2003 Acura TL Airbags Problems

This complaint relates to safety recall campaigns work regarding my 2003 Acura TL car's SRS (air bags). I took my car to the Acura Service Center in Guaynabo, PR, for recall related repairs at various times during 2022 and 2023. The last time was [XXX]. The PROBLEM is that the Acura center's initial recall-related repair may have been faulty, thus causing the SRS warning light to turn on and stay on while I drive the car. The SRS warning came on a few days after the initial Acura service was performed. I was told during the second visit that they just had to reset something in the car's computer to turn off the SRS warning. But the SRS warning light would turn on again a few days after each service visit. The last time I took the car to Acura regarding this problem was on [XXX]. At that time, I requested a thorough diagnosis of the SRS problem. After that visit , the Acura service center sent me a video of the inspection work performed. However, that video and the $144.95 invoice paid, do not show that any SRS diagnosis work was done. They just did a "multi point" car mechanical condition inspection. Regarding the SRS problem, they again turned off the SRS warning light but did not indicate that in the video or the invoice. A few days later, the SRS warning came back on again. I called the national Honda HQ offices in the California, a few months ago. I expressed my frustration with the Acura dealer's failure to resolve this safety problem. They told me that they could not do anything, that I have to go back to the Acura dealer in PR (something that I already did, various times.) This is why I am now submitting this complaint to NHTSA. I present this complaint as a failure of the Acura corporation to satisfactorily perform the SRS safety recall work. They must re-do the work adequately on my Acura TL 2003 automobile. Please help. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11615607

Incident

Jun 15, 2023

Unknown

NHTSA ID

11489415

Incident

Oct 15, 2022

The contact owns a 2003 Acura TL. The contact stated while driving 65 MPH, the SRS warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and the contact was informed that the front driver's side air bag PODS control unit and sensor needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that he contacted the manufacturer who confirmed that there was a manufacturer recall for the front driver's side PODS control unit and sensor. The VIN was included in the recall however, the vehicle was not serviced under the recall because the recall had expired. The contact stated that the manufacturer representative stated that the PODS control unit and sensor recall should have been remedied under NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V182000 (Air Bags). The contact stated that a case was opened. The approximate failure mileage was 220,000.

NHTSA ID

11448662

Incident

Jan 17, 2022

Mileage

220,000 mi

SRS LIGHT IS ON

NHTSA ID

11315585

Incident

Mar 2, 2020

Mileage

264,038 mi

2003 ACURA T.L WAS IN MOTION WHEN THE VEHICLE STARTED SLIPPING ON 2ND GEAR. THEN WHEN VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY IT WOULD NOT MOVE IN REVERSE GEAR. AS I WAS ON HIGHWAY THE CAR STARTED JERKING OUT OF CONTROL, I COULD NOT ACCELERATE, VEHICLE BARELY WANTED TO MOVE SO I PUT IT IN #2 GEAR SO IT WORK CATCH AND I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE TO SAFETY WITHOUT ANYONE GETTING HURT. VERY FRIGHTENING AND DANGEROUS. PROBLEM MUST BE ADDRESSED IMMEDIATELY.

NHTSA ID

11311313

Incident

Feb 23, 2020

Mileage

167,000 mi

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 ACURA TL. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V182000 (AIR BAGS). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE BRAKES SQUEAKED. THE DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE, BUT WAS NOT ABLE TO CONFIRM WHEN THE PARTS WERE TO BECOME AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA ID

