Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2005 Acura TL, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Structure156
- Air bags144
- Unknown or other64
- Power train36
- Electrical system28
- Steering25
- Tires20
- Suspension11
- Vehicle speed control8
- Service brakes, hydraulic7
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 7 injuries and 0 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
Fatal crashes in the US
From 2020 to 2023, 58 2005 TL vehicles were involved in crashes on US public roads in which someone died; 36 people died inside them, and 11 of the vehicles rolled over. This is a count, not a crash rate: it grows with the number of cars on the road.
NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), crash years 2020–2023 (public domain)
New York safety inspections
At its first New York inspection the 2005 Acura TL failed the safety check 2.31% of the time — 1% more often than the average 2005 passenger car (2.30%). Median odometer at inspection: 154,170 miles.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections (vezn-fmmk), initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
Fuel consumption
Official Canadian test results for 2 variants: combined 11.3 L/100 km (about 21 mpg US), CO₂ 260 g/km.
| Variant | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| TL · Mid-size · Premium gasoline | 13.3 | 8.9 | 11.3 |
| TL · Mid-size · Premium gasoline | 13.3 | 8.9 | 11.3 |
Litres per 100 km. Natural Resources Canada, Fuel consumption ratings (open.canada.ca) · Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls in Canada
4 Transport Canada recalls for the 2005 Acura TL.
| 2008079 4 Mar 2008 | Other On certain 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… |
| 2008080 4 Mar 2008 | Steering On certain vehicles, prolonged high under-hood temperatures may cause a power steering hose to deteriorate prematurely, causing the hose to crack and leak. Pow… |
| 2007088 19 Mar 2007 | Fuel System On certain vehicles, a manufacturing fault with the fuel pump relay could cause the coil wire in the relay to break. If this happens, the fuel pump will not op… |
| 2005086 30 Mar 2005 | Electrical This vehicle may contain a loose terminal in the main fuse box that could cause the fuel pump to lose power. If the fuel pump becomes inoperative, the engine … |
Transport Canada Vehicle Recalls Database · Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Whether a recall was fixed on a particular car is known only to the manufacturer: check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA recalls · summaries in NHTSA's own words
Service bulletins
What Acura told its dealers about the 2005 Acura TL: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 10211608 | Special Tool Loan Program: Under TOOLS AVAILABLE FOR LOAN, the list has been updated. |
| 10204257 | The HandsFreeLink (HFL) system doesn?t work, and/or the battery sometimes won?t start the vehicle. |
| 10198910 | HandsFreeLink (HFL) Doesn?t Work, or Battery Is Too Low to Start the Engine: The HandsFreeLink (HFL) system doesn?t work, and/or the battery sometimes won?t start the vehicle. |
| 10193392 | Sending vehicle data to tech line. |
| 10191130 | SYMPTOM The HandsFreeLink (HFL) system doesnt work, and/or the battery sometimes wont start the vehicle. PROBABLE CAUSE The HFL control unit has an internal problem, which creates a parasitic current draw of 250 mA CORRECTIVE ACTION Do the REPAIR PROCEDURE, which includes a diagnosis, and if necessary, replace the HFL control unit. |
| 10165333 | 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 the end user besides time to complete installation. |
| 10141148 | Dealer message - American Honda (AHM) is investigating certain 2004-2008 TLs & TSXs with a complaint of the Malfunction Indicator Lamp (MIL) on with the DTC P2138 (Accelerator Pedal Position Sensor A/B Incorrect Voltage Correlation) stored and poor engine performance. To fully understand the cause of this condition, AHM would like to collect specific parts from the vehicle prior to you attempting any further repair of any kind. |
