The 2005 Acura TL is known for its refined 3.2L V6 and sharp handling, but it's notorious for catastrophic automatic transmission failures and less common but devastating engine bearing failures that can total an otherwise nice car.
Automatic Transmission Failure (5-Speed)
Common · high severity
Typical onset: 80,000-130,000 mi
Symptoms: Shuddering or hesitation during 2nd-to-3rd gear shifts, Slipping under acceleration, especially when warm, Check engine light with P0730, P0740, P0780 codes, Burnt transmission fluid smell, dark or metallic fluid
Fix: The 5-speed automatic has weak 3rd gear clutch packs and insufficient cooling. Rebuild requires 12-16 hours labor, but many shops recommend replacement with a remanufactured unit due to high failure rate. Oil cooler must be replaced simultaneously or new trans will fail quickly. Expect 14-18 total hours.
Estimated cost: $3,500-5,500
Engine Bearing Failure (Connecting Rod / Main Bearings)
Occasional · high severity
Typical onset: 120,000-180,000 mi
Symptoms: Loud knocking noise from lower engine, especially at cold start, Sudden loss of oil pressure, Metallic debris in oil during changes, Engine seizure in severe cases
Fix: The J32A3 engine can suffer premature bearing wear, likely from inadequate oil change intervals or oil passages clogging. Requires complete teardown: connecting rod bearings, main bearings, possibly crankshaft machining. Short block replacement is often more economical at 20-24 hours labor. Engine rebuild runs 24-30 hours.
Estimated cost: $4,500-7,500
Power Steering Hose Rupture
Common · medium severity
Typical onset: 100,000-150,000 mi
Symptoms: Power steering fluid leaking near firewall or under engine, Sudden loss of power steering assist, Groaning noise when turning wheel, Fluid spraying onto hot exhaust (fire risk)
Fix: High-pressure power steering hoses deteriorate from engine heat and age. The feed hose from pump to rack is particularly prone. Replacement requires 2-3 hours labor including fluid flush and bleeding. NHTSA issued recall 14V-345 for some units but not all affected cars were covered.
Estimated cost: $400-650
Front Lower Ball Joint Failure
Common · medium severity
Typical onset: 80,000-120,000 mi
Symptoms: Clunking noise over bumps from front suspension, Wandering or unstable steering feel, Inner tire edge wear, Excessive play visible during suspension inspection
Fix: Lower ball joints wear prematurely, especially in salt-belt states. Acura does not sell ball joints separately—entire lower control arm must be replaced. Two hours labor per side, alignment required. Many owners do both sides simultaneously. NHTSA recall 10V-017 covered some VINs but check if yours was completed.
Estimated cost: $600-900
Transmission Mounts Deterioration
Common · low severity
Typical onset: 70,000-110,000 mi
Symptoms: Clunking when shifting into Drive or Reverse, Vibration at idle in gear, Excessive engine movement visible when revving in Park, Harder shifts than normal
Fix: Rubber transmission mounts collapse from heat and age. Front mount is most common failure point. Replacement takes 1.5-2 hours labor. Often done during transmission service. Upper engine mounts can also fail around same mileage.
Estimated cost: $250-450
Fuel Pump Failure
Occasional · high severity
Typical onset: 130,000-180,000 mi
Symptoms: No-start condition, cranks but won't fire, Intermittent stalling, especially when fuel tank below 1/4, Loss of power under acceleration, Whining noise from rear of vehicle
Fix: In-tank fuel pump can fail suddenly. NHTSA recall 10V-311 covered pumps that could overheat, but many pumps simply wear out. Requires dropping fuel tank, 2.5-3.5 hours labor. Always replace fuel filter and strainer simultaneously.
Estimated cost: $700-1,100
Owner tips
Change transmission fluid every 30,000 miles with Honda/Acura DW-1 ATF only—aftermarket fluids accelerate failure
Use 5W-20 synthetic oil and change every 5,000 miles maximum to protect bearings—the oil life monitor is too optimistic
Inspect power steering hoses annually after 80,000 miles; replace proactively if seeping
Check for open recalls by VIN—several safety-critical items were recalled on this generation
A great-driving sedan that's a gamble used: if the transmission has been replaced and oil changes are documented, it can be reliable; otherwise, budget $4,000-6,000 for major repairs within 50,000 miles of purchase.
AI-assisted summary drawn from NHTSA recall data, our labor-times database, and platform knowledge. Not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection on a specific vehicle.
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Dorman 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."
Consequence: If the accelerator pedal binds, the engine may not quickly return to idle after the pedal is no longer pressed, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dorman will notify owners, and qualified service facilities will replace the affected accelerator pedal assemblies, free of charge. The recall began December 9, 2019. Owners may contact Dorman customer service at 1-800-523-2492, using option 5. Dorman's number for this recall is AS1019XXXX.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE · 19V182000
2019-03-06 · EA15001
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.
Consequence: 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.
AFFINIA 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.
Consequence: MISAPPLICATION OF THIS PART COULD LEAD TO SEPARATION OF THE BALL JOINT FROM THE LOWER CONTROL ARM AND COLLAPSE OF THE FRONT SUSPENSION, WHICH COULD POTENTIALLY CAUSE A VEHICLE CRASH.
Remedy: AFFINIA IS WORKING WITH NAPA TO IDENTIFY ANY OWNERS THAT HAVE HAD THIS PART MISTAKENLY INSTALLED ON TO AN ACURA TL VEHICLE, AND WILL REPLACE THE PART FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 20, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT AFFINIA GROUP'S WARRANTY ADMINISTRATOR AT 1-815-759-7757.
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:HOSE, PIPING, AND CONNECTIONS · 08V091000
2008-02-27
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.
Consequence: 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).
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.
Consequence: 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.
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.
Consequence: IF THE FUEL PUMP LOSES POWER WHILE DRIVING, THE ENGINE COULD STALL WITHOUT WARNING, AND A CRASH COULD OCCUR.
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 · 05V132000
2005-04-05
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.
Consequence: IF THE FUEL PUMP LOSES POWER WHILE DRIVING THE ENGINE COULD STALL WITHOUT WARNING WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.
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.
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