11289629

Incident

Mar 6, 2019

I NEED TO MAKE A COMPLAINT AGAINST AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC. THIS ENTITY HAS BEEN SENDING ME LETTERS, CALLING ME AND KNOCKING ON MY DOOR FOR THE LAST TWO YEARS ABOUT AN AIRBAG INFLATOR RECALL. EACH TYPE THEY CONTACT ME I TELL THEM I NO LONGER OWN THIS VEHICLE. IT WAS TRADED IN OVER TWO YEARS AGO. EVEN THOUGH I MAY STILL BE REGISTERED AS THE OWNER, I HAVE NO IDEA WHO TRULY OWNS THIS VEHICLE AS IT WAS TRADED IN AT A DEALERSHIP. I FILLED OUT A VEHICLE TRANSFER NOTICE OVER TWO YEARS AGO BUT HONDA ACURA KEEPS CONTACTING ME ABOUT THIS RECALL ON A MONTHLY BASIS, TO THE DATE! SOMEONE PLEASE GET THEM TO STOP OR FURTHER ADVISE ME IF I SHOULD JUST IGNORE THEIR LETTERS. THANK YOU!

NHTSA ID

11280780

Incident

Nov 15, 2019

Mileage

100,000 mi

"TAKATA RECALL" LAST FEW DIGITS OF VIN 002098, IM CONTACTING YOU BECAUSE WE HAD OUT RECALL FIXED OVER A WEEK AND THE VIN STILL COMES UP AS INCOMPLETE THIS IS HINDERING ME FROM STARTING MY JOB WITH UBER IVE CONTACTED HOMDA ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS JUST TEO DAYS AGO I SPOKE WITH A LADY (CAN'T REMEMBER HER NAME) WHOM WAS EXTREMELY RUDE BY OVERTALKING ME AND BECAME VERY ARGUMENTATIVE AS O TRIED TO EXPLAIN MY SITUATION AND LET HER KNOW THAT I NEEDED HONDA TO UPDATE THIS REPAIR WITH NHTSA IN ORDER TO START MY JON WITH UBER, AND THAT THE PAPERWORK WOULD DO ME NO JUSTICE, UBER NEEDED THE UPDATE SPECIFICALLY IN THE SYSTEM AS REPAIRED AND NOT INCOMPLETE SHE BASICLY TOLD ME, IT WASNT THEIR ("HONDAS") PROBLEM, EVEN THO THEY FIXED IT SHE SAID IT WAS ACURA'S PROBLEM LEAVING ME EVEN MORE CONFUSED AND FRUSTRATED AS I'VE BEEN INCONVENIENTLY, AND UNWILLING UNWILLING PLACED INN THIS SITUATION, THIS HAS CIST ME TOME AND LOTS OF MONEY FROM NOT BEING ABLE TO WORK AND NOT EVEN MY FAULT TO BEGAN WITH. ALL I WANT IS THIS ISSUE TO BE RESOLVED SO I CAN START WORK, TO TOP EVREYTHING OFF, THEY DIDN'T GIVE US ANY PAPERWORK MY HUSBAND WAS TOLD TO SIGN A DOCUMENT THAT THE REPAIR WAS FIXED AND HE WAS SMART ENOUGH TO TAKE A PICTURE WHICH I WILL TRY TO ATTACH TO THIS COMPLAINT AND I PRAY YOU ARE ABLE TO RESOLVE THIS AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE. I ALSO SHOWED THIS DOCUMENT TO UBER AND THEY SPECIFICALLY SAID, THEY COULD NOT EXCEPT IT BECAUSE IT NEEDS TO SHOW IN THE SYSTEM ONLINE THAT THE RECALL ATTACHED TO MY VIN HAS BEEN COMPLETED/REPAIRED, AND AGAIN UNFORTUNATELY AFTER BLOOD SWEAT TEARS AND MOUNTS OF FRUSTRATION , INCONVENIENCE, AND LOSS WAGES IT STILL HAS NOT BEEN RESOLVED. PLEASE HELP US!!

NHTSA ID

11221616

Incident

Jun 15, 2019

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 ACURA TL. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V320000 (AIR BAGS). THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO ESSERMAN INTERNATIONAL ACURA (305-477-6666, LOCATED AT 10455 NW 12TH ST SUITE A, DORAL, FL 33172) WHERE THE RECALL REPAIR WAS PERFORMED; HOWEVER, THE AIR BAG INDICATOR FLASHED ON AND OFF. A COUPLE OF YEARS LATER, THE CONTACT RECEIVED ANOTHER NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V182000 (AIR BAGS). THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE SAME DEALER AND THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT A DIAGNOSTIC TEST NEEDED TO BE PERFORMED AT THE CONTACT'S EXPENSE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AFTER THE INITIAL REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT PROVIDED.

