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EnginePart report

2005 Acura TL Engine Problems

Complaints
6about this part
Share
2%of 388 total for the year
Median mileage
138,400miles
Trend
Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.

NHTSA recorded 6 complaints about the engine of the 2005 Acura TL, 2% of the 388 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 138,400 miles. 1 a fire, according to the filers.

Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.

Example complaints

Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.

“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.”

NHTSA complaint #11229903, filed 2019-07, 155,000 miles

“In the Acura 3.2 motors, the cylinders have oil release holes that are not smooth which is causing metal shavings to get stuck, shave and damage the cam shafts and cause motor failure. They are causing serious grooves on the outer 2 cam bearings that have the larger release holes. My motor failed due to this. I was driving, car stopped running, I thought my timing slipped. I pulled the motor apart and my cam was seized up after looking into it further. I order a new motor same year, make, model, thinking it was just my motor. I pulled the new motor apart and I found the same issue! …”

NHTSA complaint #10917214, filed 2016-10, 129,000 miles

“The contact owns a 2005 Acura TL. The contact stated that the air bag and engine warning lights were illuminated. The failure recurred intermittently. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for diagnosis where the technician was unable to diagnose the failure. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 50,000.”

NHTSA complaint #10542276, filed 2013-09, 50,000 miles

“The contact owns a 2005 Acura TL. The contact stated that she had parked her vehicle and went inside a store as her children waited inside the vehicle. Her son then texted her from inside the vehicle that the alarm had gone off. Soon after the alarm went off, her daughter noticed that both white and black colored smoke began to emit from the vehicle. Her children exited the vehicle as the front end of the vehicle caught fire. Pedestrians called for the authorities and both the police and fire departments arrived at the scene. The fire was extinguished and an incident report was filed. …”

NHTSA complaint #11495194, filed 2022-11, 200,300 miles

“The contact owns a 2005 Acura TL. While attempting to accelerate from a stop light, the accelerator pedal was depressed and the rpms increased, but the vehicle failed to accelerate. The check engine warning light illuminated. The failure recurred on numerous occasions. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the filter system in the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 140,000.”

NHTSA complaint #10817236, filed 2015-12, 140,000 miles

Related service bulletins

Engine: other model years

YearComplaintsShare of year
201416%
201323%
20121814%
2011315%
201023%
200925%
2008108%
200732%
2006104%
200562%
200461%
200382%
200262%
200111%
200062%
199953%
199614%

Other parts of the 2005 Acura TL

Body and structure
156 complaints
Air bags
144 complaints
Other or unknown
66 complaints
Transmission and drivetrain
36 complaints
Electrical system
28 complaints
Steering
25 complaints
Tires
20 complaints
Suspension
11 complaints
Brakes
9 complaints
Vehicle speed control
8 complaints
Fuel system
7 complaints
Engine cooling
6 complaints

← All problems reported for the 2005 Acura TL

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology