ACURA TL · model year

2004 ACURA TL

766 NHTSA complaints, 17 crash reports, and 6 active recalls for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 2004ACURATL carries 766 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 17 crashes, 8 fires, 26 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.

Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 2004 TL is structure with 177 filings, followed by air bags (155) and structure:body (50). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability. This model year has 6 active recall campaigns, which means the manufacturer is obligated to remedy the covered defect at no charge for the life of the vehicle — the full NHTSA campaign numbers are listed below.

NHTSA currently has 3 investigation files overlapping the 2004 TL, and 2 remain open. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.

766
Complaints
17
Crashes
8
Fires
26
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

766 filings

Crashes Reported

17 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

Above median complaint volume — review patterns below.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
STRUCTURE177
AIR BAGS155
STRUCTURE:BODY50
UNKNOWN OR OTHER49
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL43
TIRES40
POWER TRAIN29
STEERING28
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION24
SUSPENSION21
SEATS9
SERVICE BRAKES9
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)8
TIRES:TREAD/BELT7
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR7

Recalls (6)

08V09100027/02/2008

STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:HOSE, PIPING, AND CONNECTIONS

HONDA IS RECALLING 273,000 MY 2004-2008 ACURA TL VEHICLES. PROLONGED HIGH UNDER-HOOD TEMPERATURES MAY CAUSE THE POWER STEERING HOSE TO DETERIORATE PREMATURELY CAUSING THE HOSE TO CRACK AND LEAK POWER STEERING FLUID.

08V09200027/02/2008

VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR

HONDA IS RECALLING 129,600 MY 2004-2005 ACURA TL VEHICLES. IF WATER ENTERS THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR BREATHER PORT, WHICH IS DESIGNED TO ALLOW THE MOTOR TO VENT WARM AIR DURING NORMAL OPERATION, IT CAN RESULT IN CORROSION INSIDE THE MOTOR HOUSING. THIS COULD CAUSE A FAILURE OF THE ELECTRICAL CIRC

11E02200022/06/2011

SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT

AFFINIA IS RECALLING CERTAIN AFTERMARKET FRONT SUSPENSION LOWER BALL JOINTS, NAPA PART NO. 2601662, THAT MAY HAVE BEEN MISTAKENLY INSTALLED IN CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2004 - 2008 ACURA TL VEHICLES DUE TO A MISTAKE IN A NAPA AND NAPA DEALERS' PARTS APPLICATION CATALOGUE.

04V17600015/04/2004

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

ON SOME MINI VANS, SPORT UTILITY AND PASSENGER VEHICLES, CERTAIN OPERATING CONDITIONS CAN RESULT IN HEAT BUILD-UP BETWEEN THE COUNTERSHAFT AND SECONDARY SHAFT SECOND GEARS IN THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, EVENTUALLY LEADING TO GEAR TOOTH CHIPPING OR GEAR BREAKAGE.

19E06800010/10/2019

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL

Dorman Products, Inc. (Dorman) is recalling certain Accelerator Pedal Assemblies part numbers 699-114 and 825-5029-1, sold as replacement parts for 2003-2006 Acura MDX, 2004-2008 Acura TL and TSX, 2003-2007 Honda Accord, 2005-2006 Honda CR-V, 2007-2011 Honda Element, 2005-2008 Honda Pilot and 2006-

19V18200006/03/2019

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling specific 2003 Acura 3.2CL, 2013-2016 ILX, 2013-2014 ILX Hybrid, 2003-2006 MDX, 2007-2016 RDX, 2002-2003 3.2TL, 2004-2006, and 2009-2014 TL, 2010-2013 ZDX and 2001-2007 and 2009 Honda Accord, 2001-2005 Civic, 2003-2005 Civic Hybrid, 2001-2005 Civic GX NGV

Recent Complaints

20240719SUSPENSION

I was driving and all of a sudden I hit a pot hole and then when I went to take a turn my car ended up making a shaking rattling sound when I pulled to to side to check it the ball joint was half way out of the control arm

20240501ENGINE

Car stopped working three days after I purchased it.

