2000 Acura RL problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
59 owner complaints analyzed
4 distinct recall campaigns
77,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2000 model year. Data snapshot: . 31 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 19 of 59 complaints (32.2%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 11 | 18.6% |
| Engine operation | 6 | 10.2% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 6 | 10.2% |
| Transmission and shifting | 4 | 6.8% |
| Steering behavior | 3 | 5.1% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Air Bags | 19 |
| Electrical System | 6 |
| Air Bags:Frontal:Sensor/Control Module | 5 |
| Power Train | 4 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 3 |
| Seat Belts | 3 |
| Unknown Or Other | 3 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 3 |
Air Bags: 19; Electrical System: 6; Air Bags:Frontal:Sensor/Control Module: 5; Power Train: 4; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 3; Seat Belts: 3; Unknown Or Other: 3; Vehicle Speed Control: 3
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 2 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 4 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 6 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 6 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 6 |
| 150,000 and above | 7 |
Under 25,000: 2; 25,000 to 49,999: 4; 50,000 to 74,999: 6; 75,000 to 99,999: 6; 100,000 to 149,999: 6; 150,000 and above: 7
150,000 and above miles has the most reports with usable mileage (7). 28 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 1 |
| 2001 | 4 |
| 2002 | 1 |
| 2004 | 15 |
| 2005 | 2 |
| 2006 | 2 |
| 2007 | 2 |
| 2008 | 2 |
| 2009 | 1 |
| 2010 | 2 |
| 2011 | 2 |
| 2012 | 3 |
| 2014 | 5 |
| 2015 | 6 |
| 2016 | 4 |
| 2017 | 1 |
| 2020 | 3 |
| 2021 | 2 |
| 2022 | 1 |
2000: 1; 2001: 4; 2002: 1; 2004: 15; 2005: 2; 2006: 2; 2007: 2; 2008: 2; 2009: 1; 2010: 2; 2011: 2; 2012: 3; 2014: 5; 2015: 6; 2016: 4; 2017: 1; 2020: 3; 2021: 2; 2022: 1
Pattern summary
Air Bags leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 11 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 6 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 6 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10059605 · 2004-02-23 (February 23, 2004)
THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED OUT OF CONTROL. CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKE, AND EVEN TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF, BUT VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 43,391 miles reported. Look up ODI 10059605 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10059729 · 2004-02-24 (February 24, 2004)
WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKES AND PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. THIS CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO HIT A CURB. DRIVER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF VEHICLE, AND DROVE IT TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, BUT MECHANIC WAS NOT ABLE TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10059729 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10186584 · 2007-03-30 (March 30, 2007)
TL* - THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 ACURA RL. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING AND WOULD NOT RESTART. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP. THE VEHICLE STALLED ONCE BEFORE, BUT THE VEHICLE RESTARTED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED AT THIS TIME. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 80,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10186584 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10594340 · 2014-05-27 (May 27, 2014)
AT A RED LIGHT STOPPED. WHEN LIGHT TURNED GREEN I PRESSED ACCELERATOR TO GO AND IT JUST STALLED WITH THE ENGINE REVVING UP. FINALLY IT STARTED MOVING FORWARD SLOWLY. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 164,366 miles reported. Look up ODI 10594340 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10094477 · 2004-09-21 (September 21, 2004)
VEHICLE HAD MULTIPLE ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. THE PROBLEMS MAY HAVE CAUSE ONE CRASH. BF THE CONSUMER HIT A VEHICLE WHICH WAS STOPPED IN A TURNING LANE AT 35 MPH. WHEN THE VEHICLE CRASHED THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THROTTLE BODY WAS BENT. FAULTY WINDOW REGULATOR CAUSED THE WINDOW TO NOT CLOSE. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. 36,505 miles reported. Look up ODI 10094477 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10334250 · 2010-06-02 (June 2, 2010)
I AM WRITING TO REPORT A POTENTIALLY SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE WITH MY 2000 ACURA RL. THIS CAR SEEMS TO HAVE A DESIGN FLAW WHEREBY THE CAR'S NATURAL DRAIN CHANNELS GET CLOGGED AND WATER LEAKS IN THROUGH ALTERNATE PATHWAYS INTO THE VEHICLE'S FUSE BOX. THIS CAUSES ALL OF THE CAR'S ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS TO GO HAYWIRE, KEY SAFETY SYSTEMS LIKE THE AIRBAGS AND TRACTION CONTROL SHUT OFF, WINDSHIELD WIPERS GO ON BY THEMSELVES, AND THE SPEEDOMETER NEEDLE MOVES RANDOMLY. FURTHERMORE, THE SECURITY SYSTEM CAN BE TRIGGERED AND THE HORN SOUNDS, POSSIBLY WHILE DRIVIN…
Owner-reported narrative. 52,254 miles reported. Look up ODI 10334250 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10790254 · 2015-11-13 (November 13, 2015)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 ACURA RL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT A BOLT PREMATURELY FRACTURED INTERNALLY ASSOCIATED WITH THE TRANSMISSION AND THE GEAR TRAIN DIFFERENTIAL FAILED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THERE WAS A DRASTIC REDUCTION IN SPEED AND THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL DID NOT RESPOND. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A REPAIR SHOP WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE GEAR TRAIN DIFFERENTIAL NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 99V227000 (POWER TRAIN). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE…
Owner-reported narrative. 159,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10790254 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 748797 · 2001-07-20 (July 20, 2001)
WHEN TRAVELING 60 TO 65 MPH AND HAVE TO COME TO STOP DUE TO TRAFFIC OR DECELERATING LANE CAR "SHUTS OFF". I HAVE HAD TO ROLL OFF ROAD, PUT ON FLASHERS AND SHUT OOF CAR TO RESART. I AM TERRIFIED AT THIS TIME TO CHANCE BEING IN CAR. I TRAVEL ON HIGHWAYS TO WORK WITH TRACTOR TRAILERS BEHIND ME. FOUR OCCURRENCES. ACURA OFFERING TO REPLACE TRANSMISSION AND ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE NOW. THIS IS 2ND TRANSMISSION. THE FIRST ONE A T 6000 MILES. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 748797 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10065709 · 2004-04-07 (April 7, 2004)
UPON HAVING MY VEHICLE ALIGNED, I LEARNED THAT THE STEERING RACK IS NO GOOD. THE CAR OLNY HAS 60000 MILES AND IS JUST OUT OF WARRANTY. WHEN I CALLED ACURA THEY TOLD MY BASICALLY "TOO BAD". I HAVE OWNED A FEW ACURA'S OVER THE YEARS AND HAVE NEVER HAD TO REPLACE A STEERING RACK. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 60,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10065709 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10414790 · 2011-07-22 (July 22, 2011)
1. ELECTRIC TELESCOPING STEERING WHEEL FAILED TO PRESENT TO SET POSITION FROM REST. 2. FREQUENCY IS IMMEDIATE UPON FAILURE. THE STEERING WHEEL RESTS AT THE TOP POSITION (RESTING WHEN THE KEY IS REMOVED) 3. ACURA OFFERED TO REPLACE THE COLUMN AT A COST OF $3500. *TT
Owner-reported narrative. 180,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10414790 at NHTSA ↗