2000 Acura Rl

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

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

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