2004 Acura TL: complaints, problems and recalls

ACURA 2004 TL VIN [XXX] IS A PROBLEM WITH THE BRIDGESTONE TIRE A VIBRATION FROM FLAT SPOTTING. ACURA IS AWARE OF THIS ON A NUMBER OF VEHICLES. THEY SAY THAT THERE WILL BE A FIX FOR IT SOON. I AM CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY OF THE VEHICLE TIRES. THE TIRE PROBLEM IS WITH MANY OF THE ACURA 2004 TLS. I THINK THE DELAY IS NOT GOOD.*AK INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 52 miles reported. Look up ODI 10053176 at NHTSA ↗

SEVERE VIBRATION FROM THE FACTORY INSTALLED BRIDGESTONE TURANZA EL-42 TIRES ON MY NEW 2004 ACURA TL. THE VEHICLE HAS ONLY 1400 MILES ON IT AND HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER FOUR TIMES FOR THE FLAT-SPOTTING IN THE TIRES. I AM CONCERNED THAT THESE ARE NOT SAFE. ACURA OF DAYTON, OHIO, ACURA CORPORATE AND BRIDGESTONE SAY THEY IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO. OTHER 2004 ACURA OWNERS HAVE FILED COMPLAINTS WITH ACURA AND THERE ARE MANY WHO HAVE COMPLAINED ON VARIOUS INTERNET SITES INCLUDING ONE CALLED TIRE RACK. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10056566 at NHTSA ↗

THE VSA (STABILITY CONTROL) SYSTEM ON MY 2004 ACURA TL MALFUNCTIONED. THE SYSTEM WOULD CAUSE THE RIGHT FRONT BRAKE TO ACTIVATE BY ITSELF, CAUSING THE CAR TO SEVERLY SWERVE TO THE RIGHT. AFTER A HALF-SECOND OR SO, THE VSA WOULD DISENGAGE AND THE FAULT INDICATOR WOULD LITE UP ON THE DASHBOARD. THE ACURA DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM BECAUSE VSA FAULT CODES ARE NOT STORED IN THE VEHICLE'S MEMORY AFTER THE CAR IS RESTARTED AND THE SYSTEM AUTOMATICALLY RESETS. THIS RESULTED IN HAVING TO CONTINUE TO DRIVE THE CAR UNTIL THE FAULT RE-OC…

Owner-reported narrative. 1,400 miles reported. Look up ODI 10056676 at NHTSA ↗

VEHICLE VIBRATION AT CONSTANT SPEEDS IN THE RANGE A) 30-40 MPH; AND B) 50-60 MPH; THIS VIBRATION IN THE VEHICLE CREATES AN AVERSION TO DRIVE WITH THE VIBRATION AND THEREFORE EXCEED THESE SPEED LIMITS ALTHOUGH THE LOCAL SPEED LIMITS POSTED MAY BE LOWER. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10058372 at NHTSA ↗

THE LEFT HEADLAMP BEAM CREATES A DARK/BLIND SPOT ABOUT 5-6' INCHES IN DIAMETER. THE DRIVER'S EYES START FOCUSING ON THIS SPOT AT HIGH SPEEDS THE DRIVER MISSES THE LANES AND GETS BLINDED, DAZED AND CONFUSED - A CAUSE THAT MAY VERY SOON CAUSE ACCIDENTS. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10058374 at NHTSA ↗

TIRE VIBRATION. AT ABOUT 50 MPH, THE TIRES CAUSE THE ENTIRE CAR TO VIBRATE. THIS CONTINUES AT ALL HIGHWAY SPEEDS AND DOES NOT SEEM TO GO AWAY. I HAVE CONTACTED ACURA SEVERAL TIMES AND ACURA'S ENGINEERS 'ARE LOOKING INTO IT'. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. 3,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10058552 at NHTSA ↗

SEVERE VIBRATION AT MOST SPEEDS, PARTICULARLY IN THE 40 - 60 MPH RANGE. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. 6 miles reported. Look up ODI 10058824 at NHTSA ↗

LOW BEAM HEAD LIGHTS OFFER A DANGEROUSLY LOW AMOUNT OF LIGHT ON ROADS WITH DIPS AND HILLS AND CURVES ESPECIALLY IN NEIGHBORHOODS. LACK OF AMBIENT LIGHT ELIMINATES ANY CHANCE AT THE SPLIT-SECOND DECISION NEEDED TO AVOID A POSSIBLE DEER OR CAT CROSSING OR PEDESTRIAN IN YOUR PATH. NORMALLY AT LOW NEIGHBORHOOD SPEEDS YOUR BRIGHT LIGHT BEAMS ARE NOT NEEDED OR USED SO THE BLACKED OUT AREAS CAN POP UP AT ANYTIME WITH NO WARNING. THESE LIGHTS ARE GOING TO CAUSE ACCIDENTS AND DEATHS IF THEY ARE NOT REPLACED WITH ONES THAT ARE PRACTICAL FOR EVERYDAY …

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10060234 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2004-04-15 (April 15, 2004)

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.

Consequence: GEAR FAILURE COULD RESULT IN TRANSMISSION LOCKUP, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.

Remedy: ON VEHICLES WITH 15,000 MILES OR LESS, THE DEALER WILL UPDATE THE TRANSMISSION WITH A SIMPLE REVISION TO THE OIL COOLER RETURN LINE TO INCREASE LUBRICATION TO THE SECOND GEAR. ON VEHICLES WITH MORE THAN 15,000 MILES, THE DEALER WILL INSPECT THE TRANSMISSION TO IDENTIFY GEARS THAT HAVE ALREADY EXPERIENCED DISCOLORATION DUE TO OVERHEATING. IF DISCOLORATION EXISTS, THE TRANSMISSION WILL BE REPLACED IF DISCOLORATION IS NOT PRESENT, THE DEALER WILL PERFORM THE REVISION TO THE OIL COOLER RETURN LINE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 21, 2004, FOR PILOT, ODYSSEY, AND MDX OWNERS. OWNERS OF THE ACCORD VEHICLES WILL START RECEIVING LETTERS ON JUNE 28, 2004, AND ON JUNE 29, 2004, FOR OWNERS OF THE TL AND CL VEHICLES. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT HONDA AT 1-800-999-1009 OR ACURA AT 1-800-382-2238.

Reported: 2008-02-27 (February 27, 2008)

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.

Consequence: POWER STEERING FLUID LEAKING ONTO A HOT CATALYTIC CONVERTER WILL GENERATE SMOKE AND POSSIBLY LEAD TO AN UNDER-HOOD FIRE.

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).

Reported: 2008-02-27 (February 27, 2008)

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.

Consequence: IF THE CIRCUIT BREAKER FAILS, IT WILL CAUSE THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR TO BECOME INOPERATIVE, WHICH CAN INCREASE THE LIKELIHOOD OF A CRASH IN CERTAIN CONDITIONS.

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.

Reported: 2019-03-06 (March 6, 2019)

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.

Consequence: 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.

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.