52 of the 4,055 complaints filed about the Acura TL are about the lighting — 1% of everything owners reported. The worst model year for it is 2003.
52
Complaints
1%
Share of all complaints
2
Crashes
1
Fires
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
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 complaint #11367013 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
2005 ACURA TL- PARKED WINTERS, GARAGED, BABIED AND ALL SERVICE COMPLETED AT THE ACURA DEALERSHIPS. CAR HAS 141,000 ON IT AND WAS NEAR 50,000 WHEN PURCHASED (ASPEC PACKAGE ETC). CAR HAS DEVELOPED CRACKS IN THE DASHBOARD FROM THE WINDSHIELD TO THE INSTRUMENT PANEL, ACROSS THE CENTER SPEAKER AND NOW DIRECTLY ON THE INDENTATION WHERE THE AIRBAG IS LOCATED ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. REACHED OUT TO ACURA FOR ASSISTANCE ((ATTACHED)) AND THEY SAID THE CAR IS TOO OLD AND OUTSIDE WARRANTY TO HELP ME. IRREGARDLESS OF THE FACT I HAVE ALWAYS TAKEN IT TO ACURA AND ONE LOOK AT THE CARS EXTERIOR AND INTERIOR *PAINT AND LEATHER INTERIOR* SHOWS THAT THIS CAR HAS BEEN SPOILED. THE DASHBOARD IS A KNOWN ISSUE FOR THIS GENERATION AND EVEN MADE THE NEWS FROM COMPLAINTS. I AM NOW CONCERNED THAT THE AIRBAG WILL NOT WORK PROPERLY OR CAUSE HARM DUE TO THE STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY OF THE DASHBOARD BEING ALTERED DUE TO SHODDY CRAFTSMANSHIP THAT IS NOT BEING BACKED UP BY ACURA. I HAVE ALSO RAISED CONCERN THAT THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY ARE BOTH CRACKING AND DISCOLORED. I HAVE HAD THEM PROFESSIONALLY *REFURBISHED* BUT THE DEALERSHIP SAID THAT THEY NEED TO BE REPLACED AS THEY TOO ARE A SAFETY ISSUE NOT ALLOWING PROPER LIGHT TO BE ILLUMINATED ON THE HIGHWAY DUE TO MANUFACTURE DEFECT- AGAIN -- CAR PARKED WINTERS, JUST LOOK AT THE PAINT AND QUALITY OF THE CAR THAT IS 15 YEARS OLD.*DT*JB
NHTSA complaint #11326050 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
GEAR/TRANSMISSION LOCK UP WHILE DRIVING. VEHICLE STALLED AND COULD NOT SWITCH GEAR BACK TO DRIVE. VEHICLE FAILED EMISSIONS TWICE BUT WAS PASSED 3RD TIME WITHOUT EXEMPTION OR WAIVER. THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN DISCONTINUED DUE TO THE ON GOING UNFIXABLE ISSUES, WHY WASN'T IT BLACKLISTED OR LABEL A CATEGORY A CAR? THESE ACURA'S ARE DANGEROUS AND SHOULDN'T EVEN BE ALLOWED ON THE ROAD! NHTSA DOESN'T EVEN SPECIFY IF THE VEHICLE WAS FIXED AFTER THE RECALLS- OBVIOUSLY THEY WEREN'T BECAUSE THE CAR WAS POORLY MADE AND IS UNFIXABLE. WE NEED JUSTICE
NHTSA complaint #11265735 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
HI I'M WANTING TO COMPLAIN ABOUT THIS YEAR ACURA MAKING MODELS BREAKS BECAUSE IN THE WINTER TIME WHEN YOU GO TO PRESS THE BRAKES AND START THE CAR THE BRAKES ARE COMPLETELY FROZEN. ALSO WANTED TO COMPLAIN ABOUT THE HEADLIGHTS THE HEADLIGHTS GET DULL AND DINGY WITH WEAR IN TEAR AND GET VERY DULL CAUSING IT TO BE VERY HARD TO SEE AT NIGHT AS WELL AS THE BODY ALL THE MOLDING ON THE TOP OF THE ROOF IS PEELING OFF THE CHROME TRIM MOLDING PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS FURTHER. MY CAR IS A DAILY DRIVER I DRIVE IT EVERYDAY I GET IT A CAR WASH EVERY OTHER DAY BUT THAT SHOULD BE NO REASON FOR THE TOP CHROME TRIM ON THE ROOF TO START PEELING OFF AND BE COMING UNDONE FROM YOUR CAR
