1999 Acura RL Owner Complaints

1999 ACURA RL. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO AIRBAG SAFETY RECALL. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME COMPLETING THE RECALL REPAIR. *JS

NHTSA ID

11389115

Incident

Mar 1, 2020

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 ACURA RL. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 20V026000 (AIR BAGS) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS NOT YET AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT CALLED RADLEY ACURA (5823 COLUMBIA PIKE, FALLS CHURCH, VA 22041, (703) 824-5700) AND IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT THE PART WAS NOT YET AVAILABLE FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

11337625

Incident

Mar 1, 2020

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 ACURA RL. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 20V026000 (AIR BAGS) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. COURTESY ACURA (3701 NICHOLASVILLE RD, LEXINGTON, KY 40503) WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

11325999

Incident

Jan 17, 2020

CAR HAD ELECTRICAL MALFUNCTION THE ODOMETER KEEP HAVING EQUAL NUMBERS ALOT OF THE TIME. ALSO ACCELERATION KEPT CHANGING ON ITS OWN. AS I WAS DRIVING AND ALSO ON THE HIGHWAY GOING TOWARDS OREGON. IN JULY OF 2016. *TR

NHTSA ID

10910110

Incident

Jul 25, 2016

SRS LIGHT ILLUMIMATED. TOOK TO ACURA DEALER, STATED OPDS SENSOR AND/OR OPDS UNIT FAILURE. $1200-$1600 TO REPLACE 1 OR 2 UNITS. AIRBAGS WILL NOT DEPLOY IN EVENT OF IMPACT. THIS IS TOTALLY A SAFETY ISSUE AND SHOULD BE COVERED BY THE MANUFACTURER.

NHTSA ID

10904413

Incident

Jun 1, 2016

Mileage

125,000 mi

HONDA / ACURA IS REFUSING TO HONOR THE BELOW EXTENDED WARRANTY (S/B 06-008) ON MY VEHICLE (WHICH IS WITHIN STATED MILEAGE LIMITS BUT OUTSIDE THE ARBITRARY TIME LIMITS) WHICH HAS BEEN DEMONSTRATING THE INDICATED PROBLEM WITH THE OPDS FOR ABOUT ONE YEAR. THEIR FILE NUMBER IS B012015-05-2601760.THEIR STATED SOLUTION IS FOR ME TO PAY FOR REPAIRS! THEY (MELISA) STATES I NEED TO PAY FOR DIAGNOSIS AT AN ACURA DEALER WITH ABSOLUTELY NO ASSURANCE OF A REIMBURSEMENT OR A FACTORY PAID REPAIR. AS THEY HAVE ACKNOWLEDGED THE FAULT IN THE SERVICE BULLETIN AND THERE ARE NUMEROUS REPORTS OF THIS FAULT PUBLISHED ON LINE IT SHOULD BE UP TO THE MANUFACTURER TO MAKE REPAIRS. IT APPEARS TO ME THEY COVERED UP WHAT SHOULD BE AN OFFICIAL RECALL WITH THE EXPIRED EXTENDED WARRANTY. HTTP://ACURAZINE.COM/FORUMS/PROBLEMS-FIXES-70/SRS-INDICATOR-LIGHT-WARRANTY-EXTENSION-478199/ HTTPS://REPAIRPAL.COM/SENSOR-PROBLEMS-IN-ABS-MAY-CAUSE-SRS-LIGHT-TO-TURN-ON-519 DATE: APRIL 5, 2006 TO: ALL ACURA SALES, SERVICE & PARTS MANAGERS FROM: AMERICAN HONDA SERVICE DIVISION RE: WARRANTY EXTENSION ANNOUNCEMENT ON MARCH 2, 2006, WE ANNOUNCED AN OPDS (OCCUPANT POSITION DETECTION SYSTEM) WARRANTY EXTENSION FOR CERTAIN 200103 3.2CLS, 200102 MDXS, 199903 3.5RLS, SELECTED 2004 RLS, 200204 RSXS, AND 200003 3.2TLS. SOME AFFECTED VEHICLES MAY HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE OPDS THAT CAUSES THE SRS INDICATOR TO STAY ON WITH ONE OR MORE SRS DTCS. TO ENSURE CONTINUED RELIABILITY WITH THE OPDS, AFFECTED VEHICLES HAVE AN EXTENDED WARRANTY ON THE OPDS UNIT AND THE OPDS SENSOR. THESE PARTS ARE NOW COVERED FOR 10 YEARS OR 150,000 MILES, WHICHEVER OCCURS FIRST. CUSTOMER NOTIFICATION ... FOR DETAILED REPAIR, VIN, AND WARRANTY INFORMATION, SEE S/B 06-008, WARRANTY EXTENSION: OPDS UNIT OR OPDS SENSOR TRIGGERS SRS DTC(S) 15-1, 15-2, 15-3.

