RoadVitals

2004 Acura TL Visibility Problems

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

Data refreshed

Visibility 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.
20
Latest Mar 15, 2019
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.
4%
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 windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors. 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. 20 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 visibility

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

AirbagsElectricalVisibility
Filed Mar 15, 2019

I WAS PARKED IN AN AUTOMATIC CARWASH WHEN MY DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG STARTED DRIPPING WATER ON ME. I'M AFRAID THIS COULD CAUSE MY AIRBAG TO DEPLOY. I'VE ALSO EXPERIENCED CRAZY ELECTRICAL ISSUES INTERMITTENTLY THAT ARE NOT SAFE AND I WONDER IF THIS IS RELATED. I ALSO HAVE A VIDEO IF THAT IS NEEDED.

NHTSA ID
11186971
Incident
Mar 11, 2019
Mileage
153,000 mi
Visibility
Filed Dec 12, 2017

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 ACURA TL. WHILE STATIONARY, THE REARVIEW MIRROR DEVELOPED A BUBBLE THAT OBSTRUCTED AND DISTORTED THE VIEW OF THE ROAD BEHIND. ACURA NORTH SCOTTSDALE IN SCOTTSDALE, ARIZONA WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL; THEREFORE, THE CONTACT WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE FOUR YEAR WARRANTY WAS OUT OF DATE AND THAT THE REPAIR WOULD NOT BE COVERED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 58,500.

NHTSA ID
11054221
Incident
Oct 12, 2017
Mileage
58,500 mi
Visibility
Filed Sep 12, 2016

FLUID IN REAR VIEW MIRROR THAT ACTS AS ANTI-GLARE, LIQUEFIED AND LEAKED OUT OF MIRROR CASING. ANTI-GLARE CAPABILITY NO LONGER EXISTS, MAKING NIGHT VISION VIA REAR VIEW MIRROR TO BE OBSCURED BY BRIGHTNESS OF HEADLIGHTS OF OTHER VEHICLES, LIQUID ALSO VERY VISCOUS AND DIFFICULT TO REMOVE.

NHTSA ID
10905896
Incident
Jul 8, 2015
Mileage
68,000 mi
Visibility
Filed Mar 5, 2015

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 ACURA TL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 08V092000 (VISIBILITY). THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

NHTSA ID
10692350
Incident
Oct 1, 2014
Mileage
100,000 mi
Visibility
Filed Jul 10, 2014

REAR VIEW MIRROR BEGAN TO DISCOLOR, CHANGES COLORS, AND CONTINUES TO MAKE VARIOUS FORMATIONS WITHIN THE GLASS. ADDITIONALLY, THE MIRROR HAS CLOUDED. IN RESEARCHING THE ISSUE, INTERNET ARTICLES AND THE DEALERS INDICATE THAT THE MIRROR CONTAINS GAS AND FLUIDS THAT DIMINISH GLARE AT NIGHT, BUT FAILS DUE TO HEAT WITHIN THE VEHICLE. IF I DO NOT REMOVE AND REPLACE THE MIRROR, THE MIRROR SUPPOSEDLY WILL START TO LEAK CORROSIVE FLUIDS ONTO THE INTERIOR PORTIONS OF THE VEHICLE AND THE MIRROR ITSELF HAS THE POTENTIAL TO EXPLODE. SO, WE HAVE A KNOWN ISSUE; A NON-FUNCTIONING REAR VIEW MIRROR; AND A PART THAT HAS THE POTENTIAL TO INJURE VEHICLE OCCUPANTS... *TR

NHTSA ID
10609663
Incident
May 28, 2014
Mileage
145,000 mi
Visibility
Filed Jan 23, 2014

