FaultScore

Acura RL transmission problems

42 of the 525 complaints filed about the Acura RL are about the transmission — 8% of everything owners reported. The worst model year for it is 2002.

42

Complaints

8%

Share of all complaints

1

Crashes

0

Fires

Transmission & Drivetrain complaints by model year

1996 RL 3 7.1%
1997 RL 4 9.5%

Median failure at 127,216 miles

1998 RL 3 7.1%
1999 RL 2 4.8%

Median failure at 154,000 miles

2000 RL 7 16.7%

Median failure at 159,000 miles

2001 RL 5 11.9%
2002 RL 10 23.8%

Median failure at 46,059 miles

2003 RL 1 2.4%

Median failure at 132,000 miles

2004 RL 1 2.4%

Median failure at 122,000 miles

2005 RL 3 7.1%

Median failure at 76,205 miles

2006 RL 1 2.4%

Median failure at 61,000 miles

2007 RL 1 2.4%
2009 RL 1 2.4%

Median failure at 73,320 miles

What owners said

2007 Acura RL Kalamazoo, MI

POWER TRAIN

SH-AWD will randomly come on and I’ll lose power suddenly as it switches from awd to front wheel drive. It can be scary especially if you are accelerating to get up to speed for the freeway or trying to take a quick left hand turn. The whole car shutters while the awd kicks off. It happens randomly, it has probably happened 15-20 I’ve the last few years

NHTSA complaint #11723509 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2002 Acura RL Houston, TX

POWER TRAIN

RACK AND PINION REPLACEMENT. EXTERIOR ISSUES: REAR BUMPER FELLED OFF; GASOLINE COVER WON'T CLOSED; DOOR HANDLES FALLING OFF; FUEL PUMP NEEDS REPLACEMENT

NHTSA complaint #11404011 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2004 Acura RL at 122,000 miles Winterhaven, CA

POWER TRAIN

THE POWER STEERING LINE IS POURING OUT THE FLUID AND BURNS UNDER THE CAR CAUSING SMOKE

NHTSA complaint #11040280 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2006 Acura RL at 61,000 miles Walford Iowa, IA

POWER TRAIN

TORQUE CONVERTER FAILURE WITH 61000 MILES. SLIPPAGE AND RUMBLE NOTED AT 45MPH AND 1550 RPMS. LURCHES AT TURNS FROM STOPPED POSITION.

NHTSA complaint #10957812 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2005 Acura RL at 90,000 miles Severn, MD

POWER TRAIN

ENGINE RUNNING BUT NO ACCELERATION. SHUT OFF AND RESTART ENABLED 3 DAYS OF DRIVING WITH NO FURTHER ISSUES. SHOP DECLARED, " ... LOOSE BATTERY CABLE." (SEEMS NOT LIKELY) INCIDENT WAS ON US 3-LANE HIGHWAY IN TRAFFIC WITH SPEEDS POSTED AT 65 MPH UPDATED 01/31/17

NHTSA complaint #10881648 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2000 Acura RL at 159,000 miles Memphis, TN

POWER TRAIN

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 ACURA RL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT A BOLT PREMATURELY FRACTURED INTERNALLY ASSOCIATED WITH THE TRANSMISSION AND THE GEAR TRAIN DIFFERENTIAL FAILED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THERE WAS A DRASTIC REDUCTION IN SPEED AND THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL DID NOT RESPOND. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A REPAIR SHOP WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE GEAR TRAIN DIFFERENTIAL NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 99V227000 (POWER TRAIN). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND PROVIDED NO REMEDY. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 159,000.

