RoadVitals

2004 Acura TL Engine Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the engine system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Engine reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
11
Latest May 1, 2024
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
2%
of 551 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
2
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2004 Acura TL submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 11 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming engine

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

Engine
Filed May 1, 2024

Car stopped working three days after I purchased it.

NHTSA ID
11586326
Incident
Apr 17, 2024
EnginePowertrain (other)Steering
Filed Jan 1, 2021

MY POWER STEERING HAS GONE OUT I THINK HOSE BUSTED HARD TO STEER AND TRANSMISSION IS SLIPPING REVERSE IS GOING OUT

NHTSA ID
11386027
Incident
Jan 1, 2021
Engine
Filed Oct 12, 2020

THE TRANSMISSION JUST QUIT ON ME. NO POWER AT ALL.

NHTSA ID
11364037
Incident
Sep 15, 2020
Mileage
80,000 mi
ElectricalEnginePowertrain (other)
Filed Oct 11, 2018

MY 2004 ACURA TL IS MY FIRST CAR OWNED. WHEN I PUT THE CAR IN DRIVE I CAN ONLY ACCELERATE TO 20-30MPH ON THE HIGHWAY. BECAUSE, THE CAR WOULD NOT ACCELERATE ON A STRAIGHT WAY OR UP HILLS. THIS IS A DANGEROUS MANUFACTURE MALFUNCTION WITH ACURA TRANSMISSIONS FOR THE CONSUMERS FINANCIALLY AND PHYSCIALLY. I WOULD APPRECIATE A RECALL BEING DONE ON MY 2004 ACURA TL BECAUSE I LOVE THIS CAR AND WOULD LOVE TO KEEP IT. I AM A COLLEGE STUDENT AND DO NOT HAVE THE MONEY TO INSTALL ANOTHER TRANSMISSION AND THE SAME THING HAPPENS AGAIN. I HAVE READ MANY REVIEWS ABOUT TRANSMISSINS FAILURES ON HONDA/ACURA TRANSMISSIONS. I THOUGHT ACURA WAS A GREAT BRAND, BUT ACURA CEO AND HEADQUARATERS HAVE TO KNOW THAT CONSUMERS ARE FRUSTRATED AND ANGRY REGARDING TRANSMISSIONS AND OTHER RELATED ISSUES DUE TO THE TRANSMISSIONS.

NHTSA ID
11139717
Incident
Oct 3, 2018
Mileage
152,000 mi
Engine
Filed Aug 24, 2018

THERE IS A VERY COMMON ISSUES GOING ON WITH THESE ACURA FROM 2000 UP TO 2008. WITH TRANSMISSION GOING BAD. I RESEARCH IT AND FOUND OUT WITH EVERY SHOP AND PEOPLE ONLINE HAVING TRANSMISSION BREAK DOWN WITH THOSE ACURA TL 2000 UP TO 2005.PLEASE CAN SOMEONE INVESTIGATE THIS. THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL FOR THIS AT SOME POINT. THE STOP ACCELERATING WHILE I WAS DRIVING IT ON THE HIGHWAY.THAT WAS A VERY BIG SAFETY ISSUE FOR ME.

NHTSA ID
11122099
Incident
Aug 24, 2018
AirbagsBody & structureEngine
Filed Aug 9, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 ACURA TL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DASHBOARD WAS CRACKED AROUND THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, THE VEHICLE DECELERATED AS THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT FLASHED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE AIR BAG SENSOR NEEDED TO BE RESET. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 81,000.

NHTSA ID
10894282
Incident
Aug 7, 2016
Mileage
81,000 mi
Engine
Filed Aug 22, 2010
Fire reported

04 ACURA TL CAR CAUGHT ON FIRE BECAUSE OF RECALL I WAS UN AWARE OF WHAT DO I DO? ME AND MY 4 YEAR OLD SON WERE IN THE CAR WHILE I WAS DRIVING IT HAPPENED. *TR

NHTSA ID
10351162
Incident
Aug 20, 2010
Mileage
121,000 mi
EngineFuel system
Filed Jun 23, 2009

ENGINE EMISSIONS WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. BROUGHT IN FOR SERVICE IMMEDIATELY. DEFECTIVE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR AND LEAKING HEAD GASKETS DIAGNOSED,REQUIRING ALMOST $3000 IN REPAIRS. *TR

NHTSA ID
10274748
Incident
Apr 9, 2009
Mileage
59,607 mi
Engine
Filed May 19, 2008

I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY DOING ABOUT 65MPH AND MY VEHICLE JUST WENT INTO A COMPLETE STOP AND IT WILL NOT EXCEED 50MPH IMMEDIATELY MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND WHEN I BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALER THEY REPORTED THAT THE THROTTLE WAS LOOSE AND THAT THERE IS NOTHING ELSE WRONG AND THAT IS WHEN THEY INFORMED ME THAT THE ENGINE THAT MY VEHICLE HAS IS NOT THE VEHICLES ORIGINAL WHICH I WAS NOT VERY HAPPY ABOUT BECAUSE I SHOULD HAVE BEEN TOLD THIS BEFORE I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE. NOT TO MENTION THE FACT THAT I COULD HAVE GOT INTO A SERIOUS ACCIDENT WHEN THIS INCIDENT OCCURRED. *TR

NHTSA ID
10228190
Incident
May 11, 2008
Mileage
634,888 mi
Engine
Filed Jul 31, 2007
Fire reported

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 ACURA TL 3.2. HE STATED THAT WHILE IDLED, HE SMELLED SMOKE BUT DID NOT REALIZE IT WAS COMING FROM HIS VEHICLE. HE NOTICED FLAMES COMING FROM THE ENGINE WHEN HE OPENED THE HOOD. THE FLAMES CEASED WHEN HE TURNED OFF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS WITH THE POWER STEERING WHEEL. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 54,000.

NHTSA ID
10198008
Incident
Jul 30, 2007
Mileage
54,000 mi
Engine
Filed Apr 10, 2007

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 ACURA TL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR LIGHT ILLUMINATED WHICH INDICATED THAT THE KNOCK SENSOR FAILED. THE VEHICLE HESITATED WHILE ACCELERATING AND THE EXHAUST FUMES HAD A STRONG AROMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAS A DECREASED IN GAS MILEAGE. THE CONTACT WILL BRING THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSIS. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 56,829, AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 56,200.*AK

NHTSA ID
10187443
Incident
Mar 20, 2007
Mileage
56,200 mi

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .