2005 Acura TL Body & structure Problems

The dash has developed a crack on the passenger side right over the area where the front passenger side airbag is located. This could possibly create a problem in the proper deployment of that air bag. Apparently, this is a common problem with this generation (3rd- '04 to '08) Acura TL. There are many similar complaints by owners posted online going back many years now about this very problem, yet Acura/Honda has apparently never addressed it. They apparently seem content to consider it a cosmetic problem only as several posters/owners have mentioned, rather than addressing the potential safety issue regarding proper airbag deployment. From the numerous reports of other owners found online, it would seem logical to presume that this is a result from a manufacturers defect or design flaw that Acura seems to want to ignore.

NHTSA ID

11422459

Incident

Jun 12, 2020

AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON AND AIR BAG WAS DEFECTED AND I HAD TO PAY FOR IT . MY DASHBOARD CRACKED CND MY DASH LIGHT S DON'T WORK THEY SOMETIME COME ON AND GO OFF

NHTSA ID

11367013

Incident

Aug 14, 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 ACURA TL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DASHBOARD WAS CRACKED. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED THAT THE AIR BAGS MAY NOT DEPLOY IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH OR THAT THE AIR BAGS MAY INADVERTENTLY DEPLOY WITHOUT THE VEHICLE BEING INVOLVED IN A CRASH. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO BE DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. NEITHER THE MANUFACTURER NOR A DEALER WERE MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 206,786.

NHTSA ID

11365514

Incident

Jun 12, 2019

Mileage

206,786 mi

DATE: 08/27/2020 MY 2005 ACURA TL HAS A SAFETY ISSUE WITH THE AIRBAG SYSTEM. THE PASSENGER DASH HAS CRACKED ON BOTH SIDES OF WHERE THE AIRBAG IS LOCATED. THIS ISSUE OCCURRED SLOWLY OVER THE COURSE OF ABOUT A YEAR WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY. AS OF A WEEK AGO, THE RED AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT GOES ON AND STAYS ON (BY THE SPEEDOMETER) WHEN A PASSENGER SITS IN THE FRONT SEAT. I HAVE RESEARCHED THIS ISSUE AND THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF ACURA TL OWNERS THAT HAVE THIS SAME PROBLEM WITH THE DASH ON THE PASSENGER SIDE CRACKING AND MANY HAVE FILED COMPLAINTS WITH THE NHTSA AND HAVE CONTACTED ACURA. EVEN THOUGH ALL OF THE OTHER ACURA TL MODEL YEARS THROUGH 2014 WERE PART OF THE TAKATA AIRBAG RECALL, FOR SOME REASON THE 3RD GENERATION ACURA TL MODEL YEARS 2004 - 2008 HAVE NOT BEEN RECALLED DUE TO THE TAKATA AIRBAG ISSUE. I HAVE READ THAT IT MAY BE DUE TO ACURA NEEDING TO REMOVE THE DASH IN ORDER TO REPLACE THE AIRBAGS, AND THAT THEY DON'T WANT TO INCUR THE EXPENSE OF REPLACING THE ENTIRE DASH. ACCORDING TO SEVERAL ACURA TL OWNERS, REPLACING THE DASH COSTS BETWEEN $1,000 - $2,000 (FOR THE OWNER) AND DOESN'T TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THE SAFETY ISSUE REGARDING HAVING THE PASSENGER AIRBAG DAMAGED DUE TO THE CRACKS IN THE DASH AND HUMIDITY GETTING IN. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE AS THE CRACKS COULD AFFECT DEPLOYMENT OF THE PASSENGER AIRBAG, OR CAUSE IT TO DEPLOY WHILE DRIVING AND CAUSE INJURY TO THE PASSENGER OR THE DRIVER. ACCORDING TO MANY POSTS I HAVE SEEN ONLINE, THIS ISSUE HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR OVER 5 YEARS. PLEASE INVESTIGATE THIS SAFETY HAZARD AND NOTIFY ACURA. ACURA NEEDS TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS WIDESPREAD SAFETY ISSUE.

NHTSA ID

11351709

Incident

Aug 20, 2020

Mileage

122,170 mi

MY BATTERY WOULD BE DEAD IF I DIDN'T DRIVE MY CAR EVERY DAY. THEN I FOUND OUT THERE IS A PARASITIC DRAIN ON THE BATTERY FROM A FAULTY HANDS-FREE BLUETOOTH MODULE. I WATCHED A VIDEO THEN DISCONNECTED MINE MYSELF, PROBLEM SOLVED. I'VE USED A HEADLIGHT RESTORATION KIT BECAUSE THE LIGHTS ARE YELLOW AND THEY HAVE SPIDER-CRACKS ALL IN THEM, IT REALLY AFFECTS THE BRIGHTNESS OF THE LIGHT ITSELF. THE DASHBOARD IS CRACKED BEYOND REPAIR AND I'M TERRIFIED OF GETTING INTO A WRECK IN MY CAR, THE DASH WOULD BECOME SHRAPNEL!

