FaultScore

2004 Acura TL airbag problems

199 of the 766 complaints about the 2004 Acura TL are about the airbag system — 26% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 97,902 miles.

D

199

Complaints

6

Crashes

0

Fires

5

Injuries

Exactly what failed

AIR Bags 155 77.9%
Frontal 43 21.6%
Side/Window 1 0.5%

Airbags across every Acura TL year

1999 13 1.6%
2000 66 8.0%
2001 15 1.8%
2002 43 5.2%
2003 51 6.2%
2004 199 24.3%
2005 145 17.7%
2006 85 10.4%
2007 41 5.0%
2008 34 4.1%
2009 19 2.3%
2010 34 4.1%
2011 13 1.6%
2012 43 5.2%
2013 19 2.3%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

Vista, CA

AIR BAGS

I noticed that my power steering hose is all dirty and full of built up power steering fluid and my airbag light in the dash screen does not come off. I’m concerned the air bag will fail in the events of an accident

NHTSA complaint #11519609 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Evergreen, CO

AIR BAGS

The red air bag light on the dashboard has been on for many months. It will occasionally turn off, but usually it is on. Is there a recall for my 2004 Acura TL air bags? Thank you, [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA complaint #11505583 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Knightdale, NC

AIR BAGS

The dashboard on 3rd generation Acura TL has a design defect to where they will crack all over. In the event of a crash which results in a passenger-side dashboard airbag deployment, the dashboard can rip uncontrollably and send shards of rubber flying at everyone's face in the car and prevent the airbag from deploying properly. This is a very well known problem with this generation of Acura TL and the dealership refuses to address as a warrantied safety concern.

NHTSA complaint #11447299 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 196,000 miles Flowery Branch, GA

AIR BAGS

TORQUE CONVERTER HAS DIFFERENCE OF 200RPM OR GREATER THAN CAUSING TRANS TO OVER HEAT AND FAIL POWER STEERING LINE ALLOWING AIR INTO SYSTEM. SYSTEM LOCKED UP WHILE DRIVING AIR BAG SENSOR WON'T SENT CODE

NHTSA complaint #11406649 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 53,000 miles Powell, OH

AIR BAGS

WE PURCHASED THIS CAR NEW IN 2004! THIS CAR HAS NEVER HAD A AIRBAG RECALL. I'M VERY CONCERNED THIS YEAR, MAKE AND MODEL WAS OVERLOOKED CONCERNING THE AIRBAG RECALL. EVERY SINGLE MODEL AND YEAR AROUND THIS 2004 ACURA TL WAS RECALLED FOR THE AIRBAG REPLACEMENT. WE CONSTANTLY CHECK FOR UPDATES TO ASSURE WE DO NOT MISS A NOTICE. IS THERE ANYTHING THAT CAN BE DONE TO ASSURE OUR 2004 TL AIRBAG IS SAFE?

NHTSA complaint #11377499 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Denver, CO Crash 3 injured

AIR BAGS

NEAR HEAD-ON COLLISION ON UNIVERSITY BOULEVARD IN HIGHLANDS RANCH, COLORADO INVOLVING THIS VEHICLE ON OCTOBER 13, 2020. OUR CLIENT WAS A FRONT SEAT PASSENGER AND HER CURTAIN SIDE AIRBAG FAILED TO DEPLOY. SHE SUSTAINED VERY SERIOUS, LIFE-THREATENING INJURIES AND REMAINS HOSPITALIZED.*DT*JB*DT*DT*DT*JB*DT*JB*DT*JB*JB*DT*JB

NHTSA complaint #11372597 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 5 miles Bronx, NY

AIR BAGS

I HAVE NOT BEEN CONTACTED ABOUT THE AIRBAG RECALL, THE POTENTIAL PROBLEM WITH THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND THE DRIVER SIDE LOWER BALL JOINT RECALL. SEVERAL YEARS AGO I EXITED A HIGHWAY, CAME TO A STOP SIGN AND WHEN I MADE A RIGHT TURN THE DRIVERS SIDE BALL JOINT BROKE. I HAD THE REPAIR DONE AND LUCKILY I DIDN'T HURT AO OR MYSELF. THANK YOU STAY SAFE. I THINK IT WAS IN 2015.

