2008 Acura TL Body & structure Problems

dash is cracked air bag is not secure seat are torn

NHTSA ID

11456672

Incident

Mar 8, 2022

DASHBOARD CRACKS: POTENTIAL DANGER OF AIRBAG FAILURE OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS, MY CAR HAS DEVELOPED SEVERAL CRACKS IN THE DASHBOARD. OF PARTICULAR CONCERN IS A LARGE CRACK WHICH JUST RECENTLY APPEARED ALONG THE LEFT SIDE OF THE FRONT PASSENGER AIRBAG UNIT. (SEE PHOTOS) I AM VERY CONCERNED THAT THE CRACKS CAN ALLOW MOISTURE OR CONDENSATION TO ENTER THE AIRBAG UNIT, POSSIBLY CAUSING IT FAIL, DEPLOY PREMATURELY, OR NOT PROPERLY DEPLOY IN A CRASH SITUATION. ALTHOUGH THE DASHBOARD CRACKS ARE SEEMINGLY COSMETIC, ITS POTENTIAL TO CREATE A SEVERE SAFETY ISSUE IS OF GREAT CONCERN. ESPECIALLY IN LIGHT OF THE TAKATA RECALL FOR AIRBAGS, I HOPE THAT THE MANUFACTURER CAN HELP REPAIR OR REPLACE THESE FAULTY DASHBOARDS WITH A QUALITY MATERIAL THAT WILL NOT DEGRADE IN SUCH A MANNER.

NHTSA ID

11252486

Incident

Jul 15, 2019

Mileage

73,000 mi

TAKATA RECALL - MY AIRBAGS ON MY 2008 ACURA TL HAVE EXPLODED ON MY SEATS, ROOF, AND SIDE AIRBAGS. I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY PREVIOUSLY SUBMITTED COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS ISSUE HAVE NOT BEEN RESPONDED TO. MY AIRBAG LIGHT IS ON AND WILL NOT GO OFF AND MY SAFETY IS BEING JEOPARDIZED EVERYDAY ON THIS VEHICLE AND IT APPEARS FOR THE LAST DECADE OTHER OWNERS OF THE 2008 TL HAVE REPORTED ON THE ACURA FORUMS WHAT I HAVE, YET FOR SOME REASON, THE RECALLS ARE EXCLUDING THIS MODEL. WHY, WHY WHY????? DOES IT TAKE ANOTHER DEATH FOR SOMEONE TO RECOGNIZE THIS???? THE VEHICLE WAS MOVING WHEN THIS OCCURED ON AN EXITING ACCESS ROAD.

NHTSA ID

11186211

Incident

Jan 4, 2017

Mileage

130,000 mi

WHEN OPENING THE HOOD OF THE CAR, THE HOOD DOESN'T STAY UP. YESTERDAY, IT HAPPENED 4 TIMES. THE FIRST TIME, IT CAME DOWN WHEN I OPENED IT TO LOOK UNDER THE HOOD. LATER,, IT CAME DOWN ON ANOTHER PERSON'S ARM WHILE HE WAS LOOKING UNDER THE HOOD -- IT HAD BEEN OPENED FOR A COUPLE OF MINUTES BEFORE IT CAME DOWN. THE THIRD TIME, WE HAD THE CAR AT THE MECHANIC AND THEY MENTIONED THAT THEY HAD TO HOLD THE HOOD UP TO LOOK UNDER THE CAR. IN THE FOURTH INCIDENT, THE HOOD CAME DOWN WHEN ANOTHER PERSON WAS BENDING OVER TO LOOK UNDER THE HOOD AND HIT HIM IN THE HEAD. IT APPEARS THAT BOTH HOOD SUPPORTS NEED TO BE REPLACED, BUT IT SEEMS ODD THAT BOTH WOULD FAIL AT THE SAME TIME. ADDITIONALLY, THERE HAS ALWAYS BEEN A PROBLEM WITH THE FRONT DOORS NOT STAYING OPEN WHEN THE CAR IS PARKED ON A SLOPE -- THE DOORS SWING BACK SHUT UNLESS YOU HOLD THEM OPEN