NHTSA ID

10721483

Incident

May 11, 2015

Mileage

128,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 ACURA RL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, A GRITTY LIQUID BEGAN TO SECRETE FROM THE REAR VIEW MIRROR. THE LIQUID SPLATTERED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL, STEERING WHEEL AND THE FRONT SEATS AND BEGAN TO DISINTEGRATE THE LEATHER WHERE IT WAS NOT WIPED AWAY. THE LIQUID ALSO CAUSED IRRITATION TO THE CONTACT'S SKIN. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 144,000.

NHTSA ID

10526078

Incident

Jul 20, 2013

Mileage

144,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 ACURA RL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ACCELERATING FROM A TRAFFIC STOP, THE VEHICLE EXHIBITED A LOUD NOISE AND FAILED TO ACCELERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 170,000.

NHTSA ID

10490803

Incident

Jan 1, 2013

Mileage

170,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 ACURA RL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EMITTED A LOUD NOISE AND STALLED ON THE HIGHWAY. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED, BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 99V227000 (POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 138,000.

NHTSA ID

10454661

Incident

Apr 5, 2012

Mileage

138,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 ACURA 3.5RL. APPROXIMATELY 2 TO 3 WEEKS AFTER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE SRS WARNING INDICATOR WAS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE FUSES WERE DEFECTIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED APPROXIMATELY FOUR WEEKS LATER. THE FAILURE HAS OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY FOR THE PAST SEVEN YEARS. IN APRIL OF 2008, THE CONTACT RECEIVED A NOTICE INFORMING HER TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER TO HAVE THE OCCUPANT POSITION DETECTION SYSTEM (OPDS) REPLACED. A DIAGNOSTIC TEST WAS PERFORMED AND THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY ONLY NEEDED TO REPLACE THE SENSOR, BUT NOT THE CONTROL UNIT. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE SRS INDICATOR BEGAN ILLUMINATING ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL APPROXIMATELY THREE WEEKS LATER. THE MANUFACTURER INFORMED HER TO TAKE THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER FOR ANOTHER DIAGNOSTIC TEST. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 78,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 17,000.

NHTSA ID

10259745

Incident

Mar 29, 2001

Mileage

17,000 mi

ACCURA ISSUED A WARRANTY EXTENSION TO CORRECT PROBLEM IF THE SRS (SUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAINT SYSTEM INDICATOR) LIGHT STAYS ON. WHEN CAR BROUGHT IN FOR WHAT WAS DESCRIBED AS A FREE OF CHARGE REPAIR I WAS TOLD ONLY 2 OF THE 3 BROKEN SYSTEM COMPONENTS WAS COVERED AND THAT THE REPAIR WOULD COST $1,150. *TR

NHTSA ID

10230439

Incident

Jun 8, 2008

Mileage

65,000 mi

THE REAR VIEW MIRROR IN MY WIFE'S 1999 ACURA RL HAS A LIQUID SUBSTANCE SLOSHING AROUND INSIDE. MY WIFE WAS COMPLAINING OF A HEADACHE THAT DAY WHEN SHE CAME IN, AND, NOT KNOWING THE CONTENTS OF THE MIRROR, I REMOVED IT FOR FEAR THAT IT WOULD LEAK. THE DEALERSHIP QUOTES $300+ TO REPLACE, WHICH I FEEL IS UNREASONABLE FOR THE TYPE OF PART WE'RE TALKING ABOUT. I LOCATED OTHER CONSUMERS WHO HAD THE SAME PROBLEM, EXCEPT THAT THEY LEFT THEIR MIRROR IN PLACE AND IT EITHER LEAKED OR EXPLODED. APPARENTLY THE LIQUID INSIDE THE MIRROR IS CORROSIVE BECAUSE IN EVERY CASE THE INTERIOR OF THE CAR WAS RUINED WHEREVER THE SUBSTANCE CAME IN CONTACT WITH IT. I THEN CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER OF THE MIRROR BUT THEY HAVE SO FAR IGNORED MY CALLS AND EMAILS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10230420

