GVWR: Class 1C: 4,001 - 5,000 lb (1,814 - 2,268 kg)
Make: ACURA
Manufacturer: HONDA OF AMERICA MFG., INC.
Manufacturer Id: 988
Model: TL
Model Year: 2011
Other Restraint System Info: Rear Side Curtain Air bag (Rr outer positions). Rear Seat Belts (Rr center position).
Plant City: Marysville
Plant Country: United States (USA)
Plant State: Ohio
Seat Belts All: Manual
TPMS: Direct
Transmission Speeds: 5
Transmission Style: Automatic
Trim: SH-4WD Tech
Valve Train Design: Single Overhead Cam (SOHC)
Vehicle Type: PASSENGER CAR
Model year
COMPONENT
Complaint
2005
AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW
I'D LIKE TO BRING TO YOUR ATTENTION AN IMPORTANT PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUE WITH ACURA. THEIR AIRBAGS HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO DEPLOY SPONTANEOUSLY. THIS HAS HAPPENED YESTERDAY TO ME 2/15/2010. I WAS DRIVING ON ROUTE 83 IN BALTIMORE AT AROUND 6AM AND WITHOUT ANY IMPACT OR WARNING, MY FRONT AND REAR DRIVER'S SIDE AS WELL AS THE DRIVER'S SEAT AIRBAGS DEPLOYED IN MY 2005 ACURA TL. I THOUGHT SOMEONE WAS SHOOTING OR MY TIRE BLEW OUT. I IMMEDIATELY GOT OUT OF THE CAR AND CHECKED THE CAR AND FOUND NOTHING WRONG, EXCEPT THE AIR BAG DAMAGE. IT DAMAGED MY DRIVER?S SEAT AND INTERIOR ROOF IN THE FRONT AND BACK. THE STEERING WHEEL AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY, NOR DID THE AIR BAGS INFLATE. THE CAR WAS DRIVABLE, BUT THE SEAT BELT WAS BROKEN. AFTER SETTLING AT WORK, I PLACE A CALL TO MY INSURANCE COMPANY AND TO NORRIS ACURA (ELLICOTT CITY, MD) WHERE I HAVE MY AUTO SERVICE DONE. THE INSURANCE COMPANY ASKED ME TO CONTACT ACURA BECAUSE THERE MAY BE A MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT. ACURA ASKED ME TO BRING MY CAR IN THE NEXT DAY. THEY EVALUATED THE CAR AND ASKED ME TO CONTACT MY INSURANCE COMPANY EVEN THOUGH THERE'S NO PHYSICAL DAMAGE TO THE CAR. THEY INSIST THAT I MUST HAVE HIT A POT HOLE, ICE OR SOMETHING. I HIT NOTHING. IF THAT WAS THE CASE AND I HIT SOMETHING, THE AIR BAG SHOULD HAVE DEPLOYED AND INFLATED. THEY NEVER INFLATED, THEY JUST DEPLOYED. THE AIR BAG IN THE STEERING ALSO NEVER DEPLOYED. SO IF THEY SAY THAT I MUST HAVE HIT SOMETHING, THEN THE AIRBAGS ARE STILL DEFECTIVE AND WOULD NOT HAVE PROTECTED ME IN AN IMPACT. MY CAR IS CURRENTLY AT THE DEALERSHIP NOW WITH 3 DEPLOYED AIRBAGS (DRIVER'S SIDE) WITHOUT ANY PHYSICAL DAMAGE TO THE CAR. I'M NOT SURE WHAT TO DO. I DON'T WANT TO HAVE TO PAY A DEDUCTIBLE WITH MY INSURANCE COMPANY, IF THIS IS A MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT. *TR