VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL
2005 Acura TL
Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data
Data refreshed
Overview
Our database contains 387 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2005 Acura TL, most frequently naming the body & structure, airbags and electrical categories. 7 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; 1 NHTSA investigation names it; and 71 manufacturer communications are on file.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Complaint activity over time
When owners filed reports about this model year
View as table
| Month | Complaints filed | Cumulative |
|---|---|---|
| Jun 2016 | 5 | 280 |
| Jul 2016 | 3 | 283 |
| Aug 2016 | 1 | 284 |
| Sep 2016 | 4 | 288 |
| Oct 2016 | 4 | 292 |
| Nov 2016 | 2 | 294 |
| Dec 2016 | 4 | 298 |
| Jan 2017 | 1 | 299 |
| Feb 2017 | 2 | 301 |
| Apr 2017 | 2 | 303 |
| May 2017 | 1 | 304 |
| Jun 2017 | 2 | 306 |
| Jul 2017 | 2 | 308 |
| Aug 2017 | 3 | 311 |
| Sep 2017 | 3 | 314 |
| Nov 2017 | 2 | 316 |
| Jan 2018 | 1 | 317 |
| Apr 2018 | 4 | 321 |
| Jun 2018 | 1 | 322 |
| Aug 2018 | 2 | 324 |
| Sep 2018 | 1 | 325 |
| Oct 2018 | 1 | 326 |
| Nov 2018 | 1 | 327 |
| Dec 2018 | 1 | 328 |
| Jan 2019 | 5 | 333 |
| Feb 2019 | 2 | 335 |
| Mar 2019 | 3 | 338 |
| Jun 2019 | 5 | 343 |
| Jul 2019 | 4 | 347 |
| Sep 2019 | 3 | 350 |
| Nov 2019 | 2 | 352 |
| Dec 2019 | 1 | 353 |
| Jan 2020 | 3 | 356 |
| Feb 2020 | 1 | 357 |
| Mar 2020 | 2 | 359 |
| Apr 2020 | 1 | 360 |
| May 2020 | 2 | 362 |
| Jun 2020 | 1 | 363 |
| Jul 2020 | 1 | 364 |
| Aug 2020 | 1 | 365 |
| Oct 2020 | 2 | 367 |
| Feb 2021 | 1 | 368 |
| Mar 2021 | 1 | 369 |
| May 2021 | 1 | 370 |
| Jun 2021 | 1 | 371 |
| Jul 2021 | 1 | 372 |
| Aug 2021 | 1 | 373 |
| Oct 2021 | 1 | 374 |
| Jan 2022 | 2 | 376 |
| Feb 2022 | 1 | 377 |
| Apr 2022 | 1 | 378 |
| Nov 2022 | 1 | 379 |
| Feb 2023 | 1 | 380 |
| Apr 2024 | 1 | 381 |
| Oct 2024 | 1 | 382 |
| Mar 2025 | 1 | 383 |
| Aug 2025 | 1 | 384 |
| Nov 2025 | 1 | 385 |
| Apr 2026 | 1 | 386 |
| Jul 2026 | 1 | 387 |
What owners report
Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded
- Body & structure15532.0%
- Airbags14429.7%
- Electrical285.8%
- Steering244.9%
- Tires & wheels204.1%
- Powertrain (other)193.9%
- Transmission173.5%
- Engine122.5%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Safety recalls
7 campaigns cover this model year
Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.
Check a VIN on NHTSA.govAIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT
Safety investigations
NHTSA inquiries naming this vehicle. An investigation is not a finding of a defect.
WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR FAILURE
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.
Recent owner complaints
Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words
The vehicle has been gradually leaking power steering fluid over time. I have been monitoring the fluid level and have noticed a recurring burning smell while operating the vehicle. At times, I have also observed what appears to be a very faint, clear or nearly transparent smoke or vapor that is only visible when light reflects off of it. I am uncertain whether this is smoke or vapor. The steering has not become difficult or hard to turn at this time. I am concerned that power steering fluid may be leaking onto or near a hot engine or exhaust component, causing the burning smell and possible smoke or vapor and creating a potential fire or safety hazard. The exact source and cause of the leak are currently UNKNOWN. The vehicle and affected components are available for inspection upon request.
