2005 Acura TL Suspension Problems

Ball joint purchased from Napa Auto Parts #260-1791was defective. Nut supplied with ball joint was too small. This caused the ball joint to separate from the steering knuckle. After driving a very short distance the front end of the car collapsed, causing the front axle to break. The car fell on the front fender damaging it. This is the same problem reported in 2011. [XXX] This is a serious safety issue. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

I WENT TO GO AT A STOP LIGHT I GOT TO ABOUT 15 MPH AND MY CAR JUS LOST ALL POWER AND DIDN'T RESTART. WHEN I TRIED TO TURN THE KEY ON AND OFF AGAIN NO POWER AS WELL AS EVERYTIME I PUT THE KEY IN THE IGNITION IT MAKES THIS WEIRD BUZZING NOISE WHEN I TRY TO TURN IT OVER. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 ACURA TL. WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH, THE LOWER BALL JOINT ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE LOOSENED AND CAUSED THE FRONT SUSPENSION TO FALL OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. UPON INVESTIGATION, THE CONTACT ASSOCIATED THE FAILURE WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 11E022000 (SUSPENSION). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 124,968.

FAILUER OF THE FRONT ALUMINUM FRAME WAS OBSERVED ON MY CAR DURING A STATE INSPECTION BY AN OBSERVANT TECHNICIAN. THE COMPLIANCE BUSHING IN THE FRONT STRUT ASSEMBLY FAILS WITHOUT GIVING THE DRIVER AN AUDIBLE OR DRIVING SIGNAL. THIS CREATES METAL ON METAL CONTACT BETWEEN THE STRUT AND ALUMINUM FRAME - WEARNIG THRU THE ALUMINUM FRAME ARM EXTENSION WHICH SUPPORTS THE METAL ROD TO THE WHEEL. THE ALUMINUM FRAME WILL EVENTALLY FAIL CAUSING LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL. THIS WOULD BE LIFE THREATENING AT HIGHWAYS SPEEDS. I HAD TO HAVE THE ENTIRE FRONT FRAME ASSEMBLY REPLACED TO MITIGATE THIS RISK.

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.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 ACURA TL. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD POPPING AND GRINDING NOISE. HE EXITED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE WHEEL WAS BENT OUTWARDS FROM THE HOOD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE LOWER BALL JOINT FAILED AND CAUSED THE WHEEL TO COME OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THE CONTACT TO CALL THE DEALER TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. AFTER FURTHER INVESTIGATION, IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE DEALER WAS THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE AND NO COMPENSATION WOULD BE MADE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 21,000. UPDATED 04/24/09.*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE UPON DELIVERY OF THE VEHICLE, IT PULLED STRONGLY TO THE RIGHT WHILE DRIVING. THE DEALER DIGNAOSED THE VEHICLE WITHOUT EVEN LOOKING AT IT, BY SAYING IT WAS THE TORQUE STEER. ON ONE OCCASION, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE CONSUMER STILL CONTINED TO COMPLAIN ABOUT THE VEHICLE PULLING TO THE RIGHT. AT TIMES THE VEHICLE WOULD POP OUT OF OR GRIND INTO THIRD GEAR. THE LOWER BALL JOINT HAD FAILED. IT RIPPED OUT THE DRIVE SHAFT, BENT THE LOWER CONTROL ARM, DAMAGED THE BODY AND LEAKED TRANSMISSION FLUID ALL OVER THE ROAD. UPDATED 04/29/09.*JB

VEHICLE HAS CONSTANT SHIMMY IN STEERING WHEEL. ACURA REFUSES TO FIX CAR UNDER WARRANTY SAYING IT IS A CHARACTERISTIC. AFTER HAVING THE CAR INSPECTED BY A HONDA DEALER THE CAR IS FOUND TO HAVE A BAD AXEL. THE REPAIR ORDER AND INFORMATION WAS FAXED TO THE PRODUCT MEDIATOR AT AMERICAN HONDA WHO CONTACTED THE DISTRICT PARTS MANAGER WHO SAYS THAT HE REFUSES TO FIX THE CAR BECAUSE ITS A CHARACTERISTIC. THE CAR WAS INSPECTED BY A TRAINED ACURA MECHANIC AT THE HONDA DEALER. ACURA REFUSES TO FIX THE CAR WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH. *TR

MY 2005 ACURA TL EL42 BRIDGESTONE REAR TIRES WENT COMPLETELY BALD ON A 3000 MILE TRIP(19000 MILES TOTAL) FROM DALLAS TO COLORADO AND BACK. IT APPEARS THAT THERE IS A SUSPENSION/TIRE PROBLEM WHERE THE REAR ALIGNMENT UNDER FULL LOAD OF 2 PASSANGERS AND LUGGAGE IN THE TRUNK DEGRADES AND CAUSES SEVERE TIRE WEAR. THIS CAUSES SEVERE LOSS OF CONTROL ON WET PAVEMENT WITH REAR HYDROPLANING AT EVEN <50 MPH. ACURA HAS A TSB AND REPLACE TIRES AT LOWERED COST BUT ONLY WITH THE SUSPECT EL42 TIRES. AFTER FURTHER INTERNET SEARCHES THIS SEEM NOT TO BE ISOLATED INCIDENT.

VEHICLE HAS A VIBRATION BETWEEN 52-64 MPH. FEELS LIKE YOU ARE DRIVING OVER RUMBLE STRIPS. THE DEALER AND FACTORY HAVE ATTEMPTED TO REPAIR 4 TIMES AND OVER 19 DAY IN SHOP AND STILL THE VIBRATION IS PRESENT. MY FEAR IS THE VEHICLE TRANSMISSION, DRIVE TRAIN, STEERING OR BRAKES COULD FAIL AT ANY MOMENT DUE TO PART FATIGUE. THERE SEEMS TO BE NO REPAIR IN PLAN TO RESOLVE THIS PROBLEM CAN YOU PLEASE HELP. *NM