Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (battery, alternator, wiring, ignition, instrument cluster, infotainment).
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).
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. …
TL* the contact owns a 2005 Acura TL. While driving 35 MPH, the vehicle began to smoke. There was no fire and the fire department was not contacted. There were no injuries. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the power steering pump fluid was leaking into the catalytic converter. The contact was advised that the VIN was included in NHTSA campaign number: 08V091000 (steering). Tim short Acura (131 maccorkle ave sw, charleston, wv 25303) informed the contact to bring in the vehicle. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. Also, while attempting to start the vehicle, it failed to start and the key immobilizer indicator flashed. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer or independent mechanic. A dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. …
1. Hfl lhas continuously drained several batteries since I purchased the car in 2008. Until recently I did not know it was the hfl until the Acura dealership said it's a known problem and it either needs to be repaired or removed. It's very expensive to repair, so I had it removed. I also just purchased a 2007 Acura TL s and while I was sitting at the dealership inputting the radio info and attempting to connect with to the hfl link the battery became completely drained in less than 10 min. The hfl has not worked in the 2005 since I bought it and it does not work on the 2007 either. I have a separate complaint form filled out for that car. The dealership said it's a known problem with Acura TL, but not a recall yet. It should be a recall. 2. The power steering has seemed to go out over the last 8 months and it has become difficult to steer. …
These problems are not accident related but need to be addressed.my car battery kept draining. I replaced the battery just under a year ago and it kept happening unless I drove the car every day. Finally took it in to have it checked. The Bluetooth device up in the headliner was shorted out. Got that fixed but found out that there is a class action lawsuit against Acura for this very problem. It's been ongoing for 5 years! The airbag issue has to to do with the fact that my dashboard is cracked, horribly, even though my car has been garaged and protected from the sun most of the time since I bought it in 2011. If the airbags deploy in an accident, there will be major shrapnel from the dashboard damage that will cause even greater injury. I would like to know why Acura is not doing anything about the faulty dashboard materials.
I purchased this vehicle from the oringinal owner 11-17. He didnt inform me of any problems with the vehicle. Three days after purchase I had a dead battery. Then I noticed the speedometer and tach would stop working when I was driving, also the vsa warning light would come on when I was driving. I searched on line and found that there was many complaints about my same problems, and that the dealer was no help at all. I tried disconnecting the hands free link, but I still had a dead battery the next day. The only solution I have found is to disconnect my battery every day when I come home. I replaced the battery in jan. 2018. There are also receipts in the vehicle from the origanal owner for the same problems.
My 2005 Acura TL has lost power at least a dozen times while I have been driving on the freeway. The battery also completely drains after the car has not been driven for a day or two. I just replaced the battery and have had the alternator tested at least half a dozen times by 3 different mechanics. My issues sound very similar to the fuse box recall but my VIN does not fall under the recall apparently.
Takata recall - my drive is flashing which is to do with my transmission and I'm having wiring problems also. Also I have no bright headlights they just completely stopped working and it's a wiring problem.
TL contact owns a 2005 Acura TL. While driving 20 MPH, the contact heard a loud popping and grinding noise. He exited the vehicle and noticed that the driver's side wheel was bent outwards from the hood. The vehicle was towed to the dealer and they stated that the lower ball joint failed and caused the wheel to come off. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer advised the contact to call the dealer to determine the cause of the failure. After further investigation, it was determined that the dealer was the cause of the failure and no compensation would be made. The failure and current mileages were 21,000. Updated 04/24/09. The consumer stated the upon delivery of the vehicle, it pulled strongly to the right while driving. The dealer dignaosed the vehicle without even looking at it, by saying it was the torque steer. On one occasion, the vehicle failed to start. …
Purchased new, since 2005 the vehicle has had a parasitic battery drain which causes the vehicle not to start. Over 10 batteries have been replaced by Acura dealerships or aaa. I was told by former certified Acura service representative that this problem is with the vehicles hands free system control module. Acura has known, internet research, and my conversation on this date 5/9/2016 with an Acura customer representative confirmed that Acura has known about this problem since 2004. This is a serious problem which can cause the vehicle to stop moving resulting in loss of power steering, control, or potential serious accident. Another serious factor is that there is no warning sign when the vehicle battery will fail. In the event that the battery fails with out any warning whatsoever in an extreme cold, heavy rainfall, flood conditions could possible result in loss of life. …
TL contact owns a 2005 Acura TL. Immediately after the vehicle was purchased in November of 2007, it began idling roughly and the engine vibrated. A few months later, while driving approximately 60-65 MPH, the vehicle stalled and would not restart. Approximately 15 minutes later, the vehicle restarted and the contact drove to his residence. Later that week, the vehicle was driven to the dealer for a diagnostic and they stated that the failure was due to build up in the fuel injector. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact also noticed that the vehicle would crank slowly in the mornings. He returned the vehicle to the dealer and they stated that the battery was defective. The battery was replaced; however, the failures persisted. The oxygen sensor, fuel ratio sensor, and the alternator belt were all replaced. …
Related recalls
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.
Electrical complaints in other TL years
Frequently asked questions
How common are electrical problems on the 2005 Acura TL?
NHTSA has 28 complaints about the electrical system of the 2005 Acura TL, 7% of the model year's 388 complaints. The component named most often is 12v/24v/48v battery (2 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2005 Acura TL electrical problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 05V-132 (fuses and circuit breakers, Apr 5, 2005). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2005 Acura TL electrical problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 117,000 miles, and 7% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 1 crash, 1 fire and 0 injuries to electrical system 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.