2005 Acura RL Complaint Log

MY 05 RL'S RIGHT SIDE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHT STARTED FLICKERING SEVERAL MONTHS AGO AND NOW THE FLICKERING HAS PROGRESSED TO HEADLIGHT GOING COMPLETELY OUT. WHEN THE LIGHT SWITCH IS TURNED FROM AUTO TO OFF AND THEN BACK ON, THE LIGHTS COME BACK ON. *TR

I HAVE BEEN DRIVING SINCE 1980 AND HAVE HAD VARIOUS VEHICLES FROM VARIOUS MANUFACTURERS AND I HAVE NEVER HAD A DASHBOARD MELT FOR ANY REASON. I EXPECTED MY CAR TO HAVE MINOR PROBLEMS AT 40,000 MILES BUT MELTING WAS NOT ONE OF THEM. THE INTERIOR OF MY CAR IS MELTING. ESPECIALLY THE GLOVE COMPARTMENT, THE ARM REST AND THE CONSOLE. THE GLOVE COMPARTMENT HAS MELTED AND REMAIN SOFT AND STICKY, TO THE POINT THAT ANYTHING COMING INTO CONTACT WITH THE GLOVE BOX LEAVES AN IMPRESSION OR POCK MAR. THE ARM REST AND CENTER CONSOLE HAVE CRACKED AND PEELED. THE DRIVERS DOOR HANDLE CAME OUT IN MY HAND AS I WAS CLOSING THE DOOR ONE DAY, THAT'S WHEN I REALIZED IT WAS MADE OF 100 % PLASTIC COVERED IN VINYL. A CAR ORIGINALLY VALUED AT $51K BRAND NEW AND THEY INSTALL THE CHEAPEST DOOR HANDLE OF ANY MAKER? THEY COULDN'T AFFORD TO PUT IT TOGETHER WITH SCREWS, INSTEAD THEY GLUED IT TOGETHER. MY GLOVE COMPARTMENT AND DASHBOARD IS MELTING AND STICKY. IT APPEARS AS THOUGH SOME TYPE OF GLUE HAD BEEN POURED ON IT. YES YOU CAN RIDE IN MY CAR, BUT SIT IN YOU SEAT AND DON'T TOUCH THE DASHBOARD, IT WILL STICK TO YOUR HANDS. I COMPLAINED TO THE ACURA DEALER WHEN THE CAR WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY AND EVEN NOW THAT I HAVE PURCHASED EXTENDED WARRANTY, THIS IS NOT COVERED. THE REST OF MY CAR IS IN IMPECCABLE CONDITION INSIDE AND OUT AS I HAVE TAKEN CARE OF IT SINCE THE DAY I PURCHASED IT. HOWEVER I AM EMBARRASSED FOR ANYONE TO COME INSIDE THE CAR AND SEE THE TATTERED CONDITION IT IS IN. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 ACURA RL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE DECELERATED INDEPENDENTLY AND STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO STATED THE FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY THE FUEL PUMP. THE FAILURE RECURRED WHEN THE OUTSIDE TEMPERATURES WERE HIGH. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE WAS REPORTED TO THE MANUFACTURER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 37,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 186,000.

A COUPLE YEARS AGO, I WAS STOPPED BY A POLICEMAN BECAUSE MY DRIVER'S SIDE HEADLIGHT WAS OUT. HE GAVE ME A WARNING AND TOLD ME TO GET IT FIXED. I TOOK IT INTO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP AND WHEN WE CHECKED THE LIGHT, IT WAS WORKING. I HAVE NOTICED THAT THE LIGHT FLICKERS QUITE A BIT, AND ALSO THAT IT WILL WORK FOR A WHILE AND THEN IT WON'T. SOMETIMES I CAN REMEDY THE PROBLEM BY TURNING THE LIGHTS ON AND OFF, BUT NOT ALL THE TIME. MEANWHILE, I FOUND OUT THAT THE PRICE FOR THE BULB WAS $200 SO DECIDED TO FOREGO CHANGING THE BULB, SINCE IT DIDN'T APPEAR THAT WAS THE PROBLEM. IT CONTINUES TO FLICKER AND DOESN'T WORK ALL THE TIME, BUT IT'S HARD TO NOTICE WHEN I'M IN THE CITY AND ON A LIT STREET. I BELIEVE THE PROBLEM IS SOMETHING CALLED THE INVERTER OR BALLAST AND THAT CAN COST UP TO $1,000.00 BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO TAKE THE BUMPER OFF TO GET TO IT. I HAVE BEEN UNHAPPY WITH THE LIGHTING SYSTEM EVER SINCE WE GOT THE CAR.....NOT WHAT I EXPECTED FROM AN ACURA PRODUCT. I EXPRESSED MY DISPLEASURE INITIALLY WITH THE DEALERSHIP BUT WAS TOLD THAT'S JUST THE WAY THEY WORKED. VERY DANGEROUS ON DARK, RURAL ROADS WHICH IS WHAT WE DRIVE ON. I'VE READ AN ACURA FORUM ON-LINE AND LOTS OF PEOPLE HAVE THE SAME FEELINGS ABOUT THE HEADLIGHTS. LOVE THE CAR, HATE THE HEADLIGHTS! I HOPE THIS MAKES SOME SENSE, I DON'T SEEM TO BE ABLE TO SCROLL TO READ WHAT I'VE WRITTEN. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 ACURA RL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HER VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 07V551000 (STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:HOSE, PIPING, AND CONNECTIONS). SHE WAS NOT GRANTED A LOANER VEHICLE TO USE DURING THE ALLOTTED REPAIR TIME. THE CONTACT IS DISABLED AND FELT THAT SHE SHOULD HAVE RECEIVED A LOANER VEHICLE. THERE HAD BEEN NO FAILURE TO DATE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 27,185.

