10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 1
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
110,136 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2005 Acura TL electrical problems

electrical problem

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2005 Acura TL Owner Comments (Page 1 of 2)

problem #24

Jul 172020

TL 6-cyl

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

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!

- Waycross, GA, USA

problem #23

May 072020

TL

  • 168,000 miles
These problems are not accident related but need to be addressed.my car battery kept draining. I replaced the battery just under a year ago and it kept happening unless I drove the car every day. Finally took it in to have it checked. The bluetooth device up in the headliner was shorted out. Got that fixed but found out that there is a class action lawsuit against Acura for this very problem. It's been ongoing for 5 years! the airbag issue has to to do with the fact that my dashboard is cracked, horribly, even though my car has been garaged and protected from the sun most of the time since I bought it in 2011. If the airbags deploy in an accident, there will be major shrapnel from the dashboard damage that will cause even greater injury. I would like to know why Acura is not doing anything about the faulty dashboard materials.

- Katy, TX, USA

problem #22

Jan 022017

TL

  • miles
(inside vehicle/stationary) driver side door lock fails to pop up and down when button is pushed/activated.

- Dinuba, CA, USA

problem #21

Jan 152019

TL

  • 155,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

My 2005 Acura TL has lost power at least a dozen times while I have been driving on the freeway. The battery also completely drains after the car has not been driven for a day or two. I just replaced the battery and have had the alternator tested at least half a dozen times by 3 different mechanics. My issues sound very similar to the fuse box recall but my VIN does not fall under the recall apparently.

- Newport Beach, CA, USA

problem #20

May 082019

TL

  • 243,260 miles
Takata recall car making noise while driving and reversing. Windshield wipers sprayer stop working. Radio won't turn

- Charlotte, NC, USA

problem #19

Dec 102018

TL

  • 170,000 miles
Car is leaking oil gradually. Puddle in amber brown color on the garage floor

- Wellington, FL, USA

problem #18

May 012018

TL

  • 167,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

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.

- Lucedale, MS, USA

problem #17

Nov 262017

TL

  • 60,000 miles
I purchased this vehicle from the oringinal owner 11-17. He didnt inform me of any problems with the vehicle. Three days after purchase I had a dead battery. Then I noticed the speedometer and tach would stop working when I was driving, also the vsa warning light would come on when I was driving. I searched on line and found that there was many complaints about my same problems, and that the dealer was no help at all. I tried disconnecting the hands free link, but I still had a dead battery the next day. The only solution I have found is to disconnect my battery every day when I come home. I replaced the battery in Jan. 2018. There are also receipts in the vehicle from the origanal owner for the same problems.

- Manteca, CA, USA

problem #16

Aug 152017

TL

  • 160,000 miles
The contact owns a 2005 Acura TL. While driving 35 mph, the vehicle began to smoke. There was no fire and the fire department was not contacted. There were no injuries. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the power steering pump fluid was leaking into the catalytic converter. The contact was advised that the VIN was included in NHTSA campaign number: 08V091000 (steering). Tim short Acura (131 maccorkle ave sw, charleston, wv 25303) informed the contact to bring in the vehicle. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. Also, while attempting to start the vehicle, it failed to start and the key immobilizer indicator flashed. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer or independent mechanic. A dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 160,000.

- Matewan, WV, USA

problem #15

Oct 302015

TL

  • miles
The vehicle initially ran into an issue where it wouldn't start approximately 2 years ago in 2015. I have had the battery replaced at least 4 times in the last 2 years. I understand that there is an issue with the hands free blue tooth causing an electrical drain on the car; however, still no recall from Honda. Despite the fact that I've had the car services at several different shops & have spent money replacing batteries as well as other components associated with the electrical, the issue continues to persist and there are instances where it won't start.

- New Britain, CT, USA

problem #14

Jun 012016

TL

  • 130,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

1. hfl lhas continuously drained several batteries since I purchased the car in 2008. Until recently I did not know it was the hfl until the Acura dealership said it's a known problem and it either needs to be repaired or removed. It's very expensive to repair, so I had it removed. I also just purchased a 2007 Acura TL S and while I was sitting at the dealership inputting the radio info and attempting to connect with to the hfl link the battery became completely drained in less than 10 min. The hfl has not worked in the 2005 since I bought it and it does not work on the 2007 either. I have a separate complaint form filled out for that car. The dealership said it's a known problem with Acura TL, but not a recall yet. It should be a recall. 2. the power steering has seemed to go out over the last 8 months and it has become difficult to steer. If I can remember there was a recall regarding the power steering hose for this model TL. I believe it was repaired during the initial recall, but the Acura dealership refuses to replace the part again even though the same problem is happening again.

- Orlando, FL, USA

problem #13

Aug 202016

TL

  • miles
Hands free link problem pearsedicitic drawl battery completely drained after 3 days of not starting also no display HVAC defroster on hi speed unable to control. There is no radio function/display as well.

