NHTSA Complaint #10449315 — 2004 ACURA TL

I RECENTLY NOTICED TWO LARGE CRACKS THAT APPEARED IN THE DASHBOARD ON THE PASSENGER SIDE ABOVE WHAT I BELIEVE TO BE THE AIRBAG COMPARTMENT. ONE DAY THEY WERE JUST THERE AND WERE NOT THE RESULT OF AN ACCIDENT. I HAVE NOT TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, AS THERE IS MORE THAN ENOUGH WRITTEN ABOUT THIS PROBLEM TO KNOW WHAT THE ANSWER WILL BE. THIS APPEARS TO BE CAUSED BY INFERIOR MATERIALS AND POOR ENGINEERING USED IN A HIGH END VEHICLE. IT'S EMBARRASSING FOR ACURA TO SAY THE LEAST. I HAVE A 1989 TOYOTA SUPRA AND THE DASH IS IN PERFECT CONDITION, SO I DON'T WANT TO HEAR "NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR", THAT'S BULL. ACURA NEEDS TO STEP UP TO THE PLATE AND BE ACCOUNTABLE. AS OTHERS HAVE STATED, THERE COULD ALSO BE LINKS TO AIR BAG FAILURE OR PRE-MATURE DEPLOYMENT, WHICH WOULD BE A MUCH MORE SERIOUS ISSUE. WE PAY A SIGNIFICANT PRICE FROM OUR HARD EARNED DOLLARS FOR THESE UPSCALE VEHICLES. WE SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY FOR ACURA'S CHOICE TO USE CHEAP MATERIAL AND POOR DESIGNS. NOW IS THE TIME FOR THE CONSUMER PROTECTION INDUSTRY TO STEP IN AND TAKE ACTION SINCE THE INDIVIDUAL IS LEFT TO THE MERCY OF THE MANUFACTURER. *TR