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Acura RL Recalls & Complaints by Model Year

NHTSA lists 20 safety recalls and 423 owner complaints across 18 model years of the Acura RL (1996–2015). The most-complained-about year is 2005.

20
safety recalls, all years
423
owner complaints, all years
2005
year with most recalls
2005
year with most complaints

Pick your Acura RL model year

Model yearRecallsComplaints
2015 Acura RL02
2012 Acura RL61
2011 Acura RL63
2010 Acura RL79
2009 Acura RL68
2008 Acura RL613
2007 Acura RL720
2006 Acura RL832
2005 Acura RL11125
2004 Acura RL011
2003 Acura RL19
2002 Acura RL243
2001 Acura RL212
2000 Acura RL459
1999 Acura RL224
1998 Acura RL311
1997 Acura RL219
1996 Acura RL222

What Acura RL owners complain about

Across all model years, owners have filed 423 complaints with NHTSA. The 2005 model year has the most, with 125.

All Acura RL recalls (20)

Every NHTSA safety campaign that lists a Acura RL, most recent first, with the model years each one covers.

  1. Inflator module (air bags)

    NHTSA 20V026000 Reported 1,439,841 vehicles potentially affected Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)

    Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 1998 Acura 2.2CL, 1998-1999 Acura 2.3CL, 1998-1999 Acura 3.0CL, 2001 Acura 3.2CL and Acura MDX, 1998-2000 Honda Accord Coupe, Accord Sedan, Civic Sedan, Odyssey and Acura 3.5RL, 1999-2000 Acura 3.2TL, 1996-2000 Civic Coupe, 1997-2000 CR-V, 1997-1998 EV Plus, and 1998-1999 Isuzu Oasis…

    Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the driver frontal air bag inflator, and replace it if necessary, with an inflator of a different design, free of charge. The recall began October 1, 2020. Owners may…

    Model years: 1998, 1999, 2000

  2. Inflator module (air bags)

    NHTSA 20V027000 Reported 875,966 vehicles potentially affected Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)

    Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2001-2002 Acura 3.2CL, 2000-2003 Acura 3.5RL, 2000-2001 Acura 3.2TL, Honda CR-V and Honda Odyssey, 2001-2002 Acura MDX and 2000 Accord Coupe, Accord Sedan, Civic Coupe, and Civic Sedan vehicles. These vehicles may have received a replacement driver frontal air bag module as part of a…

    Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the air bags in the vehicles, replacing the driver frontal air bag inflator with an inflator of a different design, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began…

    Model years: 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003

  3. Inflator module (air bags)

    NHTSA 19V500000 Reported 1,558 vehicles potentially affected Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)

    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…

    Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began August 12, 2019. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for…

    Model years: 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2012

  4. Inflator module (air bags)

    NHTSA 19V501000 Reported 1,657,752 vehicles potentially affected Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)

    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…

    Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal airbag inflator, free of charge. The recall began August 12, 2019. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers…

    Model years: 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012

  5. Inflator module (air bags)

    NHTSA 18V662000 Reported 57,095 vehicles potentially affected Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)

    Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2014 Honda Ridgeline vehicles nationwide. Honda is also recalling certain 2011-2012 Acura RL, 2011 Honda Element and 2011-2013 Ridgeline vehicles in Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New…

    Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began November 6, 2018. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers…

    Model years: 2010, 2011, 2012

  6. Inflator module (air bags)

    NHTSA 18V041000 Reported 24,945 vehicles potentially affected Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)

    Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2010-2012 Acura RL, 2010 Honda Element, and 2010-2013 Honda Ridgeline vehicles ever registered in the states of Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and…

    Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began February 16, 2018. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's…

    Model years: 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012

  7. Inflator module (air bags)

    NHTSA 17V029000 Reported 308,884 vehicles potentially affected Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)

    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,…

    Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall bagan March 2017. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for…

    Model years: 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012

  8. Inflator module (air bags)

    NHTSA 16V344000 Reported 1,790,894 vehicles potentially affected Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)

    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,…

    Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began June 27, 2016. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers…

    Model years: 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011

  9. Inflator module (air bags)

    NHTSA 16V061000 Reported 2,232,187 vehicles potentially affected Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)

    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…

    Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the inflator, free of charge. The recall began March 2017. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are JY0, JY1,…

    Model years: 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012

  10. Air bags

    NHTSA 14V700000 Reported Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)

    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…

    Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger side air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began January 26, 2015. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-800-999-1009.