NHTSA complaint #11365409 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 110,000 miles Arlington, VA

AIR BAGS

AS WITH OTHER POSTS, CRACKS IN THE DASHBOARD AROUND THE PERIMETER OF THE PASSENGER AIRBAG ARE PRONOUNCED AND GETTING WORSE OVER TIME. VERY CONCERNED FOR THE SAFETY OF PASSENGERS IN AN OTHERWISE RELIABLE VEHICLE WHICH HAS MANY MORE YEARS (AND MILES) OF USEFUL SERVICE.

NHTSA complaint #11340591 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Aurora, CO

AIR BAGS

DASHBOARD HAS CRACK FROM PASSENGER SIDE MIDDLE ALL THE WAY TOWARD DRIVER SIDE. STARTED ABOUT YEAR 10 AND GOT WORSE OVER THE YEARS. AFTER READING SOME OTHER COMPLAINTS HERE I AM ALSO WORRIED AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT COULD EITHER NOT TRIGGER OR TRIGGER ACCIDENTALLY HURTING A PASSENGER IN MY VEHICLE. I ALSO TOOK TO DEALER AND WAS INSTRUCTED AS OUT OF POCKET EXPENSE EVEN THOUGH SEEMS TO BE MANUFACTURE DEFECT.

NHTSA complaint #11339904 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 160,000 miles Billerica, MA

AIR BAGS

THERE ARE EXTREMELY DEEP CRACKS THAT HAVE DEVELOPED ON THE DASHBOARD. CURRENTLY, YOU CAN SEE THE OUTLINE OF THE HOUSING FOR THE AIRBAG ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE DASHBOARD. WHEN IT'S QUIET, I CAN SOMETIMES HEAR NOISE FROM WHERE THE FRONT AIRBAG IS LOCATED. VERY SCARY. I AM HESITANT FOR ANYONE TO SIT IN THE PASSENGER SEAT AND AVOID IT IF AT ALL POSSIBLE. MY CAR HAS ALWAYS BEEN GARAGED UNTIL RECENTLY - BOTH AT HOME AND DURING THE DAY AT A COMMERCIAL GARAGE. THE CRACKS DEVELOPED EVEN THOUGH THE CAR WAS GARAGED WHEN NOT DRIVEN. DISAPPOINTING THAT ACURA REFUSES TO ADDRESS THIS WIDESPREAD SAFETY HAZARD.

NHTSA complaint #11312093 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 120,000 miles Midlothian, VA

AIR BAGS

MY 2004 ACURA TL DASHBOARD ON THE PASSENGER SIDE IS CRACKED ON BOTH SIDES OF THE AIRBAG.I AM CONCERNED FOR MY SAFETY AND THE SAFETY OF THE PASSENGER BECAUSE OF THE POSITION OF THE CRACKS COULD POSSIBLY DEPLOY THE AIRBAG AND CAUSE INJURY.

NHTSA complaint #11309788 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 119,000 miles Kissimmee, FL

AIR BAGS

THE TRANSMISSION IS LACKING AT ANY MOMENT THAT HAPPENS TO ME IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET. NO SAFE ANOTHER CAR ALMOST HIT ME. NO SAFE .... MY DASH IS HORRIBLE COMPLETELY CRACKE AND THIS DEFINITELY IS GOING TO AFFECT THE AIRBAGS IN MY ACURA 2004 TL. SORRY IS THE WORS OF WORST .YES I WAS DRIVING GOING IN TO THE GAS STATION AND CAR JUST LACK I COULDN'T DO ANYTHING AFTER ABOUT 20 MINUTES. THE CAR GETS ON GEAR AGAIN AND I GET IN GAS STATION

NHTSA complaint #11286618 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Alachua, FL

AIR BAGS

THE DASHBOARD HAS DEVELOPED CRACKS IN THE AREA AROUND THE PASSENGER-SIDE AIRBAG. DOES THIS CONSTITUTE A POTENTIAL SAFETY ISSUE AFFECTING THE AIRBAG DEPLOYING PROPERLY OR POSSIBLY SHARDS FROM THE DASHBOARD CAUSING ADDITIONAL INJURY? THERE HAS NOT BEEN AN ACCIDENT BUT AM CONCERNED IF A COLLISION DOES HAPPEN IN THE FUTURE.

