AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
2003 Acura RL
Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data
Data refreshed
Overview
Our database contains 9 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2003 Acura RL, most frequently naming the airbags, electrical and engine categories. 1 safety recall has been issued covering this model year; and 46 manufacturer communications are on file.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Complaint activity over time
When owners filed reports about this model year
View as table
| Month | Complaints filed | Cumulative |
|---|---|---|
| Mar 2007 | 1 | 1 |
| Nov 2009 | 1 | 2 |
| Jun 2015 | 1 | 3 |
| Jun 2016 | 1 | 4 |
| Jun 2020 | 1 | 5 |
| Sep 2020 | 1 | 6 |
| Nov 2020 | 1 | 7 |
| Mar 2021 | 2 | 9 |
What owners report
Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded
- Airbags660.0%
- Electrical110.0%
- Engine110.0%
- Fuel system110.0%
- Powertrain (other)110.0%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Safety recalls
1 campaign cover this model year
Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.
Check a VIN on NHTSA.govRecent owner complaints
Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 ACURA RL. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 20V027000 (AIR BAGS) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS NOT YET AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER HAD EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. LESTER RAINES HONDA (5102 MACCORKLE AVENUE SW, SOUTH CHARLESTON, WV 25309, (304) 768-1251) WAS CONTACTED AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT PARTS WERE NOT YET AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.
- NHTSA ID
- 11399697
- Incident
- Jan 17, 2021
I RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE IN MARCH AND WAS TOLD TO PARK MY CAR. I DID FOR 9 MONTHS, FORCED TO BUY ANOTHER CAR. ACURA REFUSED TO PROVIDE A RENTAL. WE FILED A CLASS-ACTION SUIT. ACURA REQUIRED AN INSPECTION OF THE AIRBAGS/INFLATOR. I RECEIVED AN INVOICE I COULD NOT UNDERSTAND AND CALLED THE DEALER. THEY REFUSED TO RETURN FIVE MESSAGES, AND WHEN WE I REACHED THEM THEY WOULDN'T TELL ME WHAT ITEMS ON THE INVOICE MEANT, SAYING THEY WERE NOT ALLOWED TO, AND THAT I HAD TO CALL ACURA. I CALLED ACURA AND THEY TOLD ME TO CALL THE DEALER. THE INVOICE MENTIONED A DISCONNECTED AIR BAG AND A FAULTY MODULE. BOTH OF THOSE ITEMS PUT ME AND MY PASSENGERS IN DANGER. THERE WAS A REFERENCE TO 'INCREASED PRESSURE IN THE AIRBAG DEFLATOR.' I FELT I DESERVED AN EXPLANATION BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW IF INCREASED PRESSURE IS A GOOD THING OR A BAD THING. THE ACURA REP TOLD ME SHE WAS NOT ALLOWED TO GIVE ME ANY INFORMATION. AFTER SOME PRESSURE SHE TOLD ME THEY COULD NOT ACCESS THE DEALER INFORMATION. UPON PRESSURE, SHE READ ME SOME HOUSE INFORMATION THAT SAID THE CONTROL MODULE IS FAULTY AND THAT THEY REPLACED THE INFLATOR, AMONG OTHER THINGS. I ASKED HER TO REPEAT THAT. AGAIN SHE USED THE WORD REPLACED. 'REPLACED' IS VERY DIFFERENT FROM 'INSPECTED.' I ASKED FOR A COPY OF THAT DOCUMENTATION, BUT SHE REFUSED. I THINK THERE'S A POSSIBILITY THAT I ACTUALLY HAD THE FAULTY INFLATOR, BUT THEY REPLACED IT AND REPORTED THAT TO ACURA, AND THEN SIMPLY SENT AN INVOICE TO ME AND MY ATTORNEY SHOWING THE CAR HAD BEEN INSPECTED. I THINK THEY THOUGHT THAT ONCE EVERYBODY SAW IT HAS BEEN INSPECTED, THAT WOULD BE THE END OF THE ISSUE AND THE CLASS ACTION SUIT. REGARDLESS, THEY BEHAVED EGREGIOUSLY, MY CAR IS IN THE SAME SHAPE, IF NOT WORSE, THAN IT WAS BEFORE THE INSPECTION, MY PASSENGERS AND I REMAIN IN DANGER, AND I FEAR DRIVING THE CAR EVEN MORE THAN I DID BEFORE. I DESERVE BETTER THAN THIS AND I WANT SOME ANSWERS.
- NHTSA ID
- 11398990
- Incident
- Mar 1, 2020
2003 ACURA RL. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO DRIVER FRONTAL AIRBAG SAFETY RECALL. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED THE MANUFACTURER DID NOT MAKE A REASONABLE ATTEMPT TO ASSIST WITH THE 500 MILE ROUND TRIP TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NO LONGER AUTHORIZING LOCAL DEALERSHIPS TO COMPLETE RECALLS. *JS
- NHTSA ID
- 11375538
- Incident
- Mar 1, 2020
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 ACURA RL. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 20V027000 (AIR BAGS) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS NOT YET AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO ACURA OF WESTCHESTER (2155 PALMER AVE, LARCHMONT, NY 10538, (914) 834-2222) AND IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT PARTS WERE NOT YET AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.
- NHTSA ID
- 11361785
- Incident
- Jan 17, 2020
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 ACURA RL. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 20V027000 (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. PHIL SMITH ACURA (940 N FEDERAL HWY, POMPANO BEACH, FL 33062, (954) 785-7100) WAS CONTACTED AND IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT THE REMEDY PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.
