What Owners Report NHTSA ODI · 2,175,102 complaints · MY1998–2026

2005 Acura RL

Typical pattern

7.2% of complaints about the 2005 Acura RL came in the first year, which is unremarkable for a 2005 vehicle — around the middle of the 245 model-years on record. The median complaint arrives at 8.3 yr in service. The most-reported system is exterior lighting (49 complaints), typically at 5.9 yr or about 75,000 miles.

Complaints
152
Median age at failure
8.3 yr
Median mileage
75,000 n=97
Crash / fire / tow
3.9% of reports
Safety recalls
10

When each system is reported — middle 50% of complaints

System
0y2y4y6y8y10y12y14y
Exterior lighting
49 reports · 75,000 mi
5.9 yr
2%
Air bags
36 reports · 140,000 mi
11.7 yr
2.8%
Electrical system
18 reports · 70,000 mi
9.2 yr
5.6%

Safety recalls — NHTSA campaigns

19V500000 2019-06-27
Air bags:frontal:driver side:inflator module

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2013 Acura ILX, 2015 RDX, 2005-2010 and 2012 RL, 2009-2014 TL, 2010 and 2012 ZDX, 2007-2011 CR-V, 2011-2013 and 2015 CR-Z, 2009-2013 Fit, 2013 Fit EV, 2010-2011 and 2013 Insight and 2007-2014 Ridgeline vehicles. These vehicles are equipped with driver frontal air bag inflators assembled as a recall remedy part or replacement service part, that may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.

An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

19V501000 2019-06-27
Air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator module

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2003-2006 Acura MDX, 2005-2012 RL, 2003-2007 Honda Accord, 2001-2005 Civic, 2003-2005 Civic Hybrid, 2001-2005 Civic GX NGV, 2002-2006 CR-V, 2003-2011 Element, 2007-2008 Fit, 2002-2004 Odyssey, 2003-2008 Pilot, and 2006-2014 Ridgeline vehicles. The vehicles are equipped with passenger frontal air bag inflators assembled as a recall remedy part or replacement service part, that may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.

An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

17V029000 2017-01-10
Air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator module

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2005-2006 Acura MDX and Honda CR-V vehicles, 2005-2011 Honda Element vehicles, 2005-2012 Acura RL vehicles, 2006-2012 Honda Ridgeline vehicles, 2007-2008 Honda Fit vehicles and 2005-2008 Honda Pilot vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands, or "Zone A." Additionally, if not included in "Zone A" above, Honda is recalling certain 2005-2006

An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

16V344000 2016-05-23
Air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator module

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain model year 2003-2006 Acura MDX, 2005-2011 Acura RL, 2005-2006 Honda CR-V, 2003-2011 Element, 2007-2008 Fit, 2003-2008 Pilot, 2002-2004 Odyssey, and 2006-2011 Ridgeline vehicles originally sold, or that have ever been registered, in Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands, or "Zone A." Additionally, unless included in "Zone A" above, Honda is recalling certain model year 2003-2006 Ac

An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

16V061000 2016-02-03
Air bags:frontal:driver side:inflator module

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain model year 2007-2011 Honda CR-V, 2011-2015 CR-Z, 2010-2014 FCX, and Insight, 2009-2013 Fit, 2013-2014 Fit EV, 2007-2014 Ridgeline, 2013-2016 Acura ILX, 2013-2014 Acura ILX Hybrid, 2007-2016 RDX, 2005-2012 Acura RL, 2009-2014 Acura TL, and 2010-2013 Acura ZDX vehicles. The affected vehicles are equipped with a dual-stage driver frontal air bag that may be susceptible to moisture intrusion which, over time, could cause the inflator to rupture.

In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

14V700000 2014-11-04
Air bags

American Honda Motor Co. (Honda) is recalling certain model year 2001-2005 Honda Civic, 2003-2004 Civic CNG and Element, 2002-2005 CR-V, 2002-2004 Odyssey, 2003-2005 Accord, Pilot, Civic Hybrid, and Acura MDX, 2005 Acura RL and 2006 Honda Ridgeline vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in geographic locations associated with high absolute humidity. Specifically, vehicles sold, or ever registered, in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, Saipan, Guam, and American Samoa are addressed by this recall. Upon dep

In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger’s frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants potentially resulting in serious injury or death.

14V353000 2014-06-20
Air bags

American Honda Motor Company, Inc.'s (Honda) is conducting a limited regional recall for certain model year 2003-2005 Accord, Civic, CR-V, Pilot and Acura MDX, model year 2003-2004 Odyssey and Element, and model year 2005 Acura RL, and 2006 Honda Ridgeline vehicles originally sold, or ever registered in California, and equipped with Takata-brand air bag inflators. Upon deployment of the passenger side frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to rupture.

