2000 ACURA RL Recalls, Complaints & Safety

The contact owns a 2000 Acura RL. The contact stated that upon starting the vehicle, the ABS warning light, and the vehicle stability assist (VSA) system warning light were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who was unable to duplicate the failure. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the ABS module needed to be replaced; however, the part had been discontinued. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 79,000.

The contact owns a 2000 Acura RL. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V027000 (Air Bags) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact called the local dealer who confirmed that parts were not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. Parts distribution disconnect.

THE SRS LAMP HAS REMAINED ON SINCE PURCHASE IN 2009.

I HAVE RECEIVED A NOTICE FROM AMERICA HONDA MOTOR COMPANY ON MARCH 2020 (NHTSA RECALL 20V-026) THAT THE INFLATOR INSIDE THE DRIVER FRONTAL AIRBAG MODULE MAY ABSORB MOISTURE, WHICH MAY CAUSE THE DRIVER FRONTAL AIRBAG TO MALFUNCTION IN A CRASH WHERE THE AIRBAG DEPLOYS. THE LETTER STATES "THE REPLACEMENT PARTS NEEDED TO REPAIR YOUR VEHICLE, IF NECESSARY, ARE NOT AVAILABLE AND ACURA IS UNABLE TO INSPECT/REPAIR YOUR VEHICLE AT THIS TIME." I CALLED A LOCAL ACURA DEALER ON 9/1/2020 AND WAS TOLD THAT THE PARTS ARE STILL NOT AVAILABLE AND THEY ARE EXPECTED MAY 2021. THIS TIMEFRAME SEEMS UNREASONABLE TO ME.

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 ACURA RL. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 20V027000 (AIR BAGS) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT CALLED ACURA OF MEMPHIS (2611 RIDGEWAY RD, MEMPHIS, TN 38119, (901) 630-4664) WHERE IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT THE PART WAS NOT YET AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

DEALERSHIPS INTENTIONALLY IGNORE TAKATA/NADI AIRBAG SAFETY OCCUPANT SAFETY RECALLS ON JAN 2019 THIS VEHICLE WAS DELIVERED TO MCCONNELL HONDA ALABAMA DEALERSHIP REPAIR SHOP FOR MALFUNCTION INDICATION LIGHTS "BATT" "BRAKE". THIS MALFUNCTION WAS A RESULT OF AUG 2018 PATTON HONDA GEORGIA, DEALERSHIP SHOP REPAIR DIAGNOSTIC (PARKING LOT BRAKE TORQUING) ABUSE WHILE IN CUSTODY TO DIAGNOSE, A SLIGHT HESITATION DURING ACCELERATION AND RUBBER SQUEAK NOISE NEAR FRONT LEFT WHEEL. NO REMEDY WAS PROVIDED AND VEHICLE WAS DAMAGED AND BATTERY CHARGING DISABLED BY PATTON HONDA GEORGIA. OWNER WAS CHARGED A $100 SERVICE CHARGE. MCCONNELL HONDA ALABAMA DID NOT TROUBLESHOOT MALFUNCTION, REMOVED AND REPLAC ED A GOOD ALTERNATOR, WHICH DOES NOT SOLVE THE BATTERY CIRCUIT CHARGING MALFUNCTION AND BILLED CUSTOMER $1320 INITIALLY THEN $920 AFTER CUSTOMER EXPRESSED DISAPPOINTMENT WITH BAD REPAIR THAT WILL PROVE FAULTY. MCCONNELL HONDA ALABAMA LATTER ATTEMPTS TO RE-TITLE AND SELL OWNER'S VEHICLE TO AUCTION DESPITE CIVIL SMALL CLAIMS COMPLAINT FILED ON 25 MARCH 2020 IN MONTGOMERY COUNTY COURT, ALA. NEITHER DEALERSHIP REFERENCED OR ADDRESSED THE OPEN RECALL SAFETY STATUS.