NHTSA complaint #11282475 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Missouri City, TX

AIR BAGS

THE DASHBOARD AREA AROUND MY 2004 TL PASSENGER AIRBAG IS CRACKING. WHEN I DID AN INTERNET SEARCH I UNDERSTAND THAT SEVERAL TLS BETWEEN 2004 AND 2008 HAVE THE SAME ISSUE WITH CRACKING OF THE DASH IN THE SAME AREA. FOR SOME REASON NONE OF THESE CARS WERE RECALLED. I AM CONCERNED ABOUT SAFETY. THE CRACK STARTED IN 2017 BUT HAS GOTTEN WORSE SINCE THEN.

NHTSA complaint #11281895 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Baton Rouge, LA

AIR BAGS

IM NOT SURE WHEN IT HAPPENED AS I WAS WILLED THIS CAR AFTER MY MOTHER PASSED, AND IT WAS LIKE THIS PRIOR TO HER BUYING IT. BUT THE DASHBOARD IS CRACKED FROM ONE END TO THE OTHER GOING DOWN TO THE GLOVE COMPARTMENT AND DASH GAUGES. FROM WHAT IVE READ THIS IS VERY COMMON IN ACURAS 04-08, BUT I AM NOW CONCERNED ABOUT MY AIRBAGS DEPLOYING PROPERLY. FROM WHAT IVE READ EVERYONE WHO HAS BROUGHT THIS TO ACURAS ATTENTION HAS HAD TO PAY OUT OF POCKET TO GET IT FIXED, OR LEAVE AS IS.

NHTSA complaint #11279875 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Indianapolis, IN

AIR BAGS

AS YOU CAN SEE, THESE AREN'T SMALL HAIRLINE CRACKS, THEY ARE NASTY A## LONG CRACKS ALL OVER. EACH DAY THE CRACK GET WORST AND OPEN. IT DANGEROUS BECAUSE THERE IS AIRBAGS UNDER THOSE DASHBOARD.

NHTSA complaint #11232573 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 153,000 miles Wellington, MO

AIR BAGS

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 complaint #11186971 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Menifee, CA

AIR BAGS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 ACURA TL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAG COMPARTMENT WAS CRACKED AND THE AIR BAG INDICATOR REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DCH ACURA OF TEMECULA (951-428-2317, LOCATED AT 26705 YNEZ RD, TEMECULA, CA 92591) WHERE THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT NOTHING COULD BE DONE EXCEPT TO COVER THAT PART OF THE DASHBOARD. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT PROVIDED.

NHTSA complaint #11173073 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Lenexa, KS

AIR BAGS

DASH IS COMPLETELY COVERED IN CRACKS. I FEEL LIKE THIS CAN'T BE SAFE WITH THE AIRBAGS UNDERNEATH THE CRACKS. ALSO, WHENEVER A PASSENGER IS IN MY CAR THE AIRBAG LIGHT COMES ON.

NHTSA complaint #11162036 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 210,000 miles Adrian, MO

AIR BAGS

SIMPLY DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY WHEN THE PASSENGER SEAT SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED. CAR HAS NOT BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT AND DID NOT HIT A POTHOLE. RESEARCH ONLINE FINDS THIS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM, BUT ACURA DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE CONCERNED. AIRBAG EXPLOSION ALONE WAS LOUD ENOUGH TO ALMOST CAUSE AN ACCIDENT DUE TO THE SCARE.

NHTSA complaint #11152427 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Knoxville, TN

AIR BAGS

THE DASHBOARD PANEL OF MY 04 ACURA TL IS SEVERELY CRACKED. MY CONCERN IS IF IN THE EVENT AN AIRBAG DID DEPLOY DUE TO FALSE SENSORS OR EVEN DUE TO AN ACCIDENT, HOW MUCH DAMAGE WILL THIS CAUSE ME? I UNDERSTAND THAT AN AIRBAG WILL ANNIHILATE THE DASH IF ACTIVATED AND HOPEFULLY DAMAGES ARE MINIMAL BUT THAT WAS TESTED WITH A DASHBOARD PANEL THAT WAS FULLY INTACT. I'M A LITTLE CONCERNED SINCE I ALSO HAVE 98 FORERUNNER AND THE DASH PANEL IS NEARLY EMACULANT. I FEEL THERE IS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT IN THE PLASTIC IN THESE VEHICLES THAT SHOULD BE RECALLED AND FIXED.

