MYRModel Year Report

2005 Acura RL

○ Not enough data
2005 Acura RL
RENDERED 2026-11-01T11:37:04.394Z

Not enough comparison years on file yet for a fair verdict.

This verdict reflects complaint volume compared to this model's typical year. Recalls and safety issues below apply regardless of the verdict — always check them.

How is this computed?

Complaints
125
Recalls
11

Campaigns on file for 2005

Investigations
3

Opened by NHTSA

Top problem
Exterior lighting

40% of complaints

Complaints per year

1996: 22 complaints 1996 1997: 19 complaints 1998: 11 complaints 1999: 24 complaints 1999 2000: 59 complaints 2001: 12 complaints 2002: 43 complaints 2002 2003: 9 complaints 2004: 11 complaints 2005: 125 complaints 2005 125 2006: 32 complaints 2007: 20 complaints 2008: 13 complaints 2008 2009: 8 complaints 2010: 9 complaints 2011: 3 complaints 2011 2012: 1 complaint 2015: 2 complaints
1996: 22 complaints 1996 1997: 19 complaints 1998: 11 complaints 1998 1999: 24 complaints 2000: 59 complaints 2000 2001: 12 complaints 2002: 43 complaints 2002 2003: 9 complaints 2004: 11 complaints 2005: 125 complaints 2005 125 2006: 32 complaints 2007: 20 complaints 2008: 13 complaints 2008 2009: 8 complaints 2010: 9 complaints 2010 2011: 3 complaints 2012: 1 complaint 2012 2015: 2 complaints
1996: 22 complaints 1996 1997: 19 complaints 1997 1998: 11 complaints 1998 1999: 24 complaints 1999 2000: 59 complaints 2000 2001: 12 complaints 2001 2002: 43 complaints 2002 2003: 9 complaints 2003 2004: 11 complaints 2004 2005: 125 complaints 2005 125 2006: 32 complaints 2006 2007: 20 complaints 2007 2008: 13 complaints 2008 2009: 8 complaints 2009 2010: 9 complaints 2010 2011: 3 complaints 2011 2012: 1 complaint 2012 2015: 2 complaints 2015

2005: 125 complaints

View as data table
YearComplaints
199622
199719
199811
199924
200059
200112
200243
20039
200411
2005125
200632
200720
200813
20098
20109
20113
20121
20152

Known problem areas

Percentages can add to more than 100% — a complaint can name more than one system.

Exterior lighting

40% · 50 reports

Most commonly citing headlights.

CRASH
Show complaint excerpts

Was struck by a drunk driver while traveling north on gsp. Left driver side of the car was side swiped from the back to the front.

NHTSA ODI report, 2013-10-03

Hid headlights. My problem has been with my headlights ever since I bought the vehicle used in July of 2015. Every now and then the passenger side headlight would flicker and go out.

NHTSA ODI report, 2018-12-01

Air bags

29% · 36 reports
CRASHINJURY
Show complaint excerpts

Tl* the contact owned a 2005 Acura RL. The contact stated that her son was driving and approached a crash that had already taken place. The victim of the crash was ejected from the vehicle and was lying in the road.

NHTSA ODI report, 2019-11-21

I bought the car there was no airbag light on it I was driving down my road and it just randomly turned on been on ever since.

NHTSA ODI report, 2025-04-26

Electrical system

14% · 18 reports
FIRE
Show complaint excerpts

Small electric fire in driver side door panel melted all the way through outside door handle . After this happened to me I looked through forums and this seems to be a common issue with this car and there has been no recall for this issue .

NHTSA ODI report, 2021-08-29

There is an intermittent safety issue with the active headlights on the Acura RL vehicle. Occasionally, the headlights will shut themselves off during operation at night. Sometimes it's just one and sometimes it's both.

NHTSA ODI report, 2012-04-26

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.

NHTSA ODI report, 2005-02-16

Service brakes

6% · 8 reports

Most commonly citing hydraulic.

CRASH

Structure

6% · 7 reports

Most commonly citing body and door.

INJURY
Show complaint excerpts

My 2005 Acura RL has chrome trim that is apparently a thin sheet of metal that has been applied to the vehicle. After some time, it has degraded, and is peeling from its original position. This has exposed very sharp edges.

NHTSA ODI report, 2012-04-19

Safety timeline

11 recalls · 3 investigations · oldest first

To check one car, enter its VIN on the NHTSA recall page. Check a VIN →

  1. R
    2007-04-02Fuel system, gasoline07V097000 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.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  2. R
    2007-12-12Steering07V551000 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.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  3. R
    2010-12-31Service brakes, hydraulic10V504000 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…

    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.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  4. I
    2013-02-21Engineering analysisClosed 2013-03-29 Vehicle Stability Assist Malfunction
  5. R
    2013-04-22Service brakes, hydraulic, traction control system13V092000 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…

    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…

    Check if this car was fixed →

  6. I
    2014-06-11Preliminary evaluationClosed 2015-03-02 Air Bag Inflator Rupture
  7. R
    2014-09-12Air bags14V353000 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...

    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.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  8. R
    2015-01-26Air bags14V700000 American Honda Motor Co.

    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.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  9. I
    2015-02-24Engineering analysisOpen Air Bag Inflator Rupture
  10. R
    2016-06-29Air bags16V344000 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,...

    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.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  11. R
    2017-02-22Air bags16V061000 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,...

    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.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  12. R
    2017-02-27Air bags17V029000 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...

    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.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  13. R
    2019-08-12Air bags19V500000 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...

    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.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  14. R
    2019-08-12Air bags19V501000 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,...

    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.

    Check if this car was fixed →

Buy-smart checklist

2005 Acura RL — pre-purchase inspection

Inspect

  • Exterior lighting: 50 reports on file for this year.
  • Air bags: 36 reports on file for this year.
  • Electrical system: 18 reports on file for this year.

Verify these recalls were completed

  • Recall 07V097000 · Fuel system, gasoline
  • Recall 07V551000 · Steering
  • Recall 10V504000 · Service brakes, hydraulic
  • Recall 13V092000 · Service brakes, hydraulic, traction control system
  • Recall 14V353000 · Air bags
  • Recall 14V700000 · Air bags
  • Recall 16V344000 · Air bags
  • Recall 16V061000 · Air bags
  • Recall 17V029000 · Air bags
  • Recall 19V500000 · Air bags
  • Recall 19V501000 · Air bags
Inspected by ______________ Date ______________

FAQ

Is the 2005 Acura RL reliable?
There isn't enough NHTSA complaint data on file yet to give this model year a verdict.
What are the most common problems with the 2005 Acura RL?
The most-reported component is exterior lighting, accounting for 40% of complaints on file.
How many recalls does the 2005 Acura RL have?
11 recalls on file for this model year.

Data updated 2026-10-31 · Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA, not independently verified defects. Methodology.