RoadVitals

2009 Acura RL Problems

Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints 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.
8
Latest Apr 22, 2019
Components namedHow many of our component categories appear on at least one report for this model year. One report can name several.
9
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.
2

What this page shows

Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2009 Acura RL, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.

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

Reports by component

Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category

  • Airbags321.4%
  • Fuel system214.3%
  • Driver assistance214.3%
  • Brakes214.3%
  • Other / unspecified17.1%
  • Powertrain (other)17.1%
  • Body & structure17.1%
  • Electrical17.1%
  • Interior & seats17.1%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Each component in detail

What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words

Airbags

Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights.

3
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

FAILED TO GET A DATE TO REMEDY THE AIRBAG RECALL ON MY CAR.

NHTSA ID 10992870 · filed Jun 2, 2017

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 ACURA RL. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 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 NOT NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA ID 10904280 · filed Sep 7, 2016

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Fuel system

Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.

2
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

I HAVE A 2009 ACURA RL. WHILE STOPPED AT A LIGHT, THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN. AFTER ABOUT 20 FEET I NEEDED TO BRAKE. THE CAR ACCELERATED INSTEAD OF BRAKING. WE HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF US. ONLY THE DRIVER AIR BAG DEPLOYED. THE FRONT END OF THE CAR WAS DAMAGED. NON OF THE DOORS WOULD OPEN EITHER FROM THE INSIDE OR THE OUTSIDE. THE TRUNK WOULD NOT OPEN EITHER. I FEEL THAT BECAUSE OF THE SUDDEN ACCELERATION, ONLY ONE AIRBAG DEPLOYING, AND THE DOORS REFUSING TO OPEN, THAT THERE IS AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM OR SOMETHING GOING ON. *TR

NHTSA ID 10317137 · filed Mar 5, 2010

ON THREE OCCASIONS THE GAS PEDAL AND BRAKE PEDAL DEPLOYED AT THE SAME TIME ON MY 2009 ACURA RL. THE THIRD TIME THIS RESULTED IN AN IMPACT ON A PARKED VEHICLE. THE BRAKE PEDAL AND ACCELERATOR PEDAL ARE TWO INCHES APART AND WHEN I STEP ON THE BRAKE PEDAL IT STOPS ON A LEVEL EQUAL TO THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL THEREFORE IT CAUSES A CIRCUMSTANCE THAT DEPLOYS BOTH PEDALS SIMULTANEOUSLY.(I ACTUALLY FIND MYSELF AND MY WIFE HITTING THE BRAKE AND THE GAS AT THE SAME TIME BECAUSE THE PEDALS ARE TOO CLOSE TOGETHER). I REPORTED THE PROBLEM TO ACURA IN TORRANCE CA. AND TO THE DEALERSHIP IN SANFORD FL. AND THEY SAID IT THE WAY THE RL IS DESIGNED AND NOTHING CAN BE DONE TO FIX THE PROBLEM. WE ARE CONCERNED THE VEHICLE PRESENTS A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY THREAT ON THE HIGHWAY AND I WILL TRADE IT FOR ANOTHER BRAND. BY THE WAY, THIS DECISION IS NOT MADE LIGHTLY AS I HAVE PURCHASED 11 HONDA ACCORDS AND 2 ACURAS SINCE 1980. THIS IS TRULY A VERY SAD ENDING FOR A LOYAL CUSTOMER BUT OUR SAFETY MUST BE A PRIORITY. THANK YOU. *TR

NHTSA ID 10311351 · filed Feb 17, 2010

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Driver assistance

Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.

2
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

WAS DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED; SUDDENLY NOTICED VERY SLOW CAR AHEAD; UPON BRAKING, CAR ACCELERATED INSTEAD; TO AVOID HEAD ON COLLISION TO LEFT, OR REAR END COLLISION AHEAD, TOOK TO SHOULDER TO ATTEMPT TO SLOW CAR DOWN; EVENTUALLY GOT CAR UNDER CONTROL AGAIN; HAVE REACHED NO DEFINITE CONCLUSIONS YET AS TO CAUSE, BUT HAVE CONTACTED DEALER FOR HELP, AS STILL WITHIN WARRANTY

NHTSA ID 10444420 · filed Jan 18, 2012

I HAVE A 2009 ACURA RL. WHILE STOPPED AT A LIGHT, THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN. AFTER ABOUT 20 FEET I NEEDED TO BRAKE. THE CAR ACCELERATED INSTEAD OF BRAKING. WE HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF US. ONLY THE DRIVER AIR BAG DEPLOYED. THE FRONT END OF THE CAR WAS DAMAGED. NON OF THE DOORS WOULD OPEN EITHER FROM THE INSIDE OR THE OUTSIDE. THE TRUNK WOULD NOT OPEN EITHER. I FEEL THAT BECAUSE OF THE SUDDEN ACCELERATION, ONLY ONE AIRBAG DEPLOYING, AND THE DOORS REFUSING TO OPEN, THAT THERE IS AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM OR SOMETHING GOING ON. *TR

NHTSA ID 10317137 · filed Mar 5, 2010

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Brakes

Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.