THE AIR CONDITIONER BLOWS OUT ONLY WARM AIR. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY HAVE DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AS A FAULTY COMPRESSOR AND HAVE ORDERED A NEW PART BUT IT IS ON A NATIONAL BACKORDER WITH NO ETA FOR THE PART. IT IS UNACCEPTABLE THAT ACURA IS IGNORING A WIDE SPREAD PROBLEM AND NOT ISSUING A RECALL OR PRODUCT UPDATE FOR THE AFFECTED MODELS. *TR

HEADLIGHTS HAVE PREVIOUSLY FLICKERED AND TEMPORARILY TURNED OFF, DEALER HAS CLAIMED OUR VEHICLE WAS THE ONLY ONE IMPACTED, LOW BEAMS HAVE NOW COMLPLETELY FAILED CREATING A SAFETY HAZARD

I HAVE A 2005 ACURA RL. I BELIEVE THE VEHICLE HAS A FUNDAMENTAL DESIGN FLAW. THE CLEARANCE BELOW THE FRONT OF THE CAR IS INSUFFICIENT AND FURTHERMORE POSSIBLE THE SUSPENSION IS NOT STRONG ENOUGH FOR THE WEIGHT OF THE ENGINE. WHAT HAPPENED IS THAT I USED THE CAR UNDER NORMAL OPERATING CONDITIONS AND IT GOT DAMAGED. I HAD THREE NORMAL SIZE ADULT PASSENGERS AND A NORMAL SIZE 9 YEAR OLD CHILD IN THE CAR. NO LUGGAGE. I PULLED INTO A PARKING LOT AT NORMAL SPEED AND THERE WAS A LOUD NOISE FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. I HAVE NOTICED BEFORE THAT THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE HITS CURBS WHEN YOU PARK AND SCRAPES WHEN YOU GO UP SIDEWALK RAMPS, SO I WAS AWARE THAT IT DOES NOT HAVE AMPLE CLEARANCE AND/OR SUSPENSION, BUT IN THIS CASE WITH THOSE PASSENGERS ON BOARD IT WAS WORSE, THE RIGHT CORNER OF THE BUMPER GOT BADLY DAMAGED. I TALKED TO THE DEALER AND ACURA CLIENT SERVICES AND THEY DENIED THERE IS ANY DESIGN FLAW. BUT I DON'T BUY THAT BECAUSE I HAVE HAD A SAAB AND A LEXUS AND NOTHING LIKE THIS EVER HAPPENED (IN FACT THEY DON'T EVEN SCRAPE LIKE THIS ONE DOES). IT'S MY VIEW THAT THIS CAR DOES NOT MEET THE BASIC REQUIREMENT OF AN IMPLIED WARRANTY, WHICH IS THAT IT SHOULD BE USABLE UNDER THE OPERATING CONDITIONS FOR WHICH IT WAS DESIGNED.*JB

