NHTSA Complaint #10434170 — 2004 ACURA TL

I RECENTLY DISCOVERED A HUGE GASH ON MY 04 ACURA TL'S DASHBOARD. I AM WORRIED THAT THIS CRACK WILL CAUSE AN AIRBAG FAILURE OR EVEN RESULT IN DEPLOYING PREMATURELY. IT IS LOCATED ALL THE WAY FROM THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE WINDSHIELD WITH AN ADDITIONAL CRACK TOWARDS THE MIDDLE. AS THE CRACK HAS EXPANDED WITHIN THE PAST WEEK, I HAVE FOUND THAT JUST ABOVE THE CENTER CONSOLE, THE AIRBAG HAS BEEN PUSHED TO THE SIDE, CAUSING THE AIRBAG TO BUBBLE UP IN THE CENTER. I CALLED ACURA AND WAS TOLD THAT THEY GIVE DISCOUNTS ON THE PRODUCT BECAUSE IT SHOULD NEVER HAPPEN AND BECAUSE IT WASN'T MY FAULT, JUST A FAULTY PRODUCT THAT HAS BEEN DISCOVERED IN SEVERAL OTHER STATES. I TALKED TO THE DISTRICT MANAGER OF GUNN ACURA IN SA,TX ABOUT THE ISSUE AND WAS TOLD THAT SINCE I HAVEN'T USED ACURA'S SERVICE DEPARTMENT AS MUCH AS THEY LIKE (PRETTY MUCH SAYING THAT I HAVEN'T GIVEN THEM ENOUGH MONEY), THEY WOULD GIVE ME ONLY A 15% DISCOUNT WHEN I WAS TOLD TO EXPECT AROUND 75%. MY CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY BUT I DON'T SEE HOW THAT WOULD MATTER IF IT WAS BOUND TO HAPPEN ANYWAY. I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THIS DEFECT ISN'T A RECALL. THE DISTRICT MANAGER TOLD ME THAT IF ANYTHING, THE AIRBAG WOULD COME OUT FASTER IF NEEDED SINCE THERE IS ALREADY A CRACK TO OPEN IT UP. BUT THAT MIGHT NOT BE A GOOD THING, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT IS PUSHED OUT OF THE WAY AND HOW THE AIRBAG DOESN'T COME OUT OF THE DASHBOARD. WHEN I SPOKE TO THE DISTRICT MANAGER, THE FIRST THING I WAS TOLD WAS THAT THE OFFER IS STAYING THE SAME, NO MATTER WHAT. HE CHECKED HIS NOTES AND DECIDED A PRICE BEFORE EVEN CONSULTING ME OR ASKING QUESTIONS. HE WAS SET ON A RATE BEFORE HE EVEN SPOKE WITH ME. THE PRICE HASN'T CHANGED AND I AM EXPECTED TO PAY FOR A $2000 DASHBOARD WITH A 15% DISCOUNT. MY MAIN CONCERN IS THAT THE AIRBAG WILL DEPLOY ANY DAY NOW FOR NO REASON. IT IS GETTING TO THE POINT WHERE I AM ACTUALLY SCARED TO DRIVE MY CAR BECAUSE OF THIS ISSUE. *TR