NHTSA ID

11163178

Incident

Dec 22, 2018

Mileage

123,000 mi

TAKATA RECALL- PASSENGER ROOF, SEAT AND SIDE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED WHEN I HIT A CURB ON THE DRIVERS SIDE. HOW CAN THIS BE? I HAVE A 2008 ACURA TL. IT NEEDS TO BE CONSIDERED IN THE RECALL. UPON THE ABOVE MENTIONED, THE PASSENGER SIDE DASH HAS SEPARATED FROM THE FRONT PASSENGER FRAME. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AND COULD SEPARATE WHILE DRIVING. ALL OF THE DAMAGE IS ON PASSENGER SIDE AND NOT ON THE DRIVERS SIDE WHERE THE IMPACT WAS. CURRENTLY I DO NOT FEEL SAFE IN THE DRIVERS SIDE IF THE AIRBAGS MALFUNCTION LIKE THAT NOR CAN I HAVE PASSENGERS IN MY CAR. THIS AIRBAG RECALL NEEDS TO INCLUDE SOME 2008 MODELS THAT ARE NOT SHOWING AT THIS TIME.

NHTSA ID

11118307

Incident

Jan 2, 2016

Mileage

124,188 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 ACURA TL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DASHBOARD WAS FRACTURED ON THE PASSENGER SIDE NEAR THE AIR BAG. A LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE AND VIN WERE UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ID

11025456

Incident

Sep 19, 2017

3 ISSUES 1) TWO VERTICAL CRACKS OVERNIGHT ON PASSENGER SIDE DASH AT AIR BAG LOCATION-HORIZONTAL CRACK FORMING-FEAR OF AIRBAG DEPLOYING WHILE DRIVING CAUSING ME TO WRECK-SHOULD BE RECALL-I NO LONGER FEEL SAFE FOR FEAR OR ACCIDENTAL DEPLOYMENT 2)BLUETOOTH MODULE FAILURE-TWO BATTERIES AND ALTERNATOR REPLACED-NOW HAVE MODULE DISCONNECTED-SAFETY ISSUE OF NOT BEING ABLE TO USE HFL WHILE DRIVING 3)SINCE BUYING CAR IN 2008, COMPLAINED ABOUT DRIVERS DOOR CLOSING BACK ON MY LEG WHEN I OPEN IT-HAVE AVOIDED INJURIES SO FAR-AS OTHERS STATED, I HAVE TO KICK DOOR OPEN OR HOLD FOOT ON IT WHEN EXITING VEHICLE FROM WHAT I HAVE READ MANY 2008 TL OWNERS ARE HAVING THE SAME ISSUES - WHATS IT GOING TO TAKE FOR NHTSA TO FORCE ACURA/HONDA TO ADDRESS THESE ISSUES? I DONT HAVE $2000 TO REPLACE A DASH THAT I CAUSED NO PART IN THE FAILURE OF. IF MY AIRBAG DEPLOYS ON ITS ON WHILE I AM DRIVING AND I HAVE AN ACCIDENT, THERE WILL BE A LAWSUIT.

NHTSA ID

10881384

Incident

Jun 29, 2016

Mileage

108,000 mi

I TRAVEL THIS ROAD MONDAY-FRIDAY AND THE ROAD CONSTRUCTION HAS CAUSED LOSE ROCKS AND DEBRIS TO FLY ALL OVER AND DUE TO THAT I NOW HAVE MUTIPLE WINDSHEILD CHIPS AND TWO CRACKS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10704551

Incident

Mar 19, 2015

Mileage

106,200 mi

12" VERTICAL CRACK ON PASSENGER SIDE DASHBOARD, FOUND MANY COMPLAINTS OF SAME NATURE ON THE INTERNET AND ONE HERE, HERE IS THE COMPLAINT FOUND HERE: MY 2008 TL DASHBOARD STARTED TO CRACK IN AUGUST OVER THE PASSENGER AIRBAG AREA. NOW IN SEPTEMBER THERE ARE AT LEAST 3 LENGTHY CRACKS THROUGHOUT THE DASHBOARD. ALTHOUGH I LIVE IN FL. I PARK IN A COVERED GARAGE EVERY DAY FOR WORK FROM 10 AM TO 6:30 PM. I PREVIOUSLY OWNED A 2001 TL AND NEVER HAD THE DASH CRACK IN THE 7 YEARS OWNED. I FEEL THAT THE CRACKING DASHBOARD IS A MANUFACTURER DEFECT THAT SHOULD BE RECOGNIZED BY ACURA. *TR