NHTSA ID

11340032

Incident

Jul 17, 2020

POWER STEERING PROBLEM. INSIDE PERMANENT PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ID

11321051

Incident

Jan 28, 2020

DASH IS CRACKING ON PASSENGER SIDE.

NHTSA ID

11302565

Incident

Jan 12, 2020

Mileage

180,000 mi

2005 ACURA TL, VERY WELL MAINTAINED. JUN 2019, A CRACK APPEARED IN DASHBOARD ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG. AIRBAG DASHBOARD LIGHT CAME ON 3 MONTHS LATER AND STAYS ON. DEALER SAID THEY HAD NEVER SEEN THAT BEFORE, BUT NOW I KNOW THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM. LOVE THE CAR, BUT FEEL ACURA NEEDS TO RESOLVE THIS DEFECT. THE RISK OF AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT IS SERIOUS.

NHTSA ID

11258227

Incident

Sep 25, 2019

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 ACURA TL. THE CONTACT NOTICED THE PASSENGER SIDE DASHBOARD WAS CRACKED NEAR THE LOCATION OF THE AIR BAGS AND THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED AND THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 149,000.

NHTSA ID

11220912

Incident

Apr 23, 2019

Mileage

149,000 mi

I ENTERED MY VEHICLE YESTERDAY MORING AN NOTICED THREE TWO LARGE CRACK ACROSS THE DASHBOARD STARTING AT THE WINSHIELD MOVING TOWARD THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. I DID NOT NOTICE THE CRACKS WHEN CLEANING MY CAR LAST WEEK = SUDDEN EVENT OCCURANCE. A GOOGLE SEARCH INDICATES MANY 2004 TO 2008 ACURA TL'S EXPERIENCE THIS ISSUE. I AM CONCERNED ABOUT THESE CRACKS EFFECTING THE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT PROCESS AND SUBSEQUENT LOSS OF PASSENGER PROTECTION/SAFETY DURING A COLLOSION. GOOGLE SEARCH RESULTS IMPLY THESE CRACKS WILL CONTINUE TO DEVELOP AND SPREAD ACROSS THE ENTIRE DASHBOARD DUE TO A DESIGN OR MANUFACTURING DEFECT. CAN YOU HELP US?

NHTSA ID

11175870

Incident

Feb 8, 2019

MY ACURA 2005 TL HAS SEVERAL CRACKS THROUGHOUT THE DASHBOARD. I HAVE FILED PREVIOUSLY, THIS FILING IS ANOTHER CONCERN THAT CAN BE ADDED TO THE ONES I JUST SUBMITTED REGARDING THE CRACKED DASHBOARD - WILL THE DAMAGED DASHBOARD BREAK APART EASILY AND CAUSE INJURY DURING A MINOR ACCIDENT? THIS CONCERN IS ADDITIONAL TO THE AIRBAG CONCERNS I ARTICULATED IN MY PREVIOUS SUBMISSION.

NHTSA ID

11166189

Incident

May 5, 2014

Mileage

85,000 mi

DASH BOARD STARTING TO CRACK, AFRAID IF CRACKS WOULD MAKE PASSENGER AIRBAG EXPLODE. CAR HAS LESS THAN 50,000 AND GARAGED.

