Most common 2005 Acura TL problems
Share of the 388 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 →
2005 Acura TL recalls (5)
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…
Fuel system, gasoline › Delivery › Fuel pump
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.
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.
Electrical system › Wiring › Fuses and circuit breakers
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.
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.
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into a possible defect involving the 2005 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 2005 Acura TL owners say
Body & structure all 156 →
The contact owns a 2005 Acura TL. The contact stated that the entire dashboard was cracked. Additionally, air bag warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was not taken to be diagnosed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 100,000.
The dash has developed a crack on the passenger side right over the area where the front passenger side airbag is located. This could possibly create a problem in the proper deployment of that air bag. Apparently, this is a common problem with this generation (3rd- '04 to '08) Acura TL. There are many similar complaints by owners posted online going back many years now about this very problem, yet Acura/Honda has apparently never addressed it. They apparently seem content to consider it a cosmetic problem only as several posters/owners have mentioned, rather than addressing the potential safety issue regarding proper airbag deployment. From the numerous reports of other owners found online, it would seem logical to presume that this is a result from a manufacturers defect or design flaw that Acura seems to want to ignore.
Air bags all 144 →
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 contact stated that the air bag exploded and propelled fragments, causing the driver to experience difficulty breathing. The contact was assisted out of the vehicle because the front driver's side door was damaged and could only be opened from the outside. The contact stated that the front end of the vehicle was significantly damaged and pushed back, and the driver's side of the vehicle was pushed back. The contact was transported to the hospital, where he was informed that he had sustained a concussion and a laceration on the left side of the head. …
The contact owns a 2005 Acura TL. The contact stated that the entire dashboard was cracked. Additionally, air bag warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was not taken to be diagnosed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 100,000.
Transmission & drivetrain all 36 →
While I was driving 55 mph, on the throttle, the transmission acted as it was in Neutral but all indicators verified it was in Drive. The RPMs were fluctuating during this & my car wouldn't accelerate. I was in the middle of a busy highway, the car came to a stop, I shifted it into Park, then tried to engage back into Drive with no success. In the middle of oncoming & ongoing HWY traffic, I turned the car off, back on & the car acted as if it was in limp mode. The VSA light & Triangle appeared. I had to pay get a towing service to get me & my car. It never had any transmission issues before & all of a sudden it did all of the above, erratic shifting, flare up shifts, won't move. It was then put on a diagnostic scanner which showed a code for Torque Converter Clutch Solenoid but was cleared & didn't reappear. …
Transmission locked up while attempting to backup. Very loud grinding noise. Could not place back in park. Had to shut off engine to free shifter to move back to park. Tried again but this time placed in drive. Exact same results. Checked internet and apparently transmission on this year and others before and after are know problems. Googleand you will see this. POSSIBLE CATASTROPHIC INCIDENT - What would have been the end result having the transmission fail while on the freeway going 60 mph. Possibly could loose control of the vehicle with wheels locking up, cashing into another vehicle or a wall? This should be investigated! THE CONSUMER REQUESTED TO REMOVE COMPLAINT, BUT STATED THE DIAGNOSTIC REVEALED THE FRONT AXLE WAS BROKEN.
2005 Acura TL engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3.2L 6-cyl | 6-speed manual | FWD | 18 / 26 / 21 |
| 3.2L 6-cyl | 5-speed automatic | FWD | 18 / 26 / 21 |
EPA ratings. Class: Midsize car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2005 Acura TL a good car?
Based on 388 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2005 TL rates avoid: 2.8× 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 2005 Acura TL?
The body & structure — 156 complaints, 40% of all complaints for this model year, most often about body. Next are the air bags (144) and transmission & drivetrain (36).
How many recalls does the 2005 Acura TL have?
There are 5 recalls for the 2005 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 2005 Acura TL problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 91,000 miles; 18% 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.