Major Problems with Acura RL Derived from Complaints & Recalls

Learn about the common problems with a used Acura RL to avoid purchasing a bad year of the model.

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Best and Worst Years for Acura RL

Explore the chart showing how many complaints have been filed for each year of Acura RL.

Model Year	Complaints
2012 RL	1
2011 RL	2
2010 RL	9
2009 RL	8
2008 RL	13
2007 RL	16
2006 RL	30
2005 RL	121
2004 RL	11
2003 RL	4
2002 RL	27
2001 RL	11
2000 RL	53
1999 RL	21
1998 RL	9
1997 RL	19
1996 RL	22

Worst 3 Acura RL complaints

2004 Acura RL AIR BAGS Victims: 2 Mileage: 107000 miles

1997 Acura RL LOWER BALL JOINT Victims: 1 Mileage: 107433 miles

2000 Acura RL SIDE/WINDOW Victims: 1 Mileage: 58000 miles

Browse Acura RL complaints by category

Problems with AIR BAGS, EXTERIOR LIGHTING and ELECTRICAL SYSTEM are the most frequent issues recorded by the NHTSA from Acura RL owners.

Problem Category	Number of Problems
AIR BAGS 2011 acura rl. consumer writes in regards to replacement parts not available to repair driver front airbag inflator recall notice.	100 ~ 41055 miles
EXTERIOR LIGHTING cannot see beyond about 50-60 feet on dark roads using low beams only. *tr...	52 ~ 73509 miles
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM the front passenger door handle started smoking and burning on my vehicle. it melted part of the door handle and...	45 ~ 82800 miles
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL on several occasions multiple warning signals at once came on while driving on average roads acc cmbs check transmission check...	14 ~ 48271 miles
POWER TRAIN my husband drove onto a sloped driveway (uphill) and left the car running got out and rang the doorbell to...	14 ~ 93028 miles
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION > POWER TRAIN getting into second gear is very 'notchy' and gets very bad in cold weather and when the tranmission is not...	13 ~ 11308 miles
UNKNOWN OR OTHER digital dash pulls too much voltage so it shorts out intermittantly and works properly when restarted. no codes consistent but...	10 ~ 62200 miles
STEERING driving down steep "s" turn in mountains when battery cable disconnected and all of car's systems shut down. no brakes...	9 ~ 97889 miles
HEADLIGHTS > EXTERIOR LIGHTING 2010 acura rl. consumer states fault with low beam headlight design which results in a serious lack of vision beyond...	9 ~ 21644 miles
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC on three occasions the gas pedal and brake pedal deployed at the same time on my 2009 acura rl. the...	8 ~ 33069 miles
TIRES tl*the contact owns a 2008 acura rl. the vehicle has michelin radial x tires. while driving approximately 35 mph the...	8 ~ 18394 miles
POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS > VISIBILITY vehicle had multiple electrical problems. the problems may have cause one crash. bf the consumer hit a vehicle which was...	8 ~ 36063 miles
ENGINE high level one of the rods that connect to the engine's pistons shot out the car while driving at high...	7 ~ 99797 miles
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL defect investigation ea13002 has 1 related recall nhtsa campaign id number: 13v092000 my car was not experiencing any problems at...	7 ~ 84955 miles
ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP > SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC while driving consumer applied the brakes and pedal went to the floor. this caused the vehicle to hit a curb....	7 ~ 55043 miles
SEAT BELTS airbag light went on and dealer checked codes and said drivers seatbelt buckle needs replacement and stated not under warranty.	6 ~ 114697 miles
BODY > STRUCTURE acura rl 2005 loud clunking noise from left front dash and steering column. *tr...	6 ~ 42798 miles
SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE > FRONTAL > AIR BAGS srs malfunction 6 different times after being fixed each time. 2000 acura 3.5rl vin # jh4ka9652yc007814...	6 ~ 33208 miles
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES i have a 2009 acura rl. while stopped at a light the light turned green. after about 20 feet i...	5 ~ 68800 miles
