repaired · 2020 Q4
Passenger side: inflator module
Risk. An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
2005 Acura RLProblems, recalls & complaints
NHTSA has logged 125 owner complaints about the 2005 Acura RL, most often about the exterior lighting. It is covered by 11 safety recalls, and for recall 19V-501 the manufacturer reports only 42% of affected cars repaired.
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through April 26, 2025. Updated daily. Photo: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Public domain.
Complaints by system
Where the 2005 Acura RL has problems
125 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.
49Exterior lighting1 crash/fire/injury
36Air bags1 crash/fire/injury
18Electrical system1 crash/fire/injury
7Structure
7Service brakes, hydraulic
4Vehicle speed control
3Power train
3Suspension
3Equipment
1611 other systems
| System | Complaints | Crash, fire or injury |
|---|---|---|
| Exterior lighting | 49 | 1 |
| Air bags | 36 | 1 |
| Electrical system | 18 | 1 |
| Structure | 7 | 1 |
| Service brakes, hydraulic | 7 | 1 |
| Vehicle speed control | 4 | 1 |
| Power train | 3 | 0 |
| Suspension | 3 | 0 |
| Equipment | 3 | 0 |
| 11 other systems | 16 | 0 |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.
11 recalls
2005 Acura RL recalls and how many were fixed
Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
repaired · 2020 Q4
Driver side: inflator module
Risk. An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
repaired · 2018 Q2
Passenger side: inflator module
Risk. An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
repaired · 2017 Q3
Passenger side: inflator module
Risk. An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Show 7 more recalls
repaired · 2018 Q2
Driver side: inflator module
Risk. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the driver or other…
repaired · 2016 Q1
Air bags
Risk. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passengers frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the vehicle…
repaired · 2015 Q4
Air bags
Risk. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passengers frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the vehicle…
no report yet
Antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip: control unit/module
Risk. Sudden inadvertent braking, especially without illumination of the brake lights, may increase the risk of a vehicle crash.
no report yet
Foundation components: master cylinder
Risk. A LEAK OF BRAKE FLUID COULD LEAD TO A CHANGE IN BRAKE PEDAL FEEL AND OVERTIME A DEGRADATION IN BRAKING PERFORMANCE INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
no report yet
Hydraulic power assist: hose, piping, and connections
Risk. POWER STEERING FLUID LEAKING ONTO A HOT CATALYTIC CONVERTER WILL GENERATE SMOKE AND POSSIBLY LEAD TO AN UNDER-HOOD FIRE.
no report yet
Delivery: fuel pump
Risk. IF THE FUEL PUMP LOSES POWER WHILE DRIVING, THE ENGINE COULD STALL WITHOUT WARNING, AND A CRASH COULD OCCUR.
Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with Acura.
Mileage at failure
When do exterior lighting problems start?
74kmiles, median
Based on the odometer reading in 39 exterior lighting complaints. 67% were reported before 100,000 miles.
3under 30k miles26under 100k miles13100k miles or more
Owner-reported costs
What owners say repairs cost
Dollar amounts owners wrote in their complaints when describing a repair or a quote. These are not price estimates; a system is shown only when at least 8 owners mentioned a cost.
Exterior lighting
10 owners mentioned a cost$1,000median
Middle half: $1,000 – $1,150
If a problem is covered by a recall, the dealer fixes it for free. Some manufacturers also reimburse owners who paid for a repair before a recall was announced.
Best & worst years
2005 vs. every other RL year
Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the RL median. How we score
'96'97'98'99'00'01'02'03'04'05'06'07'08'09'10'11'12'15
- Avoid
- Caution
- Solid
- Best
- Not rated
NHTSA crash tests
2005 Acura RL safety ratings
2005 Acura RL 4-DR. w/SAB in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.
Frontal crashNot rated
Side barrierNot rated
- Rollover: 5 stars (9.7% risk)
- Stability control: Standard
- Forward collision warning: No
- Lane departure warning: No
3 investigations
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal investigations that included the 2005 Acura RL, and the recalls they led to.
- Vehicle Stability Assist MalfunctionLed to recall 13V-092
- Air Bag Inflator RuptureLed to recall 14V-668
- Air Bag Inflator RuptureLed to recall 13V-172
In owners' words
What RL owners report
Recent exterior lighting complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.
CHECK AIRBAG SYSTEM LIGHT ON. CONNECTION TO HEADLIGHT DEFECTIVE, HEADLIGHT TURNS ON AND OFF RANDOMLY LIKE WHEN GOING OVER A BUMP, BUT TURNS BACK ON IF YOU TURN LIGHT OFF THEN ON AGAIN.
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. I CAN GET THE HEADLLIGHT TO COME BACK ON BY TURNING OFF THE HEADLIGHTS AND TURNING THEM BACK ON. THE PROBLEM CAN BE…
THE HEADLIGHTS INTERMITTENTLY GO OFF WHILE DRIVING. SOMETIMES ITS ONE AND SOMETIMES BOTH. YOU HAVE TO TURN THE LIGHTS OFF AND BACK ON AND THEY TURN BACK ON. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE.
Own a 2005 RL?
Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.