NHTSA complaint #11162670 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
TAKATA RECALL - MY DRIVE IS FLASHING WHICH IS TO DO WITH MY TRANSMISSION AND I'M HAVING WIRING PROBLEMS ALSO. ALSO I HAVE NO BRIGHT HEADLIGHTS THEY JUST COMPLETELY STOPPED WORKING AND IT'S A WIRING PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #11131743 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
PREVIOUS RECALL ON THE POWER STEERING HOSE LEAKING, MINE IS LEAKING WHEN IN MOTION AND STATIONARY, PREVIOUS RECALL ON INTERNAL TRANSMISSION FAULT, PREVIOUS RECALL ON WIPER MOTOR HOUSING, CURRENT RECALL ON BALL JOINTS, WAS TOLD BY MECHANIC I HAVE A BALL JOINT PROBLEM, CURRENT PROBLEM WITH PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT GOING OUT. REPLACED BALLAST WITH NEW ONE AND HEAD LIGHT WORKED FOR A COUPLE OF WEEKS AND WENT OUT AGAIN, NOTICE WHILE IN MOTION AND STATIONARY.
NHTSA complaint #11075772 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
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.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
AUTOMATIC SENSOR IGNITION, HEADLIGHTS NO LIGHT SENSOR AUTOMATICALLY DAMAGED.
NHTSA complaint #10692774 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
WHEN I STARTED THE VEHICLE, IT HAD A MOANING SOUND. I CONTINUED DRIVING AND THE BATTERY LIGHT, AIRBAG LIGHT, CSV LIGHT, ALL CAME ON JUST BEFORE THE DASH LIGHTS FLICKERED ON AND OFF, THEN TOTALLY WENT OUT AND THE CAR ENGINE SHUT OFF. WHEN I TRIED TO JUMPSTART THE CAR, THE CAR STARTED AFTER A FEW MINUTES BUT WHEN THE JUMPER CABLES WERE REMOVED, THE CAR INSTANTLY SHUT DOWN. THE CAR WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD AND HAD TO BE TOWED TO MY HOUSE. THREE MONTHS AGO, THE CAR WOULD NOT START. I GOT IT JUMPSTARTED AND IT RAN PERFECTLY UNTIL THE ABOVE INCIDENT OCCURRED. THIS IS THE THIRD BATTERY THIS CAR HAS HAD SINCE 2009.
NHTSA complaint #10683420 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
WHILE DRIVING AT SPEEDS OF 5 - 70 MPH THE HEADLIGHTS WILL SHUT OFF. MOST FREQUENTLY THE PASSENGER SIDE SHUTS OFF, ON OCCASION BOTH LIGHTS WILL SHUT OFF UNEXPECTEDLY. USING THE TURN SIGNAL STALK SWITCH AND RAPIDLY TURNING ON AND OFF WILL TYPICALLY RESET THE LIGHTS. ON ONE OCCASION THIS DID NOT WORK EVEN AFTER 20+ TRIES. DURING THESE OCCASIONS THE HIGH BEAMS WILL FUNCTION PROPERLY. I HAVE TRIED TO DUPLICATE THIS PROBLEM AND HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO DO SO. IT IS A COMPLETELY INTERMITTENT PROBLEM. OTHER MANUFACTURES HAVE HAD TO ISSUE RECALLS DUE TO THIS PROBLEM. ACURA SHOULD ALSO BE REQUIRED TO ADDRESS THIS. OTHER INDIVIDUALS ON ACURA WEB DISCUSSION BOARDS HAVE EXPERIENCED SIMILAR PROBLEMS.
NHTSA complaint #10682033 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
THE REAR BRAKE LIGHTS OF THIS ACURA TL WERE FAILING TO TURN ON WHEN PRESSING ON THE BRAKE PEDAL OR WERE EXTREMELY DIM. ANOTHER DRIVER NOTIFIED ME WHEN HE NEARLY REAR ENDED THE CAR. THE PROBLEM WAS DETERMINED TO BE A FAULTY BRAKE SWITCH, WHICH SEEMS TO BE A COMMON ISSUE ON MANY (2004+) TLS BASED ON THE TL FORUMS. HONDA/ACURA HAS ISSUED A NEW REPLACEMENT PART WITH UPDATED PART NUMBER AS WELL. THIS PART SHOULD BE SWAPPED OUT ON ALL AFFECTED MODELS TO PREVENT REAR END COLLISIONS!
