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full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2006 Acura TL airbags problems
severe 78 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $1,100 · see airbags across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
78
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$1,100
5crashes
3injuries
When does it fail?
Of the 78 airbags complaints filed for the 2006 Acura TL, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 125,000-150,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
Airbags accounts for 32% of every owner complaint on file for this vehicle — the dominant problem area across 11 categories tracked.
Owners have filed 78 airbags complaints with NHTSA against this vehicle, but no formal recall covers the issue — the federal record reflects what manufacturers have admitted, not everything owners are reporting.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering airbags on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
Dealer message - On Monday, June 23, 2014, Acura announced three recalls for various 2002-06 Acura models. As of August 4, 2014, affected VINs have been identified, and VIN status inquiry has been updated.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Dealer message - On Monday, June 23, 2014, Acura announced three recalls for various 2002-06 Acura models. As of July 23, 2014, affected VINs have been identified, and service bulletins 14-023, Safety Recall: Front Passenger?s Airbag Inflator Can Be Over-Pressurized, 14-029, Recall: Front Driver?s Airbag Inflator May Produce Excessive Pressure After Long-Term Exposure to High Absolute Humidity Recall, and 14-030, Recall: Front Passenger?s Airbag Inflator May Produce Excessive Pressure After Long-Term Exposure to High Absolute Humidity have been posted to ISIS. However, due to the large number of affected units, Acura is still in the process of populating the VIN status inquiry function on iN
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Dashboard cracking dominates these complaints. Owners describe spontaneous cracks that form along the passenger-side airbag outline, often appearing overnight without any accident or impact. The fissures originate at the windshield line and expand downward toward the glove box, sometimes growing visibly over days or weeks. Many vehicles show cracks on both sides of the airbag compartment. Owners note the cracks often align precisely with the deployment seam, exposing the white airbag components beneath. Even garage-kept, low-mileage vehicles exhibit this defect—one car had only 56,000 miles and had never been in a collision.
Beyond cosmetics, owners cite safety concerns: impaired airbag deployment due to weakened or fractured dashboard structure, potential debris from broken dash pieces during inflation, or moisture and dust entering the airbag cavity. A few owners report spontaneous side-airbag deployments while driving slowly or parked, with no impact. One vehicle had airbags fail to deploy during a head-on collision. Acura dealerships quote $2,000–$2,200 for full dashboard replacement and have denied warranty coverage. Owners report Acura corporate refuses to acknowledge the defect as a pattern issue and declines recalls. Online forums and Facebook groups show numerous owners with identical dashboard failures on 2004–2008 model-year TLs, suggesting a manufacturing defect rather than isolated wear.
Same Acura TL airbags reports on nearby years: 2005 · 2007 · 2008 · 2009
Failure modes owners describe
Dashboard cracking around airbag compartments
Spontaneous cracking of the dashboard that initiates along or around the passenger-side airbag deployment seam and spreads across the dash. Cracks often appear overnight or develop without any impact, accident, or driving trauma. The cracks expand from the windshield down toward the glove box and along both vertical edges of the airbag outline. Many owners report the cracks grow progressively larger over weeks and months.
When: Typically 5–12 years into ownership; reported across model years 2004–2008 at various mileages (some as low as 56,000 miles, others at 100,000+)
Symptoms owners cite: Visible cracks in dashboard outline airbag compartment; Cracks propagate from windshield toward glove box; White airbag components visible through cracks; Progressive widening of cracks over time; Cracks along airbag deployment seam/perimeter
Repairs/costs cited: Full dashboard replacement required; owners cite repair costs of $2,000–$2,200. Acura dealerships have denied warranty coverage, citing age of vehicle or lack of dealership maintenance history. Some dealerships offered partial assistance ($200 credit toward $2,000 bill).
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Acura has denied the defect; some dealerships claim it is a cosmetic issue and not safety-related. Owners report Acura Corporate denying responsibility and refusing recalls. No TSB or formal recall issued as of complaint dates.
Spontaneous airbag deployment without impact
Multiple reports of side curtain and seat airbags deploying while the vehicle was either stationary or traveling at low speeds (15–35 mph) with no collision, accident, or substantial impact. In one case, airbags deployed after hitting a pothole; in another, deployment occurred while parked. Dealership inspections and Acura corporate representatives could not identify a clear cause, though one suggested a rotor dust plate bore a minor mark.
