RoadVitals

2004 Acura TL Exterior lighting Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the exterior lighting system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Exterior lighting 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.
10
Latest Mar 2, 2018
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.
0
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 headlights, tail lights, turn signals and other exterior lighting. 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. 10 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 exterior lighting

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

Exterior lightingPowertrain (other)Steering
Filed Mar 2, 2018

PREVIOUS RECALL ON THE POWER STEERING HOSE LEAKING, MINE IS LEAKING WHEN IN MOTION AND STATIONARY, PREVIOUS RECALL ON INTERNAL TRANSMISSION FAULT, PREVIOUS RECALL ON WIPER MOTOR HOUSING, CURRENT RECALL ON BALL JOINTS, WAS TOLD BY MECHANIC I HAVE A BALL JOINT PROBLEM, CURRENT PROBLEM WITH PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT GOING OUT. REPLACED BALLAST WITH NEW ONE AND HEAD LIGHT WORKED FOR A COUPLE OF WEEKS AND WENT OUT AGAIN, NOTICE WHILE IN MOTION AND STATIONARY.

NHTSA ID
11075772
Incident
Oct 5, 2015
Exterior lighting
Filed Apr 29, 2014

THE REAR BRAKE LIGHTS OF THIS ACURA TL WERE FAILING TO TURN ON WHEN PRESSING ON THE BRAKE PEDAL OR WERE EXTREMELY DIM. ANOTHER DRIVER NOTIFIED ME WHEN HE NEARLY REAR ENDED THE CAR. THE PROBLEM WAS DETERMINED TO BE A FAULTY BRAKE SWITCH, WHICH SEEMS TO BE A COMMON ISSUE ON MANY (2004+) TLS BASED ON THE TL FORUMS. HONDA/ACURA HAS ISSUED A NEW REPLACEMENT PART WITH UPDATED PART NUMBER AS WELL. THIS PART SHOULD BE SWAPPED OUT ON ALL AFFECTED MODELS TO PREVENT REAR END COLLISIONS! *JS

NHTSA ID
10585554
Incident
Apr 21, 2014
Mileage
109,000 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Apr 18, 2012

SINCE ALL HEADLIGHTS HAVE BEEN REDESIGNED TO HAVE PLASTIC COVERS RATHER THAN GLASS, THE AMOUNT OF LIGHT AVAILABLE FOR LIGHTING THE ROAD HAS DIMINISHED WITH TIME AS THE PLASTIC AGES. I HAVE SEEN SOME VEHICLES WHERE THE HEADLIGHT COVERS ARE TOTALLY OPAQUE. IF ANY VEHICLE HAS DIMINISHED LUMINOUS FROM ITS LIGHTS, IT IS A HAZARD TO ALL OTHER VEHICLES AND PEDESTRIANS. RECALLS SHOULD BE SENT TO ALL MANUFACTURERS. *JS

NHTSA ID
10455672
Incident
Apr 18, 2012
Mileage
67,000 mi
ElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Dec 30, 2011

ABOUT 18 MONTHS AGO THE HEADLIGHTS ON MY 2004 TL BEGAN FLICKERING ON AND OFF WHILE I WAS DRIVING. I TOOK THE CAR TO ACURA BUT THEY COULDN'T FIND THE PROBLEM AND THEY TOLD ME IT WOULD COST $1000 TO DO AN "APPROPRIATE DIAGNOSTIC TEST". THE PROBLEM WITH THE HEADLAMPS STOPPED AFTER A FEW MONTHS, BUT THEN OTHER LIGHTS BEGAN GOING OUT (INTERIOR CENTER CONSOLE WHERE THE AC AND RADIO ARE, AND THE INTERIOR CONSOLE TO THE LEFT OF THE STEERING WHEEL, AND THE INTERIOR DOOR CONSOLE) AND FLICKERING (EXTERIOR SIDE PANEL LIGHTS WHEN I ALARM OR DIS-ALARM THE CAR). I TOOK THE CAR TO ACURA AGAIN IN NOV 2011, AND THEY TOLD ME THE PROBLEM WAS WAS FIXED AFTER THEY REPLACED MY BATTERY, BUT THEY MISTAKENLY ONLY LOOKED AT THE DRIVER'S DASHBOARD LIGHTS WHERE THE SPEEDOMETER/ODOMETER ARE LOCATED (AND WHERE THERE IS NO PROBLEM) AND THE TECHS DIDN'T UNDERSTAND WHAT I WAS TALKING ABOUT. THIS LIGHTING PROBLEM IS GETTING UNSAFE, AS I CAN NO LONGER SEE THE BUTTONS FOR THE AC/DEFROST, ETC. AT NIGHT AND I HAVE TO FUMBLE AROUND TO PRESS THE CORRECT BUTTONS. I KNOW I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE WITH THIS ISSUE. THE BATTERY WAS SO DRAINED THAT I HAD TO REPLACE IT, I BELIEVE BECAUSE OF THIS ISSUE. *KB

