2001 Acura RL

Routine

Owners filed 12 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the air bags. It has been recalled 2 times.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Air Bags5
000
Power Train › Driveline › Differential Unit2
000
Power Train › Automatic Transmission2
000
Steering1
010
Service Brakes, Hydraulic1
000
Power Train › Manual Transmission1
000

2 safety recalls

Part 573 reports
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.

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
Air Bags
Filed Oct 9, 2020NC

I RECEIVED A SAFETY RECALL LETTER IN THE MAIL IN MARCH 2020. WHEN I CALLED THE ACURA DEALER IN CHARLOTTE THEY TOLD ME THAT THE PART WOULD BE THERE IN JULY, CALLED IN JULY THEY SAID AUGUST CALLED IN SEPTEMBER AND THEY SAID THAT THE PART IS STILL NOT THERE

Air Bags
Filed Jun 2, 2015175,580 milesFL

I CALLED ACURA TO SEE IF THE TYPE AIR BAG INFLATOR IN MY CAR USED AMMONIUM NITRATE. MY CAR IS NOT ON THE RECALLED LIST BUT GIVEN THE NATURE OF THE PROBLEM I WAS GOING TO REPLACE, AT LEAST THE DRIVER'S SIDE, IF THE INFLATOR WAS USING THE UNSTABLE PROPELLANT. ACURA WOULD NOT PROVIDE ME ANY INFORMATION. I CALLED NHTSA AND THEY TOLD ME TO PROVIDE INFORMATION TO THIS SITE TO SEE IF I CAN GET THE INFORMATION TO PROTECT MYSELF AND FAMILY REGARDLESS OF THE CORPORATE DECISION.

SteeringFire
Filed Jul 20, 2012140,000 milesFL

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 ACURA RL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT, SMOKE STARTED TO EMIT FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING PUMP WAS LEAKING ONTO THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER OR THE ENGINE. AS A RESULT, THE POWER STEERING PUMP AND HOSE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 145,000. UPDATED 09/06/2012 *JS

Service Brakes, Hydraulic
Filed Sep 14, 2010110,000 milesNY

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 ACURA 3.5RL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR DRIVER SIDE TIRE BECAME FLAT. THE CONTACT REPLACED THE TIRE WITH THE SPARE AND WITHIN A COUPLE OF MILES, THE ABS WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT THEN EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF BRAKING POWER AND THE REAR WHEELS WERE SPINNING ABNORMALLY AT DIFFERENT RATES. THE CONTACT THEN SHUT OFF THE VEHICLE AND WHEN RESTARTING, THE VEHICLE RESUMED NORMAL BRAKING OPERATION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 110,000.

Air Bags
Filed Feb 23, 200985,663 milesNH

THE SRS (SUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAINT SYSTEM) LIGHT CAME ON AND I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. THEY FOUND AN ERROR CODE 15-1 AND THEY RESET THE LIGHT BUT SAID THEY DID NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE SRS SYSTEM. I FOUND ANOTHER COMPLAINT (#10251604) AND HAVE THE SAME QUESTION WHY THIS IS NOT REGARDED AS A SAFETY CONCERN. *TR

Air Bags
Filed Dec 12, 2008113,000 milesVA

2001 ACURA RL. SRS LIGHT IS ON. DEALER CHECKED AND FOUND PROBLEM WITH OPDS UNIT AND SENSOR AND REPLACED. AFTER REPLACEMENT, RE-INITIALIZED THE SYSTEM BUT THE SRS STAYS ON. NOW, TURN OUT THAT THE SRS CONTROL UNIT IS BAD. DEALER SAID IT WILL COST APPROX $2000 TO REPLACE THE SRS CONTROL UNIT. WHY SRS CONTROL UNIT IS NOT CONSIDERED A SAFETY ITEM? *TR

Air Bags
Filed Aug 12, 2008111,400 milesFL

2001 ACURA 3.5 RL SRS LIGHT ELLUMINATES OPDS SENSOR OR MODULE ARE REPLACEABLE UNDER WARRANTY BUT OPDS BRAIN OR UNIT IS NOT COVERED AND THIS IS THE PART THAT IS CAUSING THE SRS LIGHT TO ELLUMINATE. DEALER SAYS IT IS FAULTY AND CAN NOT BE REPLACED FREE. SO NOW I HAVE NO AIR BAGS IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT.

Power Train › Driveline › Differential Unit
Filed Feb 20, 2003NV

THE DIFFERENTIAL LEAKED OIL, WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO MAKE A NOISE.*JB

Power Train › Driveline › Differential Unit
Filed Feb 10, 2003NV

THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL WAS REPLACED 4 TIMES.*JB

Power Train › Manual Transmission
Filed Nov 7, 2001KS

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

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Oct 6, 2001TX

TRANSMISSION ON THIS MODEL FAILING ACROSS THE NATION, ACURA NOT ACKNOWLEDGING. *AK

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed May 10, 2001CA

WHILE DRIVING AT SLOWER SPEEDS, VEHICLE STALLED. TRANSIMMISON HAS BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS ACCELERATING & DECELERATING. *AK

12 of 12 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 2005
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
20152000Routine
20121600Routine
20113600Routine
20109700Routine
20098610Routine
200813600Routine
200720710Routine
200632810Routine
20051251110Routine
200411000Routine
20039100Routine
200243200Routine
2001 — this page12210Routine
200059400Routine
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.