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 then back on they come back on till the flickering starts again. *tr
2005 Acura RL lighting problems
moderate 40 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $250 · see lighting across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
40
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$250
1crash
When does it fail?
Of the 40 lighting complaints filed for the 2005 Acura RL, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 50,000-75,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
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.
What stands out
Lighting accounts for 32% of every owner complaint on file for this vehicle — the dominant problem area across 8 categories tracked.
Owners have filed 40 lighting complaints with NHTSA against this vehicle, but no formal recall covers the issue — the federal record reflects what manufacturers have admitted, not everything owners are reporting.
The failure pattern owners describe
Buyer takeaway: 2005 Acura RL HID headlights are plagued by intermittent dropout and flicker that unpredictably black out while driving and require toggling the switch to restore; repairs run $600–$1,750 per light with no guarantee of success, and Acura has refused recalls despite widespread owner reports. Additionally, low-beam illumination is inadequate (40–70 feet) for safe night driving on unlit roads, a design issue Acura says meets spec but buyers find unsafe.
Owners consistently describe HID headlights that flicker intermittently and go completely dark while driving—sometimes one side, sometimes both—requiring the driver to turn the lights off and back on to restore them. This happens at any mileage, from 50,000 to over 238,000 miles, and can occur several times per drive or sporadically over weeks. Many report the problem worsens over time and correlates with bumps, turns, hills, or weather changes like rain and humidity, though the pattern is unpredictable.
A separate issue affects the vertical auto-leveling (AFS) headlights: owners report they illuminate only 40–70 feet ahead on unlit roads, forcing speeds under 20 mph to avoid overdriving the lights. On hills or over bumps, the beams adjust downward further, creating unsafe visibility. Dealers have told owners this is normal and within spec.
Repair costs are substantial. Owners cite $200–$300 for bulb replacement (requiring bumper removal), $600–$1,200 for ballast or inverter replacement, and up to $1,750 for full electrical diagnosis. Several owners mention dealer diagnostic efforts failed to replicate the flicker. One owner had the SOP HID control unit replaced for $554 without resolution. Acura has refused recalls despite owners reporting this as a widespread 2005–2006 RL pattern on online forums.
Failure modes owners describe
HID Headlight Intermittent Flicker and Complete Dropout
Headlights flicker on and off intermittently while driving, then go completely dark. Problem recurs unpredictably—sometimes several times per drive, sometimes weeks between incidents. One or both lights can fail. Toggling the light switch off and on restores illumination temporarily.
When: Any mileage; incidents reported from 50,000 to 238,000 miles; problem present since original purchase or early ownership
Symptoms owners cite: Headlights flicker and cut out while driving; One or both low beams fail to illuminate; Momentary restoration by switching lights off/on; Increasingly frequent failures over time; Triggered or worsened by bumps, turns, hills, rain, humidity
Repairs/costs cited: $200–$300 per bulb replacement (bumper removal required); $600–$1,200 per light ballast/inverter replacement; $1,750 reported for full electrical diagnosis. Dealer diagnostic testing often fails to replicate the problem.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Acura refuses to acknowledge the defect or issue a recall despite multiple owner complaints over many years. Dealerships deny problem exists or claim it is normal operation. One owner had SOP HID control unit replaced for $553.95 without resolution. Out-of-warranty vehicles denied service.
Inadequate Low-Beam Illumination Distance
Low-beam headlights illuminate only 40–70 feet ahead on unlit roads, well below safe visibility for highway speeds. Beams adjust downward when vehicle climbs hills or passes over bumps, further reducing road visibility. Dealers confirm this is designed behavior and within specification, but owners consider it unsafe.
When: Present from initial ownership
Symptoms owners cite: Low-beam headlights shine 40–70 feet ahead on unlit roads; Insufficient visibility for speeds above 20 mph; Beams drop further when driving uphill or over bumps; Cannot see road hazards or pedestrians at normal highway speeds; Cannot read street signs or see upcoming turns
Repairs/costs cited: Dealers state no adjustment is possible and lights meet DOT specification. No repair offered.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Acura and dealers confirmed this is normal and within specification; no recall or remedy offered.
AFS (Auto-Leveling) System Malfunction
AFS warning light illuminates and stays on. Headlight does not track or adjust properly, often triggered by rain or snow. One complaint linked to crash damage but owner notes AFS light was not triggered by the accident, suggesting pre-existing defect.
When: Reported during normal operation; one case post-accident
Symptoms owners cite: AFS warning light illuminated and remains on; Headlights do not track side-to-side as intended; Problem worsens in rain or snow conditions
Codes mentioned: AFS light
Repairs/costs cited: No repair costs cited in complaints.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No manufacturer response noted in narratives.
Synthesized from 40 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 9 most recent
Headlights flicker when car hit bumps or when headlights turn. It is very annoying. The flickering comes and goes, but it is getting more frequent. Have called the dealer about taking the car in and will make an appointment to take my cpo rl to dealer for inspection this week. Car has 56k miles and it is a cpo Acura. *tr
2205 rl headlight briefly go out when I hit a bump in the road. Has been happening for past 6 months but now I am noticing it happening more frequently. Very dangerous at night. *tr
I have a 2005 Acura rl. The headlights flicker and periodically go out. The only way to get them to come back on is if I turn the headlights off and then back on. This, of course, happens at night and is extremely dangerous when I'm traveling down the road at 65 MPH! This has been occurring for the past 4 months. The dealer replaced the sop HID control unit two days ago and it has not fixed…
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 so bad at times that I have to do it repeatedly while I'm driving. I do most of my driving at night…
2005 Acura rl: head lights flicker when hitting bump in the road. Occurs daily (nightly) now and getting worse. I expect they will eventually go out. Now getting quotes to correct. Hundreds of dollars and probably over $1000 that I don't think I should pay. *tr
Driving on mountain road at night. Headlights flicker, with one side going out, turn key off then restart and all is well until you hit a bump in the road or turn a sharp corner. *tr
Ref 2005 Acura rl the high beam headlights do not shine far enough down the road. I was driving in vermont on dark country roads and almost hit a tree. Driving at the speed limit of 50 MPH I outrun the lights. Acura says there is no way to adjust the halogen lights & that the parameters were approved by DOT. I feel that a mistake has been made on your part that will result in unnecessary…
The headlights on the 2005 Acura rl do not provide sufficient light unless the high beam is engaged which you often cannot do. *nm
Had lighting trouble with your 2005 Acura RL?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the lighting problem on the 2005 Acura RL?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 40 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $250 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the lighting typically fail?
Across the 29 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most lighting failures cluster between 56,000 and 118,000 miles, with the median around 75,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 56,000; a quarter make it past 118,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $250 for lighting 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.
Are there any recalls related to lighting?
No active recalls currently cover lighting issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2005/Acura/RL.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.