2003 Acura TL Airbag Problems

Which parts fail

• Frontal
  6
• Frontal › Driver side › Inflator module
  2
• Frontal › Sensor/control module
  1
• Air bag/restraint control module
  1

Components named in complaints (front, side and curtain air bags, sensors and inflators).

Mileage when the problem started

• Under 25k
  28%
• 25k–50k
  312%
• 50k–75k
  312%
• 75k–100k
  28%
• 100k–150k
  936%
• 150k+
  624%

Owner reports

Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2003 Acura TL owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).

The contact owns a 2003 Acura TL. The contact stated while driving 65 MPH, the SRS warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and the contact was informed that the front driver's side air bag PODS control unit and sensor needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that he contacted the manufacturer who confirmed that there was a manufacturer recall for the front driver's side PODS control unit and sensor. The VIN was included in the recall however, the vehicle was not serviced under the recall because the recall had expired. The contact stated that the manufacturer representative stated that the PODS control unit and sensor recall should have been remedied under NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V182000 (Air Bags). The contact stated that a case was opened. The approximate failure mileage was 220,000.

This complaint relates to safety recall campaigns work regarding my 2003 Acura TL car's SRS (air bags). I took my car to the Acura Service Center in Guaynabo, PR, for recall related repairs at various times during 2022 and 2023. The last time was [redacted]. The PROBLEM is that the Acura center's initial recall-related repair may have been faulty, thus causing the SRS warning light to turn on and stay on while I drive the car. The SRS warning came on a few days after the initial Acura service was performed. I was told during the second visit that they just had to reset something in the car's computer to turn off the SRS warning. But the SRS warning light would turn on again a few days after each service visit. The last time I took the car to Acura regarding this problem was on [redacted]. At that time, I requested a thorough diagnosis of the SRS problem. …

TL* the contact owned a 2003 Acura TL. The contact stated that while driving at 65 MPH, the vehicle encountered a pot hole causing the vehicle to jerk violently. As a result, the vehicle veered off the road and flipped over. The air bags did not deploy. The contact's left shoulder strap seat belt was detached from the vehicle leaving behind only the waist strap seat belt as the contact shifted from the driver's seat to the passengers seat during the accident. Furthermore, the contact's head was partially hanging out of the window after the accident. The vehicle was destroyed. The contact sustained a fractured wrist, chest pains, multiple lacerations and a concussion. In addition, the contact's stomach was severely twisted out of shape and the contact vomited and fainted numerous occasions after the accident. The contact required medical attention. …

TL* the contact owns a 2003 Acura TL. While driving 35 MPH around a curve, the vehicle failed to brake or accelerate and the transmission seized. The steering wheel also became very difficult to turn. As a result, the contact lost control of the vehicle and left the road. The contact crashed into an embankment and a tree. The air bags did not deploy. The driver sustained injuries to the hands, wrists, head, ankle, chest, and shoulder. Medical attention was required and the contact visited his physician after the crash. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic. The vehicle had not been diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The contact stated that the VIN was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 04V176000 (power train). The approximate failure mileage was 263,138.

TL* the contact owned a 2003 Acura TL. While the vehicle was idling at an intersection, it was rear ended by another vehicle. As a result, the contact's vehicle rear ended the preceding vehicle. Due to the crash, the driver's seat collapsed into the back seat and fractured into two pieces. The passenger side air bag deployed, but the driver's side air bag did not. The driver's side air bag was just replaced eight months before per the Takata recall. A police report was filed. The contact received medical attention for cuts under the right knee and also x-rays for his right shoulder, which located a torn right rotator cuff. Surgery was required. The vehicle was towed to an independent holding yard. The vehicle was deemed destroyed. The failure mileage was 190,000. The VIN was unavailable.

My wife was in a collision on 12/12/03 which involved another vehichle that ran a stop sign and my wife's new 2003 Acura TL hit the vehicle at fault in the drivers side door. I have included pictures of the property damage incurred. The front airbags did not deploy. I reported this incident to the Acura dealer in fort walton beach immediately that I purchased this from and gave them a chance to test the airbags before the car was fixed. They declined and informed me they would test the airbag system once it was repaired. The case file# with the dealer was b012003-12-1601041. Everybody that I spoke with regarding this was amazed that the airbags did not depoy on a front end crash that caused $7183 dollars worth of damage. The core support of the car had to be replaced. I have heard of other Acura failures for front airbags and wanted to see if there was a defect in this particular model. …

Takata recall - other 2003 Acura TL cars are considered to be in a"high risk population". . . With a very dangerous defect...risk posed by these airbag inflators is grave...it is critical they be repaired to avoid more deaths." the passenger side air bag on my car has not been repaired, nor is it on recall. My VIN number was not in your system when I had it checked. Has my car been overlooked. It had the drivers side air bag fixed in 2015, but the passenger side air bag is Takata and has not been fixed. Please look into this. [redacted] I have tried to tell people about this problem. Please look into it. '

I was applying the brake due to stopped traffic ahead of my car. As I did so, the car accelerated rather than slowed down. My car contacted the left rear of the car in front of mine, and as I tried to straighten out the car, it again accelerated. Veered to the right, and struck the stone wall of the bridge on the shoulder of the highway. According to the police report, there was a malfunction with the throttle mechanism. "officers witnessed, when starting the vehicle, the RPM indicator quickly rise to approximately 5,000/5,500 without any pressure applied on the gas pedal. The floor area did not exhibit items, including the floor mat, which would potentially be the cause."

I need to make a complaint against American Honda motor co., inc. This entity has been sending me letters, calling me and knocking on my door for the last two years about an airbag inflator recall. Each type they contact me I tell them I no longer own this vehicle. It was traded in over two years ago. Even though I May still be registered as the owner, I have no idea who truly owns this vehicle as it was traded in at a dealership. I filled out a vehicle transfer notice over two years ago but Honda Acura keeps contacting me about this recall on a monthly basis, to the date! Someone please get them to stop or further advise me if I should just ignore their letters. Thank you!

TL* the contact owned a 2003 Acura TL. The contact stated that while driving 55 MPH on a wet surface, she lost control of the vehicle and was involved in a rollover crash. The air bags did not deploy. A police report was filed. The contact stated that she injured her back, neck, and sustained bruises and contusions. The vehicle was destroyed. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The VIN was not available. The failure and current mileages were 138,000.

Related recalls

NHTSA investigations

Airbag complaints in other TL years