Dealer message - Today, May 24, 2018, Acura is announcing a warranty extension for 2002-17 Acura vehicles. This warranty extension applies in cases where any of the replacement driver?s and/or front passenger?s airbag inflators have failed internally.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2007 Acura TL airbags problems
severe 38 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $1,100 · see airbags across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
38
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$1,100
3injuries
When does it fail?
Of the 38 airbags complaints filed for the 2007 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 31% of every owner complaint on file for this vehicle — the dominant problem area across 8 categories tracked.
Owners have filed 38 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.
LETTER SENT IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE FLORIDA HIGHWAY SAFETY AND MOTOR VEHICLES DEPARTMENT TO REMIND FLORIDA OWNERS OF THE TAKATA RECALL AND TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT AT THEIR EARLIEST CONVENIENCE.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
The 2007 Acura TL exhibits a pattern of dashboard cracking around the passenger-side airbag housing. Cracks start as hairlines and expand to 10–12 inches over days or weeks while the car sits parked, regardless of garage storage or sun-shade use. Owners across multiple climate zones report identical failures, suggesting a material defect rather than heat damage. The cracks form along the airbag outline and spread toward the windshield and glove box. Dealers quote $1,500–$2,000+ to replace the dashboard; Acura denies warranty coverage and has issued no recall.
The second major complaint is unprovoked airbag deployment at normal driving speeds—35 to 65 mph—without collision or impact. Driver-side curtain and seat airbags fire unexpectedly, sometimes locking the seat belt useless and nearly causing loss of vehicle control. One incident injured both driver and passenger. Diagnostic codes are pulled but no clear cause is found, and Acura provides case numbers but no repairs or explanation.
A third category involves airbag warning lights and system-failure messages appearing on the dash, with one owner reporting the same fault recurring six months apart. Dealership repairs address sensor or wiring issues but do not resolve the underlying problem consistently. No recalls exist for any of these conditions.
Same Acura TL airbags reports on nearby years: 2005 · 2006 · 2008 · 2009 · 2010
Failure modes owners describe
Dashboard cracking around passenger-side airbag housing
Hard-plastic dashboard material cracks around the perimeter of the passenger-side airbag housing, starting as hairline or single cracks and expanding over days to weeks to span 10-12+ inches. Cracks often form while the vehicle is parked and stationary, regardless of garage storage or shade use. Owners report cracks forming on all four sides of the airbag outline and extending toward the windshield and glove box. Material degradation appears triggered by prolonged high temperatures and/or high humidity, though some cracks appear spontaneously without clear cause.
When: Occurs at various mileages from 60,000 to 160,000 miles; cracks typically appear or become noticeable within months of ownership or after parking the vehicle.
Symptoms owners cite: Visible hairline crack on passenger-side dashboard near airbag; Crack expands over days to months to 10-12+ inches; Crack forms around outline of airbag housing; Secondary cracks appear adjacent to initial crack; Crack expands toward windshield and glove box; Wider gaps visible in cold temperatures; Moisture and debris able to enter airbag module through cracks
Codes mentioned: F3-11, 61-1, 81-55, 25-11, 03217
Repairs/costs cited: Dealers quote $1,500–$2,000+ for full dashboard replacement. One owner cited $800 for hands-free module replacement (or $200 for removal). Glue or cosmetic repair is not viable as it may interfere with airbag deployment.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Acura denies warranty coverage citing out-of-warranty status or mileage exceeding 50,000 miles. Case numbers issued (e.g., #13709011, #1003671) but no recalls, technical service bulletins, or warranty extensions offered. Dealerships direct owners to service departments for diagnosis but offer no financial assistance.
Unexplained airbag deployment while driving at normal speeds
Driver-side curtain and/or front seat airbags deploy without warning, impact, or collision while vehicle is traveling at steady speeds (35–65 mph). In one incident, both driver and passenger seat airbags deployed simultaneously. Seat belt actuators lock during or after deployment, rendering them useless. No clear trigger event is evident; one owner's dealer cited scuffed rims and bumper damage as possible causes, which owners rightfully disputed. Airbag warning light and system fault messages appear on dash, and diagnostic trouble codes are recorded but no root cause is identified.
When: Occurs while driving at various speeds (35 mph, 60–65 mph) with no impact or collision triggering deployment; one incident led to injuries.
