RoadVitals

2005 Acura RL Owner Complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers, shown in full

Data refreshed

Complaints on fileComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
125
Latest Apr 26, 2025
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
5
Filed in the last 12 monthsReports filed with NHTSA in the trailing 365 days. Recent volume reflects attention and vehicle age as much as anything else.
0
Reports on file since Dec 29, 2004

What this page shows

Our database holds 125 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2005 Acura RL. Each one is a report filed by an owner or driver and published by NHTSA without most of them being verified. A complaint is not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. Narratives are shown exactly as filed.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Complaints, most recent first

Showing 1–25 of 125 · page 1 of 5

Airbags
Filed Apr 26, 2025

I bought the car there was no airbag light on it I was driving down my road and it just randomly turned on been on ever since. Sunnyside Acura Told me that the frontal driver side airbag was replaced in 2016, Then they told me that it would not be under recall because they pretty much said they had already fixed it but the problem had occurred. They said it was done it 2016 the air bag should last the life of the vehicle. I was doing some research on Kelley Blue Book I had noticed that there is a campaign number and it sounds exactly like they issue that I was occurring that Acura told me and charged me $189 for diagnosis and told be about 2K to replace airbag . The campaign number is 19V501000 and it says August 12th 2019 is when the recall stated but Acura is showing not results and it is a safety issue so I would assume that it would be free of charge because of the safety issue not being my fault and having no history of car crashes and maintenance back to 2005 was done. .

NHTSA ID
11656922
Incident
Apr 16, 2025
Electrical
Filed Jun 27, 2023

The center display screen went blank (black) and I can't adjust anything

NHTSA ID
11529219
Incident
Jan 29, 2023
Electrical
Filed Aug 29, 2021
Fire reported

Small electric fire in driver side door panel melted all the way through outside door handle . After this happened to me I looked through forums and this seems to be a common issue with this car and there has been no recall for this issue . Very unsafe

NHTSA ID
11430934
Incident
Aug 29, 2021
Body & structure
Filed Jun 4, 2020

MY VEHICLE'S DASHBOARD GLOVE BOX IS DEFECTIVE. I BELIEVE THIS HAPPENS TO MANY VEHICLES WHICH NO ONE BOTHERS TO REPORT. MY GLOVE BOX, WHEN IT'S HOT OR THE SUN IS OUT, THE EXTERNAL LEATHER OR MATERIAL THAT IT IS MADE OF, SOFTENS AND DETERIORATED LIKE IT'S MELTED PLASTIC. ANY CONTACT THE LEATHER HAS WITH ANYTHING, THE LEATHER IS DAMAGED EASILY AND INDENTED VERY BADLY WHERE IT'S UNABLE TO REPAIR BESIDES TAKING IT TO A PROFESSIONAL. I'VE NOTICED MANY OTHER VEHICLES WITH THIS ISSUE, AND IT SEEMS TO BE A DEFECT I. THE VEHICLE WHICH IS OVERLOOKED TO BE RECALLED. I'VE HAD MY SUNSHADE JUST TEMPORARILY LEFT TO LAY AGAINST THE GLOVE BOX IN THE SUN FOR ONLY A FEW MINUTES, AND THE LEATHER ON THE GLOVE BOX WAS INDENTED AND TORN FROM THE LIGHTWEIGHT SUNSHADE. *TR

NHTSA ID
11327339
Incident
Apr 22, 2017
Mileage
220,000 mi
AirbagsExterior lighting
Filed Jan 25, 2020

CHECK AIRBAG SYSTEM LIGHT ON. CONNECTION TO HEADLIGHT DEFECTIVE, HEADLIGHT TURNS ON AND OFF RANDOMLY LIKE WHEN GOING OVER A BUMP, BUT TURNS BACK ON IF YOU TURN LIGHT OFF THEN ON AGAIN.

NHTSA ID
11301852
Incident
Jan 20, 2020
Driver assistance
Filed Nov 21, 2019

UNINTENDED ACCELERATION WHEN ATTEMPTING TO SLOW DOWN. WHEN SHIFTED TO N DURING AN EVENT, TACHOMETER READS 6000 RPM. THROTTLE PEDAL AND AREA ARE CLEAR, NO CODES.

