  • 85,000 miles
My Acura 2005 TL has several cracks throughout the dashboard. I have filed previously, this filing is another concern that can be added to the ones I just submitted regarding the cracked dashboard - will the damaged dashboard break apart easily and cause injury during a minor accident? this concern is additional to the airbag concerns I articulated in my previous submission.

- West Hartford, CT, USA

problem #28

Sep 102018

TL

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Dash board starting to crack, afraid if cracks would make passenger airbag explode. Car has less than 50,000 and garaged.

- Bronx, NY, USA

problem #27

Jul 232018

TL

  • 117,345 miles
I am the original owner of this vehicle, and have routine maintenance performed on it at regular intervals. On July 23, 2018, approximately 4:15pm, I was exiting via reverse from a parking space at a local shopping center. I shifted the car into drive, proceeded forward at a speed of 3mph, for less than ten feet to make a slight left turn, when there was the sound of breaking metal, and the car came to a halt. The car was in drive, foot on gas, but would not move. I struggled to shift the gear into park, then restarted. The car would not go into drive, with great difficulty I got it into reverse, then rolled backwards into a handicapped parking space. The gear was now stuck in reverse, and key was locked in ignition. I immediately applied the emergency brake, turned on hazard lights, and exited the vehicle. I placed phone calls to a towing company, and my mechanic. Upon inspection, it was determined "the driver's front axle assembly snapped in two. The axle shaft had rusted underneath the vibration damper. The passenger front axle assembly looked rusted". at my direction, the mechanic replaced both front axle assemblies. Both myself and the mechanic searched for a recall, or even an update to the manufacturer's recommended maintenance/service, but found nothing. Car axles should not randomly snap in half. I have had absolutely zero issues with my vehicle leading up to the event. Thankfully, no one was harmed when this occurred. Had I been traveling in a drive lane, whether it was in the shopping center or interstate, no doubt there was going to be a catastrophic situation, resulting in bodily harm and vehicle damage to myself and others. A copy of the repair bill is attached in the record for your reference. On August 7, 2018, I reported this to Acura, reference case # 08888084.

- Germantown, MD, USA

problem #26

Jun 012017

TL

  • 184,000 miles
Dashboard has cracks starting from the area the front passenger airbag is located and has since spread to all areas of the dashboard. Acura has refused to acknowledge the defect, despite thousands of owners complaining. This issue has made its way to cnn, local news, numerous boards and websites, facebook, twitter, etc. The brand refuses to stand by their product and resolve the issue.

- Exeter, NH, USA

problem #25

Apr 042017

TL

  • 163,000 miles
Cracked dashboard. I went to the dealer for a repair and they told me they can't repair it cause it's dangerous to repaired it because the airbag might explode. So what can I do? they want to charge me 2000 dollar.

- Alpharetta, GA, USA

problem #24

May 012012

TL

  • 80,000 miles
My dashboard has 3 huge cracks over the front passenger airbag. I do not feel safe driving my car due to the feeling that the air bag can deploy any minute. I recently had my air bags turned off for piece of mind but now I put my wife and kids in danger because we no longer have safety air bags to protect us. This is also quite embarrassing when I drive business partners around town and my dash is cracked and the airbag lights are flashing. This is a beautiful car but defects like this give the brand a terrible reputation.

- Los Angeles, CA, USA

problem #23

Jun 062014

TL 6-cyl

  • 96,000 miles
Dash board began to crack alongside the right of the passenger dash airbag. The passenger side dash airbag is increasingly noticeable. Since June of 2014, the entire dashboard has continued to crack and is now significantly damaged due to the continuation of cracking that has evolved from the initial crack along side the airbag. Fayetteville, Arkansas Acura service department insists that there is not an issue with the model & that the airbag/dash damage is not the responsibility of the vehicle manufactures to replace & that there has not been a recall issued for my make/model/year nor VIN #.

- Fayetteville, AR, USA

problem #22

Jan 012015

TL

  • 100,000 miles
2005 Acura TL purchased with only 88,000 miles in above excellent (purchased from a Porsche mechanic) condition. The dash over the passenger side airbag started cracking around 100,000 miles and after reading all of the 'Acura forums' have discovered this is more than common with Acura owners around the U.S.a. dash cracks anywhere near an airbag are more than alarming.

- Hoover, AL, USA

problem #21

Jun 012016

TL

  • 170,000 miles
Dashboard is cracked in two places. One crack is right above the airbag. Not sure if it could cause the airbag to deploy? I have read that this is a problem with a lot of Acura.

- Fairfield, CA, USA

problem #20

Jul 222015

TL

  • 125,000 miles
The contact owns a 2005 Acura TL. The contact stated that the dashboard was cracked on the passenger side. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was not diagnosed or repaired. The vehicle was later taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the dashboard needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 125,000.

- Pinehurst, NC, USA

problem #19

Jul 012014

TL 6-cyl

  • 120,000 miles
I have a 2005 acuratl in good condition. Last year, a long crack appeared on my passenger side dashboard. A week later a second long crack appeared parallel to the first crack. Lastly, about a month ago a third crack appeared making a horizontal line between the first and second crack. It is very noticeable. A security guard once asked me, what model was my car. He replied, that it is a defect with the 2005 Acura TL's. his and his friend's car did the same thing, he said. I began to research online. I found many forums and blogs of people complaining of this same issue. I contacted Acura and of course they claim no liability because of the car's age or mileage. I have read that this a safety issue with the passenger side airbag....updated 09/28/15 updated 12/11/2017

- Jackson, MS, USA

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