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severe Owners of the 2005 Acura RL have filed 35 NHTSA complaints about the airbags, typically surfacing around 140,000 miles at roughly $1,100 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of August 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See airbags across all vehicles →
| Model year | airbags complaints |
|---|---|
| 2005 RL (this page) | 35 |
| 2006 RL | 9 |
| 2007 RL | 7 |
| 2008 RL | 8 |
Of the 35 airbags complaints filed for the 2005 Acura RL, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 150,000+ mi.
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
Of the 5 model years of Acura RL we track for airbags problems, this one carries the most owner complaints on file — 35.
All 7 active airbags recalls on this vehicle are classified critical — based on documented crash, fire, or fatality outcomes in NHTSA's record.
An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passengers frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants potentially resulting in serious injury or death.
An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
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 occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passengers frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants potentially resulting in serious injury or death.
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering airbags on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
Service Bulletin - Warranty Extension: Customer Support Program For Front Passenger's Airbag Inflator.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Service Bulletin - Warranty Extension: Customer Support Program For Driver's Airbag Inflator for 2013-14 ILX Hybrid and Other Listed Years and Models.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Service bulletin - This bulletin is a notification of a class action settlement relating to airbag inflators. American Honda is offering a Customer Support Program (Warranty Extension) to cover any manufacturing defects in the replacement driver's airbag inflator only.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Service Bulletin - This bulletin is a notification of a class action settlement relating to airbag inflators. American Honda is offering a Customer Support Program (Warranty Extension) to cover any manufacturing defects in the replacement driver's airbag inflator only.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Service Bulletin - This bulletin is a notification of a class action settlement relating to airbag inflators. American Honda is offering a Customer Support Program (Warranty Extension) to cover any manufacturing defects in the replacement driver's airbag inflator only.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
Owners of the 2005 Acura RL describe two main airbag problems: Takata recall delays and out-of-warranty electrical faults.
The Takata recalls (campaigns 16V061000 and 16V344000 for driver and passenger airbags) generated the most complaints. Starting in 2016, owners received recall notices but waited 72 to 87+ days for replacement parts that never arrived. Dealerships repeatedly claimed parts were on indefinite backorder, leaving owners unable to complete the repair and afraid to drive with passengers due to the known airbag rupture hazard. During these delays, some owners reported that Acura refused to provide loaner vehicles or would not cover insurance on temporary replacements.
Separate from the recall, owners reported SRS warning lights triggered by electrical faults: wiring harness shorts and sensor failures (fault codes 92-21 and 92-22). Acura denied warranty coverage once the vehicle aged out, quoting $1,300 to $3,000 for full SRS module or harness replacement. Owners cited a Technical Service Bulletin for passenger airbag collection but said they were still charged.
One owner reported a catastrophic crash where only the driver-side airbag deployed; five other units failed to deploy during a rollover, and the occupant sustained serious head and facial trauma requiring surgery.
Other owners reported passenger airbag weight sensors and driver seat belt buckle switches failing, preventing proper deployment logic, as well as visible dashboard deformation from an airbag pressing against the interior.
Owners received recall notifications (primarily campaigns 16V061000 and 16V344000 for driver/passenger airbags) but dealerships could not supply replacement parts for extended periods, leaving vehicles unsafe to drive with passengers and stranding owners without recalled repairs.
When: 2016–ongoing; vehicles with 130k–174k+ miles
Symptoms owners cite: Check airbag system warning light illuminated; Passenger airbag disabled or inoperative; Recall notification issued but parts on backorder
Codes mentioned: 16V061000, 16V344000, 14V700000, 10V504000, 13V092000
Repairs/costs cited: Takata airbag inflator and passenger airbag module replacement required; parts unavailable or on indefinite backorder; owners waited 72–87+ days without resolution.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Acura issued recall notifications but did not supply parts to dealerships in timely manner; some owners reported manufacturer would not cover loaner or rental costs during repair wait; manufacturer exceeded reasonable timeframe for recall completion.