NHTSA ID

11217124

Incident

May 28, 2015

TAKATA RECALL. THE AIRBAG LIGHT IS ON CONSTANTLY, INDICATING A SAFETY ALERT AND THE NEED FOR REPAIR.

NHTSA ID

11054794

Incident

Dec 10, 2005

Mileage

35,000 mi

TAKATA RECALL PASSENGER AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT STAYS ON

NHTSA ID

11051906

Incident

Jan 1, 2017

Mileage

140,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2003 ACURA TL. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IDLING AT AN INTERSECTION, IT WAS REAR ENDED BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE REAR ENDED THE PRECEDING VEHICLE. DUE TO THE CRASH, THE DRIVER'S SEAT COLLAPSED INTO THE BACK SEAT AND FRACTURED INTO TWO PIECES. THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED, BUT THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DID NOT. THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG WAS JUST REPLACED EIGHT MONTHS BEFORE PER THE TAKATA RECALL. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED MEDICAL ATTENTION FOR CUTS UNDER THE RIGHT KNEE AND ALSO X-RAYS FOR HIS RIGHT SHOULDER, WHICH LOCATED A TORN RIGHT ROTATOR CUFF. SURGERY WAS REQUIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT HOLDING YARD. THE VEHICLE WAS DEEMED DESTROYED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 190,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

11025282

Incident

Nov 17, 2016

Mileage

190,000 mi

TAKATA RECALL - OTHER 2003 ACURA TL CARS ARE CONSIDERED TO BE IN A"HIGH RISK POPULATION". . . WITH A VERY DANGEROUS DEFECT...RISK POSED BY THESE AIRBAG INFLATORS IS GRAVE...IT IS CRITICAL THEY BE REPAIRED TO AVOID MORE DEATHS." THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG ON MY CAR HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED, NOR IS IT ON RECALL. MY VIN NUMBER WAS NOT IN YOUR SYSTEM WHEN I HAD IT CHECKED. HAS MY CAR BEEN OVERLOOKED. IT HAD THE DRIVERS SIDE AIR BAG FIXED IN 2015, BUT THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG IS TAKATA AND HAS NOT BEEN FIXED. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS. [XXX] I HAVE TRIED TO TELL PEOPLE ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. PLEASE LOOK INTO IT. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).'*JB

NHTSA ID

11005174

Incident

Jun 10, 2017

Mileage

73,000 mi

WHY NOT REQUIRE REPLACEMENT OF TAKATA AIRBAG ON PASSENGER'S SIDE AS WELL AS FOR THE DRIVER'S SIDE? BOTH WOULD CREATE THE SAME HAZARD THAT STIMULATED THE ORIGINAL CALL TO REPLACE THE INFLATOR FOR THE DRIVER"S SIDE OF THE AUTOMOBILE!

NHTSA ID

10981430

Incident

Feb 2, 2017

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 ACURA TL. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH AROUND A CURVE, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO BRAKE OR ACCELERATE AND THE TRANSMISSION SEIZED. THE STEERING WHEEL ALSO BECAME VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND LEFT THE ROAD. THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO AN EMBANKMENT AND A TREE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE HANDS, WRISTS, HEAD, ANKLE, CHEST, AND SHOULDER. MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS REQUIRED AND THE CONTACT VISITED HIS PHYSICIAN AFTER THE CRASH. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 04V176000 (POWER TRAIN). THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 263,138.