NHTSA complaint #10585554 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
MY VEHICLE IS EQUIPPED WITH HID HEADLIGHTS FOR THE LOW BEAMS, AND HALOGEN HEADLIGHTS FOR HIGH BEAMS. I HAVE OBSERVED THAT WHEN THE LOW BEAMS ARE ON, THE FORWARD ILLUMINATION CAST BY THE HEADLIGHTS IS NEGLIGIBLE. WHEN DRIVING AND USING THE HIGHWAY'S DIVIDING LINES AS A POINT OF REFERENCE, MY CAR ONLY ILLUMINATES ABOUT TWO "DASHES" IN FRONT OF THE CAR, WHICH IS A SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN. I HAVE MEASURED THE ILLUMINATION WHEN MY CAR IS PARKED ON A FLAT SURFACE, AND THE LIGHTS ONLY SHINE APPROXIMATELY 52 FEET IN FRONT OF THE CAR. MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT LOW BEAMS SHOULD TYPICALLY SHINE AT LEAST 160 FEET IN FRONT OF THE CAR. FURTHERMORE, I HAVE TAKEN MY CAR BACK TO THE ACURA DEALERSHIP'S SERVICE DEPARTMENT TWICE SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR ON 3/31/13 AND HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT THE HEADLIGHTS, AND THEY HAVE CHECKED THEM AND SAID EVERYTHING IS FINE. I AM SOMEWHAT CONCERNED THAT THE ACURA SERVICE DEPARTMENT MAY NOT BE ABLE TO PROPERLY CHECK FOR FORWARD ILLUMINATION ON HEADLAMPS; HOWEVER,I HAVE SERIOUS CONCERNS THAT OTHER ACURA TL 2013 OWNERS MAY BE IN A SIMILAR SITUATION AND THIS LACK OF VISIBILITY COULD RESULT IN ACCIDENTS, INJURIES, OR DEATHS. PLEASE HELP!
NHTSA complaint #10547802 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
THE SEAL ON HEAD LIGHTS ON THIS VEHICLES FAILS ACCUMULATING A LOT OF CONDENSATION MAKING IT HARD FOR DRIVING AT NIGHT. LIGHT BULBS KEEP BURNING OUT MAKING IT A FIRE ELECTRICAL HAZARD AND DANGEROUS FOR OWNERS AND OTHER VEHICLES AND PEDESTRIANS.
NHTSA complaint #10510321 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
MY ACURA TL'S LIGHTS WORK AND THEN DON'T WORK ALL OF A SUDDEN. THE RIGHT HEAD LIGHT WILL GO OUT, AND THEN WHEN I TRY TO TURN OFF THE LIGHTS AND TURN THEM BACK ON THE LEFT LIGHT WILL GO OUT AND THE RIGHT WILL COME BACK ON, AND BACK AND FORTH UNTIL THEY BOTH GO OUT AND WON'T COME BACK ON UNTIL I LEAVE THE LIGHTS OFF FOR ABOUT 15 TO 20 MINUTES. ANOTHER THING I'M CONCERNED ABOUT IS MY HORN, IT WORKS AT CERTAIN ANGLES BUT DOESN'T WORK MOST OF THE TIME AND WHEN IT IS ALIGNED STRAIGHT. I WAS ON IH-35 AND AN 18 WHEELER WAS CHANGING INTO MY LANE AND WHEN I TRIED TO HONK MY HORN TO LET HIM KNOW I WAS RIGHT NEXT TO HIM IT WOULDN'T WORK. IF IT WASN'T FOR NO CARS BEING NEXT TO ME I WOULD HAVE CRASHED TO THE CARS NEXT TO ME OR THE 18 WHEELER WOULD HAVE CRUSHED MY CAR WITH MY SELF AND MY KIDS IN IT. ANOTHER THING IS THAT THE HORN IS ALSO A PROBLEM TO A 2001 ACURA TL MY FRIEND HAD AND I HAVE ASKED OTHER PEOPLE THAT I HAVE SEEN THAT HAVE THE SAME GENERATION AS MY ACURA TL THAT IF THERE HORN WORKS AND THEY HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. I REALLY THINK THAT IT IS A SAFETY CONCERN SIMPLY BECAUSE IF SOMEONE WOULD BE IN THE SAME SITUATION AS I WAS IT COULD EASILY BE AN ACCIDENT. IF IT ISN'T A SAFETY CONCERN THEN WHAT WOULD BE THE REASON FOR THE INSPECTION NOT TO PASS IF THEY DON'T WORK...