In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger’s frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants potentially resulting in serious injury or death.

13V092000 2013-03-14
Service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip:control unit/module

Honda is recalling certain model year 2005 Pilot vehicles manufactured July 29, 2004, through August 29, 2005; model year 2005-2006 Acura MDX vehicles manufactured September 16, 2004, through September 22, 2005; and model year 2005 Acura RL vehicles manufactured March 1, 2004, through June 29, 2005. An electrical capacitor may have been damaged during the manufacturing of the Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA) control module causing intermittent, automatic, minor brake application. However, if the driver applies the brakes while the VSA is malfunctioning, the vehicle may come to an abrupt stop.

Sudden inadvertent braking, especially without illumination of the brake lights, may increase the risk of a vehicle crash.

10V504000 2010-10-22
Service brakes, hydraulic:foundation components:master cylinder

HONDA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2005-2007 ODYSSEY AND ACURA RL VEHICLES. BRAKE FLUID CONTAINING POLYMERS IS USED THAT ACTS AS A LUBRICANT FOR CERTAIN BRAKE SYSTEM COMPONENTS. IF REPLACEMENT BRAKE FLUID IS USED THAT DOES NOT CONTAIN SUCH POLYMERS, OR THAT CONTAINS ONLY SMALL AMOUNTS, A PART OF THE RUBBER SEAL LOCATED AT THE REAR OF THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER MAY BECOME DRY, AND THE SEAL MAY CURL DURING MOVEMENT OF THE PISTON. IF THIS OCCURS, A SMALL AMOUNT OF BRAKE FLUID COULD SLOWLY LEAK FROM THE SEAL INTO THE BRAKE BOOSTER.

A LEAK OF BRAKE FLUID COULD LEAD TO A CHANGE IN BRAKE PEDAL FEEL AND OVERTIME A DEGRADATION IN BRAKING PERFORMANCE INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

07V551000 2007-12-04
Steering:hydraulic power assist:hose, piping, and connections

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, PROLONGED HIGH UNDER-HOOD TEMPERATURES MAY CAUSE THE POWER STEERING HOSE TO DETERIORATE PREMATURELY CAUSING THE HOSE TO CRACK AND LEAK POWER STEERING FLUID.

POWER STEERING FLUID LEAKING ONTO A HOT CATALYTIC CONVERTER WILL GENERATE SMOKE AND POSSIBLY LEAD TO AN UNDER-HOOD FIRE.

In owners’ own words

Electrical system mileage not reported 3 mo in service
2005 ACURA RL BROKE DOWN WITHIN 10 MILES OF DEALERSHIP IMMEDIATELY AFTER PURCHASE. VEHICLE HAS ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. *BF ON EACH BREAKDOWN, THE SH-AWD AND VSA WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AT THE SAME TIME. THE NAVIGATION SCREEN WHICH CONTROLLED ALL OF THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM TOTALLY FAILED. THE YAR RATE SENSOR UNDER THE CENTER DASH WAS DEFECTIVE. *SC
Electrical system 62,750 mi 4.8 yr in service
MY HEADLIGHT ON MY ACURA RL ARE INTERMITTENT AND GOING OUT EVERY SO OFTEN, MORE OFTEN THEN NOT. THE PROBLEM JUST STARTED TO HAPPEN. IT HAPPENS ALL THE TIME OFF AND ON. THE PROBLEM IS WITH THE LIGHT BALLAST AND IT WILL RUN YOU FROM $500 TO $1200 TO REPAIR. *TR
Electrical system 57,000 mi 5.9 yr in service
HEADLIGHTS HAVE BEEN FLICKERING HERE AND THERE, GETTING WORSE AND WORSE. NOW THE DRIVERS SIDE HEADLIGHT GOES OUT AND COMES BACK ON OCCASIONALLY. *TR
Exterior lighting 1 mi 1.0 yr in service
REF 2005 ACURA RL THE HIGH BEAM HEADLIGHTS DO NOT SHINE FAR ENOUGH DOWN THE ROAD. I WAS DRIVING IN VERMONT ON DARK COUNTRY ROADS AND ALMOST HIT A TREE. DRIVING AT THE SPEED LIMIT OF 50 MPH I OUTRUN THE LIGHTS. ACURA SAYS THERE IS NO WAY TO ADJUST THE HALOGEN LIGHTS & THAT THE PARAMETERS WERE APPROVED BY DOT. I FEEL THAT A MISTAKE HAS BEEN MADE ON YOUR PART THAT WILL RESULT IN UNNECESSARY SINGLE VEHICLE ACCIDENTS ON THE NATIONS HIGHWAYS. *JB *NM

Other RL model years

200520022000

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