TAMARA RECALL MY SRS LIGHT STAYS ON CONTINUALLY. I AM CONCERNED THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE AIRBAGS. I NEED TO KNOW IF IT IS SAFE TO HAVE SOMEONE IN THE PASSENGER SEAT OR IF THE AIRBAG IS DEFECTIVE AND IS A RECALL. I DO NOT DRIVE THIS CAR VERY OFTEN BUT NOW I HAVE TO BECAUSE I HAVE NO OTHER TRANSPORTATION.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 ACURA RL. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE SRS WARNING INDICATOR REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SENSOR IN THE PASSENGER SEAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

ODOMETER WAS TAMPERED WHICH I BELIEVE IS FRAUD IN THE US.

I HAVE BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE AIR BAGS, SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 ACURA RL. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, THE AIR BAG LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 115,000.

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.

THE SRS SENSOR JUS POP ON THE ABS SENSOR POP ON ALSO THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT POPS I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO AND ALSO I HEARD TICKING AND TAPPING AND THE ENGINE STARTED JUMPING WHETHER I'M GOING SLOW OR FAST I REALLY NEED SOME SERIOUS HELP WHY IS BECAUSE I CAN POSSIBLY BE IN GREAT DANGER DO TO THE SENSORS THAT ARE GOING OUT IN MY VEHICLE .

SRS LIGHT ON THE DASH STAYS ON. IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THE AIRBAGS WILL NOT DEPLOY WITH LIGHT ON. I HAD AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC DETERMINE THAT THE AIRBAG CONTROL MODULE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. I BELIEVE THIS SHOULD BE A REPAIR THAT SHOULD BE COVERED BY A MANUFACTURER WARRANTY. BASED ON REVIEW OF THE SAFERCAR.GOV WEBSITE THERE ARE SEVERAL OTHER INCIDENTS OF THIS SAME PROBLEM FOR THIS MAKE, MODEL AND YEAR.

SRS DASH LIGHT HAS COME ON AND STAYED ON. *TR

THE STEERING WHEEL COLUMN WILL NOT ADJUST. IT IS STUCK IN THE HIGHEST POSITION. THE PLASTIC GEAR IS BROKEN AND THE LOCAL ACURA DEALER WANTS OVER $2000 TO REPLACE THE WHOLE THING. *TR

THE SRS LIGHT HAS COME ON AND STAYED ON. AIR BAGS WILL NOT DEPLOY WITH THE LIGHT ON. *TR

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. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 ACURA RL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SRS INDICATOR CONTINUOUSLY ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE UNKNOWN.

SRS LIGHT ON DASH STAYS ON. DEALER CANNOT RESET TO GET LIGHT TO STAY OFF. ACURA OF DENVILLE, NJ SAYS OPDS (OCCUPANT POSITION DETECTION SYSTEM) AND SENSOR ASSEMBLIES NEED TO BE RE-PLACED AT A COST OF $1349.65 (+ TAX). WITH SRS LIGHT ON AIR BAGS WILL NOT DEPLOY. THE SRS FAILURE APPEARS TO BE THE FAILURE MOST DOCUMENTED IN THIS FORUM. IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE WHICH SHOULD HAVE A RECALL TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. *TR

SRS LIGHT STAYS ON PROBLEM WITH SENSOR FOR AIRBAG. *TR

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. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 ACURA RL WITH A MAGNA DONNELLY REAR VIEW MIRROR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT A LIQUID INSIDE THE MIRROR SPEWED OUT FROM UNDER THE MIRROR WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE LIQUID HARDENED, DAMAGING THE SEATS AND DASHBOARD AREA. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO VERIFIED THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE MIRROR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER OF THE MIRROR WAS CONTACTED WHO EXPLAINED THAT WHEN THE MIRROR WAS MANUFACTURED, A SPECIFIC GAS WAS PUMPED BETWEEN THE TWO PIECES OF GLASS, WHICH HAD DETERIORATED AND ALLOWED THE GAS TO EXPAND AND BURST. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 170,000. UPDATED 09/05/12*LJ UPDATED 09/05/12

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 ACURA RL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO TURN RIGHT AT 20 MPH, SHE ATTEMPTED TO ENGAGE THE BRAKES AND THE PEDAL DEPRESSED TO THE FLOOR. AS A RESULT, SHE WAS INVOLVED IN A REAR END CRASH WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE FAILURE MIGHT HAVE BEEN CAUSED BY THE MASTER CYLINDER AND THE BRAKE SYSTEM MAY NEED TO BE FLUSHED. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED AND NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN ANY BY ACURA. HOWEVER, ACCORDING AMFAM INSURANCE, WHEN THE DECODED THE VIN, THE RECALL FOR THE MASTER CYLINDER CAME UP FOR THE CONSUMERS VEHICLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 108,000. UPDATED 8/21/12 *CN RECALL# 03V239000. UPDATED 08/23/12