NHTSA ID

10668302

Incident

Dec 24, 2014

Mileage

89,200 mi

MY 2008 TL DASHBOARD STARTED TO CRACK IN AUGUST OVER THE PASSENGER AIRBAG AREA. NOW IN SEPTEMBER THERE ARE AT LEAST 3 LENGTHY CRACKS THROUGHOUT THE DASHBOARD. ALTHOUGH I LIVE IN FL. I PARK IN A COVERED GARAGE EVERY DAY FOR WORK FROM 10 AM TO 6:30 PM. I PREVIOUSLY OWNED A 2001 TL AND NEVER HAD THE DASH CRACK IN THE 7 YEARS OWNED. I FEEL THAT THE CRACKING DASHBOARD IS A MANUFACTURER DEFECT THAT SHOULD BE RECOGNIZED BY ACURA. *TR

NHTSA ID

10638835

Incident

Aug 1, 2014

Mileage

60,000 mi

ON 08/24/2014, FEW MINUTES AFTER LEAVING MY HOUSE, WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN AT A LOCAL INTERSECTION W/ SPEED < 10 MPH, SUDDENLY I HEARD THIS LOUD METALLIC NOISE, N I FELT MY CAR HAD DROPPED A BIT. MY CAR STOPPED RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF STREET, N COULD'T MOVE AT ALL. LOWER BALL JOINT HAD SEVERED. PASSENGER FRONT WHEEL IS TILTED OUTWARD AT A 60 DEGREE ANGLE. RIGHT FRONT AXAL GOT PULLED OUT OF TRANSMISSION. CAR BODY DAMAGED BECAUSE ALL THE UNSUPPORTED WEIGHT PLACED ON TILTED WHEEL. THERE'RE WITNESSES, AND MY MOM IS W/ ME AT THE TIME OF INCIDENT. HAD AAA TOWED IT TO THE SHOP AND SINCE IT WAS CLOSED ON SUNDAY, I HAD TO WAIT TILL MONDAY TO CALL THEM FOR QUOTES. I WAS GONNA HAVE MY INSURANCE TAKING CARE OF IT, BUT FIGURED THIS HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH ME, I DIDN'T DO ANYTHING WRONG, N THE CAR NEVER HAD ANY MAJOR ACCIDENTS. I DID ALMOST ALL A1B1 SERVICES AT ACURA DEALER AND MOSTLY THOMAS ACURA LOCATED IN COVINA. I WAS THERE FOR SERVICE ON JULY 16TH, 2014, N THE REPORT THEY GAVE ME NEVER MENTIONED ANYTHING ABOUT BALL JOINT. I CALLED THOMAS ACURA ON MONDAY, 08/25/2014 REGARDING THE INCIDENT, THE GUY NAME [XXX] WANTED ME TO BRING IN THE CAR SO THEY CAN INSPECT IT SO THEY CAN DETERMINED WHO'S AT FAULT, BUT AT THE SAME TIME HINTING ME THERE'S MUST BE SOME SORTS OF IMPACT CAUSING THIS. I TOLD HIM THERE'S NOTHING ON THE STREET, AND NO OTHER PARTY/CAR HAS HIT MY VEHICLE. I HAD MY CAR TOWED FROM THE SHOP TO THE DEALER N LET THEM INSPECT IT. I ALSO SENT ACURA NORTH AMERICA AN EMAIL AND STATED THE INCIDENT. THE GUY NAME [XXX] FROM THOMAS ACURA CALLED ME BACK ON 08/26/14, N TOLD ME THAT THERE'S AN IMPACT, N I BETTER HAVE INSURANCE INFO READY. I AM PRETTY SURE ACURA N AMERICA IS GONNA TAKE THEIR SIDE. THERE MUST BE SOME SORTS OF DEFECTS BUT SEEMS LIKE THERE IS NOTHING I CAN DO. MY FAMILY COULD BE DEAD IF THIS HAPPENED ON A HIGHWAY. SOMEONE NEEDS TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ID

