2000 Acura RL

Routine

Owners filed 59 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the air bags. It has been recalled 4 times.

When it fails
020k40k60k90k120k200k

31 complaints record an odometer reading. Failures cluster around 75,00090,000 miles; the median is 77,000 miles.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Air Bags19
100
Air Bags › Frontal › Sensor/Control Module4
000
Electrical System3
000
Steering2
000
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip2
100
Power Train › Automatic Transmission2
000
Power Train2
000
Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine › Gasoline2
000
Visibility › Sun/Moon Roof Assembly1
000
Visibility › Rearview Mirrors/Devices › Interior1
000

4 safety recalls

Part 573 reports
Air Bags › Frontal › Driver Side › Inflator Module20V026000
Filed Jan 17, 20201,439,841 vehiclesHonda (american Honda Motor Co.)

Defect. Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 1998 Acura 2.2CL, 1998-1999 Acura 2.3CL, 1998-1999 Acura 3.0CL, 2001 Acura 3.2CL and Acura MDX, 1998-2000 Honda Accord Coupe, Accord Sedan, Civic Sedan, Odyssey and Acura 3.5RL, 1999-2000 Acura 3.2TL, 1996-2000 Civic Coupe, 1997-2000 CR-V, 1997-1998 EV Plus, and 1998-1999 Isuzu Oasis vehicles. These vehicles were equipped with Non-Azide Driver air bag Inflators (NADI) and do not contain phase stabilized ammonium nitrate (PSAN) propellant. Due to a manufacturing issue, the NADI inflators may absorb moisture, causing the inflators to rupture or the air bag cushion to underinflate.

Risk. In the event of a crash necessitating air bag deployment, an inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants. An underinflated air bag cushion may not properly protect the occupant. These scenarios increase the risk of serious injury or death.

Remedy. Honda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the driver frontal air bag inflator, and replace it if necessary, with an inflator of a different design, free of charge. The recall began October 1, 2020. Owners may contact American Honda's Customer Support & Campaign Center at 1-888-234-2138 or Isuzu customer service at 1-800-255-6727.

Air Bags › Frontal › Driver Side › Inflator Module20V027000
Filed Jan 17, 2020875,966 vehiclesHonda (american Honda Motor Co.)

Defect. Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2001-2002 Acura 3.2CL, 2000-2003 Acura 3.5RL, 2000-2001 Acura 3.2TL, Honda CR-V and Honda Odyssey, 2001-2002 Acura MDX and 2000 Accord Coupe, Accord Sedan, Civic Coupe, and Civic Sedan vehicles. These vehicles may have received a replacement driver frontal air bag module as part of a vehicle repair. Due to a manufacturing issue, the replacement NADI inflator may absorb moisture, causing the inflator to rupture or the air bag cushion to underinflate.

Risk. In the event of a crash necessitating air bag deployment, an inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants. An underinflated air bag cushion may not properly protect the occupant. These scenarios increase the risk of serious injury or death.

Remedy. Honda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the air bags in the vehicles, replacing the driver frontal air bag inflator with an inflator of a different design, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began October 1, 2020. Owners may contact American Honda's Customer Support & Campaign Center at 1-888-234-2138.

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Master Cylinder03V239000
Filed Jul 2, 2003814 vehiclesAmerican Honda Motor Co.

Defect. ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, SOME BRAKE MASTER CYLINDERS MAY HAVE INTERNAL CORROSION, RESULTING IN REDUCED BRAKING PERFORMANCE AND INCREASED STOPPING DISTANCES.

Risk. THE CORROSION COULD EVENTUALLY CAUSE A COMPLETE BRAKE SYSTEM FAILURE, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE MASTER CYLINDER ASSEMBLY, RESERVOIR, AND BRAKE FLUID. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JULY 28, 2003. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT ACURA AT 1-800-382-2238.

Exterior Lighting › Brake Lights › Switch02V119000
Filed May 14, 200225,765 vehiclesAmerican Honda Motor Co.

Defect. ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, DURING THE MANUFACTURING PROCESS, OIL WAS APPLIED TO THE BRAKE PEDAL ASSEMBLY TO PREVENT RUST. THIS OIL CAN LEAK INTO THE BRAKE STOP SWITCH AND CONTAMINATE THE ELECTRICAL CONTACTS.

Risk. EVENTUALLY, THE BRAKE LIGHTS WILL NOT ILLUMINATE WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED, WHICH INCREASES THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL CLEAN ANY EXCESS OIL FROM THE PEDAL ASSEMBLY AND REPLACE THE STOP SWITCH. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN MAY 16, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT ACURA AT 1-800-382-2238.

What owners reported

Newest filings
Service Brakes, Air › Antilock › Abs Warning Light
Filed Oct 3, 202279,000 milesGA

The contact owns a 2000 Acura RL. The contact stated that upon starting the vehicle, the ABS warning light, and the vehicle stability assist (VSA) system warning light were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who was unable to duplicate the failure. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the ABS module needed to be replaced; however, the part had been discontinued. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 79,000.

Air Bags
Filed Dec 23, 2021FL

The contact owns a 2000 Acura RL. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V027000 (Air Bags) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact called the local dealer who confirmed that parts were not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. Parts distribution disconnect.

Air Bags
Filed Feb 12, 2021CA

THE SRS LAMP HAS REMAINED ON SINCE PURCHASE IN 2009.

Air Bags
Filed Oct 17, 2020100,000 milesCT

I HAVE RECEIVED A NOTICE FROM AMERICA HONDA MOTOR COMPANY ON MARCH 2020 (NHTSA RECALL 20V-026) THAT THE INFLATOR INSIDE THE DRIVER FRONTAL AIRBAG MODULE MAY ABSORB MOISTURE, WHICH MAY CAUSE THE DRIVER FRONTAL AIRBAG TO MALFUNCTION IN A CRASH WHERE THE AIRBAG DEPLOYS. THE LETTER STATES "THE REPLACEMENT PARTS NEEDED TO REPAIR YOUR VEHICLE, IF NECESSARY, ARE NOT AVAILABLE AND ACURA IS UNABLE TO INSPECT/REPAIR YOUR VEHICLE AT THIS TIME." I CALLED A LOCAL ACURA DEALER ON 9/1/2020 AND WAS TOLD THAT THE PARTS ARE STILL NOT AVAILABLE AND THEY ARE EXPECTED MAY 2021. THIS TIMEFRAME SEEMS UNREASONABLE TO ME.

Air Bags
Filed Aug 21, 2020TN

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 ACURA RL. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 20V027000 (AIR BAGS) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT CALLED ACURA OF MEMPHIS (2611 RIDGEWAY RD, MEMPHIS, TN 38119, (901) 630-4664) WHERE IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT THE PART WAS NOT YET AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

Air Bags
Filed Mar 27, 2020210,000 milesAL

DEALERSHIPS INTENTIONALLY IGNORE TAKATA/NADI AIRBAG SAFETY OCCUPANT SAFETY RECALLS ON JAN 2019 THIS VEHICLE WAS DELIVERED TO MCCONNELL HONDA ALABAMA DEALERSHIP REPAIR SHOP FOR MALFUNCTION INDICATION LIGHTS "BATT" "BRAKE". THIS MALFUNCTION WAS A RESULT OF AUG 2018 PATTON HONDA GEORGIA, DEALERSHIP SHOP REPAIR DIAGNOSTIC (PARKING LOT BRAKE TORQUING) ABUSE WHILE IN CUSTODY TO DIAGNOSE, A SLIGHT HESITATION DURING ACCELERATION AND RUBBER SQUEAK NOISE NEAR FRONT LEFT WHEEL. NO REMEDY WAS PROVIDED AND VEHICLE WAS DAMAGED AND BATTERY CHARGING DISABLED BY PATTON HONDA GEORGIA. OWNER WAS CHARGED A $100 SERVICE CHARGE. MCCONNELL HONDA ALABAMA DID NOT TROUBLESHOOT MALFUNCTION, REMOVED AND REPLAC ED A GOOD ALTERNATOR, WHICH DOES NOT SOLVE THE BATTERY CIRCUIT CHARGING MALFUNCTION AND BILLED CUSTOMER $1320 INITIALLY THEN $920 AFTER CUSTOMER EXPRESSED DISAPPOINTMENT WITH BAD REPAIR THAT WILL PROVE FAULTY. MCCONNELL HONDA ALABAMA LATTER ATTEMPTS TO RE-TITLE AND SELL OWNER'S VEHICLE TO AUCTION DESPITE CIVIL SMALL CLAIMS COMPLAINT FILED ON 25 MARCH 2020 IN MONTGOMERY COUNTY COURT, ALA. NEITHER DEALERSHIP REFERENCED OR ADDRESSED THE OPEN RECALL SAFETY STATUS.

Air Bags
Filed Aug 30, 2017CA

TAMARA RECALL MY SRS LIGHT STAYS ON CONTINUALLY. I AM CONCERNED THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE AIRBAGS. I NEED TO KNOW IF IT IS SAFE TO HAVE SOMEONE IN THE PASSENGER SEAT OR IF THE AIRBAG IS DEFECTIVE AND IS A RECALL. I DO NOT DRIVE THIS CAR VERY OFTEN BUT NOW I HAVE TO BECAUSE I HAVE NO OTHER TRANSPORTATION.

Air Bags
Filed Nov 4, 201675,000 milesPA

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 ACURA RL. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE SRS WARNING INDICATOR REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SENSOR IN THE PASSENGER SEAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

Unknown or Other
Filed Sep 14, 2016FL

ODOMETER WAS TAMPERED WHICH I BELIEVE IS FRAUD IN THE US.

Air Bags
Filed Jul 26, 2016NC

I HAVE BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE AIR BAGS, SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR

Air Bags
Filed Jul 5, 2016115,000 milesNY

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 ACURA RL. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, THE AIR BAG LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 115,000.