PARKED THE CAR AT NIGHT IN THE GARAGE AS IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR NEW. CAR HAS ALWAYS BEEN PAMPERED AND HAS NEVER SPENT TIME OUTSIDE OF A GARAGE EXCEPT FOR RARE OCCASIONS VISITING FAMILY OUT OF TOWN FOR THE WEEKEND. EVEN WITH THAT, THE CAR MAYBE SPENDS A TOTAL OF 30 SOME ODD DAYS A YEAR IN TIME SITTING IN THE SUN. WENT TO TAKE THE CAR OUT TO THE STORE THE NEXT MORNING AND NOTICED A LARGE CRACK GOING FROM THE WINDSHIELD TOWARDS THE PASSENGER SEAT ACROSS THE AIR BAG. THE NEXT DAY 2 MORE CRACKS APPEARED, AND THE NEXT DAY AN ADDITIONAL 2 CRACKS. FOR A CAR THAT HAD BEEN BEYOND WELL KEPT AND PAMPERED, NOT TO MENTION A 'LUXURY' CAR, SHOULD NOT BE IN THIS STATE. I HAVE FRIENDS WITH ACURAS AND HONDAS MUCH OLDER THAN MINE THAT HAVE SPENT THEIR ENTIRE LIVES SITTING OUTSIDE IN THE TEXAS HEAT AND HAVE NOT A SINGLE CRACK ON THE DASHBOARD, YET MINE WHICH HAS LIVED A "SHELTERED" LIFE HAS OVER 6 NOW. AFTER MUCH RESEARCH ON THE WEB, I NOTICED I AM NOT THE ONLY OWNER WITH THIS ISSUE. WHAT MAKES THIS MORE ANNOYING IS LOOKING AT PICTURES POSTED FROM OTHER OWNERS, THE PLACES WHERE THE CRACKS FORM AND GROW ARE ALMOST NEARLY IDENTICAL. THIS IS COMPLETELY UNACCEPTABLE FOR THIS BRAND OF VEHICLE AND THE FACT THAT A RECALL OR AN OFFER FORM ACURA TO REPLACE THIS DASHBOARDS HAS NOT BEEN MADE. ONE OR TWO PEOPLE HAVING THE ISSUE CAN BE OVER LOOKED. HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE HAVING THE SAME ISSUE IN THE SAME LOCATIONS IS A DEFECT. ACURA SHOULD BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS. I BOUGHT THIS CAR BECAUSE OF THEIR REPUTATION. NOW THEIR REPUTATION HAS NO MEANING TO ME. IF I HADN'T PAID SO MUCH FOR THE CAR TO START WITH AND THE FACT THAT REPLACING IT WOULD BE RIDICULOUS FOR A CAR THAT FOR THE MOST PART IS STILL LIKE NEW WOULD BE INSANE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10561233
Incident
Sep 17, 2013
Mileage
97,000 mi
Visibility
Filed May 30, 2013

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 ACURA TL. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WERE ACTIVATED AND THEN FAILED TO OPERATE. THE CONTACT CONTINUED TO DRIVE WITH CAUTION. THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED UNDER A RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 08V092000 (VISIBILITY). THE FAILURE RECURRED A FEW YEARS LATER AFTER THE REPAIR. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED FOR MOST RECENT FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000.

NHTSA ID
10514260
Incident
Apr 19, 2013
Mileage
160,000 mi
Visibility
Filed Dec 8, 2011

THERE IS A DEFECT IN THE MAGNA DONNELLY REAR VIEW MIRRORS IN MOST ACURA CARS. I HAD A 2001 CL AND THE REAR VIEW MIRROR EXPLODED AND MELTED THE CONSOLE. THANK GOD I WAS NOT IN THE CAR AT THE TIME. NOW I HAVE JUST BOUGHT A 2004 ACURA TL AND THE MIRROR HAD ALREADY EXPLODED AND MADE MELT MARKS ON THE CONSOLE. THESE MIRRORS ARE DEFECTIVE AND DANGEROUS. HOW COME ACURA CAN STILL PUT THEM IN THEIR CARS? HOW COME MAGNA DONNELLY IS STILL MAKING THEM AND NOONE HAS SUED THEM? WE NEED A CLASS ACTION SUIT FOR THIS ASAP! *TR

NHTSA ID
10439088
Incident
Dec 3, 2011
Mileage
87 mi
Other / unspecifiedVisibility
Filed Jan 18, 2011