Symptoms owners cite: Airbag deploys without warning or impact; Driver-side curtain airbag deploys unexpectedly; Front seat airbag deploys unexpectedly; Both driver and passenger airbags deployed simultaneously in one case; Seat belt actuator locks during/after deployment; Airbag warning light illuminates; 'Air bag system may not function properly' message displayed on instrument panel; Loud airbag noise causing ear ringing (reported in pothole incident); Near-loss of vehicle control due to airbag shock
Codes mentioned: F3-11, 61-1, 81-55, 25-11, 03217
Repairs/costs cited: Dealerships diagnosed sensor, wiring, or impact sensor faults but owners noted failure to provide clear remediation. One dealer quoted replacement of airbag system components (parts not specified). Owners reported no effective repairs despite multiple service visits.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Acura case numbers issued (#1003671) but no explanation or assistance provided. Dealers claim sensor or wiring defect but do not offer recalls or fixes. One owner's case showed Acura citing rim/bumper scuffs as cause, which did not explain the unprovoked deployment.
Airbag warning light and system fault messages
Airbag warning light illuminates on the dashboard, often accompanied by a message stating 'Air bag system may not function properly, please contact your local dealer.' Message board warnings appear indicating the airbag system may not deploy in an accident. These warnings occur both in vehicles with dashboard cracks and in vehicles with no visible cracking, suggesting multiple underlying faults.
When: Occurs at 80,000 miles in one documented case; timing varies. One owner reported the same issue recurring approximately 6 months apart (January 2008 and June 2008).
Symptoms owners cite: Airbag warning light illuminates while driving; Message center displays 'Air bag may not deploy in case of accident'; Message displays 'Air bag system may not function properly, please contact your local dealer'; Warning appears without collision or impact event
Repairs/costs cited: Dealerships typically replace or repair unspecified sensor, wiring, or module components. One owner reported the same issue required service twice within six months, suggesting either recurring sensor faults or incomplete repairs.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer notified in some cases but no recalls or comprehensive fixes documented. Dealerships perform repairs but recurrence suggests underlying design issue rather than isolated fault.
Synthesized from 38 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 10 most recent
Cracks over the passenger side air bags that extend over to the drivers side. Concerned of safety issues with the airbags deploying with the compromised integrity of the dash.
Original owner of vehicle, never wrecked or in any type of accident, reporting the dashboard is visibly cracked on july of 2016 directly on top of the passenger airbag causing a safety issue that could cause premature deployment or possibly failed or no deployment when necessary. This may cause injury or even death if the airbag does not deploy properly
While driving at a steady 35 MPH on route 9 in croton-on-hudson, new york the driver side curtain and front seat airbag deployed for no reason almost causing a catastrophic accident. The seat belt actuator is now locked rendering the seat belt useless. Acura towed the car to a dealer who uploaded all the computer codes and claims that the owner is responsible for the airbag replacement! The…
Tl* the contact owns a 2007 Acura tl. The contact stated that the dash enclosure housing for the front passenger side air bag was fractured. The contact stated that the fracture traveled from the dashboard to the windshield. The contact stated that the failure was only evident on the passenger side of the vehicle. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The dealer and manufacturer were not…
The dashboard cracked right above the passenger side airbag requiring the dashboard to need replacing. Acura won't cover the expense despite the fact this is a safety hazard and very dangerous.
Passenger dash above airbag, is cracked. The crack began as a single perforation, coming from the windshield direction outward, directly above where the airbag is housed. One day to the next it just appeared. It began with a single crack in july 2017, now in nov 2017, an identical crack lays adjacent to the first, approx. 6 inches apart. I use a sunshade whenever I'm not utilizing a covered…
Tl* the contact owns a 2007 Acura tl. While driving 60-65 MPH, the driver, passenger, passenger seat, and passenger side curtain air bags deployed without warning or an impact occurring. The driver sustained chest injuries and the passenger sustained injuries to the neck and side. The driver received medical attention. The local dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer was contacted and…
Tl* the contact owns a 2007 Acura tl. While driving at various speeds, the air bag warning light illuminated. In addition, the "air bag system may not function properly, please contact your local dealer'' message was displayed across the message board. The contact previously noticed a fracture on the dashboard near the passenger side air bag. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was…
Dashboard is cracked, affecting passanger airbags. Many 3rd gen tl's have this problem, which needs to be fixed please! Happens overnight, and worsens. A defect from Acura.
The contact owns a 2007 Acura TL. The contact stated that the hard-plastic dashboard material cracked near and around the location of the air bag. The contact was concerned about a safety hazard should the air bag deploy. The cause of the cracking was not determined. The local dealer and manufacturer were notified of the issue, but no assistance was offered. The failure mileage was 70,000.
Had airbags trouble with your 2007 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 2007 Acura TL?
It's a meaningful issue. 38 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 27 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most airbags failures cluster between 70,000 and 144,500 miles, with the median around 100,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 70,000; a quarter make it past 144,500. 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/2007/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.