- NHTSA ID
- 11749680
- Incident
- Jun 4, 2026
The contact owned a 2005 Acura TL. The contact stated that while driving at an unknown speed, the front driver's side air bag might have deployed without impact, hit the contact's face, reducing the roadway visibility and causing the vehicle to crash into the rear-end of another vehicle. The contact stated that the air bag exploded and propelled fragments, causing the driver to experience difficulty breathing. The contact was assisted out of the vehicle because the front driver's side door was damaged and could only be opened from the outside. The contact stated that the front end of the vehicle was significantly damaged and pushed back, and the driver's side of the vehicle was pushed back. The contact was transported to the hospital, where he was informed that he had sustained a concussion and a laceration on the left side of the head. The contact sustained bruises on the sternum, the spectrum, and the muscles, and the contact sustained whiplash and an airbag burn on the hand. The contact also sustained soft tissue damage on the right calf and throughout the body. The other driver did not sustain injuries and was able to drive away from the scene. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed and totaled. The dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 230,000.
- NHTSA ID
- 11728997
- Incident
- Feb 19, 2026
- Mileage
- 230,000 mi
While I was driving 55 mph, on the throttle, the transmission acted as it was in Neutral but all indicators verified it was in Drive. The RPMs were fluctuating during this & my car wouldn't accelerate. I was in the middle of a busy highway, the car came to a stop, I shifted it into Park, then tried to engage back into Drive with no success. In the middle of oncoming & ongoing HWY traffic, I turned the car off, back on & the car acted as if it was in limp mode. The VSA light & Triangle appeared. I had to pay get a towing service to get me & my car. It never had any transmission issues before & all of a sudden it did all of the above, erratic shifting, flare up shifts, won't move. It was then put on a diagnostic scanner which showed a code for Torque Converter Clutch Solenoid but was cleared & didn't reappear. After the car has been sitting for a while (days) you can crank it, put it into drive & it is hesitant to go & will drive ONLY for a few minutes. After the transmission heats up, it stops pulling. I have read numerous complaints, safety concerns, bulletins, etc. I am devastated & lost on what's going on with the car & what can be done. I purchased my '05 TL in 2022 & haven't been able to drive it but for one & a half years. I've put so much money into the repairs & maintenance. I replaced the rear & front motor mounts, transmission speed sensor, transmission position sensor, etc. I am now disabled & don't have the means to put into it anymore. I pray there's an investigation behind these Drive train safety concerns!
- NHTSA ID
- 11698295
- Incident
- May 22, 2025
My wife, [XXX] , purchased a 2005 Acura TL on [XXX]. The car was not inspected, it had a hole in the oil tank, was leaking battery acid, had broken control arms, wore out rotors, wore out brake pads, bald tires, Vehicle Stability Control disabled, no AC, cracked dashboard where the passenger air bag is located, and the alignment was so bad that the car would try to pull very hard off of the road. Toxic hot fumes entered the cockpit during my wife's drive home from the car dealership. The fumes made her feel sick and gave her a horrible headache because of the leaking battery acid and perhaps the hole in the oil tank. It's a health and safety issue that needs to be taken seriously. The used car dealership (Premium Auto Outlet Inc.) is selling vehicles to customers and are not providing them with the title. My wife paid in full, yet she had to fight to receive the title. The employees scream at there customers, including my wife and also tell them to leave the property when asking for the title and when confronted about vehicle mechanical issues. The female employee even screamed over the phone at our mechanic (Delran Auto Repair) who tried to tell the employee that the car was not is sellable condition due to the safety and mechanical problems. Please review the Google reviews and Facebook reviews for more horrible customer experiences when it comes vehicles being sold in horribly unsafe mechanical condition, withholding titles, unlawfully repossessing, screaming at customers and ignoring customer complaints. The best resolution for my wife and I would be for the dealership to pay for all of the repair bills that accrued (roughly $4K) due to the car being sold in unsafe condition and most importantly the prevention of any health and safety issues due to the selling of unsafe mechanically condition vehicles to future customers. Please investigate this issue for the health and safety of people. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
- NHTSA ID
- 11678771
- Incident
- Jan 29, 2025
See attached document for complaint.