NHTSA complaint #10790254 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2003 Acura RL at 132,000 miles Wooster, OH

POWER TRAIN

WAS DRIVING ON INTERSTATE 71 NORTH, AT THE POSTED SPEED LIMIT (70) WHEN THE CAR STOPPED RUNNING. ALL DASH WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON. THE ENGINE STOPPED RUNNING, SO ALL OF THE POWER-ASSIST STOPPED WORKING. I PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP, TURNED OFF THE IGNITION AND TRIED TO RESTART THE CAR. I TURNED THE IGNITION KEY AND THE CAR STARTED AND RAN WITHOUT ANY PROBLEMS. THIS HAS NOW HAPPENED 6 MORE TIMES. THE MOST RECENT TIME WAS AFTER 6PM ON MONDAY JUNE 22ND. THIS TIME, AFTER RESTARTING THE CAR, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STAYED ON. I TOOK THE CAR TO MY LOCAL SERVICE GARAGE AND THEY DIAGNOSED THE FAULTY IGNITION SWITCH. I HAVE CHECKED NUMEROUS SITES ON THE INTERNET AND FOUND MANY OTHER PEOPLE HAVE HAD THE SAME ISSUE WITH HONDA AND ACURA PRODUCTS. I CONTACTED ACURA, TO SEE IF THERE HAD EVER BEEN A RECALL, THEY TOLD ME THERE HAD NOT. I AM SHOCKED TO LEARN THAT HUNDREDS IF NOT THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE HAVE HAD THEIR CARS STOP RUNNING, WITH NO NOTICE, AND THERE HAS BEEN NO ACTION BY THE MANUFACTURER!!

NHTSA complaint #10730303 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2000 Acura RL at 76,500 miles OLD Bethpage, NY

POWER TRAIN

WHILE STOPPED IN TRAFFIC, UPON ACCELERATION. ENGINE STALLED. VEHICLE PLACED IN PARK AND CAR WAS RESTARTED AND DRIVEN AWAY. MAIN FUEL RELAY WAS REPLACED. PER ACURA SERVICE BULLETIN 01-044, THE INCIDENT THAT OCCURRED COULD BE DUE TO A FAILED POWERTRAIN CONTROL MODULE. PER ACURA SERVICE BULLETIN 01-044, THERE WAS AN UPDATED POWERTRAIN CONTROL MODULE, BUT THIS PART HAS SINCE BEEN DISCONTINUED AND IS NO LONGER BEING PRODUCED BY ACURA. I HAVE CALLED ACURA CUSTOMER SERVICE WHO STATED THAT EVEN THOUGH THEY ARE AWARE OF THE CIRCUMSTANCES PER TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN 01-044, THERE IS NOTHING THEY ARE ABLE TO DO TO REPAIR THE CAR. I FEEL THAT THIS IS A SAFETY RELATED ISSUE DUE TO THE RISK THAT THE VEHICLE HAS THE POTENTIAL TO CONTINUE TO STALL AND CANNOT BE REPAIRED.

NHTSA complaint #10640035 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2000 Acura RL at 164,366 miles Denham Springs, LA

POWER TRAIN

AT A RED LIGHT STOPPED. WHEN LIGHT TURNED GREEN I PRESSED ACCELERATOR TO GO AND IT JUST STALLED WITH THE ENGINE REVVING UP. FINALLY IT STARTED MOVING FORWARD SLOWLY.

NHTSA complaint #10594340 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2009 Acura RL at 73,320 miles Littleton, CO 1 injured

