2001 Acura Rl
The Verdict
The 2001 Acura Rl has 25 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. The most reported issues are transmission (8 complaints) and electrical (7 complaints). With a Klunk Score of 94/100, it earns a "Smooth Ride" rating. If you're shopping for a Acura Rl, consider the 2012 model year which has 96% fewer complaints.
Safe Bet
The 2012 has 96% fewer complaints
View the 2012 Acura Rl dashboard →
Klunk Score: Smooth Ride
This vehicle year has significantly fewer complaints than average. A reliable choice.
How is this calculated?
The Klunk Score ranks this vehicle year against all others in our database based on total owner complaints filed with NHTSA. 100 = fewest complaints (top tier), 0 = most complained-about. Scores above 60 are better than average; below 40 means more problems than most.
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Under the Hood
Each number is a complaint. Darker = bigger problem.
By Category
By Severity
Worst Problems
Complaints
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
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.
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
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.
2001 ACURA MDX TRANSMISSION FAILURE, NEEDS ANOTHER TRANSMISSION, 1ST TRANSMISSION REPLACED AT 63K, NEEDED A 2ND TRANSMISSION AT 125K, NOW A 3RD TRANSMISSION AT 175K. *TR
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
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
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.
THE DIFFERENTIAL LEAKED OIL, WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO MAKE A NOISE.*JB
THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL WAS REPLACED 4 TIMES.*JB
MICHILIN, RADIAL, P21550R1793V DOTB98CTTX1300 REPLACEMENTS. TIRE IS BLOWING OUT AROUND SIDEWALL EVERY 6000 MILES.*AK
WHEN VEHICLE WAS PLACED IN REVERSE AND FOOT WAS ON BRAKE VEHICLE ACCELERATED. *AK
THE TRUCK WAS STOPPED AT A LIGHT. SUDDENLY, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO JERK FORWARD. WE TOOK OFF FROM THE LIGHT AND THE TRUCK BEGAN TO VIOLENTLY JERK AS IF SOMEONE WAS JAMMING ON THE BRAKE. THE ENGINE LIGHT AND 4 WHEEL DRIVE LIGHT CAME ON. THE TRUCK BECAME UNDRIVEABLE AND HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE TISCHER DEALER. THE TRUCK WAS REPAIRED AND WE WERE TOLD IT WAS THE AIR INTAKE VALVE. I'M ISSUING THIS COMPLAINT BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY A BRAND NEW LUXURY TRUCK SHOULD NOT EXPERIENCE THIS TYPE OF PROBLEM SO SOON IN ITS LIFE. IT IS ALSO, OBVIOUSLY, A DEFECT IN THE PART. THE DEFECT MAY EXTEND BEYOND JUST OUR TRUCK SO WE ARE ALERTING NHTSA TO TRACK. *AK
MY 2001 ACURA MDX HAS A DEFECTIVE AIRBAG (SRS) SYSTEM. THREE TIMES IN THE LAST 12 MONTHS, IT HAS DISABLED ITSELF WHEN DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY IN HEAVY RAIN. IT HAS FAILED IN EXACTLY THE SAME VERY DANGEROUS CONDITIONS EACH TIME. IT STAYS DISABLED UNTIL I CAN GET AN APPOINTMENT WITH AN ACURA DEALER TO REACTIVATE IT, WHICH IS A REAL HASSLE. THE DEALER SAYS THEY HAVE NO WAY TO FIX IT. THEY TOLD ME THAT ACURA IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND CAN'T FIGURE OUT WHAT TO DO, AND ARE REFUSING TO REPLACE THE APPARENT DEFECT UNIT. THE DEALER'S SOLUTION TO THIS SERIOUS SAFETY DEFECT: "CHANGE YOUR DRIVING HABITS". THIS SOLUTION IS VERY UNACCEPTABLE. *AK
IT TOOK OVER A MONTH TO HAVE CAR REPAIRED, RESEAN BEING - OVER 50 TRANSMISSIONS WERE ON BACK ORDER. THAT GOSE TO SHOW THAT THERE ARE MANY MORE WHO ARE HAVING THIS SAME PROBLEM. THANK-YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND HELP...ZIA YUSUF
TRANSMISSION FAILURES THIS MAY BE A SAFETY HAZARD. IF THE TRANSMISSION FAILURE OCCURS WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE, THE VEHICLE SOMETIMES SLOWS DOWN ABRUPTLY, ESPECIALLY WHEN THE DRIVER IS ACCELERATING. FOR EXAMPLE, WHEN TRYING TO PASS SOMEONE, THE TRANSMISSION WILL SUDDENLY LEAVE THE ENGINE REVVING HIGH, BUT THE CAR WON T ACTUALLY ACCELERATE AND ACTUALLY SLOWS DOWN, SOMETIMES VERY NOTICEABLY. THIS CAN CAUSE SOMEONE TO REAR END YOU IF THEY RE COMING UP FROM BEHIND YOU NOT EXPECTING YOU TO SUDDENLY COME TO HALT FOR NO APPARENT REASON.
TRANSMISSION GRINDS WHEN UPSHIFTING FROM FIRST GEAR INTO SECOND GEAR.*AK
TRANSMISSION ON THIS MODEL FAILING ACROSS THE NATION, ACURA NOT ACKNOWLEDGING. *AK
FRONT ROTORS WARP DUE TO METALLIC BRAKE PADS UNDER NORMAL USE RESULTING IN INCREASE OF NORMAL BRAKING DISTANCE *AK
FUEL TANK OVERFLOWS ON GAS FILUP - EVEN AFTER GAS SHUTS OFF, GAS COMES UP AND OUT OF TANK AT THE FILLER HOLE SPILLING ONTO SIDE OF CAR AND REAR WHEEL AND REAL WHEEL BRAKE ROTOR. HAPPENED TWICE ON 4 FILLUPS (SO FAR), WITHOUT TOPPING OFF, USING DIFFERENT GAS STATIONS/PUMPS.*AK
25 total