MY 2004 ACURA TL WAS PARKED DURING AN ICE STORM IN RALEIGH, NC, LAST WEEK. WHEN I RETURNED TO MY CAR AND STARTED IT ON WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 12, 2011, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WOULD NOT COME ON. I CHECKED THE FUSES AND DID NOT FIND A PROBLEM THERE. I BROUGHT MY CAR TO THE DEALER FOR OIL CHANGE, BRAKE PADS, AND TO CHECK THE WIPERS THIS MORNING. I LOOKED ON THIS WEBSITE AND FOUND OUT THERE HAD BEEN A RECALL IN 2008 OF THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR. WHEN I CALLED THE DEALER, THEY INFORMED ME THAT THE RECALL SERVICE HAD ALREADY BEEN PERFORMED ON MY VEHICLE IN 2008. IT SEEMS TO ME THAT SOMETHING ELSE IS WRONG IF THE MOTOR HAS FAILED AGAIN. THIS IS COSTING ME ABOUT $380 AND AM WONDERING IF THERE IS ANYTHING I CAN DO TO RECOUP THE MONEY FOR THIS REPAIR. IS IT NOT LIKELY THAT THIS PROBLEM IS RELATED TO THE PREVIOUS PROBLEM FOR WHICH THE CAR WAS RECALLED? THERE WAS NO PROBLEM WITH THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS PRIOR TO MY TRIP, AND THE CAR SAT IN THE SAME SPOT FROM SATURDAY NIGHT UNTIL WEDNESDAY MORNING. *TR

NHTSA ID
10377033
Incident
Jan 12, 2011
Body & structureVisibility
Filed Dec 18, 2010

CRACK IN DASHBOARD--ALTHOUGH REASONABLE CARE WAS USED TO PROTECT DASH FROM SUCH DAMAGE...SUN VISOR WAS USED AND CAR IS GARAGE KEPT 1. THE EVENTS LEADING UP TO THE FAILURE, ARE NORMAL OPERATION OF THE VEHICLE. 2. THE FAILURE IS A CRACKED DASHBOARD 3. WHAT WAS DONE TO CORRECT THE FAILURE--I WOULD LIKE ACURA TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ID
10371177
Incident
Nov 15, 2010
Mileage
100,000 mi
Visibility
Filed Jun 7, 2010

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 ID
10335046
Incident
Jun 6, 2010
Visibility
Filed Dec 15, 2009

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 ACURA TL. WHILE DRIVING IN RAINY WEATHER CONDITIONS THE WINDOW WIPERS BECAME INOPERATIVE WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE FAILURE WAS CONTRIBUTED TO AN ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT SHORTAGE IN THE WINDOW WIPER SYSTEM MOTOR. THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED ACCORDING TO RECALL CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 08V092000 (VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR). HOWEVER, THE REMEDY REPAIR DID NOT REMEDY THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 95,098.

NHTSA ID
10295885
Incident
Dec 7, 2009
Mileage
95,098 mi
Other / unspecifiedVisibility
Filed Sep 16, 2009

1. RECALL CAMPAIGN ID# 08V092000 - 2004-2005 ACURA TL (WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR); MANUFACTURER REPORT DATE: FEBRUARY 25, 2008 2. AS PER ACURA, A WIPER MOTOR KIT WAS INSTALLED JUNE 27, 2008 ON MY 2004 ACURA TL. 3. ON SEPTEMBER 11, 2009 MY WINDSHIELD WIPERS BECAME INOPERABLE. I CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP AND ACURA CLIENT SERVICES IMMEDIATELY. I MADE AN APPOINTMENT TO TAKE MY VEHICLE TO THE ACURA DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THAT I WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR SINCE THE "RECALL" WAS COMPLETE. ALTHOUGH, THE WIPER MOTOR KIT WAS INSTALLED (JUNE 27, 2008) AS A PREVENTIVE MEASURE BY THE DEALERSHIP, THE WIPER MOTOR KIT DID NOT PREVENT MY WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR FROM THE CORROSION AS MENTIONED IN THE DEFECT NOTICE, OWNER NOTIFICATION LETTER (PART 577), RECALL ACKNOWLEDGEMENT AND RECALL SUMMARY. THE DEALERSHIP RULED THE REPAIR ON SEPTEMBER 12, 2009 DUE TO "WIPER MOTOR ELECTRICAL FAULT". *TR