Incident

Jun 1, 2008

Mileage

71,000 mi

OPDS SENSORTRIGGERS SRS: SRS LIGHT RESET 5 TIMES SINCE 02/04 ONE TIME BY DEALERSHIP RIGHT BEFORE PURCHASE OF PRE CERTIFIED VEH IN 2004. THE LAST TIME WAS JULY OF 2007 WHEN I WAS TOLD I WOULD NEED A NEW CABLE REEL AND DRIVERS AIR BAG PRICED AT 1468.00 AT THAT TIME I RESEARCHED SRS PROBLEMS AND CALLED A DIFFERENT DEALERSHIP TO FIND OUT THAT THERE WAS A WARRANTY EXTENSION IN MARCH 2006. THE PASSENGER SIDE OPDS SENSOR WAS FAULTY AND REPLACED 05/05. LABOR WAS CHARGED 130.50. I HAD TO FIND OUT THROUGH A DIFFERENT DEALERSHIP SERVICE DEPARTMENT THAT THIS HAS BEEN A ISSUE WITH ACURAS. I THEN WENT BACK TO THE LOCAL SERVICE DEPARTMENT AND BROUGHT IT TO THEIR ATTENTION THEY OWED ME MONIES BACK FOR THE LABOR CHARGED DUE TO THE WARRANTY EXTENTION. THERE WAS NO NOTICE THAT WENT OUT TO THE CUSTOMERS EVEN IF THEY HAD PAID FOR THE SERVICES NOW COVERED NO ONE WAS NOTIFIED EXCEPT THE SERVICE DEPARTMENTS.I WAS TOLD I WOULD HAVE TO FILE THROUGH THE COOPERATE OFFICE IN ORDER TO GET MY REFUND. I CALLED CORPORATE AND FILED A COMPLAINT ABOUT THE MONIES OWED AND A CHARGE OF 1468.00 TO REPLACE AN AIRBAG THAT HAD NEVER BEEN DEPLOYED. THEY INITIALLY AGREED TO PAY FOR THE PARTS ONLY. WHEN I ADVISED CORPORATE AND THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT THAT I WANTED THE AIRBAG UNDEPLOY RELEASED TO A BODYSHOP FOR FURTHER INVESTIGATION THAT A DEPLOYED AIRBAG WOULD NOT BE OF ANY HELP IN DETERMINING A MALFUNCTION OF AIRBAG SYSTEM, THEY AGREED TO REPLACE THE DRIVERS SIDE AIRBAG AND THE CABLE REEL AT NO CHARGE. THIS IS A REAL CONCERN WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED HAD THE CAR BEEN INVOLVED IN A COLLISION AND THE AIRBAG SYSTEM WAS FAULTY? *TR

NHTSA ID

10203090

Incident

Jul 11, 2007

Mileage

110,250 mi

ENGINE QUIT WHILE DRIVING BECAUSE OF FAILURE OF EFI RELAY WHICH CUT OFF POWER TO THE FUEL PUMP. HAD TO HAVE CAR TOWED. PART WAS REPLACED - OLD PART NOT AVAILABLE. 1) I WAS PULLING OUT OF A PARKING LOT INTO A LOCAL STREET WHEN THE ENGINE DIED. FORTUNATELY, THERE WAS NO TRAFFIC NEAR AND I WAS ABLE TO PUSH THE CAR BACK INTO AN ADJACENT LOT. 2) HOWEVER, IF I HAD BEEN ON THE FREEWAY JUST ONE BLOCK AWAY, I WOULD HAVE LOST POWER STEERING, POWER BRAKES, AND HAVE BEEN IN MUCH HEAVIER TRAFFIC, WHICH COULD EASILY HAVE LED TO A HIGH-SPEED COLLISION. 3) I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT SHOP WHERE, FOR $300, THEY DIAGNOSED THE FAILURE AND REPLACED THE DEFECTIVE PART. THE MECHANIC COMMENTED THAT THE DESIGN OF SUPPLYING POWER TO THE FUEL PUMP THROUGH TWO DIFFERENT RELAYS WAS POORLY THOUGHT OUT.

NHTSA ID

10201954

Incident

Sep 2, 2007

Mileage

81,395 mi

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED UPON PLACING THE KEY IN THE IGNITION, THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND REMAINED ON. THE CONTACT REFERRED TO THE OWNER'S MANUAL WHICH INDICATED IF THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED, IT WAS INOPERATIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A DEALER, WHO DETERMINED THE SUPPLEMENTAL FRONT AIRBAGS FAILED, AND THE BUCKLE ASSEMBLY FOR THE RIGHT FRONT PASSENGER SEAT BELT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALERTED.

