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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 →

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

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

What owners actually said

551 reports
Mileage unknown · Jun 7, 2010
Visibility

ON CASE PE07060 WITH ACURA WIPERS. THE FIX ACURA PROVIDED SIMPLY DOES NOT WORK. MY WIPERS STOPPED WORKING FOR NO APPARENT REASON DURING A STORM (COMMON IN SOUTH FLORIDA). I ALMOST GOT INTO A HUGE ACCIDENT BECAUSE I COULD NOT SEE. THANKFULLY I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER. THE FUSE IS OK. WHEN I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO ACURA THEY TOLD ME T…

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ON CASE PE07060 WITH ACURA WIPERS. THE FIX ACURA PROVIDED SIMPLY DOES NOT WORK. MY WIPERS STOPPED WORKING FOR NO APPARENT REASON DURING A STORM (COMMON IN SOUTH FLORIDA). I ALMOST GOT INTO A HUGE ACCIDENT BECAUSE I COULD NOT SEE. THANKFULLY I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER. THE FUSE IS OK. WHEN I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO ACURA THEY TOLD ME THAT THEY WERE AWARE OF THE ONGOING ISSUE BUT SINCE THE RE-CALL WAS DONE THAT I HAD TO PAY FOR THEM TO "LOOK AT IT" AND REALLY FIX THE ISSUE INSTEAD OF THE PATCH THAT WAS DONE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10335046

90,000 miles · Jun 6, 2010
Air BagsStructure

THIS INVOLVES MY 2004 ACURA TL, WHICH I HAVE OWNED SINCE OCTOBER 2007. IN THE TWO AND A HALF YEARS SINCE THE PURCHASE, SIGNIFICANT CRACKS HAVE APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD OF THIS CAR. THERE ARE SEVERAL CRACKS ON THE DASH IN FRONT OF THE DRIVING PANEL. THERE ARE ALSO TWO MAJOR CRACKS ON THE PASSENGER SIDE, EACH ONE RUNNING FROM THE…

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THIS INVOLVES MY 2004 ACURA TL, WHICH I HAVE OWNED SINCE OCTOBER 2007. IN THE TWO AND A HALF YEARS SINCE THE PURCHASE, SIGNIFICANT CRACKS HAVE APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD OF THIS CAR. THERE ARE SEVERAL CRACKS ON THE DASH IN FRONT OF THE DRIVING PANEL. THERE ARE ALSO TWO MAJOR CRACKS ON THE PASSENGER SIDE, EACH ONE RUNNING FROM THE WINDSHIELD ALL THE WAY TO THE GLOVE BOX. WHAT MAKES THIS WORRISOME IS THAT EACH CRACK RUNS ALONG THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG, WHICH IS WEAKENING THE INTEGRITY OF THAT AIRBAG. I AM CONCERNED THAT THESE CRACKS COULD CAUSE THE PASSENGER AIRBAG TO DEPLOY UNEXPECTEDLY, INJURING ANY PASSENGER IN THAT SEAT AND POSSIBLY EVEN CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. IT COULD ALSO CAUSE THE AIRBAG TO DEPLOY IMPROPERLY DURING AN ACCIDENT, AND EITHER FAIL TO PREVENT INJURY OR MAKE THE PASSENGER'S INJURIES WORSE. THIS DEFECT IS OCCURRING IN THE 2004 AND 2005 MODELS, BUT ACURA IS TREATING IT AS A COSMETIC ISSUE RATHER THAN A SAFETY ONE, AND REFUSING TO COVER THE EXPENSE OF REPLACING THE DASH, WHICH COSTS ALMOST $2000 INCLUDING LABOR AND PARTS. OTHER 2004/2005 TL OWNERS WHO HAD THE DASH REPLACED WERE TOLD THAT THE NEW DASH WAS MADE WITH DIFFERENT MATERIALS AND WOULD NOT HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. THIS IS A DE FACTO ADMISSION THAT THESE DASHBOARDS WERE MADE WITH INADEQUATE MATERIALS. THIS IS INDEED A SAFETY ISSUE, AS IT INVOLVES THE AIRBAG. THESE CRACKS ARE SIGNIFICANTLY COMPROMISING THE SAFETY OF THIS CAR, AND ACURA NEEDS TO ISSUE A SAFETY RECALL RATHER THAN TREAT IT LIKE A COSMETIC ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10334795

73,000 miles · Jun 1, 2010
Structure

2004 ACURA TL DASHBOARD HAS 2 LARGE CRACKS THAT APPEARED IN THE LAST 7 DAYS. ONE IS ABOUT 14" LONG AND RUNS FROM THE AREA OF THE GLOVE BOX/AIR BAG ALL THE WAY TOWARDS THE WINDSHIELD. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10334083

