HELLO, I HAVE A 2004 ACURA TL WITH 109,800 MILES ON IT. WITHIN THE PAST THREE WEEKS, THREE LARGE CRACKS DEVELOPED ON THE DASHBOARD. ONE IS DIRECTLY OVER THE STEERING WHEEL AND THE OTHER TWO ARE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OVER THE AIRBAG. MY CONCERN IS THAT THE CRACKS WILL CONTINUE TO SPREAD AND DEPLOY THE AIRBAGS CAUSING A SAFETY HAZARD. I PURCHASED THE CAR IN JUNE 2008 WITH 60K+ MILES. AT THE TIME OF PURCHASE THERE WERE NO CRACKS ON THE DASHBOARD. I'VE ALWAYS TAKEN VARIOUS STEPS TO PROTECT IT FROM THE TEXAS SUN. IT'S ALWAYS PARKED IN THE GARAGE, ALWAYS USED A SUNSHADE UP WHEN PARKED OUTSIDE, AND ALWAYS VENTED THE SUNROOF AND WINDOWS WHEN IT IS HOT OUTSIDE. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
1997
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
DT: THERE WAS HEAVY RAIN THE NIGHT BEFORE THE INCIDENT OCCURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN DRIVEWAY WHEN THE CONSUMER GOT UP AND WENT TO GET IN THE CAR AND FOUND THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR, DRIVER SIDE DASH , AND DRIVER SIDE SEAT HAD BURNED. THE FLOORBOARD WAS DAMAGED BY DRIPPING PLASTIC. THE ONLY HOT WIRE WAS IN THE DOOR LOCKING MECHANISM. THE FIRE WOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED IF THERE WAS A FUSE OPERATIONAL IN THE CIRCUIT. THE BATTERY WAS ALMOST BRAND NEW, AND IT WAS ALMOST DEAD. THE CALLER STATED THAT THE ONLY REASON THE FIRE DIED OUT WAS BECAUSE IT RAN OUT OF OXYGEN. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CALLED, AND HAS NOT RETURNED THE CALL. ALSO THE CALLER INDICATED THAT THE DOOR LOCK MADE A NOISE EVEN AFTER THE DOORS WERE LOCKED BUT NOT ALL THE TIME. *AK THE VEHICLE WAS DETERMINED UNREPAIRABLE. *SC *JB