NHTSA ID

11144973

Incident

Sep 10, 2018

I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF THIS VEHICLE, AND HAVE ROUTINE MAINTENANCE PERFORMED ON IT AT REGULAR INTERVALS. ON JULY 23, 2018, APPROXIMATELY 4:15PM, I WAS EXITING VIA REVERSE FROM A PARKING SPACE AT A LOCAL SHOPPING CENTER. I SHIFTED THE CAR INTO DRIVE, PROCEEDED FORWARD AT A SPEED OF 3MPH, FOR LESS THAN TEN FEET TO MAKE A SLIGHT LEFT TURN, WHEN THERE WAS THE SOUND OF BREAKING METAL, AND THE CAR CAME TO A HALT. THE CAR WAS IN DRIVE, FOOT ON GAS, BUT WOULD NOT MOVE. I STRUGGLED TO SHIFT THE GEAR INTO PARK, THEN RESTARTED. THE CAR WOULD NOT GO INTO DRIVE, WITH GREAT DIFFICULTY I GOT IT INTO REVERSE, THEN ROLLED BACKWARDS INTO A HANDICAPPED PARKING SPACE. THE GEAR WAS NOW STUCK IN REVERSE, AND KEY WAS LOCKED IN IGNITION. I IMMEDIATELY APPLIED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE, TURNED ON HAZARD LIGHTS, AND EXITED THE VEHICLE. I PLACED PHONE CALLS TO A TOWING COMPANY, AND MY MECHANIC. UPON INSPECTION, IT WAS DETERMINED "THE DRIVER'S FRONT AXLE ASSEMBLY SNAPPED IN TWO. THE AXLE SHAFT HAD RUSTED UNDERNEATH THE VIBRATION DAMPER. THE PASSENGER FRONT AXLE ASSEMBLY LOOKED RUSTED". AT MY DIRECTION, THE MECHANIC REPLACED BOTH FRONT AXLE ASSEMBLIES. BOTH MYSELF AND THE MECHANIC SEARCHED FOR A RECALL, OR EVEN AN UPDATE TO THE MANUFACTURER'S RECOMMENDED MAINTENANCE/SERVICE, BUT FOUND NOTHING. CAR AXLES SHOULD NOT RANDOMLY SNAP IN HALF. I HAVE HAD ABSOLUTELY ZERO ISSUES WITH MY VEHICLE LEADING UP TO THE EVENT. THANKFULLY, NO ONE WAS HARMED WHEN THIS OCCURRED. HAD I BEEN TRAVELING IN A DRIVE LANE, WHETHER IT WAS IN THE SHOPPING CENTER OR INTERSTATE, NO DOUBT THERE WAS GOING TO BE A CATASTROPHIC SITUATION, RESULTING IN BODILY HARM AND VEHICLE DAMAGE TO MYSELF AND OTHERS. A COPY OF THE REPAIR BILL IS ATTACHED IN THE RECORD FOR YOUR REFERENCE. ON AUGUST 7, 2018, I REPORTED THIS TO ACURA, REFERENCE CASE # 08888084.

NHTSA ID

11118839

Incident

Jul 23, 2018

Mileage

117,345 mi

DASHBOARD HAS CRACKS STARTING FROM THE AREA THE FRONT PASSENGER AIRBAG IS LOCATED AND HAS SINCE SPREAD TO ALL AREAS OF THE DASHBOARD. ACURA HAS REFUSED TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE DEFECT, DESPITE THOUSANDS OF OWNERS COMPLAINING. THIS ISSUE HAS MADE ITS WAY TO CNN, LOCAL NEWS, NUMEROUS BOARDS AND WEBSITES, FACEBOOK, TWITTER, ETC. THE BRAND REFUSES TO STAND BY THEIR PRODUCT AND RESOLVE THE ISSUE.

NHTSA ID

11083668

Incident

Jun 1, 2017

Mileage

184,000 mi

CRACKED DASHBOARD. I WENT TO THE DEALER FOR A REPAIR AND THEY TOLD ME THEY CAN'T REPAIR IT CAUSE IT'S DANGEROUS TO REPAIRED IT BECAUSE THE AIRBAG MIGHT EXPLODE. SO WHAT CAN I DO? THEY WANT TO CHARGE ME 2000 DOLLAR.

NHTSA ID

11013148

Incident

Apr 4, 2017

Mileage

163,000 mi

MY DASHBOARD HAS 3 HUGE CRACKS OVER THE FRONT PASSENGER AIRBAG. I DO NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING MY CAR DUE TO THE FEELING THAT THE AIR BAG CAN DEPLOY ANY MINUTE. I RECENTLY HAD MY AIR BAGS TURNED OFF FOR PIECE OF MIND BUT NOW I PUT MY WIFE AND KIDS IN DANGER BECAUSE WE NO LONGER HAVE SAFETY AIR BAGS TO PROTECT US. THIS IS ALSO QUITE EMBARRASSING WHEN I DRIVE BUSINESS PARTNERS AROUND TOWN AND MY DASH IS CRACKED AND THE AIRBAG LIGHTS ARE FLASHING. THIS IS A BEAUTIFUL CAR BUT DEFECTS LIKE THIS GIVE THE BRAND A TERRIBLE REPUTATION.

NHTSA ID

10984395

Incident

May 1, 2012

Mileage

80,000 mi

DASH BOARD BEGAN TO CRACK ALONGSIDE THE RIGHT OF THE PASSENGER DASH AIRBAG. THE PASSENGER SIDE DASH AIRBAG IS INCREASINGLY NOTICEABLE. SINCE JUNE OF 2014, THE ENTIRE DASHBOARD HAS CONTINUED TO CRACK AND IS NOW SIGNIFICANTLY DAMAGED DUE TO THE CONTINUATION OF CRACKING THAT HAS EVOLVED FROM THE INITIAL CRACK ALONG SIDE THE AIRBAG. FAYETTEVILLE, ARKANSAS ACURA SERVICE DEPARTMENT INSISTS THAT THERE IS NOT AN ISSUE WITH THE MODEL & THAT THE AIRBAG/DASH DAMAGE IS NOT THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE VEHICLE MANUFACTURES TO REPLACE & THAT THERE HAS NOT BEEN A RECALL ISSUED FOR MY MAKE/MODEL/YEAR NOR VIN #. *TR