20240501UNKNOWN OR OTHER

Car stopped working three days after I purchased it.

20230429AIR 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

20230429STEERING

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

20230324STEERING

In December of 2022, my power steering hoses were found to be leaking. This was confirmed by a local mechanic, but not any manufacturers or insurance reps. There were no warning lights or symptoms prior to this happening. Upon my research, I noticed that there is a standing recall for the 2004 Acura TL, but not for my specific VIN. I believe that my issue may be related to this recall (08V-091) and believe this recall should be added to my vehicle.

20230204AIR 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)

20221006SUSPENSION

The contact owns a 2004 Acura TL. The contact stated while driving at 60 MPH with her mother in the front passenger’s side seat, her mother informed her that the vehicle was bouncing. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where the front lower control arms, shocks, and bushings were replaced; however, the contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the driver's side of the vehicle dropped significantly and the vehicle stopped. The vehicle was towed to the residence. The dealer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the VIN was not under recall. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact associated the failure with NHTSA Campaign Number: 11E022000 (Suspension). The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 150,000.

Mileage: 150,000

20220906UNKNOWN OR OTHER

16 y/o driving and stopped at a traffic light. He attempted to go when the light turned green, heard a pop, engine was revving but the car was not moving. It was acting as if it was in neutral. Luckily a police car was right there and they helped him push it to a parking lot. This car has 99K miles on it. He almost got hammered by the car behind him. This is a transmission issue and we had absolutely no warning and has been driving and servicing this car with no issues. There are a lot of info online with transmission issues in these year/model cars. This put my son in extreme danger.

20220811CrashUNKNOWN OR OTHER

I have a defective dashboard in my Acura TL. The dashboard is cracking. One of the crack pieces popped out and flew into my eye while driving. I almost rear-ended someone. I would hate for this to happen to anyone else. There needs to be a recall on all dashboards. 2. I can not see through my review mirror. The top half is light grey and the lower half is blacked out/tinted. A rearview mirror is needed to drive safely and I can not see out of mine. It is very difficult to use. I am unsafe trying to use it. 3. Cracked seats. The cracked seats are cutting my legs and my passenger's legs. With the way the world is today, we can not drive around in cars with cracked seats. This is hazardous to our health. There heighten the chances of spreading diseases by exchanging blood and body fluids through the cuts. The cracking of the seats is not safe.

20220811CrashSEATS

I have a defective dashboard in my Acura TL. The dashboard is cracking. One of the crack pieces popped out and flew into my eye while driving. I almost rear-ended someone. I would hate for this to happen to anyone else. There needs to be a recall on all dashboards. 2. I can not see through my review mirror. The top half is light grey and the lower half is blacked out/tinted. A rearview mirror is needed to drive safely and I can not see out of mine. It is very difficult to use. I am unsafe trying to use it. 3. Cracked seats. The cracked seats are cutting my legs and my passenger's legs. With the way the world is today, we can not drive around in cars with cracked seats. This is hazardous to our health. There heighten the chances of spreading diseases by exchanging blood and body fluids through the cuts. The cracking of the seats is not safe.

20220705STEERING

I purchased this used car and while driving the VSA (Vehicle Stability Assis) light comes on with the accompanying trianlge with exclamation point. When the light comes on while driving the car will tug you to the right. Once you stop the vehicle and turn off and re-start the light will turn off. As you drive again, the light comes on and tugs the vehicle to the right. When we purchased the vehicle I drove it home with my 16 year old (it is planned to be his first car) and I was on the highway going 60 and the VSA light came on and tugged the vehicle to the right. I did not lose control but it can definitely catch someone off guard and cause them to over correct. I took the car in to a local auto shop and they said there was a fault on the VSA module and a couple of other issues. I spent $1,300 to replace both front bearings, hubs, 1 speed control sensor because they recommended that be done before looking to replace the VSA modulating assembly ($1,800 + install). I checked the Acura s