Power Train
Filed Nov 13, 2015159,000 milesTN

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 AND PROVIDED NO REMEDY. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 159,000.

Air Bags
Filed Nov 8, 2015162,090 milesMS

THE SRS SENSOR JUS POP ON THE ABS SENSOR POP ON ALSO THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT POPS I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO AND ALSO I HEARD TICKING AND TAPPING AND THE ENGINE STARTED JUMPING WHETHER I'M GOING SLOW OR FAST I REALLY NEED SOME SERIOUS HELP WHY IS BECAUSE I CAN POSSIBLY BE IN GREAT DANGER DO TO THE SENSORS THAT ARE GOING OUT IN MY VEHICLE .

Air Bags
Filed May 21, 2015135,100 milesVA

SRS LIGHT ON THE DASH STAYS ON. IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THE AIRBAGS WILL NOT DEPLOY WITH LIGHT ON. I HAD AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC DETERMINE THAT THE AIRBAG CONTROL MODULE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. I BELIEVE THIS SHOULD BE A REPAIR THAT SHOULD BE COVERED BY A MANUFACTURER WARRANTY. BASED ON REVIEW OF THE SAFERCAR.GOV WEBSITE THERE ARE SEVERAL OTHER INCIDENTS OF THIS SAME PROBLEM FOR THIS MAKE, MODEL AND YEAR.

Air Bags
Filed Mar 6, 2015121,682 milesTX

SRS DASH LIGHT HAS COME ON AND STAYED ON. *TR

Air Bags
Filed Feb 5, 2015203,000 milesNC

THE SRS LIGHT HAS COME ON AND STAYED ON. AIR BAGS WILL NOT DEPLOY WITH THE LIGHT ON. *TR

Steering
Filed Feb 5, 2015NC

THE STEERING WHEEL COLUMN WILL NOT ADJUST. IT IS STUCK IN THE HIGHEST POSITION. THE PLASTIC GEAR IS BROKEN AND THE LOCAL ACURA DEALER WANTS OVER $2000 TO REPLACE THE WHOLE THING. *TR

Electrical System
Filed Sep 29, 201476,500 milesNY

WHILE STOPPED IN TRAFFIC, UPON ACCELERATION. ENGINE STALLED. VEHICLE PLACED IN PARK AND CAR WAS RESTARTED AND DRIVEN AWAY. MAIN FUEL RELAY WAS REPLACED. PER ACURA SERVICE BULLETIN 01-044, THE INCIDENT THAT OCCURRED COULD BE DUE TO A FAILED POWERTRAIN CONTROL MODULE. PER ACURA SERVICE BULLETIN 01-044, THERE WAS AN UPDATED POWERTRAIN CONTROL MODULE, BUT THIS PART HAS SINCE BEEN DISCONTINUED AND IS NO LONGER BEING PRODUCED BY ACURA. I HAVE CALLED ACURA CUSTOMER SERVICE WHO STATED THAT EVEN THOUGH THEY ARE AWARE OF THE CIRCUMSTANCES PER TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN 01-044, THERE IS NOTHING THEY ARE ABLE TO DO TO REPAIR THE CAR. I FEEL THAT THIS IS A SAFETY RELATED ISSUE DUE TO THE RISK THAT THE VEHICLE HAS THE POTENTIAL TO CONTINUE TO STALL AND CANNOT BE REPAIRED. *TR

Air Bags
Filed Aug 25, 2014FL

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 ACURA RL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SRS INDICATOR CONTINUOUSLY ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE UNKNOWN.

Air Bags
Filed Jul 21, 201474,508 milesNJ

SRS LIGHT ON DASH STAYS ON. DEALER CANNOT RESET TO GET LIGHT TO STAY OFF. ACURA OF DENVILLE, NJ SAYS OPDS (OCCUPANT POSITION DETECTION SYSTEM) AND SENSOR ASSEMBLIES NEED TO BE RE-PLACED AT A COST OF $1349.65 (+ TAX). WITH SRS LIGHT ON AIR BAGS WILL NOT DEPLOY. THE SRS FAILURE APPEARS TO BE THE FAILURE MOST DOCUMENTED IN THIS FORUM. IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE WHICH SHOULD HAVE A RECALL TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. *TR

20 of 59 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 2005
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
20152000Routine
20121600Routine
20113600Routine
20109700Routine
20098610Routine
200813600Routine
200720710Routine
200632810Routine
20051251110Routine
200411000Routine
20039100Routine
200243200Routine
200112210Routine
2000 — this page59400Routine
199924210Routine
199811300Routine
199719200Routine
199622320Routine

Compare every RL year →

Reading this record

No unusual pattern of severe incidents in the complaint record.

Complaint counts track how many cars were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as they track quality. A common model from 2013 has had a decade to accumulate reports; a rare one from last year has not. The signal worth weighing is in the severity columns, in whether the same component keeps appearing, and in whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

Recall repairs are free for as long as the recall stands. Check whether a specific car still has open work at NHTSA's VIN lookup.

Most recent recall on file: Jan 17, 2020. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.