Problems · by component

2005 Acura TL electrical system problems

28 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2005 Acura TL cite electrical system, 7% of all 388 complaints for this model year. NHTSA also lists 1 recall on this component.

Complaints
28
7% of all complaints
Crashes
1
Reported by owners
Fires
1
Reported by owners
Injuries
0
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the electrical system

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“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. After the car has been sitting for a while (days) you can crank it, put it into drive & it is hesitant to go & will drive ONLY for a few minutes. After the transmission heats up, it stops pulling. I have read numerous complaints, safety concerns, bulletins, etc. I am devastated & lost on what's going on with the car & what can be done. I purchased my '05 TL…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 8, 2025Power train, Electrical system, Vehicle speed controlCrash reportedODI 11698295
“MY BATTERY WOULD BE DEAD IF I DIDN'T DRIVE MY CAR EVERY DAY. THEN I FOUND OUT THERE IS A PARASITIC DRAIN ON THE BATTERY FROM A FAULTY HANDS-FREE BLUETOOTH MODULE. I WATCHED A VIDEO THEN DISCONNECTED MINE MYSELF, PROBLEM SOLVED. I'VE USED A HEADLIGHT RESTORATION KIT BECAUSE THE LIGHTS ARE YELLOW AND THEY HAVE SPIDER-CRACKS ALL IN THEM, IT REALLY AFFECTS THE BRIGHTNESS OF THE LIGHT ITSELF. THE DASHBOARD IS CRACKED BEYOND REPAIR AND I'M TERRIFIED OF GETTING INTO A WRECK IN MY CAR, THE DASH WOULD BECOME SHRAPNEL!”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 17, 2020Electrical system, Air bags, StructureODI 11340032
“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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 17, 2020Electrical system, Air bagsODI 11324867
“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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 7, 2019Steering, Electrical system, EngineODI 11229903
“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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 26, 2018Power train, Electrical system, Exterior lightingODI 11131743
“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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 12, 2018Electrical system, Vehicle speed control, Electronic stability control (esc)ODI 11084857

Showing 6 of 28 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 30, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Related recalls

1 recall on this component

Electrical system: fuses and circuit breakers

Free remedy

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.

Electrical systemReported Apr 5, 2005NHTSA 05V132000
Data from NHTSA Recalls API · synced Oct 30, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.