20220705SUSPENSION

I purchased this used car and while driving the VSA (Vehicle Stability Assis) light comes on with the accompanying trianlge with exclamation point. When the light comes on while driving the car will tug you to the right. Once you stop the vehicle and turn off and re-start the light will turn off. As you drive again, the light comes on and tugs the vehicle to the right. When we purchased the vehicle I drove it home with my 16 year old (it is planned to be his first car) and I was on the highway going 60 and the VSA light came on and tugged the vehicle to the right. I did not lose control but it can definitely catch someone off guard and cause them to over correct. I took the car in to a local auto shop and they said there was a fault on the VSA module and a couple of other issues. I spent $1,300 to replace both front bearings, hubs, 1 speed control sensor because they recommended that be done before looking to replace the VSA modulating assembly ($1,800 + install). I checked the Acura s

20220503SERVICE BRAKES

04 acura tl my transmission wen applying the brakes feel like a big part of tranny broke u feel it move like it grinding about to brake it can cause a big accident or death .if wen fully apply brakes complete stop .it will b bad it say a recall yrs ago 4 this same thing I'm telling u now about trannie i got kids I take n car seat belt lock don't work n back lights keep flashing n back at nite out of no were is there something n my car my gmail is [XXX]. 04 Acura tl had only 2mounths paid 3000 n Montclair now it sits not going to chance it driving no safe at all please help me INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

20220503SEAT BELTS

04 acura tl my transmission wen applying the brakes feel like a big part of tranny broke u feel it move like it grinding about to brake it can cause a big accident or death .if wen fully apply brakes complete stop .it will b bad it say a recall yrs ago 4 this same thing I'm telling u now about trannie i got kids I take n car seat belt lock don't work n back lights keep flashing n back at nite out of no were is there something n my car my gmail is [XXX]. 04 Acura tl had only 2mounths paid 3000 n Montclair now it sits not going to chance it driving no safe at all please help me INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

20220113AIR 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.

20220113UNKNOWN OR OTHER

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.

20211115FireSTEERING

The contact owns a 2004 Acura TL. The contact stated that while driving at 10 - 15 mph, a burning odor was detected and smoke was coming from under the hood of the vehicle. The contact inspected under the hood and noticed there was fluid leaking onto the catalytic converter that was causing the smoke. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 08V091000 (Steering) however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The failure mileage was approximately 170,000.

Mileage: 170,000

20210924POWER TRAIN

My "D" indicator light is blinking no matter changing the transmission fluid, cleaning the solenoids, etc. the car is not overheating, there are no apparent electrical problems and I do not even have any check engine lights or other codes. The light comes on blinking when I drive for a little while then goes off when I turn the car off and is fine. Then when I start it up it doesn't blink anymore. But then when I drive again for a while it blinks again. I've had transmission shuddering, jerky shifting, delayed shifting, etc.

20210618UNKNOWN OR OTHER

Transmission is going out an a lot of people say after 200,000 miles Acura TL the 2004 transmissions start to go out which mines is doing now what can I do this is a know problem with 2004-2006 Acura TL

Compare 2004ACURATL to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations 2 Open

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 2004 ACURA TL have?
The 2004 ACURA TL has 766 NHTSA complaints, 17 crashes, 8 fires, 26 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
Are there any recalls for the 2004 ACURA TL?
Yes, the 2004 ACURA TL has 6 recall(s). The most common affected component is STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:HOSE, PIPING, AND CONNECTIONS. Recalls are issued by NHTSA and manufacturers must provide a free remedy.
What are the most common problems with the 2004 ACURA TL?
The most-complained component for the 2004 ACURA TL is STRUCTURE with 177 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include AIR BAGS and STRUCTURE:BODY.
Is the 2004 ACURA TL safe to buy?
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.

Vehicle Safety Guides

Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.