NHTSA ID
10284174
Incident
Sep 11, 2009
Mileage
92,355 mi
Visibility
Filed Jun 25, 2008

2004 ACURA TL WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR RECALL NOTICE. CONSUMER PAID FOR THE RECALL REPAIRS AND WANTS TO BE REIMBURSE FOR THE RECALL. *NJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOPPED WORKING. *JB

NHTSA ID
10232848
Incident
Jun 1, 2007
SteeringVisibility
Filed May 23, 2008

2004 ACURA TL WITH TWO RECALLS. CONSUMER STATES THAT HE WOULD LIKE FULL REIMBURSEMENT OF THE REPAIRS HE PAID FOR ON HIS VEHICLE, WHICH WERE THEN RECALLED. *KB THE CONSUMER STATED DUE TO THE POWER STEERING FLUID LEAK, THE ENGINE STOPPED WORKING. *JB

NHTSA ID
10229545
Incident
Aug 13, 2007
Visibility
Filed Jan 22, 2008

DRIVING TO WORK IN THE RAIN THIS MORNING AND WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOPPED WORKING. I HAD ZERO VISIBILITY AND WAS IN THE FLOW OF TRAFFIC ON A FOUR LANE ROAD. I HAVE SEEN SEVERAL OF THESE COMPLAINTS ON THE INTERNET AND THINK THAT THIS TYPE OF SAFETY FAILURE SHOULD BE ADDRESSED BY THE MANUFACTURER. *TR

NHTSA ID
10215629
Incident
Jan 22, 2008
Visibility
Filed Aug 10, 2007

THE WIPER MOTOR FAILED DURING A HEAVY RAINSTORM ON THE INTERSTATE. THERE ARE OTHER REPORTS OF SIMILAR FAILURES REPORTED ON THE ACURA TL OWNERS SITE HTTP://TL.ACURAZINE.COM/FORUMS/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?=160666&HIGHLIGHT=WIPER+MOTOR. *JB

NHTSA ID
10199277
Incident
Aug 7, 2007
Mileage
54,502 mi
Visibility
Filed Nov 1, 2006

2004 ACURA TL MOON ROOF JUST FLEW OFF WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. *NM

NHTSA ID
10172421
Incident
Oct 29, 2006
Visibility
Filed Aug 20, 2006

DRIVING ALONG ON I-10 IN MOBILE, AL ON SATURDAY EVENING. STARTED RAINING, TURNED ON THE WIPERS AND THEY WORKED FOR ABOUT 5 MINUTES, THEN RETURNED TO THE OFF POSITION AND STOPPED WORKING IN MIDDLE OF A RAIN STORM. I ALMOST HAD AN ACCIDENT TRYING TO GET OFF THE HIGHWAY TO THE SHOULDER. WASHER STILL WORKS. CHANGED THE FUSE, STILL NOT WORKING. GOING TO DEALERSHIP TOMORROW. *JB

NHTSA ID
10166065
Incident
Aug 19, 2006
Visibility
Filed Apr 26, 2004

WINDSHIELD CRACKED WHILE MAKING A RIGHT TURN ONTO A FREEWAY. AFTER INSPECTION TO THE WINDSHIELD ACURA SAID A SMALL STONE HAD NICKED THE WINDSHIELD CAUSING IT TO BREAK. ACURA PAID HALF THE COST OF REPLACEMENT BUT I WAS STILL $330 OUT OF POCKET. AFTER CHECKING AROUND WITH OTHER 2004 ACURA TL OWNERS IM NOT ALONE. MANY OWNERS ARE REPORTING BROKEN WINDSHIELDS IN THE FIRST FEW THOUSAND MILES. MANY OWNERS BELIEVE THAT THE PROBLEM IS A SOUND BARRIER SANDWICHED IN-BETWEEN THE TWO LAYERS OF GLASS. SOURCE ACURA-TL.COM. *AK

NHTSA ID
10067801
Incident
Mar 12, 2004
Mileage
1,000 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.

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Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .