2005 Acura RL problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
125 owner complaints analyzed
11 distinct recall campaigns
73,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2005 model year. Data snapshot: . 77 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Exterior Lighting is the most frequently named component, appearing in 43 of 125 complaints (34.4%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 12 | 9.6% |
| Steering behavior | 6 | 4.8% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 5 | 4.0% |
| Transmission and shifting | 2 | 1.6% |
| Engine operation | 2 | 1.6% |
| Fuel system concerns | 2 | 1.6% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Exterior Lighting | 43 |
| Air Bags | 36 |
| Electrical System | 18 |
| Exterior Lighting:Headlights | 7 |
| Structure:Body | 5 |
| Unknown Or Other | 5 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 4 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 4 |
Exterior Lighting: 43; Air Bags: 36; Electrical System: 18; Exterior Lighting:Headlights: 7; Structure:Body: 5; Unknown Or Other: 5; Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 4; Vehicle Speed Control: 4
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 8 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 12 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 19 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 12 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 17 |
| 150,000 and above | 9 |
Under 25,000: 8; 25,000 to 49,999: 12; 50,000 to 74,999: 19; 75,000 to 99,999: 12; 100,000 to 149,999: 17; 150,000 and above: 9
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (19). 48 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 |
|---|---|
| 2004 | 1 |
| 2005 | 8 |
| 2006 | 6 |
| 2007 | 2 |
| 2008 | 1 |
| 2009 | 9 |
| 2010 | 15 |
| 2011 | 9 |
| 2012 | 6 |
| 2013 | 8 |
| 2014 | 11 |
| 2015 | 8 |
| 2016 | 31 |
| 2017 | 2 |
| 2018 | 1 |
| 2019 | 2 |
| 2020 | 2 |
| 2021 | 1 |
| 2023 | 1 |
| 2025 | 1 |
2004: 1; 2005: 8; 2006: 6; 2007: 2; 2008: 1; 2009: 9; 2010: 15; 2011: 9; 2012: 6; 2013: 8; 2014: 11; 2015: 8; 2016: 31; 2017: 2; 2018: 1; 2019: 2; 2020: 2; 2021: 1; 2023: 1; 2025: 1
Pattern summary
Exterior Lighting leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 12 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 6 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 5 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 10118199 · 2005-04-20 (April 20, 2005)
AFTER INFORMING THE ACURA SERVICE CENTER ABOUT 3 MONTHS PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT THAT THE BRAKES WERE NOT FUNCTIONING PROPERLY ON 2 SEPARATE OCCASIONS, AND BEING REASSURED THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE BRAKES, I REAR-ENDED ANOTHER CAR ON APRIL 5 BECAUSE THE BRAKES FAILED AGAIN. ACURA REFUSED TO RUN A COMPUTER CHECK ON THE CAR OR TO SEND ANYONE FROM CALIFORNIA TO INSPECT THE CAR. THE DEALER SERVICE CENTER HAD INITIALLY TOLD ME THAT THEY WOULD HAVE SOMEONE FROM CALIFORNIA COME TO INSPECT THE BRAKES AFTER THE ACCIDENT. THEY TOLD ME THAT TH…
Owner-reported narrative. 8,256 miles reported. Look up ODI 10118199 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10119690 · 2005-05-03 (May 3, 2005)
AT LOW SPEEDS ON ROUGH STREETS, ALL 4 WHEEL SUSPENSIONS MAKE A VERY METALLIC NOISE. I HAVE BEEN LEAD TO BELEIVE THAT IT IS DUE TO MIS MANUFACTURED BRAKE COMPONENTS. ONE DEALER DID "BEND" THE BRAKE "CLIPS" AND THE NOISE SUBSIDED FOR ABOUT 1000 MILES, BUT THE PROBLEM IS BACK AND THE DEALERS ARE SAYING IT IS A MFGR PROBLEM AND THEY CAN'T FIX WITHOUT FACTORY TECH SUPPORT WHICH HAS NOT BEEN FORTH COMING. I ONLY KNOW OTHER 2005 ACURA RL OWNER IN THE SMALL TOWN OF VISALIA (100K POP.) AND HE IS BEING GIVEN THE SAME RUNAROUND. MY CONCERN IS BRAKE FA…
Owner-reported narrative. 2,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10119690 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10137826 · 2005-09-27 (September 27, 2005)
DT: THE CALLER WAS PULLING OUT OF A PARKING SPOT WHEN SHE SUDDENLY LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. IT ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN , AND SHE TRIED THE BRAKE AND IT DID NOT WORK. SHE SAID THE STEERING WHEEL DID NOT WORK, SHE TRIED TO TURN THE WHEEL AND NOTHING HAPPENED. THE VEHICLE HIT A PARKED CAR. THE POLICE CAME AND A REPORT WAS TAKEN. NO ONE WAS HURT. DEALER HAS NOT BEEN CONTACTED YET. THE MANUFACTURER SAID A CASE WORKER WILL CALL HER THIS WEEK. THEY CALLED HER BACK AND SAID THE CASE WAS CLOSED, AND INSURANCE COMPANY WOULD HAVE TO HANDLE IT. TH…
