IllustrationRACK AND PINION REPLACEMENT. EXTERIOR ISSUES: REAR BUMPER FELLED OFF; GASOLINE COVER WON'T CLOSED; DOOR HANDLES FALLING OFF; FUEL PUMP NEEDS REPLACEMENT
2002 Acura Rl
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Limited comparison data
There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Rl years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 15 of 43 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Air Bags. Review the 18 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Power Train. Review the 10 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 5 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
1 crash reports0 fire reports0 injury reports
Power Train complaints
10 reportsTHE CAR HAS A KNOWN TSB THAT THE CAR MAY STALL AND SHUT DOWN IF IT IS AT VERY LOW SPEEDS. THIS HAS HAPPENED TO ME TWICE AND THE LAST TIME IT HAPPENED 3 DAYS AGO. I WAS IN TRAFFIC WAITING IN TRAFFIC THE CAR JUST STALLED AND ROLLED BACK AND HIT THE GUY IN THE BACK LUCKY FOR ME IT WAS SITTING TRAFFIC. ONE OTHER TIME THE CAR WAS MAK…
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THE CAR HAS A KNOWN TSB THAT THE CAR MAY STALL AND SHUT DOWN IF IT IS AT VERY LOW SPEEDS. THIS HAS HAPPENED TO ME TWICE AND THE LAST TIME IT HAPPENED 3 DAYS AGO. I WAS IN TRAFFIC WAITING IN TRAFFIC THE CAR JUST STALLED AND ROLLED BACK AND HIT THE GUY IN THE BACK LUCKY FOR ME IT WAS SITTING TRAFFIC. ONE OTHER TIME THE CAR WAS MAKING A SLOW SPEED TURN AND THE CAR SHUT OFF AND LOST POWER. THE CAR HAS A KNOWN TSB THAT THIS HAPPENS DUE TO A MALFUNCTIONED PCM. ALSO THIS CAR HAS A TSB STATING THAT A DRIVE PLATE IS MISMANUFACTURED AND HAPPENS TO ALL CARS IN MY YEAR AND MODEL A GRINDING NOISE WHEN START UP INTERMITTENTLY. THIS IT THE WEBLINK FOR TSB FOR STALLING OF CAR PROBLEM HTTP://WWW.ACURHTTP://WWW.ACURAWORLD.COM/TSB/2002/B02-031.PDFAWORLD.COM/TSB/2001/B01-044.PDF AND THIS IS FOR THE GRINDING NOISE PROBLEM. *JB
2004 ACURA RL , CONSUMER STATED WHEN THE VEHICLE IS PARKED ON A SLIGHT INCLINE WITH GEAR SHIFTER IN DRIVE, THE VEHICLE WOULD ROLL BACKWARDS. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *PH
GET A VERY BAD 'GRIND' GOING INTO 2ND GEAR, WHEN THE TRANSMISSION IS COLD. IT TAKES ABOUT 25 MINUTES OF DRIVING UNTIL IT STARTS TO SHIFT SMOOTHLY. THE COLDER THE WEATHER IS OUTSIDE THE WORST THE PROBLEM IS. THIS IS NOT NORMAL BEHAVIOR, YOU CAN FEEL THE GEARS GRINDING IN THE TRANSMISSION. YES, THE CLUTCH PEDAL IS BEING PUSHED ALL…
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GET A VERY BAD 'GRIND' GOING INTO 2ND GEAR, WHEN THE TRANSMISSION IS COLD. IT TAKES ABOUT 25 MINUTES OF DRIVING UNTIL IT STARTS TO SHIFT SMOOTHLY. THE COLDER THE WEATHER IS OUTSIDE THE WORST THE PROBLEM IS. THIS IS NOT NORMAL BEHAVIOR, YOU CAN FEEL THE GEARS GRINDING IN THE TRANSMISSION. YES, THE CLUTCH PEDAL IS BEING PUSHED ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR AND THE SHIFTER IS BEING PULLED STRAIGHT BACK. I HAVE SPOKE WITH MANY ACURA RSX TYPE-S OWNERS AND THEY ARE ALL HAVING THIS PROBLEM. I HAVE A PETITION WITH OVER 60 SIGNATURES FROM OTHER RSX OWNERS WITH NAME VIN'S AND DESCRIPT OF THE SAME PROBLEM. PLEASE REPORT THIS PROBLEM TO ACURA IT CAN BE VERY DANGEROUS IF YOU ARE TRYING TO GET INTO 2ND GEAR AND THE TRANSMISSIONS IS GRINDING SO BAD IT LOCKS YOU OUT.*AK
