Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (front, side and curtain air bags, sensors and inflators).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2005 Acura TL owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
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.
A crack has developed on the passenger side of the dash running directly over the location of the airbag located on the same side. This has not resulted in any failure or malfunction as of now, but it raises concerns over the potential given the location. If you research the internet, you will find a plethora of similar complaints and concerns from many other third generation ('04-'08) Acura TL owners dating back many years now. In spite of this, Acura/Honda has failed to offer any type of solution or even recognize it for the potential safety issue that it represents. To answer the questions you ask, I have not had it inspected by any dealer, mechanic or insurance representative at this time, nor have there been any warning lights appearing. However, common sense tells me that there is the " potential " for a problem given the nature of the crack and its location. …
There are cracks forming on the dashboard of my 2005 Acura TL that I have researched and found are chronic issues in the 2004-2008 TL, and might compromise the ability of the airbag to deploy properly (either prematurely or not at all when expected to imnan accident). I've watched my dashboard go from having 1 crack 5-10 years ago to forming 2 more recently (for a total of 3) and have concerns after researching this as a common defect for the 2004-2008 generation of TL, and yet Acura has not had a recall to fix this completely free of charge to the vehicle owner with no time limitation on when this can be honored. http://www.acuraproblems.com/cracked-dashboard/
It happened years ago - the passenger side dash cracked. Now there are more cracks and I am reading that this could pose a risk if the passenger side airbag deployed. I've always thought it was a manufacturing flaw for the dashboard to crack in the first place but never did or said anything about it before. Now I am concerned about the safety of my passengers.
My 2005 Acura TL has developed a significant dashboard crack along the perimeter of the passenger side airbag location. This is a well known issue posted on many internet sites including many reports on facebook community: https://www.facebook.com/acuratldefectivedash/posts/219662424726766? Additionally, many others have submitted complaints to NHTSA expressing their safety concerns. Since the time of the crack the airbag light will alarm. The dashboard crack is sharp and jagged edged. If the airbag is deployed the cracked dash will likely interfere in the airbag's trajectory and/or possible gash the airbag. In addition the cracked dash May spray pieces into the occupancy area. I am sure Acura has not tested airbag deployment safety with a crack dashboard. …
2005 Acura TL- parked winters, garaged, babied and all service completed at the Acura dealerships. Car has 141,000 on it and was near 50,000 when purchased (aspec package etc). Car has developed cracks in the dashboard from the windshield to the instrument panel, across the center speaker and now directly on the indentation where the airbag is located on the passenger side. Reached out to Acura for assistance ((attached)) and they said the car is too old and outside warranty to help me. Irregardless of the fact I have always taken it to Acura and one look at the cars exterior and interior *paint and leather interior* shows that this car has been spoiled. The dashboard is a known issue for this generation and even made the news from complaints. …
I got into my car this morning at 10:15 am to go to work and noticed that the dash going from the vent by my windshield to the center speaker in the front middle of the dash. It also travels along the crease of my gauge hood as well. My SRS light was on shortly prior to this incident and am curious if this is for some reason the cause. I was not involved in any sort of accident, nor do I drive in any manner to have caused something like this to happen. I did drive the car yesterday, 3/18/15, in the morning and there was no damage like this what so ever. I also had taken the car in to the mechanic and they said that they could not find the source of what was causing the SRS light to be on. My car is a decade old, but I condition it and take care of the entire vehicle, so laziness or "sun damage" is not the issue. …
Takata recall a little over three years ago my dashboard started to crack on the right side of the passenger airbag/compartment and has since continued to continue to crack around the airbag as well as severely damage the entire dashboard of my vehicle. Neither my local dealership nor the manufacturer accept responsibility or fault in this defect that could be fatal to my passengers, myself and other consumers who's VIN is said to not to be impacted despite Takata recalls impacting the other Honda vehicles and being a widespread recall across the vehicle manufacturing industry. No repairs or replacements requests have been "necessary" nor covered by my local Acura dealership despite the Acura owners recall link communication regarding the inflator recall. Please continue to read and escalate these complaints as many of us are impacted by this defect & are powerless. …
My 2005 Acura TL is developing cracks in the dashboard. One of the cracks of major concern is the one that is forming along the right-hand side of the passenger airbag. I am afraid that the crack will cause the airbag to malfunction! The bag May deploy suddenly while driving, it May deploy upwards rather than forwards; it May cause the dash to crack further and spray the passenger compartment with dash shrapnel, or the cracks themselves my puncture the airbag - each causing a great safety concern including death or severe injury. The airbag light started to appear intermittently after the cracked formed around the airbag. I am afraid to fill the crack as that May also affect the airbag and safety of the vehicle. This problem is so widespread that social media groups have been formed - such as on facebook ( https://www.facebook.com/acuratldefectivedash/posts/219662424726766 ). …
Related recalls
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.
Airbag complaints in other TL years
Frequently asked questions
How common are airbag problems on the 2005 Acura TL?
NHTSA has 144 complaints about the air bags of the 2005 Acura TL, 37% of the model year's 388 complaints. The component named most often is frontal (10 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2005 Acura TL airbag problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 19V-182 (inflator module, Mar 6, 2019). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2005 Acura TL airbag problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 100,000 miles, and 1% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 2 crashes, 0 fires and 1 injury to air bags problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
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.