NHTSA complaint #11140711 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 80,000 miles Rockville, MD

AIR BAGS

A CRACK HAS APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD OVER TOP OF THE PASSENGER AIRBAG. WORRIED ABOUT PASSENGER SAFETY AND AIRBAG EFFECTIVENESS IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT.

NHTSA complaint #11112092 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 35,000 miles Lagrange, KY

AIR BAGS

AIR BAG LIGHT IS ON AND AIR BAG IS DEACTIVATED DUE TO DEFECTIVE SWITCH IN SEAT BELT BUCKLE. MANUFACTURER HAS LIFETIME SEAT BELT WARRANTY BUT WILL NOT HONOR THE WARRANTY BECAUSE THEY CLAIM THAT THE SWITCH IS PART OF THE AIR BAG SYSTEM AND NOT PART OF THE SEAT BELT. SO MY WIFE AND DAUGHTER HAS TO DRIVE A CAR WITH NO AIR BAGS BECAUSE HONDA/ACURA WILL NOT HONOR THEIR WARRANTY. SHOULD BE A RECALL ON THIS, AS IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM.

NHTSA complaint #11080263 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Pittsford, NY

AIR BAGS

I HAVE 2004 ACURA TL, ABOUT 105000 MILES. AIRBAG LIGHT WAS INTERMITTENT, NOW STAYS ON, DASHBOARD ON TOP PASSENGER SIDE CRACKED SEVERAL MONTHS AGO. THE VEHICLE HAS NO PREVIOUS AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT. MAY CAUSE AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT, SAFETY ISSUE?

NHTSA complaint #11034043 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 180,000 miles Vallejo, CA

AIR BAGS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 ACURA TL. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE DASHBOARD AROUND THE AIR BAG AREA WAS CRACKED. THE AIR BAGS AND WIRING WERE NOT EXPOSED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC OR DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING OR REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 180,000.

NHTSA complaint #11025056 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 199,000 miles Acworth, GA

AIR BAGS

THE PASSENGER DASHBOARD DEVELOPED SIGNIFICANT CRACKS OVERNIGHT. LOOKS LIKE WHERE AIRBAG WOULD DEPLOY. AT SAME TIME CHECK AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON.

NHTSA complaint #11022747 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 100,000 miles Ashburn, VA

AIR BAGS

CRACKS APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD. THIS LEAD TO AIRBAG SIGNAL APPEAR.

NHTSA complaint #11021420 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 172,000 miles Hercules, CA

AIR BAGS

TAKATA RECALL. 2004 ACURA TL DASH BOARD NOTICED A LONG CRACK THEN THE PASSENGER SEAT BELT AND AIR BAG LIGHT NO LONGER TURNS ON. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED INSIDE MY GARAGE ON 6/20/17. CHECKED ONLINE AND MANY OWNERS ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME ISSUE. THE CRACK IF VERY CLOSE TO THE AIRBAG AND I AM AFRAID IT MAY DEPLOY AT ANY MOMENT WHILE DRIVING CAUSING IT TO BE UNSAFE DRIVING CONDITION. SOME TO MOST OWNERS ARE RECEIVING A RECALL OR REPLACEMENT FOR THE ERORR ACCORDING TO TAKATA RECALL.

NHTSA complaint #11005579 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 135,000 miles LAS Vegas, NV

AIR BAGS

DASHBOARD CRACKING FOR NO REASON. CRACKS ARE IN MANY PLACES AND OCCUR NEAR THE DASH AIR BAG WHICH IS CONCERNING IF IT EVERY GOES OFF COULD SEND SHARP PIECES OF THE DASH INTO MYSELF OR A PASSENGER (WIFE, DAUGHTER). PHOTOS CAN BE TAKEN IF NEEDED.

NHTSA complaint #10992660 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Waxhaw, NC

AIR BAGS

CRACKED DASHBOARD ON PASSANGER SIDE WHERE AIR BAGS ARE LOCATED.

NHTSA complaint #10958715 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 2004 Acura TL problems

← Full 2004 Acura TL report