NHTSA ID

10936308

Incident

Jun 6, 2014

Mileage

96,000 mi

2005 ACURA TL PURCHASED WITH ONLY 88,000 MILES IN ABOVE EXCELLENT (PURCHASED FROM A PORSCHE MECHANIC) CONDITION. THE DASH OVER THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG STARTED CRACKING AROUND 100,000 MILES AND AFTER READING ALL OF THE 'ACURA FORUMS' HAVE DISCOVERED THIS IS MORE THAN COMMON WITH ACURA OWNERS AROUND THE U.S.A. DASH CRACKS ANYWHERE NEAR AN AIRBAG ARE MORE THAN ALARMING.

NHTSA ID

10935001

Incident

Jan 1, 2015

Mileage

100,000 mi

MY 2005 ACURA TL DASHBOARD CRACKS SO MANY PLACES.. ESPECIALLY PASSENGER SIDE OF DASHBOARD. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS IF THE AIRBAG POP OUT WHILE YOU'RE DRIVING THE ROAD. I PURCHASED THIS CAR BRAND NEW AT PARAGON ACURA , WOODSIDE,N.Y I HOPE THIS IS RECALL. PLEASE SEE ATTACHED PHOTO. MY NAME: [XXX] PHONE: [XXX] EMAIL: [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ID

10892899

Incident

May 1, 2015

DASHBOARD IS CRACKED IN TWO PLACES. ONE CRACK IS RIGHT ABOVE THE AIRBAG. NOT SURE IF IT COULD CAUSE THE AIRBAG TO DEPLOY? I HAVE READ THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM WITH A LOT OF ACURAS.

NHTSA ID

10884451

Incident

Jun 1, 2016

Mileage

170,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 ACURA TL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DASHBOARD HAD A DEEP CRACK OVER THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAGS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 127,000.

NHTSA ID

10863488

Incident

Jul 25, 2015

Mileage

127,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 ACURA TL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DASHBOARD WAS CRACKED ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS LATER TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE DASHBOARD NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 125,000.

NHTSA ID

10746504

Incident

Jul 22, 2015

Mileage

125,000 mi

I HAVE A 2005 ACURATL IN GOOD CONDITION. LAST YEAR, A LONG CRACK APPEARED ON MY PASSENGER SIDE DASHBOARD. A WEEK LATER A SECOND LONG CRACK APPEARED PARALLEL TO THE FIRST CRACK. LASTLY, ABOUT A MONTH AGO A THIRD CRACK APPEARED MAKING A HORIZONTAL LINE BETWEEN THE FIRST AND SECOND CRACK. IT IS VERY NOTICEABLE. A SECURITY GUARD ONCE ASKED ME, WHAT MODEL WAS MY CAR. HE REPLIED, THAT IT IS A DEFECT WITH THE 2005 ACURA TL'S. HIS AND HIS FRIEND'S CAR DID THE SAME THING, HE SAID. I BEGAN TO RESEARCH ONLINE. I FOUND MANY FORUMS AND BLOGS OF PEOPLE COMPLAINING OF THIS SAME ISSUE. I CONTACTED ACURA AND OF COURSE THEY CLAIM NO LIABILITY BECAUSE OF THE CAR'S AGE OR MILEAGE. I HAVE READ THAT THIS A SAFETY ISSUE WITH THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG....UPDATED 09/28/15 *BF UPDATED 12/11/2017*CN

NHTSA ID

10743961

Incident

Jul 1, 2014

Mileage

120,000 mi

PASSENGER SIDE DASHBOARD HAS MAJOR CRACKING AND OUR CONCERN IS WITH THE AIR BAGS. IF THERE WAS AN ACCIDENT, AND THE AIR BAGS DEPLOY INCORRECTLY DUE TO THE CRACKING IN THE DASHBOARD, THERE IS A POSSIBILITY THE PASSENGER WOULD BE NOT BE PROTECTED AS EXPECTED/NEEDED. THE CAR HAS BEEN TAKEN CARE OF, NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT AND IS SPOTLESS EXCEPT FOR THIS ONE HUGE DEFECT. ACURA SHOULD RECALL THIS AND MAKE IT RIGHT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10714177

Incident

Nov 12, 2014

Mileage

78,000 mi

THE DASH HAS INCREASING CRACK AND CRACKED AND CRACKED AND NOW IT LOOKS LIKE A SPIDER WEB. *TR

NHTSA ID

10703856

Incident

Feb 1, 2011