10628634

Incident

Aug 24, 2014

Mileage

88,000 mi

I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE, A 2008 ACURA TL, IN FEBRUARY OF 2012 IN SOUTH FLORIDA. BY APRIL OF 2013 THE DRIVER'S SEAT LEATHER WAS COMING APART AT THE SEAMS. I TAKE CARE OF MY VEHICLES AND HAD NEVER HAD THIS HAPPEN. ACURA "MADE A DEAL WITH ME AS THE CAR WAS OUT OF WARRANTY," AND I HAD TO PAY A SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT OF MONEY FOR THEM TO FIX THE SEAT. WITHIN FIVE (5) MONTHS OF THAT, THE PASSENGER'S SEAT BEGAN TO COME APART AS WELL. IT SHOULD BE NOTED THAT IT WAS VERY RARE FOR ME TO HAVE ANY PASSENGERS WITH ME. WHEN I WAS CLEANING THE CAR, I NOTICED THE DASHBOARD WAS CRACKING DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF THE PASSENGER'S SEAT. I TOOK THE CAR BACK TO ACURA AND THEY, AFTER TAKING PICTURES AND CONTACTING THEIR CORPORATE OFFICE ,ACURA TOLD ME I WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THE SEAT IN IT'S ENTIRETY AND HALF OF THE COST TO REPLACE THE DASHBOARD. THEY SAID DASHBOARDS CRACK IN SOUTH FLORIDA AND THEY WOULD ONLY PAY FOR PART OF THE REPLACEMENT AND THE SEAT WAS OLD AND WAS NORMAL WEAR. AGAIN, RARELY DID ANYONE RIDE WITH ME IN MY CAR. ADDITIONALLY, WHEN I TOOK THE CAR TO PEMBROKE PINES ACURA TO HAVE IT EXAMINED, THEY SAID THE CENTER CONSOLE COVER WAS ALSO BAD AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED--TOTALLY AT MY COST. I HAVE LIVED IN SOUTH FLORIDA MY ENTIRE LIFE AND THE LAST CAR I OWNED THAT HAD A DASHBOARD CRACK WAS BACK IN THE 1970'S. WITH BOTH FRONT SEATS COMING APART AND THE DASHBOARD CRACKING, IT IS MY OPINION THAT THERE WAS DEFECTIVE MATERIAL USED ON THIS CAR. I DO HAVE E-MAILS DOCUMENTING ALL THIS TO AND FROM ACURA DATED NOVEMBER OF 2013 TO BACK UP WHAT IS STATED HEREIN. *JS

NHTSA ID

10617424

Incident

Oct 1, 2013

Mileage

62,000 mi

TO WHOM CONCERN : DASHBOARD PASSENGER SIDE SUDDENLY CRACKED OVER THE AIR BAG, DURING THE DAY , TEMPERATURE AT 98 AT THIS DAY. ACURA NOTIFIED ;HOWEVER THEY DO NOT REPLACE IT EVEN THE CAR IS UNDER WARRANTY STILL. THE CAR HAS 82000 MILES ,WARRANTY COVERS UNTIL 100000 OR FIVE YEARS. AS I KNOW THERE ARE A LOT C/O ABOUT IT , WE NEED ACURA STEPS ON IT AND GIVE TO US ANSWERS AND REPLACE IT. I HOPE NHTSA ADVOCATE FOR US . *TR

