2003 Acura Rl problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Air Bags (5) · Power Train (1) · Electrical System (1)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Acura Rl model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
Safety recalls (1)
Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module 2020-01-17 · campaign 20V027000 · 875,966 vehicles
Defect: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2001-2002 Acura 3.2CL, 2000-2003 Acura 3.5RL, 2000-2001 Acura 3.2TL, Honda CR-V and Honda Odyssey, 2001-2002 Acura MDX and 2000 Accord Coupe, Accord Sedan, Civic Coupe, and Civic Sedan vehicles. These vehicles may have received a replacement driver frontal air bag module as part of a vehicle repair. Due to a manufacturing issue, the replacement NADI inflator may absorb moisture, causing the inflator to rupture or the air bag cushion to u
Risk: In the event of a crash necessitating air bag deployment, an inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants. An underinflated air bag cushion may not properly protect the occupant. These scenarios increase the risk of serious injury or death.
Fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the air bags in the vehicles, replacing the driver frontal air bag inflator with an inflator of a different design, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began October 1, 2020. Owners may contact American Honda's Customer Support & Campaign Center at 1-888-234-2138.
Service bulletins (46)
Technical service bulletins are repair instructions manufacturers send dealers for known issues. Unlike recalls, the fix is not automatically free — but naming the bulletin at the service desk can save diagnosis time and support goodwill repairs.
Suspension 2019-07-11 · DORE5C4S09 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this sku is a front upper ball joint. the customer communication requested return of unsold inventory to inspect for the outer diameter of the ball joint housing being too small. the outer diameter being too small would prevent the part from being installed, and would therefore have no impact on
Equipment:electrical:navigational System(Global Positioning System) 2018-01-10 · B18010I · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
servicenews article - is the navigation screen clock reading 00:00? we?re aware of this issue and have it under investigation.
Equipment:electrical:navigational System(Global Positioning System) 2018-01-10 · B18010I · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
servicenews article - is the navigation screen clock reading 00:00? we?re aware of this issue and have it under investigation.
Equipment:electrical:navigational System(Global Positioning System) 2017-09-26 · BTS170801 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
tech line summary article - is the navigation screen clock reading 00:00? we?re aware of this issue and have it under investigation.
Electrical System 2017-08-31 · BTS170801 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
tech line summary article - is the navigation screen clock reading 00:00? we?re aware of this issue and are looking for a solution.
Equipment:other:owners/Service/Other Manual 2017-01-01 · BJA46167 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
sending vehicle data to tech line.
Showing the 6 most recent of 46 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2021-03-08 · Air Bags“tl* takata recall. the contact owns a 2003 acura rl. the contact received notification of nhtsa campaign number: 20v027000 (air bags) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. the contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. lester raines honda (5102 maccorkle avenue sw,…”
2021-03-03 · Air Bags“i received a recall notice in march and was told to park my car. i did for 9 months, forced to buy another car. acura refused to provide a rental. we filed a class-action suit. acura required an inspection of the airbags/inflator. i received an invoice i could not understand and called the dealer. they refused to return five messages, and when we i…”
2020-11-19 · Air Bags“2003 acura rl. consumer writes in regards to driver frontal airbag safety recall. *ld the consumer stated the manufacturer did not make a reasonable attempt to assist with the 500 mile round trip to an authorized dealer. the manufacturer was no longer authorizing local dealerships to complete recalls. *js…”
2020-09-29 · Air Bags“tl* takata recall. the contact owns a 2003 acura rl. the contact received notification of nhtsa campaign number: 20v027000 (air bags) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. the contact stated the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. the vehicle was taken to acura of westchester (2155 pal…”
2020-06-15 · Air Bags“tl* takata recall. the contact owns a 2003 acura rl. the contact received notification of nhtsa campaign number: 20v027000 (air bags) however, the part to do the recall repair was not available. the contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. phil smith acura (940 n federal hwy, pompano beach, fl…”
2016-06-06 · Electrical System · 200,000 mi“the ignition immobilizer defective. when the car is in park and i try to start it i put the key in the ignition and wait for the green light in the shape of a key to go out on the panel - then i turn the key. the ignition does not always recognize the key and so the immobilizer is activated. when that happens the car either starts and shuts righ…”
2015-06-25 · Power Train · 132,000 mi“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 c…”
2009-11-25 · Air Bags:side/Window · 3,800 mi“side airbag indicator goes on and stays on intermittently. happens almost always. reported to dealer several times. dealer can't find anything wrong. believe side air bags are not functional when light is on. started after dealer servicing about sept., 2003 and continues to this day. *tr…”
2007-03-20 · · 29,635 mi“have repeated tire failures in 3 michelin pilot mxm4 rbl 94v tl p225/55r16 tires @ 30,000 miles due to very small pinhole leaks in the sidewall seam. the tires came as oem tires with my new 2003 acura rl 3.5 sedan. had to junk the tires since the leak developed slowly while driving on the highway. contacted michelin and reported this complaint but…”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.