POWER TRAIN

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 HE HAD LEFT THE CAR RUNNING, SO AS I GOT OUT OF THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT, HE REACHED IN AND TURNED THE IGNITION OFF. I TURNED TOWARD THE BACK OF CAR TO GET SOMETHING OUT OF THE BACK SEAT. THE FRONT PASSENGER DOOR WAS STILL OPEN ALL THE WAY. THE CAR STARTED ROLLING BACKWARD DOWN THE DRIVEWAY, I TRIED TO RUN BUT THE DOOR HIT ME KNOCKED ME FACE DOWN ON THE ASPHALT OF THE STREET, AND THE BOTTOM OF THE OPEN FRONT DOOR SCRAPED OVER ME, ABRADING MY HEEL, BACK, AND LACERATING MY HEAD. WHEN MY FACE HIT THE ASPHALT, MY TWO UPPER FRONT TEETH GROUND INTO THE ASPHALT, BOTH HANDS TRYING TO BREAK MY FALL, AND BOTH KNEES CRASHING ON THE STREET SURFACE. I SUFFERED FRACTURES OF BOTH UPPER INCISORS, A 1 INCH LACERATION TO BACK OF SCALP, SPRAINED R THUMB, ABRASIONS OF BOTH HANDS AND BOTH KNEES. I PROCEEDED TO HAVE A RATHER SIGNIFICANT ASTHMA ATTACK FOR SEVERAL HOURS AFTERWARD AND I THOUGHT I HAD ASPIRATED SOME OF THE TOOTH FRAGMENTS THAT BROKE OFF. I SPENT 3 HOURS IN ER GETTING CHEST AND ANKLE XRAYS AND GETTING THE LACERATION STAPLED. THERE WAS NO WARNING SIGNAL AND NO CLUE THAT TURNING THE ENGINE OFF WOULD LET THE CAR ROLL WHEN IT HAD STAYED STABLE WHEN ENGINE WAS RUNNING. THE CAR CONTINUED BACKWARD ACROSS THE STREET AFTER ROLLING OVER ME AND ENDED UP ON THE LAWN OF THE NEIGHBOR ACROSS THE STREET. IT SEEMS THERE SHOULD BE A WARNING SIGNAL OR SAFETY MECHANISM TO PREVENT THE CAR FROM BEING TURNED OFF IF IT IS NOT IN THE PROPER GEAR OR IF HAS SOMEHOW POPPED OUT OF PARK.

NHTSA complaint #10568056 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2005 Acura RL at 76,205 miles Jeffersonhills, PA

POWER TRAIN

ASSORTED LIGHT CAME ON ACROSS DASH BOARD (WARNING LIGHT) THEN THE TRANSMISSION BEGAN TO START SLIPPING,I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO DEALER. DEALER TELL ME THAT THE SHIFT SOLENOID WENT BAD, REPLACE SHIFT SOLENOID 10/24/2012,I HAD TO REPLACE TRANSMISSION 11/27/2013. ANYTIME THERE WAS AN ISSUE MY CAR I HAD IT SERVICES AND KEPT UP WITH MY MAINTENANCE.

NHTSA complaint #10560783 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2005 Acura RL at 40,000 miles Laguna Hills, CA

POWER TRAIN

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 ACURA RL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE STOPPED SUDDENLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION WHERE THEY ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THAT THEY COULD NOT DIAGNOSE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED BUT PROVIDED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000.

NHTSA complaint #10503180 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1999 Acura RL at 170,000 miles Atlanta, GA

POWER TRAIN

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 ACURA RL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ACCELERATING FROM A TRAFFIC STOP, THE VEHICLE EXHIBITED A LOUD NOISE AND FAILED TO ACCELERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 170,000.

NHTSA complaint #10490803 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1999 Acura RL at 138,000 miles Atlantic Beach, FL

POWER TRAIN

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 ACURA RL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EMITTED A LOUD NOISE AND STALLED ON THE HIGHWAY. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED, BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 99V227000 (POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 138,000.

NHTSA complaint #10454661 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2000 Acura RL Denham Springs, LA

POWER TRAIN

I AM HAVING DIFFICULTIES WITH MY IGNITION SWITCH NOT WORKING AT TIMES. WHEN I ATTEMPT TO START MY VEHICLE AFTER TURNING THE KEY IN THE IGNITION, IT WON'T START. WHEN I TAKE THE KEY OUT OF THE IGNITION AND PLACE IT BACK IN ABOUT THE THIRD OR FOURTH TIME TO TRY AND START IT, IT EVENTUALLY STARTS. I JUST RECENTLY REPLACED MY STARTER AND BATTERY THINKING THIS WAS THE PROBLEM, BUT IT IS NOT. PLEASE HELP!