NHTSA complaint #10505306 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
I WAS DRIVING MY ACURA HOME THE OTHER NIGHT ABOUT 7:30PM IN THE POURING DOWN RAIN. ALL OF THE SUDDEN BOTH OF MY HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT AT ONCE AND THE HIGH BEAMS DID NOT WORK EITHER. I COULDN'T EVEN SEE THE SIDE OF THE ROAD TO PULL OVER, SO I FOLLOWED A SEMI'S TAILLIGHTS UNTIL I COULD TAKE THE NEXT EXIT. IT WAS TERRIFYING. WE TOOK THE CAR TO A MECHANIC AND HE COULDN'T FIGURE OUT THE PROBLEM SO HE CALLED ACURA IN FIFE AND THEY SAID IT WAS AN ELECTRICAL ISSUE AND THEY HAD BEEN HAVING TROUBLE WITH OTHER CARS DOING THE SAME THING. THEY WANT $1600 TO FIX HEADLIGHTS!! SHOULDN'T THIS HAVE BEEN A RECALL ISSUE SINCE THERE IS A HUGE SAFETY FACTOR HERE, PUTTING NOT ONLY THE DRIVER IN DANGER, BUT OTHER DRIVERS ON THE ROAD AS WELL. I DO PLAN ON WRITING ACURA AS WELL.
NHTSA complaint #10480994 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
MY HEADLIGHT KEEPS BLOWING OUT , AT 100.00 DOLLARS EVERYTIME I REPLACE THE LIGHT IT LAST ABOUT 3 WKS AND THEN BLOWS OUT AGAIN , THE OTHER HEADLIGHT FLICKERS OFF AND ON, THIS IS RIDICULOUS . THIS IS A SEVERE SAFETY CONCERN BECAUSE YOU NEVER KNOW WHEN ITS GOING TO GO OUT.
NHTSA complaint #10480593 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
OUR 2008 ACURA TL AND ALMOST EVERY ACURA TL I SEE HAS A PROBLEM OR IS DEVELOPING A PROBLEM WITH THE SEALS OF THE HEADLIGHTS. THE VEHICLE IS EQUIPPED WITH HID HEADLIGHTS. THE PROBLEM STARTS WITH A SMALL DISCOLORATION OR FOG ON THE INSIDE OF THE HEADLIGHT LENS COVER, AND EXPANDS WITH TIME. THE DISCOLORATION OR FOG LESSENS THE INTENSITY OF THE HEADLIGHTS, CUTTING BACK ON VISIBILITY AND ILLUMINATION. THE DEALER SAID THE FOG IN THE HEADLIGHT PROBLEM IS LOCAL TO ARIZONA ONLY. REALLY? I WOULD LIKE NTSB OR RESPONSIBLE AGENCY TO DETERMINE IF THIS IS A FACTORY DEFECT AND IF A RECALL SHOULD BE ORDERED TO REPLACE THE HEADLIGHT HOUSING. AS I MENTIONED, I SEE THIS PROBLEM ON MOST ACURA TLS THAT I SEE ON THE STREET.
NHTSA complaint #10463862 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
SINCE ALL HEADLIGHTS HAVE BEEN REDESIGNED TO HAVE PLASTIC COVERS RATHER THAN GLASS, THE AMOUNT OF LIGHT AVAILABLE FOR LIGHTING THE ROAD HAS DIMINISHED WITH TIME AS THE PLASTIC AGES. I HAVE SEEN SOME VEHICLES WHERE THE HEADLIGHT COVERS ARE TOTALLY OPAQUE. IF ANY VEHICLE HAS DIMINISHED LUMINOUS FROM ITS LIGHTS, IT IS A HAZARD TO ALL OTHER VEHICLES AND PEDESTRIANS. RECALLS SHOULD BE SENT TO ALL MANUFACTURERS.
NHTSA complaint #10455672 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.