2004 Acura TL: common problems and reliability
One of the worst TL years.
One of the Acura TL years to avoid. All TL years
551 owner complaints, most about structure. 6 recalls.
Should I buy a 2004 TL?The 2004 Acura TL has 551 owner-filed NHTSA complaints and 6 recalls on record. The most-reported areas are structure and air bags. Owners most often flag 2004-2006 automatic transmission failure: owners report failures as early as 60,000 miles and as late as 190,000 miles, with multiple owners replacing the transmission two or more times.
Safety record for the 2004 model year
Source: NHTSA complaints and recalls filed for 2004 Acura TL vehicles (US, public record).
The Year Score compares this year with other TL years only. How we score it
Is 2004 a good year for the TL?
Across the 19 TL model years we track, complaint volume runs from 17 (2014) to 551 (2004). With 551 complaints, the 2004 TL sits above the model's median of 124.
These are raw NHTSA complaint totals, not adjusted for how many cars sold or how long each model year has been on the road. Older and higher-selling years accumulate more complaints.
Where owners report problems
Recalls affecting the 2004 TL
air bags:frontal:driver side:inflator module
Campaign 19V182000Honda (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.
vehicle speed control:accelerator pedal
Campaign 19E068000Dorman Products, Inc. (Dorman) is recalling certain Accelerator Pedal Assemblies part numbers 699-114 and 825-5029-1, sold as replacement parts for 2003-2006 Acura MDX, 2004-2008 Acura TL and TSX, 2003-2007 Honda Accord, 2005-2006 Honda CR-V, 2007-2011 Honda Element, 2005-2008 Honda Pilot and 2006-2014 Honda Ridgeline vehicles. The rotating portion of the accelerator pedal assembly may bind. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 124, "Accelerator Control Systems."
steering:hydraulic power assist:hose, piping, and connections
Campaign 08V091000HONDA 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.
suspension:front:control arm:lower ball joint
Campaign 11E022000AFFINIA IS RECALLING CERTAIN AFTERMARKET FRONT SUSPENSION LOWER BALL JOINTS, NAPA PART NO. 2601662, THAT MAY HAVE BEEN MISTAKENLY INSTALLED IN CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2004 - 2008 ACURA TL VEHICLES DUE TO A MISTAKE IN A NAPA AND NAPA DEALERS' PARTS APPLICATION CATALOGUE.
Show 2 more recalls
visibility:windshield wiper/washer:motor
Campaign 08V092000HONDA 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.
power train:automatic transmission
Campaign 04V176000ON 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.
What owners say across generations
Owner sentiment is sharply divided by transmission choice rather than by the car itself.
- Very frequent2004-2006 automatic transmission failure
Owners report failures as early as 60,000 miles and as late as 190,000 miles, with multiple owners replacing the transmission two or more times.
- Recurrent2007-2008 automatic transmission failure
Described as significantly more robust than 2004-2006 but not immune, with one owner reporting failure at 210,000 miles.
Owner insights cover all generations of the TL. See the full TL owner picture and every model year.
Typical used price
Used TL listings typically run $8,537–$13,495 across 2002 to 2014 model years.
Other TL model years
Compare every TL year side by side to see how 2004 ranks against the rest.
Compare the TL against its rivals
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