Service News - The navigation clock and date are incorrect. This is due to a limited GPS receiver capacity resulting in rollover of internal chip memory. The rollover occurred on January 1, 2022 at 12:00AM local time
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2006 Acura RL electrical problems
severe Owners of the 2006 Acura RL have filed 7 NHTSA complaints about the electrical at roughly $850 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of August 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See electrical across all vehicles →
Complaints
7
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$850
| Model year | electrical complaints |
|---|---|
| 2005 RL | 16 |
| 2006 RL (this page) | 7 |
1crash
1fire
1injury
When does it fail?
Of the 7 electrical complaints filed for the 2006 Acura RL, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 25,000-50,000 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
Electrical accounts for 22% of all owner complaints filed against this vehicle, across 4 categories tracked.
No new NHTSA electrical complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 16 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering electrical 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.
ServiceNews Article - The clock shows the incorrect time. This issue is due to a limited GPS receiver capacity resulting in "rollover" of the internal chip memory; the "rollover" will occur on January 1, 2022, at 12:00AM local time. As a result, the navigation date and time will be incorrect.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Tech line summary article - Can?t get past this screen when adding keys with the Immobilizer Setup Tool in the i-HDS? "Tester is not communicating with immobilizer unit". Here?s an easy workaround to restore communication. 1. Release the built-in key from the keyless access remote. 2. Remove the ignition switch cover. To do this, just insert the key into the slot in the bottom of the cover, push the key all the way in, then pull out on the cover and the key. 3. Insert the key into the ignition switch, then turn it to ON. 4. Select OK on the i-HDS screen to continue.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗ACURA: UPDATE ON SOME MODEL VEHICLES REGARDING TESTING OF ALTERNATORS WITH THE GR8 ALTERNATOR/STARTER TESTER (AST) MODULE THAT IS INSTALLED ON GR8 DIAGNOSTIC BATTERY STATION.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗ACURA: WARRANTY EXTENSION: VEHICLE WARRANTY MILEAGE. A FEDERAL COURT PROVIDED FINAL APPROVAL OF THE SETTLEMENT OF A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT ALLEGING THAT THE ODOMETERS ON CERTAIN MODELS WERE OVERSTATING MILEAGE. VEHICLES AFFECTED BY THIS SETTLEMENT INCLUDE CERTAIN 2002-2006. ON AFFECTED VEHICLES, THE SETTLEMENT REQUIRES YOU TO HONOR A 5 PERCENT INCREASE IN THE MILEAGE COVERAGE PERIOD FOR ALL WARRANTIES. NO MODELS WERE LISTED.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
What owners are reporting 2 most recent
On 4 occasions since buying car in 2006 reported that intermittently car lurched forward when lifting foot off brake. Dealership found no defects on 4 separate checks. Aug 13had this sudden acceleration' occur in heavy traffic. Totalled car,damaged 4 others. *tr
In 2008 I bought a 2006 Acura rl that after 8 months caught fire while is parked overnight, the fire inspector deemed electrical due to faulty electric in door channel overhead. I subsequently bought another of the same Acura rl 2006 as of 6 weeks ago the air conditioning system was faulty and by the Acura dealer deemed electrical. Now the same car when I started last week had all the electrical…
Had electrical trouble with your 2006 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 electrical problem on the 2006 Acura RL?
It's a meaningful issue. 7 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $850.
At what mileage does the electrical typically fail?
Based on the 7 complaints filed, electrical issues most often appear around 68,000 miles. Some report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 with no symptoms. Maintenance habits matter — vehicles that received timely fluid services and were not regularly overworked tend to last longer.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $850 for electrical 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 electrical?
No active recalls currently cover electrical 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/2006/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.