2004 Acura TL Recalls, Complaints & Specs
4 safety recalls list the 2004 Acura TL, and owners have filed 551 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.
4 safety recalls for the 2004 Acura TL
Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.
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Inflator module (air bags)
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,…
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.…
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Hose, piping, and connections (steering)
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).
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Motor (visibility)
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…
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Automatic transmission (power train)
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.
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,…
551 owner complaints filed with NHTSA
Owners of the 2004 Acura TL have filed 551 complaints with NHTSA; 13 describe a crash and 6 describe a fire. Reports cite 17 injuries and 0 deaths. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 87,957 miles. Complaints peaked in 2010 with 73 filed that year.
Most-reported components
What owners are reporting
“I was driving and all of a sudden I hit a pot hole and then when I went to take a turn my car ended up making a shaking rattling sound when I pulled to to side to check it the ball joint was half way”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, July 19, 2024 · Suspension
“Car stopped working three days after I purchased it.”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, May 1, 2024 · Engine
Fuel economy and specs
EPA ratings for the 2004 Acura TL. Ranges cover every tested configuration.
| Combined | 21 mpg |
|---|---|
| City / Highway | 18 / 26–28 |
| Fuel | Premium |
| EPA class | Midsize Cars |
| Engine | 6 cyl, 3.2 L |
| Transmission | Automatic (S5); Manual 6-spd |
Compare Acura TL model years
Recall and complaint counts for every Acura TL model year in NHTSA's database.
| Model year | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|
| 1995 Acura TL | 0 | 1 |
| 1996 Acura TL | 2 | 26 |
| 1997 Acura TL | 2 | 23 |
| 1998 Acura TL | 2 | 20 |
| 1999 Acura TL | 4 | 157 |
| 2000 Acura TL | 6 | 249 |
| 2001 Acura TL | 3 | 149 |
| 2002 Acura TL | 7 | 333 |
| 2003 Acura TL | 5 | 391 |
| 2004 Acura TL | 4 | 551 |
| 2005 Acura TL | 5 | 388 |
| 2006 Acura TL | 4 | 247 |
| 2007 Acura TL | 2 | 124 |
| 2008 Acura TL | 2 | 124 |
| 2009 Acura TL | 3 | 42 |
| 2010 Acura TL | 3 | 64 |
| 2011 Acura TL | 3 | 20 |
| 2012 Acura TL | 3 | 130 |
| 2013 Acura TL | 3 | 62 |
| 2014 Acura TL | 3 | 17 |
Checking a specific 2004 Acura TL
How do I know if my 2004 Acura TL has an open recall?
Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle. 4 campaigns currently list the 2004 Acura TL; your car may already have been repaired under some of them.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised Acura dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number (for example 04V176000).
What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?
A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.
Other Acura models
- MDX3,296 complaints
- RDX2,164 complaints
- TLX891 complaints
- TSX671 complaints
- Integra657 complaints
- Cl586 complaints
- RL423 complaints
- Legend382 complaints
Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.