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE on three occasions the gas pedal and brake pedal deployed at the same time on my 2009 acura rl. the...	5 ~ 40351 miles
LOWER BALL JOINT > CONTROL ARM > FRONT while driving the 2002 acura 3.5 rl approximately 20-25 mph (road was flat and straight with no potholes bumps etc.)...	5 ~ 113271 miles
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING car suddenly died at 2500 miles was towed to dealer engine oil pump not installed properly at factory took over	5 ~ 107457 miles
MANUAL TRANSMISSION > POWER TRAIN 6 speed manual transmission miss-shifting easily on 3rd to 4th gear upshifts. 2nd gear engaged which caused extensive engine damage.	5
SERVICE BRAKES tl* the contact owns a 2008 acura rl. the contact stated that there was a progressing failure of which the...	4 ~ 30000 miles
STRUCTURE 2010 acura rl. consumer states fault with low beam headlight design which results in a serious lack of vision beyond...	4 ~ 34937 miles
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM tl* the contact owns a 2005 acura rl. the contact stated that while driving 60 mph the vehicle decelerated independently...	4 ~ 100125 miles
GASOLINE > ENGINE > ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING when slowing down and hitting the brakes engine will stall. vehicle does this intermittently without warning. also had transmission replaced	4
ELECTRICAL > EQUIPMENT i own a 2007 acura rl with the collision mitigation braking system. i was introduced to this feature with my...	3 ~ 15 miles
RADIO/TAPE DECK/CD ETC. > ELECTRICAL > EQUIPMENT 2005 acura rl brake assembly parts were not made to fit properly and had to be retrofitted to stop loud...	3 ~ 33667 miles
FRONT > SUSPENSION at low speeds on rough streets all 4 wheel suspensions make a very metallic noise. i have been lead to...	3 ~ 667 miles
BUCKLE ASSEMBLY > FRONT > SEAT BELTS while driving 10 mph the srs light appeared on the dashboard. consumer drove the vehicle to the dealer for inspection...	3 ~ 27000 miles
FRONTAL > AIR BAGS while driving air bag warning light continuously illuminated on the dashboard. as a result air bags were inoperative and wouldn't...	3 ~ 27000 miles
SIDE/WINDOW > AIR BAGS side airbag indicator goes on and stays on intermittently. happens almost always. reported to dealer several times. dealer can't find...	3 ~ 20600 miles
DIFFERENTIAL UNIT > DRIVELINE > POWER TRAIN the rear differential was replaced 4 times.*jb...	3
ENGINE > ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING when traveling about 25mph on highway vehicle is still running. when applying brakes vehicle stops working. dealership is aware of	3
INTERIOR > REARVIEW MIRRORS/DEVICES > VISIBILITY tl* the contact owns a 2000 acura rl with a magna donnelly rear view mirror. the contact stated that a...	2 ~ 117500 miles
SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY > VISIBILITY tl*the contact owns a 2006 acura rl. the contact stated that he noticed creases in the corners of his sunroof...	2 ~ 44500 miles
WHEELS tl*the contact owns a 2009 acura rl. the contact noticed that the wheel wells on his vehicle collected water anytime...	2 ~ 150 miles
DOOR > BODY > STRUCTURE 1st incident on february 25 2009 -door handle shorted out while vehicle was parked in garage. replaced by dealer. 2nd...	2 ~ 90500 miles
INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL > ELECTRICAL SYSTEM in two separate instances srs light has come on. the first time was sometime in 2005. i repaired it with...	2 ~ 35000 miles
FUEL PUMP > DELIVERY > FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER tl* - the contact owns a 2000 acura rl. while driving 20 mph the vehicle stalled without warning and would...	2 ~ 80698 miles
PADS > DISC > FOUNDATION COMPONENTS 2006 acura rl makes a metal to metal noise when braking at low speeds. ts no answer required** the vehicle...	2
TREAD/BELT > TIRES dt: contact stated while driving she heard a loud noise and realized she was driving on the rim. after pulling...	2
