2004 Acura Tl problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Structure (172) · Air Bags (52) · Structure:body (46)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Acura Tl model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
🛣️ Complaints by mileage
400 NHTSA complaints that reported an odometer reading.
Safety recalls (3)
Vehicle Speed Control:accelerator Pedal 2019-10-10 · campaign 19E068000 · 3,744 vehicles
Defect: 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 2006-2014 Honda Ridgeline vehicles. The rotating portion of the accelerator pedal assembly may bind. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (
Risk: If the accelerator pedal binds, the engine may not quickly return to idle after the pedal is no longer pressed, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dorman will notify owners, and qualified service facilities will replace the affected accelerator pedal assemblies, free of charge. The recall began December 9, 2019. Owners may contact Dorman customer service at 1-800-523-2492, using option 5. Dorman's number for this recall is AS1019XXXX.
Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module 2019-03-06 · campaign 19V182000 · 1,101,534 vehicles
Defect: 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, 2002-2007 and 2010-2011 CR-V, 2003-2011 Element, 2007 Fit, 2002-2004 Odyssey, 2003-2008 Pilot, and 2006-2014 Ridgeline vehicles. The affected vehicles received a replacement driver air bag inflator
Risk: An explosion of an inflator within the driver frontal air bag module may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver, front seat passenger or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's air bag inflator with an alternate inflator, free of charge. The recall began April 10, 2019. Honda owners may contact customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for this recall is O41. Acura owners may contact customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Acura's number for this recall is U40.
Suspension:front:control Arm:lower Ball Joint 2011-06-22 · campaign 11E022000 · 150 vehicles
Defect: 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.
Risk: MISAPPLICATION OF THIS PART COULD LEAD TO SEPARATION OF THE BALL JOINT FROM THE LOWER CONTROL ARM AND COLLAPSE OF THE FRONT SUSPENSION, WHICH COULD POTENTIALLY CAUSE A VEHICLE CRASH.
Fix: AFFINIA IS WORKING WITH NAPA TO IDENTIFY ANY OWNERS THAT HAVE HAD THIS PART MISTAKENLY INSTALLED ON TO AN ACURA TL VEHICLE, AND WILL REPLACE THE PART FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 20, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT AFFINIA GROUP'S WARRANTY ADMINISTRATOR AT 1-815-759-7757.
Service bulletins (123)
Technical service bulletins are repair instructions manufacturers send dealers for known issues. Unlike recalls, the fix is not automatically free — but naming the bulletin at the service desk can save diagnosis time and support goodwill repairs.
Suspension 2019-07-11 · DORE5C4S09 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this sku is a front upper ball joint. the customer communication requested return of unsold inventory to inspect for the outer diameter of the ball joint housing being too small. the outer diameter being too small would prevent the part from being installed, and would therefore have no impact on
Equipment:other:owners/Service/Other Manual 2017-01-01 · BJA46167 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
sending vehicle data to tech line.
Equipment:electrical:navigational System(Global Positioning System) 2016-11-23 · B05-018 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
service bulletin - navigation system information.
Air Bags:frontal:sensor/Control Module-Inactive 2016-08-29 · TAKATA_FLORIDA D · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
letter sent in conjunction with the florida highway safety and motor vehicles department to remind florida owners of the takata recall and to schedule an appointment at their earliest convenience.
Equipment 2016-03-18 · B98015 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
special tool loan program: under tools available for loan, the list has been updated.
Air Bags 2014-08-06 · DLR MSG - Acura · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
dealer message - on monday, june 23, 2014, acura announced three recalls for various 2002-06 acura models. as of august 4, 2014, affected vins have been identified, and vin status inquiry has been updated.
Showing the 6 most recent of 123 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2024-07-19 · Suspension“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 …”
2024-05-01 · Unknown Or Other“car stopped working three days after i purchased it.…”
2023-04-29 · Steering“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 …”
2023-03-24 · Steering“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 …”
2023-02-04 · 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)…”
2022-10-06 · Suspension · 150,000 mi“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 …”
2022-09-06 · Unknown 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 hi…”
2022-08-11 · Unknown Or Other · 💥 crash“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…”
2022-07-05 · Suspension“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 …”
2022-05-03 · Service 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 wo…”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.