NHTSA ID

10605768

Incident

Jun 2, 2014

Mileage

82,000 mi

I OWN A 2008 ACURA TL TYPE-S AND THE DASHBOARD ON THE PASSENGER CAR IT COMPLETELY CRACKED. IT HAS ONLY BEEN SERVICED AT ACURA DEALERSHIPS AND I TAKE EXTREMELY CARE OF THE CAR. I ALWAYS USE A SUNSHADE AND THE OFFICIAL ACURA TL'S CAR COVER TO PROTECT IT FROM THE SUN. I NOTICE THE INITIAL CRACKING ON APRIL 25TH, AND IT WAS ABOUT 6-INCHES LONG RIGHT ON THE PASSENGER'S AIRBAG. AT THE TIME THE CAR HAD LESS THAN 79,000 MILES. I MADE A COMPLAINT TO THE DEALERSHIP ABOUT THE EVIDENT DEFECTIVE PART. IT TOOK THEM A MONTH TO GET BACK TO ME WITH A NEGATIVE ANSWER. ACCORDING TO THEM, IT WILL NOT AFFECT AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT AND THE ONLY SOLUTION IS FOR ME TO PAY $1,600.00 FOR THE REPLACEMENT. HOWEVER, NO CHECKS OR STUDIES WERE DONE TO THE CAR TO DETERMINE THIS. I DID MY RESEARCH ONLINE, AND THIS HAPPENS TO HUNDREDS OF ACURA TLS. THEREFORE, IT IS OBVIOUS THAT THIS ARE DEFECTIVE PARTS. I DO NOT THINK THAT ANYONE PAYING FOR A PRODUCT SHOULD HAVE TO PAY THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS A FEW YEARS LATER, DUE TO LACK OF QUALITY OF THAT "PREMIUM" PRODUCT. I WOULD THINK THAT AFTER GM'S RECENT LAWSUIT REGARDING A SMALL IGNITION SWITCH, WHICH HAS CAUSED DEATH TO SEVERAL PEOPLE, ACURA WOULD TAKE MORE RESPONSIBILITY ABOUT THEIR CRACKED DASHBOARDS ALONG THE AIRBAGS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10597298

Incident

Apr 25, 2014

Mileage

79,000 mi

WE HAVE AN ONGOING COMPLAINT WITH THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE DOOR CLOSING ON ITS OWN EVEN ON A VERY SLIGHT INCLINE. WE HAVE TO PUT OUR FOOT ON THE DOOR TO KEEP IT OPEN WHILE EXITING THE VEHICLE. WE REPORTED THIS TO THE DEALER, BUT AS PER USUAL THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. IT HAS NOT GOTTEN ANY BETTER. THEY SAID EVERYTHING WAS NORMAL. *TR

NHTSA ID

10292421

Incident

Aug 1, 2008

Mileage

500 mi

THE DOORS DO NOT STAY OPEN AND TEND TO CLOSE ON PASSENGERS AS THEY ARE ENTERING OR EXITING THE VEHICLE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10288842

Incident

Nov 10, 2008

Mileage

2,000 mi

AS A PASSENGER, I OFTEN FIND THE BIG HEAVY DOOR WILL NOT STAY IN THE OPEN POSITION WHILE I AM TRYING TO EXIT FROM THE CAR. THERE ARE SEVERAL "LOCKING" POSITIONS, BUT NONE OF THEM HOLD FIRMLY. THIS IS ESPECIALLY TRUE IF THE CAR IS ON EVEN A SLIGHT INCLINE. I FIND MYSELF KICKING THE DOOR OUT OF THE WAY SO I CAN SAFELY EXIT. THE CAR IS LEASED, AND I WOULD CONSIDER NOT BUYING IT BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM. NO CRASH, NO INJURY, NO DAMAGE TO OUR CAR OR OTHER CARS. THIS IS AN ANNOYING DESIGN FLAW. THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING PROBLEM SINCE WE GOT THE CAR. *TR

NHTSA ID

10288822

Incident

Oct 17, 2009

Mileage

2,015 mi

2008 ACURA TL - DOORS WILL NOT STAY OPEN WHEN GETTING OUT OF CAR. DOORS CLOSE ON INDIVIDUALS WHEN EXITING THE VEHICLE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10287471

Incident

Jan 1, 2008

2008 ACURA TL WITH EXTERIOR DAMAGE OVER THE DOOR. CONSUMER STATES THE EXTERIOR FRAME OVER THE DOORS WAS UNUSUALLY SUSCEPTIBLE TO DAMAGE. THAT SECTION OF THE EXTERIOR SHOWED DENTS OR IMPRESSIONS. HE STATES HIS PREVIOUS ACURA TL SHOWED THIS SAME PROBLEM. *KB

NHTSA ID

10237138

Incident

Jan 1, 1901