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#BS-2005-ACURL-3CCC2005 Acura Rl
Based on reports from 153 owners and 11 recalls for this exact model.
Preliminary Verdict
Think Twice
Based on 153 complaints, 4 crashes, 1 fires, and 11 recalls.
Top reported problems
front headlamp flickering and then going out
3 complaints • Severity 8/10
stalled compressor
1 complaints • Severity 10/10
hf link stuck on
1 complaints • Severity 8/10
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Mechanic Inspection Checklist
43 owners reported lights issues — failures commonly reported around 75K miles.
Failure Timeline by Mileage
Peak failure range: 30–60K miles (26 reports) • Median: 75K miles
30,000-Mile Cost Projection
Best Case
Most Likely
Worst Case
Top cost driver: Lights (43 reports).
Also in your report
Owner Intelligence
AI-synthesized themes from real complaints
Buyer Lot Checklist
Questions, test drive checks, walk-away triggers
Negotiation Talking Points
Data-backed dollar deductions
Buy / Skip Verdict
Final recommendation with conditions
Where the complaints fall
2005 Acura Rl: Known Issues & Problem Areas
Lights Issues
Lights complaints account for 28% of all reports filed for the 2005 Acura Rl, with 43 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. The median mileage at time of complaint is 75,000 miles, suggesting issues tend to surface around the 75K-mile mark.
Airbags Issues
Airbags complaints account for 24% of all reports filed for the 2005 Acura Rl, with 36 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to airbags-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.
Electrical Issues
Electrical complaints account for 12% of all reports filed for the 2005 Acura Rl, with 18 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to electrical-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.
Exterior Lighting:headlights Issues
Exterior Lighting:headlights complaints account for 5% of all reports filed for the 2005 Acura Rl, with 7 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to exterior lighting:headlights-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.
Data sourced from NHTSA owner complaints and community reports. The full report analyzes severity, repair costs, and failure patterns for each category.
Complaint trend by year
Complaints filed with NHTSA by year for the 2005 Acura Rl. Recent trend: decreasing.
Don't negotiate blind — know what this car costs to own
Repair costs • Negotiation scripts • Mechanic checklist • Buy/skip verdict
Recall History (11 recalls)
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
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.
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:HOSE, PIPING, AND CONNECTIONS
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.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER
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 BRAKE FLUID IS USED THAT DOES NOT CONTAIN SUCH POLYMERS, OR THAT CONTAINS ONLY SMALL AMOUNTS, A PART OF THE RUBBER SEAL LOCATED AT THE REAR OF THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER MAY BECOME DRY, AND THE SEAL MAY CURL DURING MOVEMENT OF THE PISTON. IF THIS OCCURS, A SMALL AMOUNT OF BRAKE FLUID COULD SLOWLY LEAK FROM THE SEAL INTO THE BRAKE BOOSTER.
TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM
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 September 22, 2005; and model year 2005 Acura RL vehicles manufactured March 1, 2004, through June 29, 2005. An electrical capacitor may have been damaged during the manufacturing of the Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA) control module causing intermittent, automatic, minor brake application. However, if the driver applies the brakes while the VSA is malfunctioning, the vehicle may come to an abrupt stop. Additionally, due to a loose ground connection, certain model year 2005 Pilots have a VSA system that may apply partial brake force, without the illumination of the brake lights, whether or not the driver is using the brakes.
AIR BAGS
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 Ridgeline vehicles originally sold, or ever registered in California, and equipped with Takata-brand air bag inflators. Upon deployment of the passenger side frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to rupture.
+ 6 more recalls in the full report
Recall severity analysis & seller scripts
The full report rates each recall's severity and gives you scripts for asking the seller about recall completion.
The worst model year for the Acura Rl is the 2003 — worth knowing if you're cross-shopping years. The biggest problem area is electrical.
2005 Acura Rl vs. Class Average (Midsize Cars)
This vehicle
153
Class avg
244
Below the class average — fewer complaints than typical midsize cars vehicles. A good sign.
Complaint counts correlate with sales volume — popular vehicles naturally generate more reports. The full report normalizes for this.
About this data
NHTSA Complaints
Federal database of owner-filed safety complaints. 153 records for this vehicle.
NHTSA Recalls
Manufacturer-issued safety recalls. 11 recalls found for this vehicle.
Repair Cost Data
Real-world repair costs from owner reports and independent databases.
Other Acura Rl Model Years
2005 Acura Rl: Frequently Asked Questions
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What’s in the full report?
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Get the Full 2005 Acura Rl Report
10 sections of AI analysis based on 153 owner reports. Know before you buy.