NHTSA ID
11281621
Incident
Nov 21, 2019
Mileage
100,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Nov 21, 2019
Crash reported1 injury reported

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2005 ACURA RL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HER SON WAS DRIVING AND APPROACHED A CRASH THAT HAD ALREADY TAKEN PLACE. THE VICTIM OF THE CRASH WAS EJECTED FROM THE VEHICLE AND WAS LYING IN THE ROAD. THE CONTACT APPLIED THE BRAKES AND ATTEMPTED TO AVOID A VEHICLE THAT WAS STOPPED IN THE ROAD. THE CONTACT'S SON SWERVED INTO THE OTHER LANE AND CRASHED INTO THE VEHICLE THAT WAS INVOLVED IN THE CRASH AS WELL AS THE VEHICLE THAT WAS STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. THE DRIVER'S VEHICLE FLIPPED OVER ONTO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD AND THEN LANDED UPRIGHT AGAIN. THE CONTACT'S SON SUSTAINED HEAD TRAUMA, CUTS TO THE EYES, A BROKEN NOSE, AND ONE OF HIS EYELIDS WAS DETACHED FROM HIS EYE AND HAD TO BE REPAIRED BY A PLASTIC SURGEON. HE WAS TRANSPORTED BY AMBULANCE TO THE HOSPITAL WHERE HE REMAINED FOR A MONTH AND A HALF, BATTLING INFECTIONS DURING HIS RECOVERY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ONLY THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED. THE OTHER FIVE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED TO A WRECKING YARD TO BE INSPECTED. THE CONTACT RETRIEVED THE VEHICLE AND TOOK IT TO HER RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.*DT CRASH REPORT (XXX) LICENSE NUMBER (XXX) VIN (XXXXXX) VEH LICENSE NUMBER (XXX) ('PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).')*JB

NHTSA ID
11281525
Incident
Nov 9, 2018
Mileage
130,000 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Dec 1, 2018

HID HEADLIGHTS. MY PROBLEM HAS BEEN WITH MY HEADLIGHTS EVER SINCE I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE USED IN JULY OF 2015. EVERY NOW AND THEN THE PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT WOULD FLICKER AND GO OUT. I CAN GET THE HEADLLIGHT TO COME BACK ON BY TURNING OFF THE HEADLIGHTS AND TURNING THEM BACK ON. THE PROBLEM CAN BE SO BAD AT TIMES THAT I HAVE TO DO IT REPEATEDLY WHILE I'M DRIVING. I DO MOST OF MY DRIVING AT NIGHT SO THIS HAS BECOME A VERY REAL ISSUE FOR ME. I'VE READ HOW OTHERS HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM BUT ACURA REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE IT. IT'S A COSTLY REPAIR ESPECIALLY IF THEY CAN'T FIND EXACTLY WHAT THE ISSUE IS. I'VE ALREADY GOTTEN STOPPED BY A POLICEMAN ABOUT THE HEADLIGHT BEING OUT. AND WHEN I EXPLAINED TO HIM WHAT THE ISSUE WAS HE LET ME GO ONCE I SHOWED HIM THAT IT CAME BACK ON. THE CAR ITSELF HAS BEEN AMAZING TO DRIVE ESPECIALLY HOW HARD I'VE DRIVEN IT OVER THE YEARS AND IT NOW HAS ABOUT 238,000 MILES ON IT OF WHICH I PUT ABOUT 95,000 MILES. OTHER MAJOR REPAIRS LIKE THE AIR CONDITIONING I HAD REPLACED WITHIN A MONTH AFTER PURCHASING THE CAR UNDER WARRANTY. I WAS NOT SO LUCKY WITH THE RADIATOR THAT WENT UP. THE WHOLE ORDEAL ENDED UP COSTING OVER $1000 AT A AAA AUTO REPAIR CENTER. I STILL SAY IT IS AN AMAZING CAR FOR THE TECHNOLOGY, ROAD MILES, AND AGE OF VEHICLE. I PURCHASED IT BECAUSE IT WAS ALL-WHEEL DRIVE AND THE PRICE WAS JUST UNDER $10K BACK IN 2015. THIS CAR NEW WAS MORE LIKE $50K-$55K. I WISH THAT ACURA WOULD ISSUE A RECALL AND MAKE THE NECESSARY REPAIRS FOR THE HID SYSTEM. I ACTUALLY READ HOW ONE OWNER HAD BOTH HEADLIGHTS GO OUT WHILE DRIVING. SCARY TO EVEN THINK ABOUT THAT HAPPENING AT THE WRONG TIME AND THEY NOT KNOWING HOW TO FIX IT THE WAY I LEARNED WHICH IS TO TURN THEM OFF AND ON. SOMETIMES I CAN GO SEVERAL MONTHS WITH NO ISSUES AND THEN OTHERS IT HAPPENS JUST ABOUT EVERY NIGHT DEPENDING ON CLIMATE I SOMETIMES THINK, SPECIFICALLY, HUMIDITY, BUT I CAN'T BE SURE.