FOUNDATION COMPONENTS > SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC the brakes rattle when going over bumps and lock up on their own at low speeds or when making a...	2
UPPER ARM > CONTROL ARM > FRONT the left upper control arm breaks without any type of impact to cause it to break. *la...	2 ~ 100092 miles
INTERIOR/UNDER DASH > WIRING > ELECTRICAL SYSTEM the car alarm would went off intermittently during inclement condition. dashboard/instrument panel lights remained on while the vehicle was turned...	2 ~ 11170 miles
SWITCH > IGNITION > ELECTRICAL SYSTEM vehicle will not start intermittently. consumer has to turn key to off position and attempt to crank several times. vehicle	2
VISIBILITY/WIPER my headlights flicker a lot while driving at night. they go out sometimes one at a time driver's side headlight...	1 ~ 161000 miles
TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM defect investigation ea13002 has 1 related recall nhtsa campaign id number: 13v092000 my car was not experiencing any problems at...	1 ~ 98000 miles
VISIBILITY tl* the contact owns a 1999 acura rl. the contact stated that while driving 45 mph a gritty liquid began...	1 ~ 144000 miles
SUSPENSION both struts appeared good on smooth road but are essentially rock solid on potholes or bumps. in 60 years of...	1 ~ 84000 miles
NAVIGATIONAL SYSTEM(GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM) > ELECTRICAL > EQUIPMENT the dvd navigation system in the rl is burning out the dvd disk and causing the navigation to stop working....	1 ~ 101000 miles
MASTER CYLINDER > FOUNDATION COMPONENTS > SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC tl* the contact owns a 2000 acura rl. the contact stated that while attempting to turn right at 20 mph...	1 ~ 108000 miles
EXTERIOR > REARVIEW MIRRORS/DEVICES > VISIBILITY driver and passenger side mirrors became dangerously loose. service bulletin 08-022 issued june 7 2008 by acura warning "probable cause:...	1 ~ 36000 miles
FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER i have a 2009 acura rl. while stopped at a light the light turned green. after about 20 feet i...	1 ~ 17000 miles
SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRIC constant repair and replacement of brake rotors. the rotors have to be resurfaced every 8 to 10 000 miles and...	1
EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY note: 2009 acura not yet available on "pull down" menu- so i listed 2008.... entering divided highway on "cloverleaf" entry...	1 ~ 749 miles
REARVIEW MIRRORS/DEVICES > VISIBILITY the rear view mirror in my wife's 1999 acura rl has a liquid substance sloshing around inside. my wife was...	1 ~ 71000 miles
HOSE, PIPING, AND CONNECTIONS > HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST > STEERING tl*the contact owns a 2005 acura rl. the contact stated that her vehicle was included in nhtsa campaign id number...	1
FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS > WIRING > ELECTRICAL SYSTEM tl*the contact owns a 1996 acura 3.5rl. on october 22 2007 the contact entered the vehicle and smelled smoke. she...	1 ~ 125500 miles
COOLING SYSTEM > ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING the air conditioner blows out only warm air. i have taken it to the dealership and they have diagnosed the...	1
SOFTWARE > ELECTRICAL SYSTEM this complaint has already been filed as #10198855. i see no way to add or edit that complaint but needed...	1 ~ 332 miles
WARNING LIGHT/DEVICES > FRONT > SEAT BELTS in two separate instances srs light has come on. the first time was sometime in 2005. i repaired it with...	1
CONTROL UNIT/MODULE > ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP > SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC failure of rear abs wheel sensors. *nm...	1 ~ 76000 miles
COLUMN > STEERING when backing car out from parking stall after turning wheel beyond other car and ready to go forward i stop...	1
IGNITION > ELECTRICAL SYSTEM i purchased a 2006 acura rl in february of this year. on my way home i stopped at a rest...	1 ~ 69 miles
CONTROL MODULE (TCM, PCM) > AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION > POWER TRAIN the car has a known tsb that the car may stall and shut down if it is at very low...	1 ~ 46059 miles
