VehicleVerdict

2005 Acura TL problems

Verdict · NHTSA data

One of the years to avoid

With 550 complaints filed to NHTSA — about 3.4 times the median TL year — the 2005 model ranks #2 of 20 TL years for complaint volume. It lands on the years-to-avoid list. Complainants reported 10 injuries in total across these filings.

Body & Structure leads the complaint categories with 156 reports (28% of the total).

550

NHTSA complaints

7

Recalls

1

Investigations

10

Crash-involved

6

Fires reported

10

Injuries

0

Deaths

NCAP overall

How does 2005 compare to other TL years?

See all TL years to avoid →

What are the most common 2005 Acura TL problems?

ComponentComplaintsShare
Body & Structure15628%
Airbags14526%
Other6612%
Transmission367%
Electrical System326%
Tires & Wheels255%
Steering234%
Engine122%
Suspension112%
Brakes92%
Speed Control81%
Fuel System71%
Visibility & Wipers51%
Lighting51%
Seat Belts41%
Seats20%
Latches & Locks20%
Child Seat20%

Does the 2005 Acura TL have recalls?

7 NHTSA recall campaigns on file. Recall repairs are free at franchised dealers.

19E068000Speed ControlOctober 10, 2019 · 3,744 units

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 (FMVSS) number 124, "Accelerator Control Systems."

Consequence

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.

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.

19V182000AirbagsMarch 6, 2019 · 1,101,534 units

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 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.

11E022000SuspensionJune 22, 2011 · 150 units

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.

Consequence

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.

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.

08V092000Visibility & WipersFebruary 27, 2008 · 129,600 units

Defect

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.

08V091000SteeringFebruary 27, 2008 · 273,000 units

Defect

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).

07V097000Fuel SystemMarch 14, 2007 · 166,561 units

Defect

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.

Consequence

IF THE FUEL PUMP LOSES POWER WHILE DRIVING, THE ENGINE COULD STALL WITHOUT WARNING, AND A CRASH COULD OCCUR.

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.

05V132000Electrical SystemApril 5, 2005 · 1,923 units

Defect

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.

Consequence

IF THE FUEL PUMP LOSES POWER WHILE DRIVING THE ENGINE COULD STALL WITHOUT WARNING WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.

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.

Consumer complaints filed with NHTSA

Representative excerpts, cleaned of personal information. These are consumer statements, not verified defects.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 ACURA TL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DASHBOARD WAS CRACKED IN FOUR DIFFERENT AREAS. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT ONE OF THE ARES WAS CLOSE TO THE AIR BAG, WHICH COULD CAUSE POSSIBLE EXPOSURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Body & Structure · July 21, 2014

The contact owned a 2005 Acura TL. The contact stated that while driving at an unknown speed, the front driver's side air bag might have deployed without impact, hit the contact's face, reducing the roadway visibility and causing the vehicle to crash into the rear-end of another vehicle. The…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Airbags · February 19, 2026 · crash

TL* 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…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Other · August 15, 2017 · fire

I LEFT MY CAR TO GET MY PHONE WHILE CAR WAS PARKED ON THE DRIVEWAY WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING, TRANSMISSION IN PARKING AND DOOR ON THE DRIVER SIDE OPEN. LESS THAN 2 MINUTES LATER WHEN I RETURNED MY CAR WAS GONE. LOOKING AROUND, I SAW MY CAR AT LEAST 30 YARDS DOWNHILL FROM THE DRIVEWAY LODGED AGAINST…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Transmission · April 22, 2014 · crash

TL* 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…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Electrical System · August 15, 2017 · fire

2005 Acura TL — common questions

Is the 2005 Acura TL reliable?

NHTSA data argues against it: 550 complaints put the 2005 model at #2 of 20 TL years. It is one of the TL years to avoid.

What are the most common 2005 TL problems?

According to NHTSA complaint data, the leading problem areas are body & structure (156 complaints), airbags (145 complaints), other (66 complaints).

Does the 2005 Acura TL have recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 7 recall campaigns affecting the 2005 Acura TL. Recall repairs are free at franchised dealers; check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm the work was done.

Is the 2005 Acura TL under NHTSA investigation?

NHTSA opened one investigation into this model year; all are now closed.

Which Acura TL years should you avoid?

Based on complaint rates and open investigations, the TL years to avoid are 2004, 2005, 2003, 2002, 2006, 2000. The cleanest record among TL years belongs to 1995.

Related

Based on NHTSA ODI data through June 2026. Complaints are consumer-reported and unverified. Updated July 5, 2026.

Compiled by Sharon Ben-Moshe, Founder.