- NHTSA ID
- 11646166
- Incident
- Nov 27, 2024
The driver and passenger side mirror lenses will click randomly while driving on the interstate going at a relatively good speed. When these click and move, it causes a distraction and I can no longer see what’s coming next to me. I have to turn the mirror lenses back to their original position in order to view my blind spot.
- NHTSA ID
- 11620737
- Incident
- Oct 18, 2024
Ball joint purchased from Napa Auto Parts #260-1791was defective. Nut supplied with ball joint was too small. This caused the ball joint to separate from the steering knuckle. After driving a very short distance the front end of the car collapsed, causing the front axle to break. The car fell on the front fender damaging it. This is the same problem reported in 2011. [XXX] This is a serious safety issue. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
- NHTSA ID
- 11582401
- Incident
- Mar 30, 2024
Air bags light flashing on and off almost every day we are driving the vehicle.
- NHTSA ID
- 11505499
- Incident
- Dec 1, 2022
Manufacturer communications
A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.
SUSPENSION
This SKU is a Front Upper Ball Joint. The customer communication requested return of unsold inventory to inspect for the outer diameter of the ball joint housing being too small. The outer diameter being too small would prevent the part from being installed, and would therefore have no impact on the end user besides time to complete installation.
EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL
Sending vehicle data to tech line.
EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:NAVIGATIONAL SYSTEM(GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM)
SERVICE BULLETIN - NAVIGATION SYSTEM INFORMATION.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE-INACTIVE; EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL
LETTER SENT IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE FLORIDA HIGHWAY SAFETY AND MOTOR VEHICLES DEPARTMENT TO REMIND FLORIDA OWNERS OF THE TAKATA RECALL AND TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT AT THEIR EARLIEST CONVENIENCE.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY
DEALER MESSAGE - AHM IS INVESTIGATING CLIENT COMPLAINT OF HANDSFREELINK NOT WORKING OR BATTERY BEING TOO LOW TO START THE ENGINE. PRIOR TO PERFORMING ANY REPAIR, PLEASE SEND SUSPECT PARTS BACK TO AHM.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY
AHM IS INVESTIGATING CUSTOMER COMPLAINT OF THE HANDSFREELINK NOT WORKING OR THE BATTERY BEING TOO LOW TO START THE ENGINE. PLEASE SEND SPECIFIC PARTS TO AHM PRIOR TO ATTEMPING ANY REPAIRS.
Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.
Compare model years
Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model
| Year | Complaints | Recalls | Investigations | Issue Index |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 17 | 3 | 1 | 51.1 |
| 2013 | 62 | 3 | 1 | 50.7 |
| 2012 | 130 | 3 | 1 | 50.4 |
| 2011 | 20 | 3 | 0 | 52.9 |
| 2010 | 64 | 3 | 0 | 48.8 |
| 2009 | 42 | 3 | 0 | 52.1 |
| 2008 | 124 | 4 | 0 | 51.7 |
| 2007 | 124 | 4 | 0 | 49.5 |
| 2006 | 247 | 6 | 0 | 49.7 |
| 2005Viewing | 387 | 7 | 1 | 53.9 |
| 2004 | 551 | 6 | 1 | 52.7 |
| 2003 | 391 | 5 | 4 | 59.7 |
| 2002 | 332 | 7 | 5 | 63.3 |
| 2001 | 149 | 3 | 1 | 56.1 |
| 2000 | 249 | 6 | 2 | 59.7 |
| 1999 | 157 | 4 | 1 | 58.6 |
| 1998 | 20 | 2 | 0 | 51.0 |
| 1997 | 23 | 2 | 0 | 56.0 |
| 1996 | 26 | 2 | 0 | 48.4 |
| 1995 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — |
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. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.