NHTSA ID
11155315
Incident
Nov 30, 2018
Mileage
237,000 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Feb 28, 2017

THE HEADLIGHTS INTERMITTENTLY GO OFF WHILE DRIVING. SOMETIMES ITS ONE AND SOMETIMES BOTH. YOU HAVE TO TURN THE LIGHTS OFF AND BACK ON AND THEY TURN BACK ON. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE.

NHTSA ID
10957674
Incident
Feb 27, 2017
Mileage
145,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Jan 15, 2017

DOOR HANDLE STARTED SMOKING AND WILL NOT LET START GPS DISPLAY SCREEN DOES NOT WORK CLOCK DISPLAY DOES NOT WORK VSA LIGHT IS ON ALL THE TIME CAR WAS STATIONARY BURNT OUTSIDE DOOR HANDLE.

NHTSA ID
10945417
Incident
Jan 7, 2017
Mileage
250,000 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Dec 19, 2016

PASSENGER SIDE LOW BEAM FLICKERS AND WILL COMPLETELY GO OFF. HAVE TAKEN INTO DEALER WITH NO RESULTS (CLAIM THEY COULD NOT FIND THE PROBLEM). THIS I BELIEVE IS A SAFETY ISSUE. PEOPLE HAVE COMPLAINED OF THIS SINCE 2005 WITH NO SOLUTION. IF WHEN DRIVING YOU TURN YOUR LIGHTS OFF THEN BACK ON THEY COME BACK ON TILL THE FLICKERING STARTS AGAIN. *TR

NHTSA ID
10936128
Incident
Dec 6, 2016
Mileage
120,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Oct 31, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 ACURA RL. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V061000 (AIR BAGS). THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID
10920303
Incident
Jun 24, 2016
Airbags
Filed Oct 31, 2016

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 ACURA RL. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 16V344000 (AIR BAGS) AND 16V061000 (AIR BAGS). THE PARTS NEEDED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT AND VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE RESPECTIVELY.

NHTSA ID
10920289
Incident
Oct 31, 2016
Airbags
Filed Oct 27, 2016

"TAKATA RECALL" I RECEIVED A LETTER FROM AMERICAN HONDA IN MARCH, 2016 ABOUT A SAFETY RECALL NOTICE. UNDER THE SECTION "WHAT SHOULD YOU DO?" THE LETTER STATES THE REMEDY PARTS WILL BE AVAILABLE IN SUMMER 2016 AND "ACURA WILL SEND ANOTHER LETTER WHEN PARTS BECOME AVAILABLE" I NEVER RECEIVED THIS SECOND LETTER SO ON OCTOBER 24 I CALLED AMERICAN HONDA ACURA CLIENT RELATIONS AND WAS TOLD IT WAS MY RESPONSIBILITY TO LOCATE THE PARTS AND HAVE THEM INSTALLED. I CALLED MY LOCAL ACURA DEALER AND WAS TOLD THEY HAVE THE PARTS AND CAN INSTALL IMMEDIATELY. AMERICAN HONDA IS NOT HANDLING THIS RECALL WITH THE LIFE THREATENING URGENCY IT DESERVES AND IS PUTTING LIFE'S AT RISK.

