The Used Car Index

2005 Acura RL problems

NHTSA lists 125 complaints for the 2005 Acura RL, 4 of them mention a crash and 1 mention a fire. 2 complaints mention an injury, with 2 injuries and 0 deaths reported.

Data build 2026-10-09.

NHTSA lists this vehicle as ACURA RL.

At a glance

Complaints
125
With crash
4
With fire
1
With injury (complaints)
2
Injuries
2
Deaths
0
Recalls
11
Do not drive recalls
0
Park outside recalls
0
Recall potential units (maximum)
2,232,187
Investigations
3
Open investigations
1
Manufacturer communications
132

Complaints per 100k sold unavailable. No sales source is available for this record.

Where the complaints are

Top systems
SystemComplaintsShare of this vehicle's complaints
EXTERIOR LIGHTING4939.2%
AIR BAGS3628.8%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM1814.4%
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC75.6%
STRUCTURE75.6%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER54.0%
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL43.2%
EQUIPMENT32.4%
POWER TRAIN32.4%
SUSPENSION32.4%
Top subsystems
SystemSubsystemComplaints
EXTERIOR LIGHTINGHEADLIGHTS7
STRUCTUREBODY6
EQUIPMENTELECTRICAL3
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULICFOUNDATION COMPONENTS2
SUSPENSIONFRONT2
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLINGCOOLING SYSTEM1
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULICPOWER ASSIST1
STEERINGCOLUMN1
STEERINGHYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST1
SUSPENSIONREAR1

One complaint can name several systems, so shares can add to more than 100 percent.

Model-generated complaint tags: This model year has not been tagged.

Recalls

See new recalls and investigations this week.

11 recalls. Showing the latest 10 of 11.

19V501000

Date: 2019-06-27. Systems: AIR BAGS.

Defect: 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 pa (excerpt)

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

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 for this recall are E5D and X5C. (excerpt)

Do not drive: No. Park outside: No.

19V500000

Date: 2019-06-27. Systems: AIR BAGS.

Defect: 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, t (excerpt)

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

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 this recall are S5B and W59. (excerpt)

Do not drive: No. Park outside: No.

17V029000

Date: 2017-01-10. Systems: AIR BAGS.

Defect: 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, Puer (excerpt)

Consequence: An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death. (excerpt)

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 this recall are KD9 and KE0. (excerpt)

Do not drive: No. Park outside: No.

16V344000

Date: 2016-05-23. Systems: AIR BAGS.

Defect: 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, America (excerpt)

Consequence: An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death. (excerpt)

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 for this recall are KA0, KA1, KA2, and KA3. (excerpt)

Do not drive: No. Park outside: No.

16V061000

Date: 2016-02-03. Systems: AIR BAGS.

Defect: 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 (excerpt)

Consequence: 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. (excerpt)

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, and JY2. (excerpt)

Do not drive: No. Park outside: No.

14V700000

Date: 2014-11-04. Systems: AIR BAGS.

Defect: 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 reg (excerpt)

Consequence: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passengerA s frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants potentially resulting in serious injury or death. (excerpt)

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. (excerpt)

Do not drive: No. Park outside: No.

14V353000

Date: 2014-06-20. Systems: AIR BAGS.

Defect: 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 (excerpt)

Consequence: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passengerA s frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants potentially resulting in serious injury or death. (excerpt)

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. (excerpt)

Do not drive: No. Park outside: No.

13V092000

Date: 2013-03-14. Systems: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM.

Defect: 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 As (excerpt)

Consequence: Sudden inadvertent braking, especially without illumination of the brake lights, may increase the risk of a vehicle crash. (excerpt)

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 affected model year 2005 Pilots will have their ground connection tightened. The recall began on April 22, 2013. Honda owners may contact Honda Automobile Customer Service at 1-800 (excerpt)

Do not drive: No. Park outside: No.

10V504000

Date: 2010-10-22. Systems: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC.

Defect: 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 (excerpt)

Consequence: 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. (excerpt)

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. (excerpt)

Do not drive: No. Park outside: No.