FRONT > SEAT BELTS dt: the contact stated intermittently two of the seat belts locked and they held the passengers in the seat. these...	1
POWER ASSIST > SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC after informing the acura service center about 3 months prior to the accident that the brakes were not functioning properly...	1 ~ 8256 miles
CALIPER > DISC > FOUNDATION COMPONENTS at low speeds on rough streets all 4 wheel suspensions make a very metallic noise. i have been lead to...	1 ~ 2000 miles
REAR > SUSPENSION at low speeds on rough streets all 4 wheel suspensions make a very metallic noise. i have been lead to...	1 ~ 2000 miles
AXLE ASSEMBLY > POWER TRAIN while consumer was traveling vehicle stopped. consumer had the vehicle towed to the dealer and mechanic determined that the passenger...	1 ~ 107433 miles
REAR/OTHER > SEAT BELTS approximately 60 days after the vehicle was purchased it was discovered that the vehicle had no rear seat belts. *nm...	1 ~ 99446 miles
WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER > VISIBILITY approximately 60 days after the vehicle was purchased it was discovered that the vehicle had no rear seat belts. *nm...	1 ~ 99446 miles
TIE ROD ASSEMBLY > LINKAGES > STEERING upon having my vehicle aligned i learned that the steering rack is no good. the car olny has 60000...	1 ~ 60000 miles
RACK > RACK AND PINION > STEERING upon having my vehicle aligned i learned that the steering rack is no good. the car olny has 60000...	1 ~ 60000 miles
ACCELERATOR PEDAL > VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL the vehicle accelerated out of control. consumer applied the brake and even turned the vehicle off but vehicle continued to	1 ~ 43391 miles
AXLE SHAFT > AXLE ASSEMBLY > POWER TRAIN driver's side front end dropped with no warning at about two miles per hour turning a corner. problem identified as	1
WINDSHIELD > VISIBILITY consumer states that windshield has a glare. dealer notified.*ak...	1
CONTROL UNIT/MODULE > ANTILOCK > SERVICE BRAKES, AIR 2 weeks after purchasing this previously-owned rl i heard a squealing noise that i thought was coming from the a/c...	1
EXHAUST SYSTEM > ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING problem is with the filtration system on the vehicle. dealer has been notified. please provide further information. ph...	1
HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS > DOOR > BODY after recall#99v227000 was performed the vehicle remained experiencing transmission problems. ph there was a loud noise when driving vehicle wouldn't...	1
EXTERNAL > WARNINGS > BACK OVER PREVENTION the car alarm would went off intermittently during inclement condition. dashboard/instrument panel lights remained on while the vehicle was turned...	1 ~ 22339 miles
TANK ASSEMBLY > STORAGE > FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE while feeding the fuel tank flames came out of fuel tank.consumer fast recaped the tank and fire was put out.	1
MODULE > IGNITION > ELECTRICAL SYSTEM when traveling 60 to 65 mph and have to come to stop due to traffic or decelerating lane car "shuts...	1
COLUMN SHIFT > LEVER AND LINKAGE > AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION the consumer has a recall letter for the transmission/ransfer case. upon contacting the drealer consumer was told that there were	1
SIDEWALL > TIRES all four tires developed sidewall bubbles which resulted in a blow out while driving. the tires were replaced but the	1 ~ 6000 miles
INTERIOR LIGHTING warning light system malfunctioned. there is a red light on the supplemental restraint system which indicates that the safety features...	1 ~ 25000 miles

FAQ

What year Acura RL is the most reliable?

Speaking of the models produced in the last 17 years, Acura RL models of 2012, 2011, 2003 year of manufacture have had the least number of complaints.

What year was a bad year for Acura RL?

Acura RL models of 2005 and 2000 are probably the years to be avoided like the plague due to a higher than an average number of issues reported.

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