NHTSA ID

10971841

Incident

Apr 8, 2017

Mileage

263,138 mi

AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT IS ON.D5 LIGHT FLASHING ON TRANSMISSION

NHTSA ID

10966633

Incident

Mar 17, 2017

Mileage

34,000 mi

TAKATA RECALL, SRS LIGHT CAME ON IN MY CAR AND MY CAR HAS NOT BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT, I HAVE HAD FUSES CHECKED , AND NOTHING WRONG WITH ANY OF MY SAFETY EQUIPMENT MY LIGHT STILL STAYS ON. CALLED ACURA DEALER JUST GOT THE RUN AROUND AGAIN AND AGAIN. THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION WHEN LIGHT CAME ON STREET DRIVING .

NHTSA ID

10945178

Incident

Oct 1, 2016

Mileage

146,000 mi

HONDA REPLACED MY AIRBAG AND I STILL GET THE SRS MALFUNCTION LIGHT. ACURA DOES NOT WANT TO TAKE THIS SAFETY ISSUE AND IS WANTING ME TO REPLACE THE SAFETY COMPONENTS AT MY COST. SRS LIGHT IS ON AND I SUSPECT FAULTY SEAT BELTS. BUT HONDA DOES NOT WARRANTY SEAT BELTS AND SAFETY COMPONENTS AFTER 10 YEARS.

NHTSA ID

10899228

Incident

Jul 5, 2016

TAKATA RECALL I CONTACTED ACURA THREE TIMES TO RESOLVE THIS BUT NOBODY EVER CALLS ME OR WRITES ME A LETTER TO GET THE PROBLEM RESOLVED. I LIVE NEAR ESCANABA, MI AND THE NEAREST DEALERSHIP IS IN APPLETON, WI WHICH IS A FOUR HOUR DRIVE AWAY FROM ME OR 200 MILES ONE DIRECTION. I CANNOT AFFORD TO TRAVEL THE DISTANCE AND WOULD LIKE TO GET IT REPAIRED LOCALLY. THE OPERATORS I'VE SPOKEN TO TELL ME THEY NEED TO SPEAK WITH THEIR SUPERVISORS... WHO NEVER COME TO THE PHONE, WHO INSTEAD TELL ME THEY WILL CONTACT ME AT A LATER DATE TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEM... LIKE I'VE STATED I HAVE NEVER RECEIVED A RETURN PHONE CALL, VOICE MESSAGE, OR LETTER IN THE MAIL REGARDING MY REQUEST... I WANT TO GET THIS ADDRESSED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

NHTSA ID

10899071

Incident

Aug 1, 2014

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 ACURA TL. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V320000 (AIR BAGS) AND STATED THAT THE PART NEEDED FOR THE REPAIR WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA ID

10892581

Incident

Jun 15, 2016

TAKATA RECALL. I HAVE RECEIVED SEVERAL NOTICES TO REPLACE THE AIR BAGS ON MY 2003 ACURA. THE HONDA DEALER 25 MILES FROM MY HOME WILL NOT REPLACE IT. THE NEAREST ACURA DEALER IS 60 MILES AWAY. TWICE I HAVE TALKED TO YOUR PEOPLE, THEY ATTEMPTED TO SET UP AN APPOINTMENT WITH THE HONDA DEALER BUT THAT HAS NOT HAPPENED. NOW THE GOVERNMENT SAYS I SHOULD NOT DRIVE MY CAR AT ALL. AS SUCH THE ONLY OPTION IS FOR YOU TO SEND A WRECKER TO PICK UP MY VEHICLE, REPAIR THE AIRBAG, AND RETURN IT TO ME. ACURA APPARENTLY BUILT AND SOLD A DANGEROUS VEHICLE. IT IS NOT MY RESPONSIBILITY TO DRIVE 120 MILES AND WASTE MOST OF A DAY TO CORRECT YOUR MISTAKE.