HEAD LIGHT FLICKERS ON/OFF INTERMITTENTLY. *TR

WHEN BACKING CAR OUT FROM PARKING STALL, AFTER TURNING WHEEL BEYOND OTHER CAR AND READY TO GO FORWARD, I STOP COMPLETELY WITH FOOT ON BRAKE . AS I BEGIN TURNING STEERING WHEEL IN THE OTHER DIRECTION A LOUD SCRAPING NOISE COMES FROM AREA OF THE STEERING COLUMN. IT AN BE HEARD FOR AT LEAST 100 FEET. THIS DOES NOT HAPPEN EVERY TIME, BUT SOMETIMES 4 OR 5 TIMES DURING A WEEK. WE HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH THE DEALER FOR MORE THAN A YEAR . THE CAR IS 2005 ACURA 3.5 RL ON OCT 13TH WITH THE SERVICE MANAGER AND A DEALER REPRESENTATIVE IN THE CAR THEY WERE FINALLY ABLE TO HEAR THE NOISE THAT WE HAD DESCRIBED TO THEM. THEY HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. ON OCT 20TH I HEARD THE NOISE 2 MORE TIMES. I AM WORRIED THAT SOMETHING IS HAPPENING IN THE STEERING MECHANISM THAT COULD RESULT IN SERIOUS DAMAGE AND/OR INJURY. IN SEPTEMBER I NOTICED OIL LEAKING. AFTER 1/2 HOUR I DROVE CAR TO DEALER AND THERE WAS NO POWER STEERING. I LEARNED LATER THAT THE HIGH PRESSURE HOSE WAS ONLY "FINGER TIGHT" WHEN THE CAR WAS MADE. *NM

FAX FM CONSUMER WHO'S (OR) DISAPPOINTED IN THE WAY ACURA HANDLED THE BRAKES AND RADIO DEFECTS IN THEIR 2005 ACURA RL, ES HAVE NO RECORDS OF PREV. CORRESPONDENCE. *TS A PART WITHIN THE BRAKE ASSEMBLY WAS NOT MADE TO FIT PROPERLY AND HAD TO BE RETROFITTED TO STOP THE LOUD RATTLING AND BANGING NOISE WHENEVER THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN OVER UNEVEN PAVEMENT OR ROUGH SURFACES. WHEN THE RADIO WAS TURNED ON THE SCREEN DISPLAYED A CODE ENTRY MESSAGE AND THE RADIO WOULD NOT WORK. BOTH PROBLEM WERE EVENTUALLY REPAIRED BY THE DEALER. *NM

2005 ACURA RL BRAKE ASSEMBLY PARTS WERE NOT MADE TO FIT PROPERLY AND HAD TO BE RETROFITTED TO STOP LOUD RATTLING AND BANGING WHENEVER THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN OVER UNEVEN OR ROUGH SURFACES. *TS WHILE THE CONSUMER TRIED TO USE THE RADIO A CODE ENTRY MESSAGE WAS DISPLAYED ON THE SCREEN AND THE RADIO WOULDN'T WORK.

THE VERTICAL SELF ADJUSTING HEADLIGHTS POSE SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERNS ON UNLIT ROADWAYS, OFTEN ILLUMINATING ONLY 40 FEET IN FRONT OF THE CAR. ON HILLY TERRAIN, THE HEADLIGHTS WILL ADJUST DOWN AS THE VEHICLE STARTS UPHILL, ILLUMINATING APPROXIMATELY 40 FEET IN FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THIS ALSO OCCURS WHEN THE VEHICLE TRAVELS OVER BUMPS AND ANY MINOR CHANGES IN VEHICLE ATTITUDE. IT IS VERY EASY TO OVERDRIVE THE HEADLIGHTS, OFTEN AT SPEEDS LESS THAN 20 MPH. YOU SIMPLY CAN NOT SEE ROAD HAZARDS OR PEDESTRIANS. THE DEALER ADVISED THIS IS NORMAL AND WITHIN SPECIFICATION. *NM

THE HEADLIGHTS ON MY CAR POSE SERIOUS SAFETY PROBLEMS ON UNLIT ROADS. THE LIGHTS ONLY SHINE 50-70 FEET OUT ON THE STREET. WHEN THERE ARE NO STREET LIGHTS, I CAN NOT SEE MORE THAN 50 FEET AND I MUST TRAVEL AT SLOW SPEEDS DUE TO EXTREMELY POOR VISIBILITY. THE NAVIGATION SYSTEM IDENTIFIES AN UPCOMING TURN, BUT I CAN'T SEE THE STREET OR STREET SIGN. AT SPEEDS OVER 20 MPH; I FEEL THIS IS VERY UNSAFE. THE DEALER SAID THIS IS NORMAL AND WITHIN SPECIFICATION. THE HEADLIGHTS ARE TERRIBLE! *JB