When: While driving at low speeds or while vehicle parked; timing varies
Symptoms owners cite: Sudden deployment of driver-side curtain and seat airbags; Spontaneous deployment of passenger-side airbag; Deployment with no audible or felt impact; No warning lights or prior indication of malfunction; Deployment while vehicle stationary
Repairs/costs cited: Replacement airbags estimated at ~$5,000. One owner experienced abrasions to chest from seat belt locking. Insurance companies inspected vehicles and found no substantial impact damage; claims were denied as mechanical failure.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Acura sent corporate representatives to investigate; inconclusive findings. Manufacturers suggested pothole impact as possible cause. Insurance companies concluded mechanical failure, not covered. One vehicle was part of NHTSA Recall 19V182000 (Takata inflators) but recall repair was never completed and is now shown as closed; unclear if closure was in error or related to ongoing defect.
Airbag warning light / sensor malfunction
Airbag warning light or passenger-side airbag indicator illuminates without diagnostic codes being stored in the vehicle's computer. Owners report the light comes on intermittently or continuously, with some seeing messages indicating the airbag is 'off.' Dealership diagnostics found no codes, so warranty coverage was denied.
When: Various points in ownership; one report mentions light coming on intermittently
Symptoms owners cite: Airbag or PSA (passenger airbag) warning light on dashboard; Message stating airbag is 'off'; Intermittent illumination of warning light
Repairs/costs cited: No repair attempted by owners due to lack of diagnostic codes. One owner states Acura refused warranty coverage because no code was stored, leaving the fault unresolved.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealerships refused warranty claims due to absence of diagnostic trouble codes.
Airbag deployment failure in frontal impact
One report of airbags failing to deploy during a frontal collision when the vehicle was struck head-on while idling. The support bar detached from the vehicle frame. The manufacturer stated the vehicle's VIN was not included in NHTSA Recall 05V510000 (Frontal Airbags) and refused to provide an investigation report.
When: During frontal impact collision
Symptoms owners cite: Airbags failed to deploy during frontal crash; Support bar detachment from frame; No airbag activation on impact
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle towed to repair shop; no repair details provided. Acura California facility declined to share investigation report.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer stated VIN was not covered under NHTSA Recall 05V510000 and refused to investigate or provide documentation.
Synthesized from 78 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 7 most recent
There are four long cracks developed on the dashboard that surrounds the passenger side airbag and above the driver side console. We are concerned whether these crack will impede the functionality of the air bags. *tr
Dash has cracked completely around passenger side dash air bag, which , in my belief, will effect deployment. This problem began occurring in the summer of 2016. I noticed the first crack one morning when I took the car out of the garage. I took the vehicle to Acura service dept to ask for assistance, and was told that they would only provide $200 on an $2000 bill to replace the dash.
2006 Acura tl? Whyyyyy is my dashboard cracked everywhere. Is this even safe. Same as all dashboard crack at airbag. I will let spend my extra time letting everyone know not to buy from Honda/Acura they do not stand behind their product. There needs to be a recall on the dashboards. *tr
Several large cracks have developed on the front dash board. This include the areas in and around the part of the dash that cover the passenger side air bag. I have used no type of cleaner that would have caused this issue and have not been involved in any serious crashes. A search online shows a large number of vehicles of this make and model with similar issues.
My passenger side dashboard has a crack approximately 12-18 inches long that appears to outline the air bag door. I am concerned that this could reduce the resistance of the airbag when it deploys, therefore increasing the force with which it deploys into the passenger compartment. *js
A large crack on the front dashboard above the airbag on passenger side. *tr
Collision with concrete barrier at approximately 60mph. Airbags did not deploy
Had airbags trouble with your 2006 Acura TL?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the airbags problem on the 2006 Acura TL?
It's a meaningful issue. 78 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $1,100.
At what mileage does the airbags typically fail?
Across the 64 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most airbags failures cluster between 79,000 and 130,000 miles, with the median around 102,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 79,000; a quarter make it past 130,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $1,100 for airbags repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to airbags?
No active recalls currently cover airbags issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2006/Acura/TL.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.