NHTSA ID

10175107

Incident

Dec 4, 2006

Mileage

81,000 mi

99 3.5 RL REAR VIEW MIRROR LEAKING TOXIC MATERIAL. CAUSED SICKNESS. AFTER CONTACTING ACURA, THEY HAVE REFUSED TO ACKNOWLEDGE PROBLEM. THEIR SOLUTION WAS TO REMOVE THE REAR VIEW MIRROR (BECAUSE OF HEALTH ISSUES) ONLY. THEREFORE, I WOULD NOT HAVE A REAR VIEW MIRROR, WHICH WOULD ATTRIBUTE TO A POTENTIAL SAFETY HAZARD WHILE DRIVING. *NM

NHTSA ID

10160348

Incident

Jun 12, 2006

Mileage

65,000 mi

DT: CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING SHE HEARD A LOUD NOISE AND REALIZED SHE WAS DRIVING ON THE RIM. AFTER PULLING OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD THE TIRE BLEW OUT, CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE. THE INSURANCE INSPECTOR DETERMINED THAT THE TIRE SUSTAINED A TREAD SEPARATION FAILURE. THE CONSUMER STATED SHE HAD JUST HAD THE TIRES CHECKED AND ROTATED. THE CONSUMER STATED THERE WAS NO WARNING THAT SHE HAD A DEFECTIVE TIRE. THE CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER WHERE SHE PURCHASED THE TIRE AND THEY DID OFFER TO REPLACE THE TIRE. *AK UPDATED 2/7/2006 - *NM

NHTSA ID

10134020

Incident

Aug 5, 2005

Mileage

41,000 mi

THE SRS INDICATOR COMES ON AND STAYS ON WHEN A CELL PHONE OR LAPTOP IS USED INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THIS HINDERS THE PROPER OPERATION OF THE AIR BAGS WHICH COULD RESULT IN A NEEDLESS DEATH TO THE PASSENGER. THE LIGHT CAN ONLY BE RESET BY THE DEALER WHICH COST $84.00 PER HOUR. AFTER SOME INVESTIGATION ON THE WEB, IT APPEARS THAT THIS IS NOT ONLY A PROBLEM IN THE ACURA RLS BUT ALSO A PROBLEM WITH ALL ACURA VEHICLES (RL, TL, TL-S, RSX AND THE MDX). THERE SHOULD HAVE BEEN ENGINEERING CONSIDERATIONS WHICH WOULD HAVE SHIELDED THE OPDS SENSORS FROM EVERYDAY INTERFERENCES FROM LAPTOPS AND CELL PHONES RADIO FREQUENCIES. PLEASE GIVE THIS MATTER SOME ATTENTION BY CONTACTING THE ACURA CORPORATION AND ASKING FOR AN EXPLANATION OF WHAT ACTION THEY INTEND TO TAKE TO CORRECT THIS ENGINEERING DEFECT. AS WITH MOST MAJOR CORPORATIONS, THE AVERAGE CONSUMER HAS NO WAY OF CONTACTING THEM DIRECTLY. THANKS FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION AND I LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING FROM YOU. *AK

NHTSA ID

10114183

Incident

Feb 25, 2005

REGULATOR FOR REAR WINDOW IS DEFECTIVE ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS. *JB

NHTSA ID

10088116

Incident

Jul 1, 2004

Mileage

103,000 mi

THE LEFT UPPER CONTROL ARM BREAKS WITHOUT ANY TYPE OF IMPACT TO CAUSE IT TO BREAK. *LA

NHTSA ID

10041600

Incident

Oct 8, 2003

Mileage

92,751 mi

WHILE FEEDING THE FUEL TANK FLAMES CAME OUT OF FUEL TANK.CONSUMER FAST RECAPED THE TANK, AND FIRE WAS PUT OUT. CONSUMER DOES NOT FEEL SAFE IN VEHICLE.

NHTSA ID

888381

Incident

Apr 23, 2001

I NEED TO KNOW WHAT THE NAVIGATION EXCHANGE PROGRAM IS AS I HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM IT SEEMS. ALSO ON THE SECOND FAILURE MY AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON IS THIS IN DANGER IN AIR BAG DEPLOYING? I HAVE ASTHMA AND DON'T NEED THIS HAPPENING.

NHTSA ID

738716

Incident

Jan 2, 2001

ABS SYSTEM FAILED TO RESPOND RESULTING IN REAR END COLLISION. MJS

NHTSA ID

548908

THE FEMALE PART OF THE SEATBELT IS TOO LOW TO MEET THE OTHER SIDE OF THE BUCKLE. DEALER SAYS NEEDS EXTENTION FOR SEATS. *AK

NHTSA ID

846514