IllustrationWHILE I WAS DRIVING, I HEARD A BUZZING NOISE. I TURNED TO MY PASSENGER SIDE TO REALIZE MY DASHBOARD AIRBAG WAS CRACKING! THIS NEEDS TO BE RECALLED! *TR
2004 Acura Tl
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
More warning signs than most Tl years
Owner complaints for the 2004 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
400–25K
3425–50K
7750–75K
9375–100K
113100–150K
46150K+
403 reports with mileage · 148 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 232 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Air Bags. Review the 199 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Power Train. Review the 56 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
13 crash reports6 fire reports9 injury reports
Structure complaints
232 reportsWITHIN A 24-HOUR PERIOD, NUMEROUS CRACKS APPEARED ON THE TOP OF THE DASHBOARD. MOST NOTICEABLE ARE TWO CRACKS THAT OUTLINE THE PORTION OF THE DASH THAT COVERS THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG. MY CONCERN IS THAT THIS CONDITION WILL AFFECT THE OPERATION OF THE AIRBAG AND ITS DEPLOYMENT WHEN ACTIVATED IN A CRASH. THIS CONDITION COULD…
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WITHIN A 24-HOUR PERIOD, NUMEROUS CRACKS APPEARED ON THE TOP OF THE DASHBOARD. MOST NOTICEABLE ARE TWO CRACKS THAT OUTLINE THE PORTION OF THE DASH THAT COVERS THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG. MY CONCERN IS THAT THIS CONDITION WILL AFFECT THE OPERATION OF THE AIRBAG AND ITS DEPLOYMENT WHEN ACTIVATED IN A CRASH. THIS CONDITION COULD BE A DANGER TO THE PASSENGER. *TR
WE PURCHASED AN ACURA TL IN 2013 AS A THIRD OWNER. WE LOVE THE CAR AND IS ALWAYS GARAGE KEPT. HOWEVER, ONE DAY SUDDENLY CRACKS STARTING APPEARING ALONG THE DASHBOARD ON THE PASSENGERS SIDE. ALSO, THE CRACKS PROPAGATED ALONG THE DRIVER'S SIDE TOO. WHEN I CHECKED ONLINE, I WASN'T THE ONLY ONE WITH THIS ISSUE. THERE ARE SEVERAL HUN…
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WE PURCHASED AN ACURA TL IN 2013 AS A THIRD OWNER. WE LOVE THE CAR AND IS ALWAYS GARAGE KEPT. HOWEVER, ONE DAY SUDDENLY CRACKS STARTING APPEARING ALONG THE DASHBOARD ON THE PASSENGERS SIDE. ALSO, THE CRACKS PROPAGATED ALONG THE DRIVER'S SIDE TOO. WHEN I CHECKED ONLINE, I WASN'T THE ONLY ONE WITH THIS ISSUE. THERE ARE SEVERAL HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE WITH THIS ISSUE. I CALLED ACURA AND THEY DID NOT TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR A DEFECTIVE PART. I HAVE A MASTER'S DEGREE IN MANUFACTURING SYSTEMS ENGINEERING FROM UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY AND A BACHELOR'S DEGREE IN MECHANICAL ENGINEERING. I WORK WITH PLASTIC & STEEL COMPONENTS WITH DESIGN AND MANUFACTURING DAY IN DAY OUT. I CAN TELL YOU CONFIDENTLY THAT IT IS A 'DEFECTIVE' PLASTIC PART. IT'S NOT ABOUT THE MONEY FOR ME, IT'S THE SAFETY CONCERN I HAVE. IN CASE OF AN ACCIDENT, I DO ANTICIPATE THE DASHBOARD PLASTIC CHIPS ACTING AS A SHRAPNEL AND CAUSING INJURY TO THE PASSENGER/DRIVER. I REALLY WISH YOU COULD DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS. APPRECIATE YOUR HELP. REGARDS *JS
AIRBAGS ARE ABOUT TO BLOW THRU THE DASH. THE AIRBAG LIGHT STAYS ON MOST OF THE TIME AND THE DASH IS CRACKING REALLY BAD AROUND THE DASH. THE CRACK STARTED JUST AROUND THE AIRBAG CRACKING THE PERFECT SHAPE OF THE AIRBAG. NOW IT IS CRACKING ALL AROUND THE AIRBAG. SEEMS AS THO THE AIRBAGS COULD COME OUT AT ANY TIME. *TR
WE PURCHASED A 2004 ACURA TL FROM A LOCAL OWNER. AFTER WE PURCHASED THE CAR, THE DASHBOARD STARTED CRACKING EVERYWHERE! THERE ARE PROBABLY OVER 15 CRACKS IN THE DASHBOARD. I CALLED ACURA & THEY TOLD ME I WASN'T A LOYAL CUSTOMER & THE CAR IS TOO OLD! THEY SAID IT WOULD BE AROUND $1700 TO REPLACE THE DASHBOARD & THEY WOULD CHAR…