Owner-reported narrative. 10,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10137826 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10171598 · 2006-10-23 (October 23, 2006)
WHEN BACKING CAR OUT FROM PARKING STALL, AFTER TURNING WHEEL BEYOND OTHER CAR AND READY TO GO FORWARD, I STOP COMPLETELY WITH FOOT ON BRAKE . AS I BEGIN TURNING STEERING WHEEL IN THE OTHER DIRECTION A LOUD SCRAPING NOISE COMES FROM AREA OF THE STEERING COLUMN. IT AN BE HEARD FOR AT LEAST 100 FEET. THIS DOES NOT HAPPEN EVERY TIME, BUT SOMETIMES 4 OR 5 TIMES DURING A WEEK. WE HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH THE DEALER FOR MORE THAN A YEAR . THE CAR IS 2005 ACURA 3.5 RL ON OCT 13TH WITH THE SERVICE MANAGER AND A DEALER REPRESENTATIVE IN THE CAR THE…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10171598 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10109538 · 2004-12-29 (December 29, 2004)
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
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10109538 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10512489 · 2013-05-17 (May 17, 2013)
SRS LIGHT CAME ON. TOOK CAR TO DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIR. WAS TOLD IT WAS FAULT CODE 92-21. WAS TOLD A NEW WIRING HARNESS COULD POSSIBLY FIX THE PROBLEM AT A COST TO ME OF $3000. YES, THAT WAS THREE THOUSAND DOLLARS$$ NOW I HAVE NO SRS ON MY CAR AN ACURA FEELS ITS NOT THERE PROBLEM. I UNDERSTAND HOW WARRANTIES WORK AND HOW WEAR AND TEAR EFFECT EVERY CAR, BUT A WIRING HARNESS SHOULD NOT MALFUNCTION, ESPECIALLY ON A SAFETY SYSTEM!! THIS HAS TO BE A MANUFACTURE DEFECT!! THANKS ACURA FOR STANDING BEHIND THE SAFETY OF YOUR VEHICLES!!! BTW, THIS CAR HAS …
Owner-reported narrative. 140,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10512489 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10404427 · 2011-06-04 (June 4, 2011)
WE HAVE A 2005 ACURA RL. DURING DRIVING, THE ENTIRE POWER DROPS. WITHOUT ELECTRICITY TO ALL COMPONENTS, THE POWER STEERING GOES, THE ENGINE STOPS, ALL LIGHTS ON THE DASH BOARD OFF. AFTER A FEW SECONDS TO A MINUTE, THE POWER COMES BACK. BUT THE CAR WILL BE SHOWING ALL KINDS OF ERROR MESSAGES. THE TRANSMISSION WILL BE AT A WRONG GEAR. ACURA DEALER SERVICE CAN REPRODUCE THE PROBLEM BUT FOR OVER ONE MONTH, THEY CANNOT FIX IT BECAUSE THEY DO NOT KNOW WHAT IS WRONG. THE DRIVER AT HE DEALERSHIP WHO EXPERIENCED THE PROBLEM WAS SO SCARED AND TH…
Owner-reported narrative. 70,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10404427 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10560783 · 2014-01-21 (January 21, 2014)
ASSORTED LIGHT CAME ON ACROSS DASH BOARD (WARNING LIGHT) THEN THE TRANSMISSION BEGAN TO START SLIPPING,I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO DEALER. DEALER TELL ME THAT THE SHIFT SOLENOID WENT BAD, REPLACE SHIFT SOLENOID 10/24/2012,I HAD TO REPLACE TRANSMISSION 11/27/2013. ANYTIME THERE WAS AN ISSUE MY CAR I HAD IT SERVICES AND KEPT UP WITH MY MAINTENANCE. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 76,205 miles reported. Look up ODI 10560783 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10524593 · 2013-07-12 (July 12, 2013)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 ACURA RL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE DECELERATED INDEPENDENTLY AND STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO STATED THE FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY THE FUEL PUMP. THE FAILURE RECURRED WHEN THE OUTSIDE TEMPERATURES WERE HIGH. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE WAS REPORTED TO THE MANUFACTURER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 37,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 186,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 37,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10524593 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10294263 · 2009-12-02 (December 2, 2009)
1) FILLING GAS TANK - REPEAT SHUT OFF AT FILLING STATION IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING INCIDENCE AT FILLING STATION THE NEST DAY THE FOLLOWING OCCURRED TO MY VEHICLE: 2) REMOTE KEYLESS ENTRY FAILURE 3) NAVIGATION SYSTEM FAILURE 4) NO HEAT OR AIR CONDITIONING $ 700 CHARGE AT DEALER FOR THEM TO REPLACE: PASSENGER SIDE OUTER DOOR HANDLE FOR TRACED SHORT TO HANDLE CAUSING BLOWN FUSE WHICH WAS (ABOVE LISTED ) RESOLVED PROBLEMS 2-4. $ 1700+ CHARGE AT DEALER FOR THEM TO REPLACE FUEL TANK - PROBLEM UNKNOWN. COULD THERE BE A CONDITION SIMILAR …
Owner-reported narrative. 48,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10294263 at NHTSA ↗