NHTSA ID

10883048

Incident

Oct 15, 2003

TAKATA RECALL I DON'T KNOW IF THIS IS THE RIGHT FORUM FOR MY COMPLAINT. BUT I HAVE BEEN DEALING WITH ACURA FOR 6 MONTHS TRYING TO GET MY RECALLED AIRBAGS REPLACED ON MY 2003 ACURA 2.3TL. THE CLOSEST DEALERSHIP TO WHERE WE ARE STATIONED (HUSBAND IN THE NAVY) IS 2 HOURS AWAY. ACURA PUT IN A REQUEST WITH RICK JUSTICE HONDA IN MERIDIAN, MS TO DO THE REPAIR FOR ME, BUT THEY REFUSED. RICK JUSTICE HONDA INFORMED ME THAT ACURA WILL NOT PAY THEM TO DO THE REPAIR, ACURA CLAIMS THIS IS NOT THE CASE. I HAVE MADE DOZENS OF ATTEMPTS TO CONTACT ACURA CUSTOMER CARE TO GET THIS FIGURED OUT. NO ONE IS ABLE TO HELP ME, AND MY CASE MANAGER (CASE 04757404) NEVER CALLS ME BACK. I HAVE REQUESTED A RENTAL CAR SINCE IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT I ABSOLUTELY SHOULD NOT DRIVE MY CAR, ESPECIALLY SINCE I LIVE IN A GULF COAST STATE. THEY TOLD ME I WOULD NEED TO DRIVE 2 HOURS TO PICK IT UP SINCE RICK JUSTICE, 30 MINUTES FROM ME, WILL NOT HELP ME. I FEEL ACURA/HONDA ARE DOING NOTHING TO HELP ME OR INSURE MY SAFETY. I FEEL RICK JUSTICE HONDA SHOULD BE ABLE TO DO THE REPAIRS SINCE ACURA AND HONDA ARE VIRTUALLY THE SAME!

NHTSA ID

10882249

Incident

Jun 29, 2016

DEALER UNABLE TO REPAIR WITHIN 60 DAYS. MAY TAKE UP TO 5 MONTHS TO REPAIR.

NHTSA ID

10852009

Incident

Mar 28, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2003 ACURA TL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE ENCOUNTERED A POT HOLE CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO JERK VIOLENTLY. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE VEERED OFF THE ROAD AND FLIPPED OVER. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONTACT'S LEFT SHOULDER STRAP SEAT BELT WAS DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE LEAVING BEHIND ONLY THE WAIST STRAP SEAT BELT AS THE CONTACT SHIFTED FROM THE DRIVER'S SEAT TO THE PASSENGERS SEAT DURING THE ACCIDENT. FURTHERMORE, THE CONTACT'S HEAD WAS PARTIALLY HANGING OUT OF THE WINDOW AFTER THE ACCIDENT. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A FRACTURED WRIST, CHEST PAINS, MULTIPLE LACERATIONS AND A CONCUSSION. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT'S STOMACH WAS SEVERELY TWISTED OUT OF SHAPE AND THE CONTACT VOMITED AND FAINTED NUMEROUS OCCASIONS AFTER THE ACCIDENT. THE CONTACT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 123,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

10837599

Incident

Jan 26, 2016

Mileage

123,000 mi

IN JUNE 2015 A LIGHT SUDDENLY CAME ON THE DASHBOARD WHEN I TURNED ON THE IGNITION INDICATING A PROBLEM WITH THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG. I TOOK IT TO MY ACURA DEALER WHO SAID IT MALFUNCTIONED AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. IT WAS REPLACED AND I WAS CHARGED $753.84. I ASKED IF IT WAS NEVER USED HOW COULD IT MALFUNCTION AND WHY DID I HAVE TO COVER THE CHARGE. IN NOVEMBER 2014 THE FRONT AIRBAGS WERE REPLACED BY THE DEALER AT NO COST TO ME. SINCE YOUR AGENCY IS LOOKING INTO SIDE AIRBAGS, CAN I BE REIMBURSED FOR MY PAYMENT OF $753.84, AND IF SO, TO WHOM DO I MAKE THIS REQUEST? DO I NEED TO HAVE ANY OTHER AIRBAGS REPLACED IN MY CAR?

NHTSA ID

10785623

Incident

Jun 11, 2015