AI Damage2003 Acura RL: common problems
Owners of the 2003 Acura RL filed 9 complaints with NHTSA, most often about air bags and electrical system. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 9
What fails most often
- 1 Air bags 67% of all complaints
- 2 Electrical system 11% of all complaints
- 3 Engine 11% of all complaints
- 4 Fuel/propulsion system 11% of all complaints
- 5 Powertrain 11% of all complaints
- Air bags: 6 complaints (67% of all).
- Electrical system: 1 complaints (11% of all).
- Engine: 1 complaints (11% of all).
- Fuel/propulsion system: 1 complaints (11% of all).
- Powertrain: 1 complaints (11% 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 9 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 | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical system | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Powertrain | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Other | 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.
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.
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.
The contact stated that the air bag warning light was illuminated. Vin tool confirms parts not available.
When that happens the car either starts and shuts right off or it just will not start at all. On more than one occasion I have been alone after dark and unable to start my car and leave.
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.
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 11,366 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 31% most complained about).
On average one model year of the RL has 21 complaints (20 years in the data). This year has 9, below average.
What to check before buying
- Air bags. Check the SRS light, stored codes and airbag/curtain status after any impact.
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
- Engine. Cold start, unusual noises, oil leaks and engine codes.
- Fuel/propulsion system. Fuel smell, leaks, rough running, fuel-system codes.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 2003 Acura RL?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: air bags, electrical system, engine. Total complaints: 9. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: warning lights, check engine (22%), airbag warning light (11%), won't start (11%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2003 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 2003 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 2003 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.