NHTSA Complaint #10907360 — 2005 ACURA TL

2005 ACURA TL FRONT SUSPENSIONS HAVE A DESIGN DEFECT WHICH PROMOTES FAILURE TO SUPPORT LOWER CONTROL ARMS AND LEADS TO LOSS OF STEERING. FIRST - THE COMPLIANCE BUSHING FOR THE LOWER CONTROL ARM FAILS ALLOWING THE STEEL CONTROL ARM TO CONTACT THE ALUMINUM SUB FRAME EXTENSION. THE SOFT SUB FRAME MATERIAL IS WORN OUT FROM CONTACT WITH THE HARD LOWER CONTROL ARM MATERIAL. EVENTUALLY, THE EXTENSION FROM THE SUB FRAME LOSES ITS ABILITY TO SUPPORT FORCES FROM THE LOWER CONTROL ARM AND FAILS. I WAS FORTUNATE TO AVOID A CATASTROPHIC EVENT WHEN THIS ISSUE WAS IDENTIFIED DURING AN ANNUAL STATE INSPECTION AND LEAD TO REPLACEMENT OF THE SUB FRAME AND COMPLIANCE BUSHINGS. FAILURE OF THE COMPLIANCE BUSHING IS NOT OBVIOUS TO THE DRIVER TO PROMOTE REPAIR ACTIONS; AS THERE ARE NO AUDIBLE OR DRIVING SIGNALS TO INDICATE THIS HAS OCCURRED. FAILURE OF THE COMPLIANCE BUSHING AND SUBSEQUENT FAILURE OF THE ALUMINUM SUB FRAME WILL LEAD TO LOSS OF STEERING. MY CAR WAS STATIONARY AND ON A LIFT WHEN THE ISSUE WAS OBSERVED.