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WE PURCHASED A 2004 ACURA TL FROM A LOCAL OWNER. AFTER WE PURCHASED THE CAR, THE DASHBOARD STARTED CRACKING EVERYWHERE! THERE ARE PROBABLY OVER 15 CRACKS IN THE DASHBOARD. I CALLED ACURA & THEY TOLD ME I WASN'T A LOYAL CUSTOMER & THE CAR IS TOO OLD! THEY SAID IT WOULD BE AROUND $1700 TO REPLACE THE DASHBOARD & THEY WOULD CHARGE ME $1300!!! VERY NICE OF THEM, RIGHT! WRONG!!!! I SENT A LETTER TO THE VICE PRESIDENT OF ACURA ALONG WITH MANY OTHER PEOPLE TO THE HEADQUARTERS. THERE RESPONSE WAS STILL THE SAME! I ALSO SENT THEM PICTURES OF THE CRACKED DASHBOARD & IT JUST KEEP GETTING WORSE. WHO ELSE CAN WE FILE COMPLAINTS WITH? MY 2005 ACURA TL DASHBOARD CRACKED AS WELL BUT THEY REPLACED IT FREE OF CHARGE SAYING THEY HOPED TO EARN MY BUSINESS. WHEN MY 2005 ACURA TL PAINT FADED AL OVER THE CAR, THEY WOULD NOT TOUCH IT! THEY SAID IT WAS BECAUSE I LIVED IN NORTH CAROLINA!! AND, I WASN'T A LOYAL CUSTOMER BECAUSE I HAVE ONLY OWNED 3 ACURAS!!! *TR
THE DASH HAS BEGUN TO CRACK AND I FEAR IT IS GOING TO WEAKEN THE DASH WHERE MY AIR BAGS ARE LOCATED, RESULTING IN A DEPLOYMENT. *TR
DASHBOARD CRACKED SUDDENLY ABOVE THE PASSENGER AIRBAG COMPARTMENT EXPOSING THE AIRBAG COMPARTMENT TO THE SUN THROUGH THE CRACK. DASHBOARD ALSO DEFORMED AND APPEARS TO BE STICKING TO AIRBAG COMPARTMENT AROUND THE EDGES ON THE TOP. THE CRACK IS GROWING. THE CRACK INITIALLY FORMED SUDDENLY WHILE I WAS DRIVING, AND MADE A LOUD CLA…
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DASHBOARD CRACKED SUDDENLY ABOVE THE PASSENGER AIRBAG COMPARTMENT EXPOSING THE AIRBAG COMPARTMENT TO THE SUN THROUGH THE CRACK. DASHBOARD ALSO DEFORMED AND APPEARS TO BE STICKING TO AIRBAG COMPARTMENT AROUND THE EDGES ON THE TOP. THE CRACK IS GROWING. THE CRACK INITIALLY FORMED SUDDENLY WHILE I WAS DRIVING, AND MADE A LOUD CLAP, WHICH COULD STARTLE DRIVERS. I AM CONCERNED THAT THE AIR BAG COULD FAIL DUE TO THIS DEFECT AND FURTHER CRACKS COULD FORM SUDDENLY MAKING STARTLING NOISES WHILE DRIVING.THE SIZE OF THE CRACK AND AMOUNT OF DEFORMATION VARIES WITH TEMPERATURE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 ACURA TL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT A CRACK HAD DEVELOPED ACROSS THE DASHBOARD. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED THAT THE FAILURE WOULD ALLOW THE AIR BAG TO DEPLOY INADVERTENTLY AND WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE DASHBOARD NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFAC…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 ACURA TL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT A CRACK HAD DEVELOPED ACROSS THE DASHBOARD. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED THAT THE FAILURE WOULD ALLOW THE AIR BAG TO DEPLOY INADVERTENTLY AND WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE DASHBOARD NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 98,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 123,000.
DASH BOARD DRIVER TO PASSENGER SIDE MANY LARGE LONG CRACKS. ACURA TL OWNERS GET NO RESPONSE FROM ACURA MOTOR COMPANY ON THIS DEFECT. *TR
CRACK ON DASHBOARD ON PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG. THERE HAS BEEN NO ACCIDENT. DEALER WILL NOT FIX IT AS THERE IS NO WARRANTY LEFT. *TR
Official recalls
419V182000 · 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.
04V176000 · Power Train:automatic Transmission
Apr 15, 2004
ON SOME MINI VANS, SPORT UTILITY AND PASSENGER VEHICLES, CERTAIN OPERATING CONDITIONS CAN RESULT IN HEAT BUILD-UP BETWEEN THE COUNTERSHAFT AND SECONDARY SHAFT SECOND GEARS IN THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, EVENTUALLY LEADING TO GEAR TOOTH CHIPPING OR GEAR BREAKAGE.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: GEAR FAILURE COULD RESULT IN TRANSMISSION LOCKUP, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.
Remedy: ON VEHICLES WITH 15,000 MILES OR LESS, THE DEALER WILL UPDATE THE TRANSMISSION WITH A SIMPLE REVISION TO THE OIL COOLER RETURN LINE TO INCREASE LUBRICATION TO THE SECOND GEAR. ON VEHICLES WITH MORE THAN 15,000 MILES, THE DEALER WILL INSPECT THE TRANSMISSION TO IDENTIFY GEARS THAT HAVE ALREADY EXPERIENCED DISCOLORATION DUE TO OVERHEATING. IF DISCOLORATION EXISTS, THE TRANSMISSION WILL BE REPLACED IF DISCOLORATION IS NOT PRESENT, THE DEALER WILL PERFORM THE REVISION TO THE OIL COOLER RETURN LINE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 21, 2004, FOR PILOT, ODYSSEY, AND MDX OWNERS. OWNERS OF THE ACCORD VEHICLES WILL START RECEIVING LETTERS ON JUNE 28, 2004, AND ON JUNE 29, 2004, FOR OWNERS OF THE TL AND CL VEHICLES. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT HONDA AT 1-800-999-1009 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.