    Model years: 2005

  11. Air bags

    NHTSA 14V353000 Reported 133,207 vehicles potentially affected Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)

    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…

    Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the inflators in all affected vehicles, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin during August 2014. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-800-999-1009.

    Model years: 2005

  12. Traction control system and service brakes, hydraulic: control unit/module

    NHTSA 13V092000 Reported 183,576 vehicles potentially affected Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)

    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…

    Remedy: Owners will be notified and instructed to take their vehicles to a dealer of their respective brand. The dealer will install a partial wiring harness containing a capacitor for the VSA modulator, free of charge. The…

    Model years: 2005

  13. Master cylinder (service brakes)

    NHTSA 10V504000 Reported 471,820 vehicles potentially affected HONDA (AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO.)

    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…

    Remedy: Dealers will replace the brake master cylinder seal free of charge. The recall is expected to begin during december 2010. Owners may contact honda at 1-800-999-1009.

    Model years: 2005, 2006, 2007

  14. Hose, piping, and connections (steering)

    NHTSA 07V551000 Reported 43,200 vehicles potentially affected HONDA (AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO.)

    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.

    Remedy: Dealers will install a new heat resistant power steering hose free of charge. The recall began on december 12, 2007. Owners may contact honda at 800-382-2238.

    Model years: 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008

  15. Fuel pump (fuel system)

    NHTSA 07V097000 Reported 166,561 vehicles potentially affected HONDA (AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO.)

    On certain vehicles, a coil wire inside the fuel pump relay may break, causing the fuel pump to lose power. If the fuel pump becomes inoperative, the engine may not start.

    Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the fuel pump relay free of charge. The recall began on april 2, 2007. Owners may contact honda at 1-800-999-1009.

    Model years: 2005

  16. Owners/service/other manual (equipment)

    NHTSA 06V270000 Reported 1,190,000 vehicles potentially affected HONDA (AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO.)

    On certain passenger vehicles and motorcycles, the owner's manuals contain incorrect contact information for the national highway traffic safety administration's (NHTSA) vehicle safety hotline.

    Remedy: Honda will send a postcard to dealers and owners with the correct NHTSA vehicle safety hotline information and with instructions to insert the card into the "reporting safety defects" section of the owner's manual. The…

    Model years: 2006

  17. Master cylinder (service brakes)

    NHTSA 03V239000 Reported 814 vehicles potentially affected AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO.

    On certain passenger vehicles, some brake master cylinders may have internal corrosion, resulting in reduced braking performance and increased stopping distances.

    Remedy: Dealers will replace the master cylinder assembly, reservoir, and brake fluid. Owner notification began july 28, 2003. Owners should contact acura at 1-800-382-2238.

    Model years: 2000

  18. Switch (exterior lighting)

    NHTSA 02V119000 Reported 25,765 vehicles potentially affected AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO.

    On certain passenger vehicles, during the manufacturing process, oil was applied to the brake pedal assembly to prevent rust. This oil can leak into the brake stop switch and contaminate the electrical contacts.

    Remedy: Dealers will clean any excess oil from the pedal assembly and replace the stop switch. Owner notification began may 16, 2002. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do…

    Model years: 2000, 2001, 2002

  19. Automatic transmission (power train)

    NHTSA 99V227000 Reported 96,518 vehicles potentially affected AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO.

    Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. A transmission case bolt can loosen and fall out allowing the transmission to disengage from the differential.

    Remedy: Dealers will install a redesigned bolt.

    Model years: 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999

  20. Suspension: lower ball joint

    NHTSA 99V069000 Reported 124,875 vehicles potentially affected AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO.

    Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. Certain vehicles were manufactured with ball joints that can prematurely wear out and, in the worse case, the ball joint would separate causing the front suspension to collapse.

    Remedy: Dealers will replace the front suspension lower ball joints.

    Model years: 1996, 1997, 1998

Other Acura models

Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.