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U.S. public vehicle records

2002 Acura RL problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

43 owner complaints analyzed

2 distinct recall campaigns

76,500 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2002 model year. Data snapshot: . 15 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 18 of 43 complaints (41.9%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Transmission and shifting511.6%
Engine operation49.3%
Braking behavior49.3%
Steering behavior49.3%
Electrical and battery issues12.3%
Fuel system concerns12.3%

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.

Air Bags
18
Electrical System
5
Power Train:Manual Transmission
5
Steering
4
Power Train:Automatic Transmission
3
Electronic Stability Control (Esc)
2
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline
2
Service Brakes
2
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Air Bags18
Electrical System5
Power Train:Manual Transmission5
Steering4
Power Train:Automatic Transmission3
Electronic Stability Control (Esc)2
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline2
Service Brakes2

Air Bags: 18; Electrical System: 5; Power Train:Manual Transmission: 5; Steering: 4; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 3; Electronic Stability Control (Esc): 2; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 2; Service Brakes: 2

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000
2
25,000 to 49,999
1
50,000 to 74,999
3
75,000 to 99,999
4
100,000 to 149,999
3
150,000 and above
2
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,0002
25,000 to 49,9991
50,000 to 74,9993
75,000 to 99,9994
100,000 to 149,9993
150,000 and above2

Under 25,000: 2; 25,000 to 49,999: 1; 50,000 to 74,999: 3; 75,000 to 99,999: 4; 100,000 to 149,999: 3; 150,000 and above: 2

75,000 to 99,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (4). 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.

2001
8
2002
2
2003
3
2004
2
2005
1
2006
1
2008
1
2010
2
2012
1
2014
1
2016
2
2017
1
2018
2
2020
13
2021
1
2024
2
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
20018
20022
20033
20042
20051
20061
20081
20102
20121
20141
20162
20171
20182
202013
20211
20242

2001: 8; 2002: 2; 2003: 3; 2004: 2; 2005: 1; 2006: 1; 2008: 1; 2010: 2; 2012: 1; 2014: 1; 2016: 2; 2017: 1; 2018: 2; 2020: 13; 2021: 1; 2024: 2

Pattern summary

Air Bags leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 5 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 4 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 4 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 753251 · 2001-10-15 (October 15, 2001)

6 SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSION MISS-SHIFTING EASILY ON 3RD TO 4TH GEAR UPSHIFTS. 2ND GEAR ENGAGED WHICH CAUSED EXTENSIVE ENGINE DAMAGE. MANUFACTURE IS FAILING TO WARRANTY ENGINE DAMAGE. NUMEROUS CASES ARE NOW BEING REPORTED BY OWNERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 753251 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 754184 · 2001-11-07 (November 7, 2001)

TRANSMISSION GRINDS WHEN UPSHIFTING FROM FIRST GEAR INTO SECOND GEAR.*AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 754184 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10140751 · 2005-10-25 (October 25, 2005)

THE CAR HAS A KNOWN TSB THAT THE CAR MAY STALL AND SHUT DOWN IF IT IS AT VERY LOW SPEEDS. THIS HAS HAPPENED TO ME TWICE AND THE LAST TIME IT HAPPENED 3 DAYS AGO. I WAS IN TRAFFIC WAITING IN TRAFFIC THE CAR JUST STALLED AND ROLLED BACK AND HIT THE GUY IN THE BACK LUCKY FOR ME IT WAS SITTING TRAFFIC. ONE OTHER TIME THE CAR WAS MAKING A SLOW SPEED TURN AND THE CAR SHUT OFF AND LOST POWER. THE CAR HAS A KNOWN TSB THAT THIS HAPPENS DUE TO A MALFUNCTIONED PCM. ALSO THIS CAR HAS A TSB STATING THAT A DRIVE PLATE IS MISMANUFACTURED AND HAPPENS TO ALL CA…

Owner-reported narrative. 46,059 miles reported. Look up ODI 10140751 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10341370 · 2010-07-04 (July 4, 2010)

CAR STALLS AT LOW SPEEDS. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 76,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10341370 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10093104 · 2004-09-23 (September 23, 2004)

PARKING BRAKE DOES NOT WORK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10093104 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11583589 · 2024-04-17 (April 17, 2024)

This is a continuation complaint with national cemter for dispute settlement to fix safty issues and discontinued parts. The car is not 40 years old and i cannot find a maintenance repair book. The power door locks are coming on and off and the fob key do not work Sutton acuta in macon said it needs the antenna but the antenna is discontinued. The navigation system doesn't work because the 6 chamger dvd in the trunk is not working with no electrical tech support from on star. ABS VSA TRACHION CONTROL IS ON for motr tan 3 years but the VSA swit…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11583589 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10607151 · 2014-06-30 (June 30, 2014)

I HAVE PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE AND UPON EXAMINATION NOTICED THAT THERE IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE TELESCOPING MECHANISM IN THE STEERING COLUMN. I DID A SEARCH OF THIS PROBLEM ONLINE AND FOUND THAT THIS IS A FAIRLY COMMON ISSUES WITH THESE VEHICLES AND MAY BE WELL KNOWN BY THE MANUFACTURE AS THEY DO NOT SELL THE INDIVIDUAL PIECE TO FIX THIS ISSUE BUT INSTEAD SELL THE WHOLE COLUMN AS A UNIT WHICH IS $2500. THE PROBLEM EXIST BECAUSE THEY MANAGED TO MERGE PLASTIC AND METAL TOGETHER TO CREATE A SCREW-DRIVE MOTOR IN THE STEERING COLUMN. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 88,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10607151 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10864456 · 2016-05-11 (May 11, 2016)

THE ADJUSTABLE STEERING COLUMN QUIT WORKING IN A POSITION THAT ISN'T GOOD FOR ME TO DRIVE, YOU CAN'T BUY A PART TO FIX THIS YOU HAVE TO REPLACE THE STEERING COLUMN. THIS IS A $2,500.00 REPAIR. IT IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE IN THE POSITION IT QUIT WORKING FOR ME. I FEEL ACURA SHOULD FIX THIS OR REPLACE IT WITH A COLUMN THAT CAN BE REPAIRED INSTEAD OF REPLACING THE WHOLE COLUMN. THIS COULD BE A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY WHEN I TRIED TO ADJUST IT.

Owner-reported narrative. 100,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10864456 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11404011 · 2021-03-20 (March 20, 2021)

RACK AND PINION REPLACEMENT. EXTERIOR ISSUES: REAR BUMPER FELLED OFF; GASOLINE COVER WON'T CLOSED; DOOR HANDLES FALLING OFF; FUEL PUMP NEEDS REPLACEMENT

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11404011 at NHTSA ↗