NHTSA Complaint #10346658 — 2004 ACURA TL

2004 ACURA TL WITH CRACKED DASHBOARD AROUND PASSENGER AIRBAG. OUTLINE OF THE AIRBAG WAS VISIBLE SINCE THE CAR HAD APPROXIMATELY 50000 MILES. NOW THE CRACKS ARE VERY VISIBLE AND GETTING WORSE. SAFETY CONCERN BECAUSE OF PASSENGER AIRBAG. CALLED ACURA CORPORATE, THEY OFFERED A 25% DISCOUNT TO REPLACE THE DASHBOARD WHICH I BELIEVE IS AN ADMISSION THAT IT IS A DEFECT. I COULD NOT AFFORD TO PAY $1500 TO HAVE IT REPLACED AND FEEL THAT ACURA SHOULD REPLACE THE DASH. MANY PEOPLE HAVE A SIMILAR PROBLEM. ACURA HAS NOT ISSUED A RECALL. I AM HOPING THAT NHTSA CAN INFLUENCE ACURA TO DO THE RIGHT THING AND PROTECT THE CONSUMER. MY CAR NOW HAS 100,000 MILES AND THE CRACKS ARE VERY NOTICEABLE. I AM CONCERNED FOR SAFETY OF PASSENGERS BECAUSE OF THE AIRBAG. IN ADDITION, THE CAR IS SUPPOSED TO BE A LUXURY CAR AND THIS DEFECTS DETRACTS FROM THE APPEARANCE AND DRAMATICALLY IMPACTS THE RESALE VALUE. PLEASE DO WHAT YOU CAN TO FORCE ACURA TO STEP UP AND FIX THE KNOWN DEFECT. *TR