NHTSA Complaint #10579364 — 2004 ACURA TL

WE PURCHASED AN ACURA TL IN 2013 AS A THIRD OWNER. WE LOVE THE CAR AND IS ALWAYS GARAGE KEPT. HOWEVER, ONE DAY SUDDENLY CRACKS STARTING APPEARING ALONG THE DASHBOARD ON THE PASSENGERS SIDE. ALSO, THE CRACKS PROPAGATED ALONG THE DRIVER'S SIDE TOO. WHEN I CHECKED ONLINE, I WASN'T THE ONLY ONE WITH THIS ISSUE. THERE ARE SEVERAL HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE WITH THIS ISSUE. I CALLED ACURA AND THEY DID NOT TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR A DEFECTIVE PART. I HAVE A MASTER'S DEGREE IN MANUFACTURING SYSTEMS ENGINEERING FROM UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY AND A BACHELOR'S DEGREE IN MECHANICAL ENGINEERING. I WORK WITH PLASTIC & STEEL COMPONENTS WITH DESIGN AND MANUFACTURING DAY IN DAY OUT. I CAN TELL YOU CONFIDENTLY THAT IT IS A 'DEFECTIVE' PLASTIC PART. IT'S NOT ABOUT THE MONEY FOR ME, IT'S THE SAFETY CONCERN I HAVE. IN CASE OF AN ACCIDENT, I DO ANTICIPATE THE DASHBOARD PLASTIC CHIPS ACTING AS A SHRAPNEL AND CAUSING INJURY TO THE PASSENGER/DRIVER. I REALLY WISH YOU COULD DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS. APPRECIATE YOUR HELP. REGARDS *JS