- NHTSA ID
- 11328981
- Incident
- Jan 17, 2020
THE IGNITION IMMOBILIZER DEFECTIVE. WHEN THE CAR IS IN PARK AND I TRY TO START IT I PUT THE KEY IN THE IGNITION AND WAIT FOR THE GREEN LIGHT IN THE SHAPE OF A KEY TO GO OUT ON THE PANEL - THEN I TURN THE KEY. THE IGNITION DOES NOT ALWAYS RECOGNIZE THE KEY AND SO THE IMMOBILIZER IS ACTIVATED. WHEN THAT HAPPENS THE CAR EITHER STARTS AND SHUTS RIGHT OFF OR IT JUST WILL NOT START AT ALL. ON MORE THAN ONE OCCASION I HAVE BEEN ALONE AFTER DARK AND UNABLE TO START MY CAR AND LEAVE. I HAVE A TYPE 1 DIABETIC GRANDCHILD THAT I WATCH AND I AM VERY FEARFUL OF NOT BEING ABLE TO GET HIM WHAT HE NEEDS BECAUSE OF THIS ISSUE. I PURCHASED 2 NEW KEYS AND IT IS ACTING UP EVEN WORSE NOW. I GOOGLED THE PROBLEM AND SAW THAT THIS IS NOT AN UNCOMMON PROBLEM. I FOUND ANOTHER COMPLAINT ON THIS SITE.
- NHTSA ID
- 10872731
- Incident
- Jun 6, 2016
- Mileage
- 200,000 mi
WAS DRIVING ON INTERSTATE 71 NORTH, AT THE POSTED SPEED LIMIT (70) WHEN THE CAR STOPPED RUNNING. ALL DASH WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON. THE ENGINE STOPPED RUNNING, SO ALL OF THE POWER-ASSIST STOPPED WORKING. I PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP, TURNED OFF THE IGNITION AND TRIED TO RESTART THE CAR. I TURNED THE IGNITION KEY AND THE CAR STARTED AND RAN WITHOUT ANY PROBLEMS. THIS HAS NOW HAPPENED 6 MORE TIMES. THE MOST RECENT TIME WAS AFTER 6PM ON MONDAY JUNE 22ND. THIS TIME, AFTER RESTARTING THE CAR, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STAYED ON. I TOOK THE CAR TO MY LOCAL SERVICE GARAGE AND THEY DIAGNOSED THE FAULTY IGNITION SWITCH. I HAVE CHECKED NUMEROUS SITES ON THE INTERNET AND FOUND MANY OTHER PEOPLE HAVE HAD THE SAME ISSUE WITH HONDA AND ACURA PRODUCTS. I CONTACTED ACURA, TO SEE IF THERE HAD EVER BEEN A RECALL, THEY TOLD ME THERE HAD NOT. I AM SHOCKED TO LEARN THAT HUNDREDS IF NOT THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE HAVE HAD THEIR CARS STOP RUNNING, WITH NO NOTICE, AND THERE HAS BEEN NO ACTION BY THE MANUFACTURER!!
- NHTSA ID
- 10730303
- Incident
- May 26, 2015
- Mileage
- 132,000 mi
SIDE AIRBAG INDICATOR GOES ON AND STAYS ON INTERMITTENTLY. HAPPENS ALMOST ALWAYS. REPORTED TO DEALER SEVERAL TIMES. DEALER CAN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG. BELIEVE SIDE AIR BAGS ARE NOT FUNCTIONAL WHEN LIGHT IS ON. STARTED AFTER DEALER SERVICING ABOUT SEPT., 2003 AND CONTINUES TO THIS DAY. *TR
- NHTSA ID
- 10293538
- Incident
- Sep 16, 2003
- Mileage
- 3,800 mi
Manufacturer communications
A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.
SUSPENSION
This SKU is a Front Upper Ball Joint. The customer communication requested return of unsold inventory to inspect for the outer diameter of the ball joint housing being too small. The outer diameter being too small would prevent the part from being installed, and would therefore have no impact on the end user besides time to complete installation.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM; EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:NAVIGATIONAL SYSTEM(GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM)
Servicenews article - Is the navigation screen clock reading 00:00? We?re aware of this issue and have it under investigation.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM; EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:NAVIGATIONAL SYSTEM(GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM)
Servicenews article - Is the navigation screen clock reading 00:00? We?re aware of this issue and have it under investigation.
EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:NAVIGATIONAL SYSTEM(GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM)
Tech line summary article - Is the navigation screen clock reading 00:00? We?re aware of this issue and have it under investigation.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Tech line summary article - Is the navigation screen clock reading 00:00? We?re aware of this issue and are looking for a solution.
EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL
Sending vehicle data to tech line.
Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.
Compare model years
Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model
| Year | Complaints | Recalls | Investigations | Issue Index |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2016 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2015 | 2 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2014 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2013 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2012 | 1 | 6 | 0 | — |
| 2011 | 3 | 6 | 0 | — |
| 2010 | 9 | 7 | 0 | — |
| 2009 | 8 | 6 | 0 | — |
| 2008 | 13 | 6 | 0 | 48.9 |
| 2007 | 20 | 7 | 0 | 67.5 |
| 2006 | 32 | 8 | 0 | 52.6 |
| 2005 | 125 | 11 | 3 | 56.7 |
| 2004 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 33.9 |
| 2003Viewing | 9 | 1 | 0 | — |
| 2002 | 43 | 2 | 0 | 41.3 |
| 2001 | 12 | 2 | 0 | 45.0 |
| 2000 | 59 | 4 | 0 | 49.6 |
| 1999 | 24 | 2 | 0 | 49.5 |
| 1998 | 11 | 3 | 0 | 39.5 |
| 1997 | 19 | 2 | 0 | 49.8 |
| 1996 | 22 | 3 | 0 | 52.6 |
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.