NHTSA Complaint #10615694 — 2004 ACURA TL

WHILE CLEANING THE INSIDE OF MY 2004 ACURA TL, I NOTICED THAT THE DASHBOARD OVER THE PASSENGER AIRBAG WAS CRACKING. THE CRACKING IS IN A SYMMETRICALLY RECTANGULAR SHAPE DIRECTLY OVER THE AIRBAG. I CHECKED WITH ACURA AND THEY CLAIM THAT THERE IS NO RECALL OR MARKET ACTION REGARDING THIS DEFECT. I THEN GOOGLED "ACURA CRACKED DASHBOARD" AND WAS ASTONISHED TO FIND MANY OTHER OWNERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM AND ACURA CLAIMS NO LIABILITY FOR THIS DEFECT. I AM CONCERNED THAT THE CRACKING MAY MANIFEST AS HAS HAPPENED WITH OTHER COMPLAINTS I SAW ON THE INTERNET. NOT ONLY IS THIS UNSIGHTLY, BUT FROM A SAFETY STANDPOINT, THE CONTINUED CRACKING MAY COMPROMISE THE INTEGRITY OF THE DASHBOARD, ULTIMATELY DEPLOYING THE AIRBAG UNNECESSARILY. ALTHOUGH THE REPRESENTATIVE FROM ACURA TOLD ME THAT THEY HAVE RECEIVED NUMEROUS OTHER COMPLAINTS, THEY REFUSE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THIS IS A MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT AND ONLY SAID THAT I SHOULD TAKE MY VEHICLE TO AN ACURA DEALER AND SELF-PAY FOR ANY REPAIRS. WITH THE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS, THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A SYSTEMIC PROBLEM AND SHOULD REQUIRE ACURA TO PAY FOR ANY REPAIRS BEFORE AN INJURY OCCURS. I DID SEE ANOTHER MARKET ACTION INVOLVING ACURA AND HONDA AIRBAGS BUT ACURA STATES THAT THIS IS UNRELATED TO THE CRACKING OF THE DASHBOARD ON THE 2004 ACURA TL'S. *TR