NHTSA complaint #10430276 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1997 Acura RL at 147,000 miles SAN Diego, CA

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

1) WHILE EXITING A SHOPPING MALL PARKING INTO THE STREET I HEARD A SUDDEN LOUD NOISE FOLLOWED BY A LOUD GRINDING SOUND. MY VEHICLE STOPPED DEAD IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET. WHEN WE PUSHED THE VEHICLE TO THE CURB SIDE, AND PUT IT IN PARK IT STARTED ROLLING DOWNHILL TILL I PULLED THE HAND BRAKE. 2) THE FAILURE WAS IN THE SAME AREA FOR WHICH MY VEHICLE WAS RECALLED PREVIOUSLY. (99V227000) THE SPLINE OF THE SHAFT THAT CONNECTS THE DIFFERENTIAL TO THE TRANSMISSION HAD FAILED. 3) THIS SHAFT AND THE TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REPLACED. I HAVE THE PARTS. NOTE: THIS FAILURE COULD HAVE BEEN LIFE THREATENING DUE TO SUDDEN AND UNANTICIPATED FAILURE AND LOSS OF POWER. I WAS LUCKY THAT I WAS NOT ON A HIGHWAY OR MAIN STREET.

NHTSA complaint #10140963 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2002 Acura RL at 46,059 miles Brooklyn, NY Crash

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM)

THE CAR HAS A KNOWN TSB THAT THE CAR MAY STALL AND SHUT DOWN IF IT IS AT VERY LOW SPEEDS. THIS HAS HAPPENED TO ME TWICE AND THE LAST TIME IT HAPPENED 3 DAYS AGO. I WAS IN TRAFFIC WAITING IN TRAFFIC THE CAR JUST STALLED AND ROLLED BACK AND HIT THE GUY IN THE BACK LUCKY FOR ME IT WAS SITTING TRAFFIC. ONE OTHER TIME THE CAR WAS MAKING A SLOW SPEED TURN AND THE CAR SHUT OFF AND LOST POWER. THE CAR HAS A KNOWN TSB THAT THIS HAPPENS DUE TO A MALFUNCTIONED PCM. ALSO THIS CAR HAS A TSB STATING THAT A DRIVE PLATE IS MISMANUFACTURED AND HAPPENS TO ALL CARS IN MY YEAR AND MODEL A GRINDING NOISE WHEN START UP INTERMITTENTLY. THIS IT THE WEBLINK FOR TSB FOR STALLING OF CAR PROBLEM HTTP://WWW.ACURHTTP://WWW.ACURAWORLD.COM/TSB/2002/B02-031.PDFAWORLD.COM/TSB/2001/B01-044.PDF AND THIS IS FOR THE GRINDING NOISE PROBLEM.

NHTSA complaint #10140751 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1997 Acura RL at 107,433 miles Mount Vernon, WA 1 injured

POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY

WHILE CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING VEHICLE STOPPED. CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE PASSENGER FRONT BALL JOINT STUD HAS BROKEN OFF FROM THE LOWER BALL JOINT. MECHANIC INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THE LEFT AND RIGHT BALL JOINTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK UPDATED 4/12/2006 - THERE WAS NO NOISE PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE PASSENGER SIDE AXLE ALSO FAILED. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED HONDA CANADA FOR ASSISTANCE BUT THEY REFUSED BECAUSE THE VEHICLE IS BEING OPERATED IN THE UNITED STATES IN ADDITION TO THE VEHICLE BEING OUTSIDE THE WARRANTY PARAMETERS .

NHTSA complaint #10106888 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1997 Acura RL Waterloo, IA

POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY:AXLE SHAFT

DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT END DROPPED WITH NO WARNING AT ABOUT TWO MILES PER HOUR TURNING A CORNER. PROBLEM IDENTIFIED AS BROKEN AXLE. I AM CONCERNED THAT A DEFECTIVE PART WAS INVOLVED.

NHTSA complaint #10051389 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2002 Acura RL Holmdel, NJ

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

2004 ACURA RL , CONSUMER STATED WHEN THE VEHICLE IS PARKED ON A SLIGHT INCLINE WITH GEAR SHIFTER IN DRIVE, THE VEHICLE WOULD ROLL BACKWARDS. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.

NHTSA complaint #10032372 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other Acura RL problems