SRS warning light illuminated intermittently or continuously due to electrical or sensor faults in the airbag control system. Owners were charged out-of-warranty repair costs of $1,300–$3,000 for wiring harness replacement or full SRS module replacement.
When: Variable timing; reported through 2014 and later model years
Symptoms owners cite: SRS/airbag warning light came on suddenly and remained illuminated; Light came on intermittently and then disappeared; Message 'passenger side airbag is off' appeared constantly on driver display
Codes mentioned: 92-21, 92-22
Repairs/costs cited: Wiring harness replacement quoted at $3,000; SRS module replacement quoted at $1,300; some owners reported Technical Service Bulletin regarding passenger airbag collection but were told it was not covered under warranty.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Acura denied warranty coverage citing age/mileage of vehicle; stated SRS out of warranty; referenced TSB for passenger airbag collection but charged consumer; no recall issued for electrical faults.
During a high-impact rollover crash at highway speed involving multiple vehicle contact, only the driver-side airbag deployed while five other airbags (passenger-side, side curtain, and seat-mounted units) failed to deploy, leaving occupants without critical protection.
When: At 130,000 miles; crash report filed
Symptoms owners cite: Only driver-side airbag deployed in multi-vehicle rollover crash; Five remaining airbags did not deploy; Vehicle flipped and landed upright; occupant sustained head trauma, facial lacerations, broken nose, detached eyelid requiring surgical repair
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle destroyed and towed to wrecking yard; no repair attempted; vehicle retrieved by owner but not repaired.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer notified; no warranty coverage or investigation details provided in narrative.
Passenger-side airbag not functioning due to multiple sensor failures: passenger weight sensor failure and driver seat belt buckle switch failure, preventing proper airbag deployment logic.
When: Not specified
Symptoms owners cite: Airbag warning light illuminated; Passenger weight sensor malfunction; Driver seat belt sensor/buckle switch malfunction; Passenger-side airbag not operational
Repairs/costs cited: Multiple sensor replacement required; repair costs not specified.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Acura refused to repair under warranty.
Passenger-side airbag visibly pressing against or leaving marks on the dashboard in the deployment area, raising concern that the airbag may deploy unexpectedly during normal driving.
When: Not specified
Symptoms owners cite: Visible marks on dashboard where airbag would deploy; Airbag applying pressure to dashboard; Owner fears unintended deployment during driving
Repairs/costs cited: No repair information provided; issue not addressed.
Synthesized from 35 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
I am question why NHTSA campaign number: 14v700000 is only in high temperature or humidity areas where there are now incidents recorded all over with the takata air bags. *tr
Tl* the contact owned a 2005 Acura rl. The contact stated that her son was driving and approached a crash that had already taken place. The victim of the crash was ejected from the vehicle and was lying in the road. The contact applied the brakes and attempted to avoid a vehicle that was stopped in the road. The contact's son swerved into the other lane and crashed into the vehicle that was…
Airbag warning light on because of a malfunction with the right side airbag inflator, as in many other Acura vehicles, and as shown by the recalls on it. Also the airbag is not working because of the passenger weight sensor is showing as not working, and the airbag is not working because the driver seat belt sensor in the buckle switch is not working either, all affecting the airbag deployment…
Tl* takata recall. The contact owns a 2005 Acura rl. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign numbers: 16v344000 (air bags) and 16v061000 (air bags). The parts needed to repair the vehicle were unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not notified of the issue. The contact had not experienced…
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 Acura rl. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 16v061000 (air bags). The parts to do the repair were unavailable. The manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was notified of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
It's a meaningful issue. 35 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $1,100.
Across the 8 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most airbags failures cluster between 130,000 and 199,000 miles, with the median around 140,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 130,000; a quarter make it past 199,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
Independent shops typically charge around $1,100 for airbags repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Yes — 7 active recall(s) cover airbags issues on this vehicle. Recall fixes are always free regardless of mileage or warranty status. Use the VIN decoder at the top of the page to check if your specific vehicle is affected.