10 of the
466 complaints about the 2003 Acura TL are about the
lighting — 2% of everything
reported for this model year.
Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before
52,050 miles.
F
10
Complaints
1
Crashes
1
Fires
1
Injuries
Exactly what failed
Exterior Lighting
660.0%
Headlights
220.0%
High/Low Beam Dimmer Switch
220.0%
What owners said
Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.
at 76,000 milesOrland Park, IL
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 ACURA TL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE HEADLIGHTS FAILED TO ILLUMINATE WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT. ALSO, THE PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY RETAINED STEAM. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO JOE RIZZA ACURA (LOCATED AT 8150 W 159TH ST, ORLAND PARK, IL 60462, (708) 403-7770) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE HEADLIGHT UNITS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED DUE TO THE REPAIR FEES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE INTERMITTENTLY OCCURRED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 76,000.
NHTSA complaint #11221806 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
LOS Angeles, CA
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
DESPITE REPLACING VERY EXPENSIVE BULB TWICE, THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM BURNS THE LIGHTS OUT WITHIN MINUTES. THE ELECTRIC CHECK REVEALED THAT IT WILL COST OVER $600 TO REPLACE THIS ENTIRE LIGHT BECAUSE OF THE DESIGN FLAW.
NHTSA complaint #11004270 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 135,000 milesBrunswick, ME
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
!!!WARNING THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED!!! "CRUISE CONTROL CONTROL BOX DEFECT!" 2003 TL TYPE S AUTOMATIC 4 DOOR WITHOUT CRUISE CONTROL ON CAR ENGINE BEGAN TO REV OUT OF CONTROL WHILE DRIVING, TRIED TO APPLY BRAKES BUT ENGINE IS TOO STRONG, ONCE VEHICLE HIT 80 MPH FROM THIS ON HIGHWAY I CALMLY TURNED IGNITION OFF ONE CLICK SO STEERING WHEEL WOULD NOT LOCK AND COASTED TO SAFETY. I HAD TO DETACH MODULE AS WELL AS SPEED CONTROL WIRE GOING TO THE IDLE CONTROL OF ENGINE. IF I WAS INEXPERIENCED I COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED EITHER BY GETTING INTO AN ACCIDENT OR BY MY AIRBACK BEING DEPLOYED AND KILLED FROM THE TAKATA INFLATOR. "CLEAR COAT" 2003 TL TYPE S BLACK CLEAR COAT PAINT FLAKING OFF AND MASSIVELY DISCOLORED DUE TO THE DRY WINTER COLD AND THE UV HEAT DURING SUMMER. "INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTING PROBLEM" 2003 TL TYPE S PROBLEM WITH PART OF INSTRUMENT PANEL WHERE ODOMETER IS AS WELL AS OUTSIDE TEMP NOT ILLUMINATING.
NHTSA complaint #10826034 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Merrick, NY
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
2003 ACURA TL. CONSUMER STATES HEADLIGHT FAILURE. CONSUMER ATTRIBUTES FAILURE TO A MANUFACTURING/DESIGN FLAW *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED BOTH HEADLIGHTS FAILED WITHIN THE SAME YEAR DUE TO A FAULTY INVERTER WHICH WAS VERY EXPENSIVE. THE INVERTER WAS DESIGNED TO IMPROVE HEADLIGHT PERFORMANCE.
NHTSA complaint #10385057 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 13,000 milesHenderson, NV
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 ACURA TL. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT WATER ENTERED INTO THE HOUSING OF HIS HEADLIGHTS, LEAKED DOWN INTO THE BALANCE AND BLEW THE BULB. THE CONTACT DID NOT INFORM THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 200,000. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 13,000. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED.
NHTSA complaint #10371742 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 28,100 milesElmsford, NYCrashFire1 injured
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
I AM A CLAIM REPRESENTATIVE FOR NATIONWIDE INSURANCE. OUR INSURED, JOHN MIHOLIC'S SON, WAS DRIVING THE 2003 ACURA 3.2TL AT NIGHT. HE LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND STRUCK THE RIGHT FRONT END OF HIS VEHICLE. A CAUSE AND ORIGIN REPORT CONDUCTED BY LANGE TECHNICAL SERVICE INDICATED THAT DUE TO THE IMPACT, THE IGNITION OF COMBUSTIBLE MATERIALS FORM THE HIGH INTENSITY HEAD LAMP BULB THAT WAS DISPLACED CAUSED THE FIRE WHICH TOTALED OUT THE VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #10074715 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
PROBLEMS WITH HIGH BEAMS ON ACURA 3.2 TL. *MR THE HIGH BEAM'S WERE DISTRACTING. (ERRANT HIGH BEAM REFLECTION) *SC JB*
NHTSA complaint #10053948 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Brighton, CO
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
HIGH INTENSITY DISCHARGE HEADLIGHTS ON THE ACURA 3.2 TL ARE MUCH TOO BRIGHT AND POORLY AIMED. THEY TEND TO BLIND ON COMING TRAFFIC.
NHTSA complaint #10041361 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Bridgewater, NJ
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
VEHICLE'S LOW BEAMS ARE AIMED TO LOW FAILING TO PROVIDE ILLUMINATION.*MR HIGH BEAMS CAUSED REFLECTIONS HIGH UP ON VERTICAL OBJECTS AT THE SIDES OF THE ROADS. DEALER STATED THAT WAS THE WAY THE LIGHTS WERE DESIGNED AND THEY COULD NOT BE CORRECTED. *PH
NHTSA complaint #10038385 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
HIGH BEAMS REFLECT LIGHT TO VERTICAL OBJECTS AT THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, SUCH AS TREES, STRUCTURE, ETC, CAUSING DISTRACTING FLASHES OF LIGHT, AND MOMENTARY DIVERSION OF DRIVER'S ATTENTION. LOW BEAMS DO NOW SEEM TO GO OUT FAR ENOUGH TO GIVE A GOOD VIEW OF THE DARKENED ROAD WITHOUT USING HIGH BEAMS. THE HEADLIGHTS ON 2001 AND EARLIER MODELS WERE EXCELLENT AND DID/DO NOT PRESENT THE SAME PROBLEMS. I DO NOT KNOW OF HEADLIGHTS USED ON 2002 MODELS WERE THE SAME AS MINE. DEALER STATES PROBLEMS NOT CORRECTABLE IN THAT LIGHTS OPERATE AS DESIGNED BY MANUFACTURER. *AK THERE WAS A RATTLE IN THE FRONT SEAT BELT HOUSING, THE CENTER CONSOLE WAS HARD TO OPEN, AND THE SILL PLATE WAS LOOSE. *SCC
NHTSA complaint #10022901 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.