Acura RL problems
Light NHTSA footprint — 8 owner complaints. Either a clean record or thin data; we'll show what's there.
Limited NHTSA data — only 8 complaints on file. The score reflects what's reported, but a small sample skews easily.
Only 8 NHTSA complaints on file — too few for a confident reliability call. Could be a clean record or just thin data.
Our read of the federal NHTSA complaint and recall record for this exact year and model — not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection. How we score.
What owners are saying recent NHTSA-filed complaints · verbatim
Tl* takata recall. The contact owns a 2009 Acura rl. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 16v344000 (air bags); however, the part to do the repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall…
Tl*the contact owns a 2009 Acura rl. The contact noticed that the wheel wells on his vehicle collected water anytime it rained or if moisture was present on the road surface. He stated that it seemed as if there were pockets on the wheels. The contact slipped while walking in…
The front passenger door handle started smoking and burning on my vehicle. It melted part of the door handle and left most of the electrical equipment inoperative including the inability to start the car. The vehicle was parked/stationary & off at the time of occurrence.
My husband drove onto a sloped driveway (uphill) and left the car running, got out and rang the doorbell to our daughter's house to see if anyone was home. They answered the door and he came back to the car and motioned for me to get out of car and come into house. He remembered…
Common questions
Is the 2009 Acura RL reliable?
Limited NHTSA data. Only 8 owner complaints have been filed for the 2009 Acura RL, which is not enough for a meaningful reliability score. Active recalls (if any) are listed on this page and remain authoritative — those are verified defects regardless of complaint volume. For a confident reliability read we look for at least 10 owner complaints in the federal database.
Should you avoid the 2009 Acura RL?
Only 8 NHTSA complaints on file — too few for a confident reliability call. Could be a clean record or just thin data. We don't issue a buy/avoid verdict on the 2009 Acura RL without a meaningful complaint sample — doing so off a handful of filings would be guesswork.
What's the most common problem on the 2009 Acura RL?
No problem area has crossed our reporting threshold yet, which is a good sign for this vehicle.
What's the most expensive thing that goes wrong?
Major repair items haven't been flagged often enough on this vehicle to single one out.
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 2009 Acura RL?
Hard to say from NHTSA data alone with only 8 complaints on file. A quality service contract runs $1,800–3,500 over 3 years. The decision comes down to your specific situation: vehicle cost, miles on it, how long you plan to keep it, and whether you can absorb a $3K–$8K repair without straining cashflow. With limited public data on this vehicle, lean on the recall list above and check owner forums before committing.