2005 Acura TL: problems, recalls and reliability
7 recalls and 388 owner complaints on record; the weakest area is structure (38% of complaints); the 2007 model year looks more trouble-free.
Data updated weekly · 2 new complaints in the last 90 days · latest recall Oct 2019
All counts are reports filed with NHTSA in the United States - US market only, not worldwide totals.
Common problems
Computed from 388 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
“The driver and passenger side mirror lenses will click randomly while driving on the interstate going at a relatively good speed. When these click and move, it causes a distraction and I can no longer see what's coming next to me. I have to turn the mirror lenses back to their original position in order to view my blind spot.”Owner report · Unknown Or Other · Oct 2024
“Ball joint purchased from Napa Auto Parts #260-1791was defective. Nut supplied with ball joint was too small. This caused the ball joint to separate from the steering knuckle. After driving a very short distance the front end of the car collapsed, causing the front axle to break. The car fell on the front fender damaging it. This is the same problem reported in 2011. [XXX] This is a serious safety issue. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)”Owner report · Suspension · Mar 2024
“The contact owns a 2005 Acura TL. The contact stated that the entire dashboard was cracked. Additionally, air bag warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was not taken to be diagnosed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 100,000.”Owner report · Structure · Apr 2022
Show 7 more owner reports
“There are cracks forming on the dashboard of my 2005 Acura TL that I have researched and found are chronic issues in the 2004-2008 TL, and might compromise the ability of the airbag to deploy properly (either prematurely or not at all when expected to imnan accident). I've watched my dashboard go from having 1 crack 5-10 years ago to forming 2 more recently (for a total of 3) and have concerns after researching this as a common defect for the 2004-2008 generation of TL, and yet Acura has not had a recall to fix this completely free of charge to the vehicle owner with no time limitation on when this can be honored. http://www.acuraproblems.com/cracked-dashboard/”Owner report · Air Bags · Jan 2022
“The dash on the car is cracking, large cracks. The cracks are on the same area of the passenger airbag. In an accident, I am afraid that the airbag section of the dash will not separate correctly and that pieces of the dash will injure the passenger in the car.”Owner report · Unknown Or Other · Oct 2021
“My battery would be dead if I didn't drive my car every day. Then I found out there is a parasitic drain on the battery from a faulty hands-free bluetooth module. I watched a video then disconnected mine myself, problem solved. I've used a headlight restoration kit because the lights are yellow and they have spider-cracks all in them, it really affects the brightness of the light itself. The dashboard is cracked beyond repair and I'm terrified of getting into a wreck in my car, the dash would become shrapnel!”Owner report · Electrical System · Jul 2020
“I went to go at a stop light I got to about 15 mph and my car jus lost all power and didn't restart. When I tried to turn the key on and off again no power as well as everytime I put the key in the ignition it makes this weird buzzing noise when I try to turn it over. *tr”Owner report · Electronic Stability Control (Esc) · Jun 2020
“Airbag: cracked dashboard above airbag. ABS off steering: (in motion and when stationary) steering wheel moaned while turning wheel/driving and even after parking and turning steering wheel. Brakes: (in motion) when going down on dips on road, brakes make noise and seem to slip.”Owner report · Steering · Feb 2020
“I was driving my car out of nowhere it lost power this the third time it happens. Its really scary because the last time I had my baby with me and that happened. I had to park and turn off the car also when I reverse it takes long to change gear.”Owner report · Power Train · Jan 2020
“2005 acura tl, very well maintained. Jun 2019, a crack appeared in dashboard on the right side of the passenger side airbag. Airbag dashboard light came on 3 months later and stays on. Dealer said they had never seen that before, but now I know this is a known problem. Love the car, but feel acura needs to resolve this defect. The risk of air bag deployment is serious.”Owner report · Structure · Sep 2019
When filing, owners marked a crash in 7 of these complaints and injuries in 7 - self-reported to NHTSA, not verified accident statistics.
Recalls - 7 campaigns
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 (FMVSS) number 124, "Accelerator Control Systems."
Remedy: 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.
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 as part of a previous Takata inflator recall remedy or a replacement driver air bag module containing the same inflator type as a service part. Due to a manufacturing error, in the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver frontal air bag, these inflators may explode.
Remedy: 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.
ON CERTAIN VEHICLES, A COIL WIRE INSIDE THE FUEL PUMP RELAY MAY BREAK, CAUSING THE FUEL PUMP TO LOSE POWER. IF THE FUEL PUMP BECOMES INOPERATIVE, THE ENGINE MAY NOT START.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND REPLACE THE FUEL PUMP RELAY FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 2, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT HONDA AT 1-800-999-1009.
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.
Remedy: 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.
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 CIRCUIT BREAKER INSIDE THE MOTOR HOUSING.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR FOR SIGNS OF CORROSION. IF NO SIGNS OF CORROSION ARE PRESENT, A SNORKEL TUBE WILL BE ADDED TO THE WIPER MOTOR BREATHER PORT TO PREVENT WATER FROM ENTERING THE WIPER MOTOR HOUSING AND FOAM TAPE WILL BE INSTALLED ON THE COWL ABOVE THE WIPER MOTOR TO DIRECT WATER AWAY FROM THE WIPER MOTOR. IF SIGNS OF CORROSION DAMAGE ARE OBSERVED ON THE WIPER MOTOR, THE MOTOR WILL BE REPLACED, AND THE BREATHER TUBE AND FOAM TAPE WILL ALSO BE INSTALLED TO PREVENT WATER INTRUSION ON THE NEW WIPER MOTOR. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 28, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT ACURA AT 1-800-382-2238.
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.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW HEAT RESISTANT POWER STEERING HOSE FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 28, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT ACURA AT 800-382-2238. THIS IS AN EXPANSION OF A PREVIOUS RECALL (PLEASE SEE 07V551).
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, A LOOSE TERMINAL IN THE MAIN FUSE BOX MAY CAUSE THE FUEL PUMP TO LOSE POWER. IF THE FUEL PUMP BECOMES INOPERATIVE, THE ENGINE MAY NOT START.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE ENTIRE FUSE BOX FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 13, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT HONDA AT 800-999-1009 OR ACURA AT 1-800-382-2238.
Specifications
Factory options offered for the 2005 model year, decoded from the NHTSA vPIC database. Individual vehicles have one of each.
How other years compare
Check your exact TL by VIN
Recalls and equipment differ between individual vehicles. Decode your VIN to see what applies to yours.
Open VIN decoderFrequently asked questions
Is the 2005 Acura TL reliable?
NHTSA has 388 owner complaints and 7 recall campaigns on record for the 2005 Acura TL. The most complained-about area is structure (38% of complaints).
At what mileage do 2005 Acura TL problems usually appear?
Half of the complaints that mention mileage were filed at 92,000 miles or less.
Does the 2005 Acura TL have open recalls?
7 recall campaigns have been issued, the latest concerning vehicle speed control:accelerator pedal. Check your specific vehicle by VIN - recall repairs are free at franchised dealers.
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns and owner complaints (public domain). Counts reflect reports on file and are not a defect rate.