2
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

WAS DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED; SUDDENLY NOTICED VERY SLOW CAR AHEAD; UPON BRAKING, CAR ACCELERATED INSTEAD; TO AVOID HEAD ON COLLISION TO LEFT, OR REAR END COLLISION AHEAD, TOOK TO SHOULDER TO ATTEMPT TO SLOW CAR DOWN; EVENTUALLY GOT CAR UNDER CONTROL AGAIN; HAVE REACHED NO DEFINITE CONCLUSIONS YET AS TO CAUSE, BUT HAVE CONTACTED DEALER FOR HELP, AS STILL WITHIN WARRANTY

NHTSA ID 10444420 · filed Jan 18, 2012

ON THREE OCCASIONS THE GAS PEDAL AND BRAKE PEDAL DEPLOYED AT THE SAME TIME ON MY 2009 ACURA RL. THE THIRD TIME THIS RESULTED IN AN IMPACT ON A PARKED VEHICLE. THE BRAKE PEDAL AND ACCELERATOR PEDAL ARE TWO INCHES APART AND WHEN I STEP ON THE BRAKE PEDAL IT STOPS ON A LEVEL EQUAL TO THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL THEREFORE IT CAUSES A CIRCUMSTANCE THAT DEPLOYS BOTH PEDALS SIMULTANEOUSLY.(I ACTUALLY FIND MYSELF AND MY WIFE HITTING THE BRAKE AND THE GAS AT THE SAME TIME BECAUSE THE PEDALS ARE TOO CLOSE TOGETHER). I REPORTED THE PROBLEM TO ACURA IN TORRANCE CA. AND TO THE DEALERSHIP IN SANFORD FL. AND THEY SAID IT THE WAY THE RL IS DESIGNED AND NOTHING CAN BE DONE TO FIX THE PROBLEM. WE ARE CONCERNED THE VEHICLE PRESENTS A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY THREAT ON THE HIGHWAY AND I WILL TRADE IT FOR ANOTHER BRAND. BY THE WAY, THIS DECISION IS NOT MADE LIGHTLY AS I HAVE PURCHASED 11 HONDA ACCORDS AND 2 ACURAS SINCE 1980. THIS IS TRULY A VERY SAD ENDING FOR A LOYAL CUSTOMER BUT OUR SAFETY MUST BE A PRIORITY. THANK YOU. *TR

NHTSA ID 10311351 · filed Feb 17, 2010

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Other / unspecified

Reports whose component NHTSA recorded as unknown, or that do not map to one of the categories above.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 ACURA RL. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE WHEEL WELLS ON HIS VEHICLE COLLECTED WATER ANYTIME IT RAINED OR IF MOISTURE WAS PRESENT ON THE ROAD SURFACE. HE STATED THAT IT SEEMED AS IF THERE WERE POCKETS ON THE WHEELS. THE CONTACT SLIPPED WHILE WALKING IN HIS GARAGE ON MORE THAN ONE OCCASION DUE TO THE PUDDLES FORMED BY PRECIPITATION. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS MANUFACTURED IN THIS MANNER. THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 2,800 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 300. UPDATED 06/24/09. *LJ UPDATED 06/26/09.*JB

NHTSA ID 10273621 · filed Jun 12, 2009

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Powertrain (other)

Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

MY HUSBAND DROVE ONTO A SLOPED DRIVEWAY (UPHILL) AND LEFT THE CAR RUNNING, GOT OUT AND RANG THE DOORBELL TO OUR DAUGHTER'S HOUSE TO SEE IF ANYONE WAS HOME. THEY ANSWERED THE DOOR AND HE CAME BACK TO THE CAR AND MOTIONED FOR ME TO GET OUT OF CAR AND COME INTO HOUSE. HE REMEMBERED HE HAD LEFT THE CAR RUNNING, SO AS I GOT OUT OF THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT, HE REACHED IN AND TURNED THE IGNITION OFF. I TURNED TOWARD THE BACK OF CAR TO GET SOMETHING OUT OF THE BACK SEAT. THE FRONT PASSENGER DOOR WAS STILL OPEN ALL THE WAY. THE CAR STARTED ROLLING BACKWARD DOWN THE DRIVEWAY, I TRIED TO RUN BUT THE DOOR HIT ME KNOCKED ME FACE DOWN ON THE ASPHALT OF THE STREET, AND THE BOTTOM OF THE OPEN FRONT DOOR SCRAPED OVER ME, ABRADING MY HEEL, BACK, AND LACERATING MY HEAD. WHEN MY FACE HIT THE ASPHALT, MY TWO UPPER FRONT TEETH GROUND INTO THE ASPHALT, BOTH HANDS TRYING TO BREAK MY FALL, AND BOTH KNEES CRASHING ON THE STREET SURFACE. I SUFFERED FRACTURES OF BOTH UPPER INCISORS, A 1 INCH LACERATION TO BACK OF SCALP, SPRAINED R THUMB, ABRASIONS OF BOTH HANDS AND BOTH KNEES. I PROCEEDED TO HAVE A RATHER SIGNIFICANT ASTHMA ATTACK FOR SEVERAL HOURS AFTERWARD AND I THOUGHT I HAD ASPIRATED SOME OF THE TOOTH FRAGMENTS THAT BROKE OFF. I SPENT 3 HOURS IN ER GETTING CHEST AND ANKLE XRAYS AND GETTING THE LACERATION STAPLED. THERE WAS NO WARNING SIGNAL AND NO CLUE THAT TURNING THE ENGINE OFF WOULD LET THE CAR ROLL WHEN IT HAD STAYED STABLE WHEN ENGINE WAS RUNNING. THE CAR CONTINUED BACKWARD ACROSS THE STREET AFTER ROLLING OVER ME AND ENDED UP ON THE LAWN OF THE NEIGHBOR ACROSS THE STREET. IT SEEMS THERE SHOULD BE A WARNING SIGNAL OR SAFETY MECHANISM TO PREVENT THE CAR FROM BEING TURNED OFF IF IT IS NOT IN THE PROPER GEAR OR IF HAS SOMEHOW POPPED OUT OF PARK. *TR

NHTSA ID 10568056 · filed Mar 9, 2014

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Body & structure

Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 ACURA RL. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE WHEEL WELLS ON HIS VEHICLE COLLECTED WATER ANYTIME IT RAINED OR IF MOISTURE WAS PRESENT ON THE ROAD SURFACE. HE STATED THAT IT SEEMED AS IF THERE WERE POCKETS ON THE WHEELS. THE CONTACT SLIPPED WHILE WALKING IN HIS GARAGE ON MORE THAN ONE OCCASION DUE TO THE PUDDLES FORMED BY PRECIPITATION. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS MANUFACTURED IN THIS MANNER. THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 2,800 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 300. UPDATED 06/24/09. *LJ UPDATED 06/26/09.*JB

NHTSA ID 10273621 · filed Jun 12, 2009

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Electrical

Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

THE FRONT PASSENGER DOOR HANDLE STARTED SMOKING AND BURNING ON MY VEHICLE. IT MELTED PART OF THE DOOR HANDLE AND LEFT MOST OF THE ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT INOPERATIVE INCLUDING THE INABILITY TO START THE CAR. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED/STATIONARY & OFF AT THE TIME OF OCCURRENCE.

NHTSA ID 11202827 · filed Apr 22, 2019

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Interior & seats

Reports naming seats, latches, locks, linkages and interior fittings.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

I HAVE A 2009 ACURA RL. WHILE STOPPED AT A LIGHT, THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN. AFTER ABOUT 20 FEET I NEEDED TO BRAKE. THE CAR ACCELERATED INSTEAD OF BRAKING. WE HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF US. ONLY THE DRIVER AIR BAG DEPLOYED. THE FRONT END OF THE CAR WAS DAMAGED. NON OF THE DOORS WOULD OPEN EITHER FROM THE INSIDE OR THE OUTSIDE. THE TRUNK WOULD NOT OPEN EITHER. I FEEL THAT BECAUSE OF THE SUDDEN ACCELERATION, ONLY ONE AIRBAG DEPLOYING, AND THE DOORS REFUSING TO OPEN, THAT THERE IS AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM OR SOMETHING GOING ON. *TR

NHTSA ID 10317137 · filed Mar 5, 2010

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

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.

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .