AI Damage2001 Acura RL: common problems
Owners of the 2001 Acura RL filed 12 complaints with NHTSA, most often about air bags and powertrain. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 12
What fails most often
- 1 Air bags 42% of all complaints
- 2 Powertrain 42% of all complaints
- 3 Service brakes 8% of all complaints
- 4 Steering 8% of all complaints
- Air bags: 5 complaints (42% of all).
- Powertrain: 5 complaints (42% of all).
- Service brakes: 1 complaints (8% of all).
- Steering: 1 complaints (8% of all).
Engines and transmissions
US-market versions per EPA. On the right: how many NHTSA complaints name this engine or transmission type.
- 3.5 L · petrol · 6 cyl
- automatic, 4-speed
Drive: FWD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 12 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air bags | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| Powertrain | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Steering | 1 | 0 | 0 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
The contact stated that while stopped at a traffic light, smoke started to emit from the engine compartment. The vehicle was taken to a local mechanic who diagnosed that the steering pump was leaking onto the catalytic converter or the engine. As a result, the power steering pump and hose needed to be replaced.
The contact replaced the tire with the spare and within a couple of miles, the abs warning light was illuminated. The contact then experienced a loss of braking power and the rear wheels were spinning abnormally at different rates.
The srs (supplemental restraint system) light came on and I took the vehicle to the dealer. They found an error code 15-1 and they reset the light but said they did not find anything wrong with the srs system.
Srs light is on. Dealer checked and found problem with opds unit and sensor and replaced. After replacement, re-initialized the system but the srs stays on. Now, turn out that the srs control unit is bad. Dealer said it will cost approx $2000 to replace the srs control unit.
2001 acura 3.5 rl srs light elluminates opds sensor or module are replaceable under warranty but opds brain or unit is not covered and this is the part that is causing the srs light to elluminate. Dealer says it is faulty and can not be replaced free. So now I have no air bags in the event of an accident.
The differential leaked oil, which caused the vehicle to make a noise.
Transmission grinds when upshifting from first gear into second gear.
While driving at slower speeds, vehicle stalled. Transimmison has been having problems accelerating & decelerating.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 10,160 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 28% most complained about).
On average one model year of the RL has 21 complaints (20 years in the data). This year has 12, below average.
What to check before buying
- Air bags. Check the SRS light, stored codes and airbag/curtain status after any impact.
- Powertrain. Shift quality under load, harsh shifts, transmission codes, CV joints.
- Service brakes. Pedal feel, ABS operation, leaks, discs and hoses.
- Steering. Steering play, power assist, rack and tie rods after a wheel impact.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 2001 Acura RL?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: air bags, powertrain, service brakes. Total complaints: 12. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: airbag warning light (17%), warning lights, check engine (17%), brake failure (8%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2001 Acura RL?
NHTSA lists 0 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.
Should I buy a 2001 Acura RL from a US auction?
Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.
Other 2001 models
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-05.