07V551000

Date: 2007-12-04. Systems: STEERING.

Defect: 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.

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

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.

Do not drive: No. Park outside: No.

Investigations

3 investigations; 1 open.

EA15001

Opened: 2015-02-24. Closed: Not listed.

Air Bag Inflator Rupture

The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened PE14-016 in June 2014 based on six inflator rupture incidents involving consumer owned vehicles produced by five vehicle manufacturers.All six vehicles were operated in Florida or Puerto Rico at the time of the rupture and for the majority of their service life, and were equipped with inflators produced by Takata, a tier-one supplier of automotive a

Systems: AIR BAGS.

Linked campaign numbers: 14V668, 15E040, 15E041, 15E042, 15E043, 15V284, 15V285, 15V286, 15V287, 15V312, 15V313, 15V318, 15V319, 15V320, 15V322, 15V323, 15V324, 15V361, 15V370, 15V444, 16E005, 16E006, 16E009, 16E042, 16E043, 16E044, 16V036, 16V061, 16V063, 16V071, 16V077, 16V078, 16V079, 16V081, 16V127, 16V128, 16V267, 16V334, 16V340, 16V341, 16V344, 16V346, 16V347, 16V349, 16V352, 16V358, 16V359, 16V361, 16V363, 16V364, 16V373, 16V374, 16V382, 16V384, 16V418, 16V499, 16V947, 17E001, 17E002, 17E034, 17V004, 17V005, 17V006, 17V013, 17V014, 17V015, 17V016, 17V017, 17V020, 17V022, 17V023, 17V024, 17V026, 17V027, 17V028, 17V029, 17V030, 17V031, 17V032, 17V047, 17V068, 17V429, 17V449, 17V457, 17V474, 17V478, 17V479, 17V480, 17V569, 17V787, 17V788, 17V793, 17V806, 17V807, 18E001, 18E002, 18E003, 18V004, 18V007, 18V009, 18V010, 18V011, 18V012, 18V013, 18V014, 18V015, 18V016, 18V018, 18V021, 18V022, 18V023, 18V024, 18V025, 18V030, 18V031, 18V032, 18V038, 18V039, 18V040, 18V041, 18V042, 18V043, 18V044, 18V045, 18V046, 18V082, 18V148, 18V220, 18V247, 18V381, 18V401, 18V402, 18V403, 18V404, 18V427, 18V452, 18V661, 18V662, 18V717, 18V883, 19E001, 19E002, 19E003, 19E016, 19V001, 19V002, 19V003, 19V004, 19V005, 19V006, 19V007, 19V008, 19V009, 19V010, 19V014, 19V015, 19V016, 19V017, 19V018, 19V141, 19V181, 19V182, 19V488, 19V499, 19V500, 19V501, 19V502, 19V698, 19V741, 19V781, 19V782, 20E001, 20V001, 20V002, 20V003, 20V007, 20V008, 20V011, 20V016, 20V017, 20V018, 20V747, 20V785, 21E013, 21V050, 21V051, 21V052, 21V053, 21V054, 21V076, 21V081, 21V158, 21V162, 22V945.

PE14016

Opened: 2014-06-11. Closed: 2015-03-02.

Air Bag Inflator Rupture

The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened PE14-016 in June 2014 based on six inflator rupture incidents involving consumer owned vehicles produced by five vehicle manufacturers.All six vehicles were operated in Florida or Puerto Rico at the time of the rupture and for the majority of their service life, and were equipped with inflators produced by Takata, a tier-one supplier of automotive a

Systems: AIR BAGS.

Linked campaign numbers: 13V172000, 14E073000, 14V428000, 14V700000, 14V763000, 14V770000, 14V772001, 14V787000, 15V226000.

EA13002

Opened: 2013-02-21. Closed: 2013-03-29.