THE ROAD NOISE PREVENTS THE USE OF THE HANDS FREE PHONE. THE PHONE WORKS FINE WHILE STOPPED AND CAN NOT BE USED WHEN DRIVING BECAUSE OF THE ROAD NOISE. THIS MAKES IT A SAFETY PROBLEM SINCE YOU MUST USE THE PHONE IN A NORMAL WAY. THIS ALSO BREAKS THE LAW IN NJ. ACURA CAN NOT FIX IT. *JB

DT: THE CALLER WAS PULLING OUT OF A PARKING SPOT WHEN SHE SUDDENLY LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. IT ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN , AND SHE TRIED THE BRAKE AND IT DID NOT WORK. SHE SAID THE STEERING WHEEL DID NOT WORK, SHE TRIED TO TURN THE WHEEL AND NOTHING HAPPENED. THE VEHICLE HIT A PARKED CAR. THE POLICE CAME AND A REPORT WAS TAKEN. NO ONE WAS HURT. DEALER HAS NOT BEEN CONTACTED YET. THE MANUFACTURER SAID A CASE WORKER WILL CALL HER THIS WEEK. THEY CALLED HER BACK AND SAID THE CASE WAS CLOSED, AND INSURANCE COMPANY WOULD HAVE TO HANDLE IT. THE VEHICLE WAS LEASED. *AK

REF 2005 ACURA RL THE HIGH BEAM HEADLIGHTS DO NOT SHINE FAR ENOUGH DOWN THE ROAD. I WAS DRIVING IN VERMONT ON DARK COUNTRY ROADS AND ALMOST HIT A TREE. DRIVING AT THE SPEED LIMIT OF 50 MPH I OUTRUN THE LIGHTS. ACURA SAYS THERE IS NO WAY TO ADJUST THE HALOGEN LIGHTS & THAT THE PARAMETERS WERE APPROVED BY DOT. I FEEL THAT A MISTAKE HAS BEEN MADE ON YOUR PART THAT WILL RESULT IN UNNECESSARY SINGLE VEHICLE ACCIDENTS ON THE NATIONS HIGHWAYS. *JB *NM

THE HEADLIGHTS ON THE 2005 ACURA RL DO NOT PROVIDE SUFFICIENT LIGHT UNLESS THE HIGH BEAM IS ENGAGED WHICH YOU OFTEN CANNOT DO. *NM

CONSUMER WAS LOCKED INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE WITH AN INOPERATIVE KEY FOB.***NO ANSWER REQUIRED***. *MR *TT

AFTER INFORMING THE ACURA SERVICE CENTER ABOUT 3 MONTHS PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT THAT THE BRAKES WERE NOT FUNCTIONING PROPERLY ON 2 SEPARATE OCCASIONS, AND BEING REASSURED THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE BRAKES, I REAR-ENDED ANOTHER CAR ON APRIL 5 BECAUSE THE BRAKES FAILED AGAIN. ACURA REFUSED TO RUN A COMPUTER CHECK ON THE CAR OR TO SEND ANYONE FROM CALIFORNIA TO INSPECT THE CAR. THE DEALER SERVICE CENTER HAD INITIALLY TOLD ME THAT THEY WOULD HAVE SOMEONE FROM CALIFORNIA COME TO INSPECT THE BRAKES AFTER THE ACCIDENT. THEY TOLD ME THAT THEY CHECKED THE BRAKES BY DRIVING THE CAR AND THAT THEY WERE OKAY. THEY REPEATEDLY TOLD ME THAT THEY WOULD NOT DO ANY FURTHER TESTS PERTINENT TO MY COMPLAINT UNLESS THE CAR INSURANCE COMPANY REQUESTED THAT THIS BE DONE. I SPOKE WITH SEVERAL PEOPLE AT METLIFE, (OUR INSURANCE COMPANY), AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THEY DO NOT MAKE SUCH REQUESTS. WE SHOULD ASK THE MANUFACTURER TO RUN FURTHER TESTING. I AGAIN SPOKE WITH ACURA SERVICE AND THE CUSTOMER SERVICE CENTER IN CALIFORNIA ,(ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS), AND WAS TOLD THEY WOULD NOT RUN ANY FURTHER TESTING OF THE BRAKES. THEY AGAIN STATED THAT THE BRAKES WERE FINE, AND THAT WE SHOULD PICK UP THE VEHICLE. TO DATE, WE HAVE NOT PICKED UP THE VEHICLE BECAUSE WE ARE AFRAID THAT THE VEHICLE IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE. THE DEALER HAS HAD THE CAR SENT TO AN AUTO BODY SHOP. THIS CAR IS A LEASED VEHICLE. REPEATEDLY I ASKED FOR A WRITTEN REPORT REGARDING WHAT WAS CHECKED AND FOUND WITH BRAKES FAILURES IN THESE OCCASIONS, BUT NO ANSWER WAS RECEIVED FROM ACURA. *AK

