YearToAvoid

2005 Acura TL Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Avoid

Complaint Index

100/100

#1 most-complained of 10 TL years

Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology

The 2005 Acura TL has 388 owner complaints and 5 safety recalls on file with NHTSA. Its Complaint Index is 100 out of 100 — the highest of 10 TL model years (verdict: Avoid). The most reported problem area is structure & body (160 complaints, 41% of the total). Complaints report 7 crashes, 3 fires, and 7 injuries.

Complaints
388
Recalls
5
Crashes / fires
7 / 3
Injuries / deaths
7 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
21
18 city / 26 hwy

Top 2005 Acura TL problems

NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Structure & Body160 (41%)
  2. Airbags144 (37%)
  3. Other69 (18%)
  4. Transmission & Powertrain36 (9%)
  5. Electrical System32 (8%)
  6. Suspension, Wheels & Tires31 (8%)
  7. Steering25 (6%)
  8. Engine20 (5%)
  9. Brakes12 (3%)
  10. Fuel System7 (2%)
2005 Acura TL complaints: complaints filed per quarter212005 Q12007 Q42010 Q32013 Q12015 Q32018 Q12020 Q32024 Q2
545 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2005 Q1 to 2026 Q3; peak 2016 Q2 (21).

2005 Acura TL recalls

5 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 19V182000Mar 6, 2019Airbags1,101,534 vehicles

    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 CR-V, 2003-2011 Element, 2007 Fit, 2002-2004 Odyssey, 2003-2008 Pilot, and 2006-2014 Ridgeline vehicles. The affected vehicles received a replacement driver air bag inflator as part of a previous Takata inflator recall remedy or a replacement driver air bag module containing the same inflator type as a service part. Due to a manufacturing error, in the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver frontal air bag, these inflators may explode.

    Risk: An explosion of an inflator within the driver frontal air bag module may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver, front seat passenger or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

    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. Honda's number for this recall is O41. Acura owners may contact customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Acura's number for this recall is U40.

  2. NHTSA 08V092000Feb 27, 2008Visibility & Wipers129,600 vehicles

    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. This could cause a failure of the electrical circuit breaker inside the motor housing.

    Risk: If the circuit breaker fails, it will cause the windshield wiper motor to become inoperative, which can increase the likelihood of a crash in certain conditions.

    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 housing and foam tape will be installed on the cowl above the wiper motor to direct water away from the wiper motor. If signs of corrosion damage are observed on the wiper motor, the motor will be replaced, and the breather tube and foam tape will also be installed to prevent water intrusion on the new wiper motor. The recall began on april 28, 2008. Owners may contact acura at 1-800-382-2238.

  3. NHTSA 08V091000Feb 27, 2008Steering273,000 vehicles

    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.

    Risk: Power steering fluid leaking onto a hot catalytic converter will generate smoke and possibly lead to an under-hood fire.

    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).

See all 5 recalls for the 2005 Acura TL →

2005 Acura TL fuel economy and fuel cost

City
18 MPG
Highway
26 MPG
Combined
21 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$3,800
15,000 mi/yr
Fuel
Premium
Current regular gas
$4.32/gal
national avg.

EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.

2005 compared with other TL years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)02550751002005200620072008200920102011201220132014
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2005Avoid100388521
2006Avoid89247421
2007Caution56124221

All Acura TL years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2005 Acura TL a reliable year?
Judged by NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2005 Acura TL ranks worst among TL model years (Complaint Index 100/100, verdict: Avoid). It has 388 complaints and 5 recalls on file. This reflects reported safety-related problems, not an overall reliability rating.
What are the most common problems with the 2005 Acura TL?
The most reported problem areas are structure & body (160 complaints), airbags (144 complaints), and transmission & powertrain (36 complaints). The median mileage at the time of failure in complaints that report it is 91,000 miles.
Does the 2005 Acura TL have any recalls?
Yes — NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns for the 2005 Acura TL, most recently reported 2019, covering airbags, visibility & wipers, steering, and fuel system.
What is the fuel economy of the 2005 Acura TL?
EPA rates the 2005 Acura TL at 21 MPG combined (18 city / 26 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $3,800. Where several configurations exist, the median is shown.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.