Vehicle Stability Assist Malfunction

On March 14, 2013, American Honda Motor Co., Inc. (Honda) submitted a Defect Information Report to NHTSA identifying a defect in the Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA) system in approximately 183,576 model year (MY) 2005 Honda Pilot, Acura RL and MY 2005-2006 Acura MDX vehicles (NHTSA Recall No 13V-092).The population and failure counts provided pertain only to the MY 2005 Honda Pilots that were the s

Systems: ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL.

Linked campaign numbers: 13V092000.

Manufacturer communications

132 manufacturer communications.

Communications by system
SystemCount
AIR BAGS62
EQUIPMENT27
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM17
EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY8
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING6
STRUCTURE5
TIRES4
VISIBILITY4

11034208

Date: 2026-06-30. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: AIR BAGS.

Service Bulletin - Warranty Extension: Customer Support Program For Front Passenger's Airbag Inflator.

11029278

Date: 2026-02-28. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: AIR BAGS.

Service Bulletin - Warranty Extension: Customer Support Program For Driver's Airbag Inflator for 2013-14 ILX Hybrid and Other Listed Years and Models.

10237044

Date: 2023-05-17. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM.

Service News - The navigation clock and date are incorrect. This is due to a limited GPS receiver capacity resulting in rollover of internal chip memory. The rollover occurred on January 1, 2022 at 12:00AM local time

10211079

Date: 2022-04-08. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: AIR BAGS.

Service bulletin - This bulletin is a notification of a class action settlement relating to airbag inflators. American Honda is offering a Customer Support Program (Warranty Extension) to cover any manufacturing defects in the replacement driver's airbag inflator only.

10208848

Date: 2022-03-01. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: AIR BAGS, EQUIPMENT.

Service Bulletin - This bulletin is a notification of a class action settlement relating to airbag inflators. American Honda is offering a Customer Support Program (Warranty Extension) to cover any manufacturing defects in the replacement driver's airbag inflator only.

10207004

Date: 2022-01-25. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM.

ServiceNews Article - The clock shows the incorrect time. This issue is due to a limited GPS receiver capacity resulting in "rollover" of the internal chip memory; the "rollover" will occur on January 1, 2022, at 12:00AM local time. As a result, the navigation date and time will be incorrect.

10172571

Date: 2020-03-10. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: AIR BAGS.

Service Bulletin - This bulletin is a notification of a class action settlement relating to airbag inflators. American Honda is offering a Customer Support Program (Warranty Extension) to cover any manufacturing defects in the replacement driver's airbag inflator only.

10172576

Date: 2020-03-10. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: AIR BAGS, EQUIPMENT.

Service Bulletin - This bulletin is a notification of a class action settlement relating to airbag inflators. American Honda is offering a Customer Support Program (Warranty Extension) to cover any manufacturing defects in the replacement front passenger's airbag inflator only.

10169499

Date: 2019-12-11. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: AIR BAGS.

Service Bulletin - This bulletin is a notification of a class action settlement relating to airbag inflators. American Honda is offering a Customer Support Program (Warranty Extension) to cover any manufacturing defects in the replacement driver's airbag inflator only.

10141185

Date: 2018-06-07. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: AIR BAGS.

Service bulletin - This bulletin is a notification of a class action settlement relating to airbag inflators. American Honda is offering a Customer Support Program (Warranty Extension) to cover any manufacturing defects in the replacement front passengers airbag inflator only.

Notes on this record

  • Complaints from the API and bulk file are merged and deduplicated by ODI number; the API alone misses records.
  • System and subsystem counts are numbers of distinct complaints, recalls or communications that name them. One record can name several systems, so shares across systems can add to more than 100 percent; a single share never exceeds 100 percent.
  • Recalls are counted once per campaign, investigations once per action and manufacturer communications once per NHTSA id, even when NHTSA lists several model names for the same record.
  • A sales denominator is a calendar-year proxy, not the population of vehicles still in use. Rates are copied from verified pipeline output.

Other names NHTSA uses

None listed.

Matched NHTSA models

Matched labels and complaints
NHTSA model labelComplaints
RL125

Same model, other years

All model years | All Acura models

Other Acura models, 2005

Sources

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