Acura RL problems
0 safety recalls. 125 owner complaints. We mapped every trouble spot before you sign the papers.
Solid reliability overall. Common issues are concentrated in a few systems.
Top trouble spots 8 categories with 3+ complaints
What owners are saying recent NHTSA-filed complaints · verbatim
DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE MIRRORS BECAME DANGEROUSLY LOOSE. SERVICE BULLETIN 08-022 ISSUED JUNE 7, 2008 BY ACURA WARNING "PROBABLE CAUSE: THE BOLTS FASTENING THE MIRROR HOUSING TO THE MIRROR BASE WERE NOT PROPERLY TORQUED." MIRRORS MUST BE REPLACED AT COST OF $750 EACH TO…
2005 ACURA RL BROKE DOWN WITHIN 10 MILES OF DEALERSHIP IMMEDIATELY AFTER PURCHASE. VEHICLE HAS ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. *BF ON EACH BREAKDOWN, THE SH-AWD AND VSA WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AT THE SAME TIME. THE NAVIGATION SCREEN WHICH CONTROLLED ALL OF THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM…
GLOVE BOX MATERIAL IS MELTING AND SAGGING. ITHE GLOVE BOX MATERIAL HAS ALSO "ORANGE PEELED". WHEN GOOGLED, THIS IS A WIDESPREAD AND COMMON PROBLEM WITH ACURA'S BETWEEN 2005-2007. A DEFECTIVE MATERIAL WAS USED ON THE GLOVE BOX.
PASSENGER SIDE LOW BEAM FLICKERS AND WILL COMPLETELY GO OFF. HAVE TAKEN INTO DEALER WITH NO RESULTS (CLAIM THEY COULD NOT FIND THE PROBLEM). THIS I BELIEVE IS A SAFETY ISSUE. PEOPLE HAVE COMPLAINED OF THIS SINCE 2005 WITH NO SOLUTION. IF WHEN DRIVING YOU TURN YOUR LIGHTS OFF…
Estimate your repair exposure
Drag to your current mileage. Numbers are derived from this vehicle's complaint history.
Common questions
Is the 2005 Acura RL reliable?
Mostly yes. With a reliability score of 7.6 out of 10 based on 125 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2005 Acura RL is generally a sound vehicle. The areas to watch are listed in the top problem section above — most are budget items, not deal-breakers.
What's the most common problem on the 2005 Acura RL?
Based on NHTSA records, the most-reported issue is lighting, with 40 complaints filed. Average repair cost runs about $250 at an independent shop.
What's the most expensive thing that goes wrong?
The lighting is one of the costlier repair items. Average repair cost runs about $250 at an independent shop. Catching early warning signs can sometimes extend life by 20–30,000 miles.
How do I check if my Acura RL has open recalls?
Paste your VIN into the decoder at the top of this page. We pull live from NHTSA, so you'll see exactly which campaigns apply to your vehicle and whether the dealer has logged the fix. Recall repairs are always free regardless of mileage or warranty status.
Is an extended warranty worth it on a 2005 Acura RL?
Math is straightforward: a quality service contract runs $1,800–3,500 over 3 years. With 125 complaints on file and the costliest repair averaging $250, one major failure more than pays for it. The catch is reading the contract — many providers exclude wear items and require pre-authorization, so cheaper plans aren't always better value.