93,000 miles · May 28, 2010
Structure

CRACKED DASH IN MANY PLACES. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10332636

68,500 miles · May 12, 2010
Structure

2004 ACURA TL CRACKED DASHBOARD IN SEVERAL PLACES INCLUDING AIRBAG COVER. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10330040

75,000 miles · May 5, 2010
Air Bags

2004 ACURA TL, PASSENGER SIDE AREA OF DASHBOARD STARTING TO CRACK ABOVE WHERE AIRBAG IS LOCATED. COULD THIS CAUSE PROBLEM WITH AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT WHEN DASH HAS NUMEROUS CRACKS. HAVE FOUND OTHER TL'S IN THE 2004-2006 RANGE WITH SIMILAR PROBLEMS ON FORUMS AND FACEBOOK LINKS AS WELL. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10329051

Mileage unknown · May 5, 2010
Steering

I HAD REPLACED THE STEERING HOSE FOR MY 2004 ACURA TL MORE THAN 3 TIMES BECAUSE IT IS DAMAGED AND THE POWER STEERING FLUID WAS LEAKING WHICH SEEM VERY UNUSUAL COMPARE TO OTHER CAR THAT I KNOW. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10328906

60,000 miles · Apr 27, 2010
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

INSTRUCTIONS IN THE ACURA OEM SERVICE MANUAL FOR MY 2004 TL HAS AN ERROR THAT COULD RESULT IN THE FRONT DISC BRAKE PADS BEING INSTALLED INCORRECTLY ON CARS WITH THE MANUAL TRANSMISSION OPTION. THIS COULD CAUSE THE BRAKES TO WORK INCORRECTLY. ADVICE I HAVE BEEN GIVEN BY ACURA CUSTOMER SERVICE IN TORRANCE, CA AND MY LOCAL ACURA …

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INSTRUCTIONS IN THE ACURA OEM SERVICE MANUAL FOR MY 2004 TL HAS AN ERROR THAT COULD RESULT IN THE FRONT DISC BRAKE PADS BEING INSTALLED INCORRECTLY ON CARS WITH THE MANUAL TRANSMISSION OPTION. THIS COULD CAUSE THE BRAKES TO WORK INCORRECTLY. ADVICE I HAVE BEEN GIVEN BY ACURA CUSTOMER SERVICE IN TORRANCE, CA AND MY LOCAL ACURA DEALER ABOUT THE CORRECT INSTALLATION DIRECTION ARE IN DIRECT OPPOSITION. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10327700

99,000 miles · Apr 25, 2010
Structure

MULTIPLE CRACKS IN 2004 ACURA TL DASHBOARD ABOVE THE PASSENGER AIR BAG - SEEMS LIKE A POSSIBLE SAFETY ISSUE FOR THE DEPLOYMENT OF THE AIR BAG IN AN ACCIDENT AS WELL AS EXTREMELY UPSETTING SEEING AS HOW THE CAR IS ONLY 6 YEARS OLD. CAR IS GARAGE KEPT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10327357

Mileage unknown · Apr 25, 2010
Structure

I BOUGHT A USED 2004 ACURA TL. THE DASHBOARD CRACK IS OUTLINING THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG. I'M TRUSTING THAT THIS WILL NOT BE A SAFETY ISSUE FOR ANY PASSENGER IF I EVER GET IN AN ACCIDENT. I DO NOT OFTEN DRIVE OTHER PEOPLE, WHICH FREES ME FROM WORRYING ABOUT REPERCUSSIONS. WHEN I CALLED ACURA'S HEADQUARTERS, THE REPRESENTATIV…

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I BOUGHT A USED 2004 ACURA TL. THE DASHBOARD CRACK IS OUTLINING THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG. I'M TRUSTING THAT THIS WILL NOT BE A SAFETY ISSUE FOR ANY PASSENGER IF I EVER GET IN AN ACCIDENT. I DO NOT OFTEN DRIVE OTHER PEOPLE, WHICH FREES ME FROM WORRYING ABOUT REPERCUSSIONS. WHEN I CALLED ACURA'S HEADQUARTERS, THE REPRESENTATIVE STATED THAT HE DID NOT KNOW THAT THIS WAS A WIDESPREAD ISSUE IN THIS MODEL AND YEAR. I'VE SEEN THE GROUP ON FACEBOOK AS WELL. THE CRACKS ARE LOCATED CONSISTENTLY IN THE SAME AREA. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10327318

Official recalls

4

19V182000 · 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

1

PE07060 · 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.