Problems · NHTSA complaints
2007 Acura RL problems
Owners filed 20 complaints about the 2007 Acura RL with NHTSA between Aug 2007 and Apr 2026. The most-cited component is air bags (7).
Complaints
20
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
1
Reported by owners
Fires
1
Reported by owners
Injuries
1
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
Complaints by component
One complaint can cite several components
- Air bags7
- Engine2
- Vehicle speed control2
- Electrical system2
- Exterior lighting2
- Power train1
- Fuel/propulsion system1
- Latches/locks/linkages1
- Fuel system, gasoline1
- Service brakes, hydraulic1
- Equipment1
- Other / unknown3
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Oct 28, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
When complaints were filed
Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
2
1
2
1
0
1
0
1
0
7
0
1
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
3
View as table
| Model year | Complaints filed per calendar year |
|---|---|
| 2007 | 2 |
| 2008 | 1 |
| 2009 | 2 |
| 2010 | 1 |
| 2011 | 0 |
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2013 | 0 |
| 2014 | 1 |
| 2015 | 0 |
| 2016 | 7 |
| 2017 | 0 |
| 2018 | 1 |
| 2019 | 0 |
| 2020 | 0 |
| 2021 | 0 |
| 2022 | 1 |
| 2023 | 0 |
| 2024 | 0 |
| 2025 | 0 |
| 2026 | 3 |
Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.
Top problems in owners’ words
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
Air bags
7 reports5 related recalls
“TAKATA INFLATORS HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. 1ST NOTICE RECEIVED IN MARCH 2016. 2ND NOTICE JULY 2016. CONTACTED SONS ACURA IN MORROW, GA TO FACILITATE THE THE REPAIR PARTS STILL HAVE NOT ARRIVED. I AM THE TO DRIVE THE CAR. WHAT MUST I DO TO GET THIS REPAIR DONE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE?”
Engine
2 reports
“At low speed while driving on a parking lot of a local supermarket. The Car surged without accelerator being pressed , causing an unintended acceleration that was dangerous to pedestrians. No check engine or other safety information was displayed.”
Vehicle speed control
2 reports1 crash
“OIL SHOT OUT THE CAR WHILE DRIVING AT HIGH SPEED ON THE FREEWAY, CAUSING ALL THE OIL TO SHOOT OUT, AND THE ENTIRE FUNCTION OF THE CAR TO STOP WORKING. THE ENGINE ESSENTIALLY DIED, CAUSING THE BRAKE, THE GAS, AND STEERING TO LOCK AND NOT WORK.CAR WENT FROM 65 MILES A HR TO 5 MILESW, VERY SCARY Summary ON Certain Passenger Vehicles, Prolonged High Under-Hood Temperatures MAY Cause THE Power Steering Hose TO Deteriorate Prematurely Causing THE Hose TO Crack and Leak Power Steering Fluid. Consequence Power Steering Fluid Leaking Onto A HOT Catalytic Converter Will Generate Smoke and Possibly Lead TO AN Under-Hood Fire.”
Electrical system
2 reports
“THE DRIVERS DOOR WILL NOT OPEN WITH THE DOOR HANDLE FROM THE INSIDE OR OUTSIDE, THE DRIVERS WINDOW WILL NOT GO DOWN , YOU ARE LOCK IN FROM THE DRIVERS SIDE. *TR”
Exterior lighting
2 reports
“2007 ACURA RL, 34,500 MILES, STARTING IN NOV. 2009 THE HEADLIGHTS FLICKER WHEN I AM DRIVING. HAPPENED 5 TIMES SO FAR.. THE BULBS ARE FINE. HAD TO PULL OVER AND TURN LIGHTS ON AND OFF TO RESTART LIGHTS. I BELIEVE IT WAS RIGHT SIDE ONLY. NO REPAIRS MADE AT THIS TIME. CONTACTED DEALER, THEY SAID THEY HAVE HEARD OF SIMILAR HEADLIGHT PROBLEMS ON THE ACURA RL CARS. *TR”
Power train
1 report
“SH-AWD will randomly come on and I’ll lose power suddenly as it switches from awd to front wheel drive. It can be scary especially if you are accelerating to get up to speed for the freeway or trying to take a quick left hand turn. The whole car shutters while the awd kicks off. It happens randomly, it has probably happened 15-20 I’ve the last few years”
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 28, 2026
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.