NHTSA ID
10441914
Incident
Sep 30, 2009
Mileage
73,000 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Jan 16, 2010

2004 ACURA TL BOTH XENON HEADLIGHTS STOP WORKING. THIS CAR LOW AND HIGH BEAM ARE ON THIS SYSTEM (ONE BULB FOR BOTH LOW AND HIGH BEAM). NO LIGHTS FOR DRIVING AT NIGHT AND BAD WEATHER. *TR

NHTSA ID
10300024
Incident
May 13, 2007
Mileage
56,000 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Jun 9, 2008

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 ACURA TL. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE CONTACT WAS PULLED OVER BY THE POLICE AND INFORMED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT WAS NOT WORKING. THE CONTACT DID NOT NOTICE ANY DIFFERENCES IN THE HEADLIGHTS PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE DRIVER SIDE HEADLIGHT HAS RECENTLY BEEN DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER FOR THE SAME ISSUE. THE PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 110,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000.

NHTSA ID
10230355
Incident
May 10, 2008
Mileage
50,000 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Mar 29, 2005

2004 ACURA TL TURN SIGNALS STOPPED FUNCTIONING. **** NO ANSWER REQUIRED***. *MR THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO PERMANENTLY REPAIR THE TURN SIGNAL PROBLEM. THERE WAS ALSO A RATTLING NOISE HEARD INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER LUBED AND INSERT FOAM TAPE TO THE RADIO BUT THE PROBLEM RECURRED. *NM

NHTSA ID
10117251
Incident
Aug 1, 2004
Exterior lighting
Filed Feb 12, 2005

ACURA 2004 LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS. INSUFFICIENT ILLUMINATION OF THE ROAD ON DRIVER'S SIDE, ESPECIALLY GOING DOWN A HILL. CANNOT SEE IF SOMETHING/SOMEONE DASHES OUT FROM DRIVER'S SIDE. DEALER CHECKED AND IT MEETS SPECIFICATIONS FOR TYPE OF LIGHT/DESIGN. *JB

NHTSA ID
10110402
Incident
Jan 6, 2005
Exterior lighting
Filed Mar 3, 2004

LOW BEAM HEAD LIGHTS OFFER A DANGEROUSLY LOW AMOUNT OF LIGHT ON ROADS WITH DIPS AND HILLS AND CURVES ESPECIALLY IN NEIGHBORHOODS. LACK OF AMBIENT LIGHT ELIMINATES ANY CHANCE AT THE SPLIT-SECOND DECISION NEEDED TO AVOID A POSSIBLE DEER OR CAT CROSSING OR PEDESTRIAN IN YOUR PATH. NORMALLY AT LOW NEIGHBORHOOD SPEEDS YOUR BRIGHT LIGHT BEAMS ARE NOT NEEDED OR USED SO THE BLACKED OUT AREAS CAN POP UP AT ANYTIME WITH NO WARNING. THESE LIGHTS ARE GOING TO CAUSE ACCIDENTS AND DEATHS IF THEY ARE NOT REPLACED WITH ONES THAT ARE PRACTICAL FOR EVERYDAY DRIVING. WHAT WORKS ON A TEST TRACK ISN'T ALWAYS BEST FOR THE AVERAGE DRIVER. *AK

NHTSA ID
10060234
Incident
Dec 16, 2003
Exterior lighting
Filed Feb 17, 2004

THE LEFT HEADLAMP BEAM CREATES A DARK/BLIND SPOT ABOUT 5-6' INCHES IN DIAMETER. THE DRIVER'S EYES START FOCUSING ON THIS SPOT AT HIGH SPEEDS THE DRIVER MISSES THE LANES AND GETS BLINDED, DAZED AND CONFUSED - A CAUSE THAT MAY VERY SOON CAUSE ACCIDENTS. *JB

NHTSA ID
10058374
Incident
Feb 16, 2004
Mileage
500 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 .