Crash

THE FOLLOWING IS FROM ACURA. THEY RECOGNIZE THE PROBLEM, BUT HAVE NOT RECALLED THE DEFECT. INTERMITTENT ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS (SUPERSEDES 98-028, SECURITY SYSTEM SOUNDS INTERMITTENTLY, DATED SEPTEMBER 28, 1998) SYMPTOMS THE SECURITY SYSTEM SOUNDS INTERMITTENTLY WHILE THE VEHICLE IS PARKED. THE DOOR LOCKS CYCLE WHILE DRIVING. THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS REMAIN ON. PROBABLE CAUSE WATER IS LEAKING INTO THE FRONT PILLARS. THE WATER IS GETTING INTO THE CONNECTORS FOR THE UNDER-DASH FUSE/ RELAY BOX, THE DRIVERS MULTIPLEX CONTROL UNIT, OR THE DOOR LOCK ACTUATOR, CAUSING INTERMITTENT ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. *KB

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! *TR

1. ELECTRIC TELESCOPING STEERING WHEEL FAILED TO PRESENT TO SET POSITION FROM REST. 2. FREQUENCY IS IMMEDIATE UPON FAILURE. THE STEERING WHEEL RESTS AT THE TOP POSITION (RESTING WHEN THE KEY IS REMOVED) 3. ACURA OFFERED TO REPLACE THE COLUMN AT A COST OF $3500. *TT

THE HEADLIGHT (PASSENGER'S) ON MY 2000 ACURA RL GOES OUT INTERMITTENTLY IT IS NOT THE BULB OR THE WIRING, IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH A FAULTY INVERTER ACURA USED. OBVIOUSLY IT'S DANGEROUS. *TR

I AM WRITING TO REPORT A POTENTIALLY SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE WITH MY 2000 ACURA RL. THIS CAR SEEMS TO HAVE A DESIGN FLAW WHEREBY THE CAR'S NATURAL DRAIN CHANNELS GET CLOGGED AND WATER LEAKS IN THROUGH ALTERNATE PATHWAYS INTO THE VEHICLE'S FUSE BOX. THIS CAUSES ALL OF THE CAR'S ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS TO GO HAYWIRE, KEY SAFETY SYSTEMS LIKE THE AIRBAGS AND TRACTION CONTROL SHUT OFF, WINDSHIELD WIPERS GO ON BY THEMSELVES, AND THE SPEEDOMETER NEEDLE MOVES RANDOMLY. FURTHERMORE, THE SECURITY SYSTEM CAN BE TRIGGERED AND THE HORN SOUNDS, POSSIBLY WHILE DRIVING. I PERSONALLY HAVEN'T EXPERIENCED MORE SERIOUS ISSUES, BUT I WON'T BE SURPRISED IF THIS LEADS TO A FIRE EVENTUALLY. I HAVE HAD MY CAR REPAIRED FOR THIS PROBLEM TWICE. THE FIRST MAJOR FAILURE WAS IN APRIL 2007 AT AROUND 52000 MILES, AND THE SECOND MAJOR FAILURE WAS IN MAY 2006 AT 72000 MILES. BOTH TIMES, THE FUSE BOX AND ASSOCIATED RELAYS, ETC. WERE CORRODED FROM THE INSIDE, AND THE CAR NEEDED THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS IN REPAIRS. IN BETWEEN THESE TWO FAILURE TIMES, THE CAR HAS SHOWN MINOR FAILURES DURING RAIN (RANDOM SECURITY ALARM, UNEXPECTED BATTERY DRAIN, ETC), WHICH HAVE CORRECTED THEMSELVES ONCE THE RAIN GOES AWAY AND THE ELECTRONICS HAS HAD A CHANCE TO DRY OUT. ACURA KNOWS ABOUT THIS ISSUE, AND EVEN ISSUED A TSB TO FIX IT. I THINK THE PROBLEM IS SERIOUS AND WARRANTS A RECALL. WHEN I EXPERIENCED THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM WITH MY CAR FOR THE SECOND TIME, I LEARNED THAT THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN WIDELY REPORTED ONLINE IN THE ACURA OWNER COMMUNITY. IT SEEMS TO BE A DESIGN ISSUE WITH THAT PARTICULAR BODY STYLE, WHICH WAS USED FOR RL MODEL YEARS FROM 1999-2004. *TR

CONSTANT REPAIR AND REPLACEMENT OF BRAKE ROTORS. THE ROTORS HAVE TO BE RESURFACED EVERY 8 TO 10,000 MILES AND THEN REPLACED. I HAVE MY CAR SERVICED REGULARLY WITH THE SAME GARAGE AND CAN'T UNDERSTAND WHY THESE ROTORS CONTINUE TO WEAR. I HAVE A 1993 NISSAN MAX THAT HAS NEVER NEEDED ROTOR REPAIR. ALSO, THE SRS AND SIDE AIRBAG LIGHTS COME ON, I TAKE IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY CLEAR THE LIGHTS SAYING NOTHING IS WRONG. HOW ARE YOU TO KNOW IF THIS IS A SERIOUS ISSUE WHEN ALL THEY DO IS CLEAR THE LIGHTS??? *TR

VEHICLE WAS LOCALLY PARKED. THE INTERIOR REAR VIEW MIRROR ON MY 2000 ACURA RL HAS LEAKED CORROSIVE MATERIAL FROM INSIDE THE MIRROR ITSELF. NOTE: IT IS ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT WHICH HAS AN AUTO DIMMER FEATURE. CURRENTLY IT IS DIFFICULT TO SEE OUT OF AND THE LIQUID IS CORROSIVE ACCORDING TO THE DEALERSHIP. MOST NOTABLE: THIS MIRROR-ISSUE SEEMS TO BE WIDESPREAD THROUGHOUT THE ACURA COMMUNITY (EVEN ON NEWER MODELS) WHICH LEADS ME TO BELIEVE THE MIRRORS ARE DEFECTIVE. I CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER AND THEY WILL NOT REPLACE THE MIRROR. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 ACURA 3.5RL. WHEN THE CONTACT STARTED THE IGNITION, THE SUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAINT SYSTEM WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE WARNING LIGHT FAILED TO DIM. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND THE SRS WAS REPROGRAMMED. THE SRS FAILURE HAS RECENTLY RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR THE SECOND TIME WITHIN A YEAR FOR THE SAME FAILURE. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE VEHICLE'S STABILITY ASSISTANCE SYSTEM MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT THE COST OF $2,000. THIS REPAIR MUST BE PERFORMED IN ORDER TO DETERMINE THE MALFUNCTION IN THE SRS. THE CONTACT WAS AWARE OF THE SAFETY RISK INVOLVED. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT YET BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 64,685 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 73,000.

IN TWO SEPARATE INSTANCES SRS LIGHT HAS COME ON. THE FIRST TIME WAS SOMETIME IN 2005. I REPAIRED IT WITH REPLACEMENT SEAT BELT PARTS. THE SECOND TIME WAS IN APRIL 2007. THE LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN. I HAVE SCHEDULED REPAIRS DURING A NORMAL SERVICE CALL THIS MONTH. *TR

TL* - THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 ACURA RL. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING AND WOULD NOT RESTART. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP. THE VEHICLE STALLED ONCE BEFORE, BUT THE VEHICLE RESTARTED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED AT THIS TIME. *AK

FAILURE OF REAR ABS WHEEL SENSORS. *NM

SRS LIGHT APPEARS IN DASH INDICATING FAILURE OF THE OPDS UNIT (OCCUPANT POSITION DETECTION SYSTEM) THIS UNIT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR AIRBAG/SEAT BELT DETECTION AND DEPLOYMENT. THIS COMPONENT SHOULD BE REPLACED FREE OF CHARGE DUE TO THE FACT THAT IT IS SEAT BELT/AIRBAG RELATED. THIS COMPONENT FAILS FREQUENTLY ACCORDING TO INDEPENDENT ONLINE SERVICE TECHNICAL SUPPORT. *NM