| 10129812 | Dealer message - American Honda (AHM) is investigating certain 2004-2008 TLs & TSXs with a complaint of the Malfunction Indicator Lamp (MIL) on with the DTC P2138 (Accelerator Pedal Position Sensor A/B Incorrect Voltage Correlation) stored and poor engine performance. To fully understand the cause of this condition, AHM would like to collect specific parts from the vehicle prior to you attempting any further repair of any kind. |
| 10129517 | Dealer message - American Honda (AHM) is investigating certain 2004-2008 TLs & TSXs with a complaint of the Malfunction Indicator Lamp (MIL) on with the DTC P2138 (Accelerator Pedal Position Sensor A/B Incorrect Voltage Correlation) stored and poor engine performance. To fully understand the cause of this condition, AHM would like to collect specific parts from the vehicle prior to you attempting any further repair of any kind. |
| 10128558 | Dealer message - On Monday, June 23, 2014, Acura announced three recalls for various 2002-06 Acura models. As of July 23, 2014, affected VINs have been identified, and service bulletins 14-023, Safety Recall: Front Passenger?s Airbag Inflator Can Be Over-Pressurized, 14-029, Recall: Front Driver?s Airbag Inflator May Produce Excessive Pressure After Long-Term Exposure to High Absolute Humidity Recall, and 14-030, Recall: Front Passenger?s Airbag Inflator May Produce Excessive Pressure After Long-Term Exposure to High Absolute Humidity have been posted to ISIS. However, due to the large number |
| 10128529 | 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. |
| 10100462 | SERVICE BULLETIN - NAVIGATION SYSTEM INFORMATION. |
| 10099406 | SERVICE BULLETIN - HANDSFREELINK (HFL) DOESNT WORK, OR BATTERY IS TOO LOW TO START THE ENGINE |
| 10086288 | 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. |
| 10084285 | AHM IS INVESTIGATING CUSTOMER COMPLAINT OF THE HANDSFREELINK NOT WORKING OR THE BATTERY BEING TOO LOW TO START THE ENGINE. PLEASE SEND SPECIFIC PARTS TO AHM PRIOR TO ATTEMPING ANY REPAIRS. |
| 10084268 | AHM IS INVESTIGATING CUSTOMER COMPLAINT OF THE HANDSFREELINK NOT WORKING OR THE BATTERY BEING TOO LOW TO START THE ENGINE. PLEASE SEND SPECIFIC PARTS TO AHM PRIOR TO ATTEMPING ANY REPAIRS. |
| 10084265 | ENGINEERING REQUEST FOR INVESTIGATION OF THE HANDSFREELINK (HFL) NOT WORKING OR THE BATTERY BEING TOO LOW TO START THE ENGINE. |
| 10084166 | DEALER MESSAGE - AHM IS INVESTIGATING CLIENT COMPLAINT OF HANDSFREELINK NOT WORKING OR BATTERY BEING TOO LOW TO START THE ENGINE. PRIOR TO PERFORMING ANY REPAIR, PLEASE SEND SUSPECT PARTS BACK TO AHM. |
| 10083835 | DEALER MESSAGE - REQUEST FOR PARTS TO INVESTIGATETHE HANDSFREELINK (HFL) NOT WORKING OR THE BATTERY BEING TOO LOW TO START THE ENGINE. |
| 10075668 | SUMMARY TO BE PROVIDED ON A FUTURE DATE. |
| 10055120 | ACURA: THE MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP (MIL) IS ON, WITH DTC P2138 (ACCELERATOR PEDAL POSITION SENSOR A/B INCORRECT VOLTAGE CORRELATION), AND HAVE POOR PERFORMANCE IN ENGINE. MODEL 2004-2008 TL, TSX. *PE |
| 10054809 | HONDA: SOME VEHICLES MAY DISPLAY A MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP WITH THE STORED DTC P2138 (ACCELERATOR PEDAL POSITION SENSOR A/B INCORRECT VOLTAGE CORRELATION). THERE MAY ALSO BE POOR ENGINE PERFORMANCE. AHM IS ATTEMPTING TO COLLECT SPECIFIC PARTS FROM THE VEHICLE BEFORE ANY FURTHER EFFORT TOWARD REPAIRS. *JS |
| 10054478 | ACURA: DUE TO ACCELERATOR PEDAL POSITION SENSOR A/B INCORRECT VOLTAGE CORRELATION, ENGINE POOR PERFORMANCE AND MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP (MIL) IS ON WITH DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE (DTC) 02138, AN INVESTIGATION WILL CHECK CAUSE OF CONDITION. MODEL 2004-2008 TX, TSX. *PE |
| 10053207 | ACURA: INFORMATION IN THE SERVICE NEWS, FROM MANUFACTURER, REGARDING VARIOUS ISSUES OF TROUBLESHOOTING, INSTALLATION, REPLACING, SERVICING AND REPAIRING VARIOUS MODEL AND MODEL YEAR VEHICLES. *PE |
| 10051940 | ACURA: CLUTCH PEDAL POPS, SQUEAKS, OR CLICKS. *KB |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)
NHTSA investigations
WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR FAILURE
NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation