Most common 2004 Acura TL problems
Share of the 551 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Acura TL complaints by model year
Best TL years: 2011, 2014, 2009. Years to avoid: 2004, 2003, 2002, 2005, 2000. Compare all years →
2004 Acura TL recalls (4)
Air bags › Frontal › Driver side › Inflator module
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…
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.
Steering › Hydraulic power assist › Hose, piping, and connections
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).
Visibility › Windshield wiper/washer › Motor
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.
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…
Power train › Automatic transmission
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.
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into a possible defect involving the 2004 Acura TL:
Windshield wiper motor failure
The manufacturer notified NHTSA by letter dated February 26, 2008, that a safety related recall has been initiated to correct this problem on certain model year 2004 and 2005 Acura tl vehicles.the recall affects approximately 129,600 subject vehicles manufactured between March 2003 and May 2005.the defect involves water intrusion into the wiper motor housing that May result in corrosion and failure of a circuit…
What 2004 Acura TL owners say
Body & structure all 232 →
I was reading some other complaints here and this has also happened to my car. The dashboard is totally cracked surrounding the airbag and looks like the airbag will explode any time. I was actually just in an accident and it didn't explode, which makes me even more nervous. It looks horrible and is very expensive to replace. I have talked to several mechanics as well as a vinyl/leather repair place. The repair place won't touch it because it surrounds the airbag and could effect proper function. However, like I said, I was just hit in the front of my car and it didn't explode at all!
I bought a certified used 2004 Acura TL in 2011. The car was in awesome shape. Then in oct. 2014, I noticed two cracks running from the windshield almost to the glove box. It appeared to outline the airbag on the passenger side. Hairline cracks in the first couple of weeks. Then a cold spell hit and the cracks became much larger. Now a crack is running across the airbag area. I am very concerned about safety due to the airbag being compromised by a cracked dash. I took it to the dealer where I have purchased 3 Acura TL's for my family. They told me that it was a very well known problem but there was no recall on this issue. They suggested using leather conditioner to soften the dash in hopes of stopping the spread of the cracks. They blamed it on armer all type product usage on the dash. They even gave me a leather conditioner kit to apply. …
Air bags all 199 →
The dashboard on 3rd generation Acura TL has a design defect to where they will crack all over. In the event of a crash which results in a passenger-side dashboard airbag deployment, the dashboard can rip uncontrollably and send shards of rubber flying at everyone's face in the car and prevent the airbag from deploying properly. This is a very well known problem with this generation of Acura TL and the dealership refuses to address as a warrantied safety concern.
The red air bag light on the dashboard has been on for many months. It will occasionally turn off, but usually it is on. Is there a recall for my 2004 Acura TL air bags? Thank you, [redacted]
Transmission & drivetrain all 56 →
My "D" indicator light is blinking no matter changing the transmission fluid, cleaning the solenoids, etc. the car is not overheating, there are no apparent electrical problems and I do not even have any check engine lights or other codes. The light comes on blinking when I drive for a little while then goes off when I turn the car off and is fine. Then when I start it up it doesn't blink anymore. But then when I drive again for a while it blinks again. I've had transmission shuddering, jerky shifting, delayed shifting, etc.
TL* the contact owns a 2004 Acura TL. While driving 55 MPH, an abnormal noise was heard coming from the front of the vehicle. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the fourth and fifth clutch plates failed and needed to be replaced. Another independent mechanic diagnosed the vehicle and stated that the transmission failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 84,000.
2004 Acura TL engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3.2L 6-cyl | 6-speed manual | FWD | 18 / 28 / 21 |
| 3.2L 6-cyl | 5-speed automatic | FWD | 18 / 26 / 21 |
EPA ratings. Class: Midsize car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2004 Acura TL a good car?
Based on 551 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2004 TL rates avoid: 4.5× as many complaints as a typical year of the TL at the same age. It is one of the TL years we suggest avoiding. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2004 Acura TL?
The body & structure — 232 complaints, 42% of all complaints for this model year, most often about body. Next are the air bags (199) and transmission & drivetrain (56).
How many recalls does the 2004 Acura TL have?
There are 4 recalls for the 2004 Acura TL, the most recent from March 6, 2019 (inflator module). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Acura TL?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2011, 2014 and 2009. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2004, 2003, 2002, 2005 and 2000. See the full Acura TL years comparison.
At what mileage do 2004 Acura TL problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 90,000 miles; 19% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.