- Havedegrace, MD, USA

problem #12

Apr 012015

TL

  • miles
I have. Noticed large cracks on top of the dash, some where my airbags are. What if the deploy? these cracks came out of nowhere and I feel they are hazardous to my airbags if they deploy

- Wilmer, TX, USA

problem #11

May 092016

TL

  • miles
Purchased new, since 2005 the vehicle has had a parasitic battery drain which causes the vehicle not to start. Over 10 batteries have been replaced by Acura dealerships or aaa. I was told by former certified Acura service representative that this problem is with the vehicles hands free system control module. Acura has known, internet research, and my conversation on this date 5/9/2016 with an Acura customer representative confirmed that Acura has known about this problem since 2004. This is a serious problem which can cause the vehicle to stop moving resulting in loss of power steering, control, or potential serious accident. Another serious factor is that there is no warning sign when the vehicle battery will fail. In the event that the battery fails with out any warning whatsoever in an extreme cold, heavy rainfall, flood conditions could possible result in loss of life. Think of the possibilities with children in the vehicle. Common sense dictates that my complaint and all others who have taken time to file complaints regarding this serious problem should result in a NHTSA recall. The people of the world who buy vehicles don't need bad takata inflators or bad ignition switches.what we need is a NHTSA which will responsibly enforce all automobile manufactures to provide quality vehicles that have the best safety features.

- Philadelphia, PA, USA

problem #10

Dec 112014

TL 6-cyl

  • 64,000 miles
The car is been sitting for about 4 days and the battery is dead again. This has been the issue since I bought the car. It was taken to the dealer when this first happened and I was assured that the problem has been fixed. However, over the years I have replaced numerous batteries. Internet research proved that the problem is with hands free system and Acura knows about the problem for long but has done nothing to fix it.

- Montclair, CA, USA

problem #9

Nov 102014

TL 6-cyl

  • 1,010,000 miles
Found a crack on the driver side dashboard over the odometer. Car was parked was never been in an accident before.

- Lancaster, PA, USA

problem #8

Jan 012011

TL 6-cyl

  • 89,000 miles
My issues with my car started about 3 years ago. I have had to replace the power steering rack and pump after the Acura recalled the hoses, but I was told that the hoses had nothing to do with my issue. I have had to replace the starter, the headlight computer unit, and both ignitors in the headlight. I am on my third battery in 2 years and no one can tell me why my battery is continuously dying. About two years ago, the bluetooth system all of a sudden stopped working. In the last year, my dashboard has started to crack from the driver to the passenger side, and the damage is much severe and prominent over the air bag area. I was told by Acura support that it should not cause any problems to the air bag, and the air bag should deploy appropriately with no problems. Prior to me purchasing my so-called "luxury" Acura, I had a 2000 Honda civic, and I never had any major issues with it. Thinking that I purchase an Acura, and it was the worst mistake I've made in my life. I have advised all my family and friends not to purchase an Acura because the quality sucks and it is a waste of your money due to all the money you have to put in for the repairs. In the past couple of months, I've spent almost $4000 on repairs for simple things like headlight issues and sensors. I spoke with Acura customer care about assistance with repairing my dashboard and I was offer a 50% discount based on their criteria which I believe are ridiculous. One of the criteria that they look at is to see have you been a loyal customer as far as maintenance and repairs are concerned. I informed the guy that the nearest Acura dealership is an hour and half away from my home, and it made no sense for my to drive the distance for an oil change. Completely fed up with Acura!!

- Lake City, FL, USA

problem #7

Apr 262013

TL

  • 117,000 miles
The contact owns a 2005 Acura TL. The contact stated that while driving approximately 5 mph, the engine stalled and restarted a few moments later. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where the fuel pump fuse was replaced. In addition, the electrical fuse box was replaced by the dealer. After the repair was performed, smoke emitted from the instrument panel. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer for the second time where the wiring harness was replaced. There were two recalls under NHTSA campaign id numbers 07V097000 (fuel system, gasoline) and 05V132000 (electrical system) however, the contact's the VIN was not included in either recalls. The manufacturer was made aware of the problem. The approximate failure mileage was 117,000.

- Yonkers, NY, USA

problem #6

Mar 142012

TL 6-cyl

  • miles
The hands free link (hfl) modules have been failing resulting in a 200ma current drain. This results in the module shorting out and may subsequently result in a fire. I discovered this as a result of the battery draining to 5 volts overnight as well as a much high than normal temperature of the plastic cover under the hfl module. I removed the module according to Acura service bulletin 05-020 dated September 23, 2005.

- Novi, MI, USA

problem #5

Aug 012010

TL

  • miles
Like others here my airbag in the passenger dash is cracked in a ring and I fear the airbag will malfunction, in addition if it doesn't malfunction, and deploys the plastic will be propelled with great force by the deplosion of airbag causing serious injury. I survived the failed transmissions, with numerous lock ups at highway speeds that caused a crash with injuries. I don't understand why Acura and Honda have not taken these warnings seriously, its obvious the safety risk, please stop playing with our lives and fix this problem. I also have a whine in my steering and replaced the power steering pump completely, it stills whines and is now leaking steering fluid and fumes coming into car and my wiper water quit spraying on my windshield. This is too much for a higher model car that cost a lot of money. Oh and I have replaced my tires so many times due to the treat wearing off like every 20K miles!

- Hernando, FL, USA

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