NHTSA ID
10919383
Incident
Oct 24, 2016
Airbags
Filed Sep 30, 2016

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 ACURA RL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR INTERMITTENTLY ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 16V061000, 16V344000 (AIR BAGS), AND 13V092000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM). THE PARTS NEEDED FOR THE REPAIR WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 174,000. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE AND PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA ID
10910853
Incident
Jul 2, 2016
Mileage
174,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Sep 27, 2016

TAKATA RECALL: I RECEIVED NOTICE FROM ACURA ON 7/5/16 TO CALL MY DEALER (ACURA OF OCEAN, NJ) TO SCHEDULE APPT. FOR REPLACEMENT OF (2) DEFECTIVE PARTS. I IMMEDIATELY CALLED DEALER AND WAS INFORMED THAT PARTS WERE ON "BACK ORDER" AND THEY WOULD CALL ME WHEN PARTS ARRIVED TO SCHEDULE INSTALL. I HAVE CALLED DEALER 2 TIMES SINCE 7/5 AND HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT PARTS ARE STILL ON "BACK ORDER". IT HAS BEEN 84 DAYS WITH NO PARTS, I AM VERY CONCERNED AND WANT ACURA TO RECIFY MY RECALL ASAP.

NHTSA ID
10909876
Incident
Jul 5, 2016
Airbags
Filed Sep 21, 2016

TAKATA RECALL - RECEIVED NOTICE TO REPLACE PASSENGER AIRBAG IN JULY. CALLED DEALER ON JULY 11, ( MONTANO ACURA IN ALBUQUERQUE) MADE APPOINTMENT FOR JOLY 19. GOT THERE AND THEY DID NOT HAVE THE REPLACEMENT PART. IT HAS BEEN 72 DAYS AND THEY STILL DON'T HAVE IT AND ARE UNABLE TO REPAIR MY CAR.

NHTSA ID
10908570
Incident
Jul 11, 2016
AirbagsBrakesDriver assistance
Filed Sep 13, 2016

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 ACURA RL. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATIONS FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 16V061000 (AIR BAGS), 16V344000 (AIR BAGS), 10V504000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC ) AND 13V092000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC , TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM). THE DEALER HAD BEEN UNABLE TO SUPPLY THE PARTS FOR THE RECALL REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED SEVERAL TIMES AND PROVIDED NO OPTION OF A LOANER. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA ID
10906018
Incident
Oct 20, 2010
Airbags
Filed Sep 12, 2016

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 ACURA RL. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V344000 (AIR BAGS). HOWEVER, THE PART NEEDED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA ID
10905720
Incident
Sep 10, 2016
Airbags
Filed Sep 9, 2016

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 ACURA RL. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 16V061000 (AIR BAGS) AND 16V344000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID
10904954
Incident
Jul 1, 2016
Airbags
Filed Sep 2, 2016

TAKATA RECALL: BEEN WAITING SINCE MARCH, 2016 FOR REPLACEMENT AIRBAG. CAN THIS BE EXPEDITED.

NHTSA ID
10903295
Incident
Mar 1, 2016
Airbags
Filed Sep 1, 2016

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 ACURA RL. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 16V344000 (AIR BAGS) AND 16V061000 (AIR BAGS) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.

NHTSA ID
10903072
Incident
Sep 1, 2016
Airbags
Filed Aug 17, 2016

I AM CONCERNED WHEN THIS WILL BE REPLACED.

NHTSA ID
10896630
Incident
Feb 12, 2016
Airbags
Filed Aug 16, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 ACURA RL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK AIR BAG SYSTEM WARMING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V344000 (AIR BAGS) AND STATED THAT THE PART NEEDED WAS UNAVAILABLE TO PERFORM THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA ID
10896309
Incident
Jun 6, 2016
Airbags
Filed Aug 12, 2016

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 ACURA RL. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V344000 (AIR BAGS). THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID
10895302
Incident
May 23, 2016

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