AT LOW SPEEDS ON ROUGH STREETS, ALL 4 WHEEL SUSPENSIONS MAKE A VERY METALLIC NOISE. I HAVE BEEN LEAD TO BELEIVE THAT IT IS DUE TO MIS MANUFACTURED BRAKE COMPONENTS. ONE DEALER DID "BEND" THE BRAKE "CLIPS" AND THE NOISE SUBSIDED FOR ABOUT 1000 MILES, BUT THE PROBLEM IS BACK AND THE DEALERS ARE SAYING IT IS A MFGR PROBLEM AND THEY CAN'T FIX WITHOUT FACTORY TECH SUPPORT WHICH HAS NOT BEEN FORTH COMING. I ONLY KNOW OTHER 2005 ACURA RL OWNER IN THE SMALL TOWN OF VISALIA (100K POP.) AND HE IS BEING GIVEN THE SAME RUNAROUND. MY CONCERN IS BRAKE FAILURE OR MY SERIOUSLY SUSPENSION FAILURE SUCH AS BROKEN WELDS OR DEFECTIVE MATERIALS. I HAVE HAD THE CAR TO TWO DIFFERENT DEALERSHIPS ON THREE DIFFERENT OCCASIONS AND THEY KEEP SAYING THE PROBLEM IS ELSEWHERE, BUT THE ONLY THING THAT HAS MADE THE NOISE GO AWAY WAS WHEN THE DEALERSHIP (SUPERIOR ACURA IN BAKERSFIELD, CA) SUPPOSEDLY BENT THE BRAKE "CLIPS". MYSTERIOUSLY THAT ACTION WAS NOT LISTED ON THE SERVICE REPORT WHEN MY WIFE PICKED UP THE CAR, BUT IT IS IN THEIR SERVICE RECORDS. ACURA IS HIDING AS SIGNIFICANT PROBLEM AND I AM ABOUT TO ENACT THE CA LEMON LAW AND YOU SHOULD INVESTIGATE WHY HONDA/ACURA IS BEING VERY MYSTERIOUS ABOUT THIS ISSUE - THEY ON ONE HAND SAY THERE IS A FIX ON THE WAY AND THEN IN THE NEXT BREATH SAY THAT THE NOISE IS COMING FROM SOMEWHERE ELSE???

DT*: THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN USING LOW BEAM, THE HEADLIGHTS DO NOT ILLUMINATE MORE THAN 50 FEET. THE LACK OF VISIBILITY DECREASES FURTHER WHILE TRAVELING DOWN HILL. THE DEALERSHIP COULD NOT REPOSITION THE HEADLIGHTS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED WHICH DETERMINED THIS IS HOW THE VEHICLE WAS MANUFACTURED. *JB

THE BRAKES RATTLE WHEN GOING OVER BUMPS AND LOCK UP ON THEIR OWN AT LOW SPEEDS OR WHEN MAKING A TURN. I HAVE WENT TO THE MANUFACTURER SEVERAL TIMES AND THEY SAY THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO ABOUT IT. *JB

2005 ACURA RL BROKE DOWN WITHIN 10 MILES OF DEALERSHIP IMMEDIATELY AFTER PURCHASE. VEHICLE HAS ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. *BF ON EACH BREAKDOWN, THE SH-AWD AND VSA WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AT THE SAME TIME. THE NAVIGATION SCREEN WHICH CONTROLLED ALL OF THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM TOTALLY FAILED. THE YAR RATE SENSOR UNDER THE CENTER DASH WAS DEFECTIVE. *SC

OUR 2006 ACURA RL HAS A FLICKERING FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE HEADLIGHT THAT GOES ON AND OFF OVER ANY BUMP IN THE ROAD. THE CAR IS DANGEROUS TO DRIVE AT NIGHT. WE JUST TOOK THE CAR TO A DEALER AND IT COST OVER $300 TO REPLACE THE LIGHT BULB! THEY EVEN HAD TO REMOVE THE BUMPER TO CHANGE THE BULB. WE WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER ACURA AGAIN, $50,000 LEMON. *TR