WHEN SHIFTING INTO 2ND GEAR, THE TRANSMISSION FREQUENTLY MAKES A CRUNCHING SOUND IN ADDITION TO HAVING A NOTCHY FEELING. OCCASIONALLY TRANSMISSION WILL POP OUT OF 2ND GEAR WHEN ENGAGING THE CLUTCH. AFTER TAKING THE CAR TO THE WILLOW GROVE SUSSMAN ACURA SERVICE CENTER, A TECHNICIAN CLAIMED THAT THIS WAS NORMAL OPERATION FOR THE…
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WHEN SHIFTING INTO 2ND GEAR, THE TRANSMISSION FREQUENTLY MAKES A CRUNCHING SOUND IN ADDITION TO HAVING A NOTCHY FEELING. OCCASIONALLY TRANSMISSION WILL POP OUT OF 2ND GEAR WHEN ENGAGING THE CLUTCH. AFTER TAKING THE CAR TO THE WILLOW GROVE SUSSMAN ACURA SERVICE CENTER, A TECHNICIAN CLAIMED THAT THIS WAS NORMAL OPERATION FOR THE RSX TYPE-S'S 6 SPEED TRANMISSION SINCE ITS 1ST AND 2ND GEARS HAVE TRIPLE CONE SYNCROS. HE SAID THERE WAS NOTHING HE COULD DO FOR THIS TRANMISSION PROBLEM.*AK
TRANSMISSION GRINDS WHEN UPSHIFTING FROM FIRST GEAR INTO SECOND GEAR.*AK
WHEN IT IS COLD OUT THERE IS A NOTCH GOING FROM 1ST TO 2ND GEAR. WITH THE CLUTCH FULLY DEPRESSED AS YOU SHIFT FROM THE 1ST GEAR GATE TO THE 2ND GEAR GATE THERE IS A SLIGHT GRIND AND DIFFICULTY GETTING INTO GEAR. THE PROBLEM GOES AWAY ONCE THE CAR IS WARMED UP.*AK
GETTING INTO SECOND GEAR IS VERY 'NOTCHY' AND GETS VERY BAD IN COLD WEATHER AND WHEN THE TRANMISSION IS NOT WARMED UP. AT TIMES IT CAN BE VERY HARD TO GET INTO 2ND GEAR AND IT GRINDS, THIS HAS BEEN REPORTED BY MANY OTHER RSX TYPE-S OWNERS I HAVE SPOKEN WITH. THIS CAN BE VERY DANGEROUS IF YOU ARE TRYING TO GET INTO SECOND GEAR…
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GETTING INTO SECOND GEAR IS VERY 'NOTCHY' AND GETS VERY BAD IN COLD WEATHER AND WHEN THE TRANMISSION IS NOT WARMED UP. AT TIMES IT CAN BE VERY HARD TO GET INTO 2ND GEAR AND IT GRINDS, THIS HAS BEEN REPORTED BY MANY OTHER RSX TYPE-S OWNERS I HAVE SPOKEN WITH. THIS CAN BE VERY DANGEROUS IF YOU ARE TRYING TO GET INTO SECOND GEAR AND YOU ARE NOT ABLE TO.*AK
6 SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSION MISS-SHIFTING EASILY ON 3RD TO 4TH GEAR UPSHIFTS. 2ND GEAR ENGAGED WHICH CAUSED EXTENSIVE ENGINE DAMAGE. MANUFACTURE IS FAILING TO WARRANTY ENGINE DAMAGE. NUMEROUS CASES ARE NOW BEING REPORTED BY OWNERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. *AK
WHEN SLOWING DOWN AND HITTING THE BRAKES ENGINE WILL STALL. VEHICLE DOES THIS INTERMITTENTLY WITHOUT WARNING. ALSO, HAD TRANSMISSION REPLACED, AND VEHICLE DID IT AGAIN. CONTACTED DEALER. *AK
Official recalls
220V027000 · Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module
Jan 17, 2020
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2001-2002 Acura 3.2CL, 2000-2003 Acura 3.5RL, 2000-2001 Acura 3.2TL, Honda CR-V and Honda Odyssey, 2001-2002 Acura MDX and 2000 Accord Coupe, Accord Sedan, Civic Coupe, and Civic Sedan vehicles. These vehicles may have received a replacement driver frontal air bag module as part of a vehicle repair. Due to a manufacturing issue, the replacement NADI inflator may absorb moisture, causing the inflator to rupture or the air bag cushion to underinflate.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: In the event of a crash necessitating air bag deployment, an inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants. An underinflated air bag cushion may not properly protect the occupant. These scenarios increase the risk of serious injury or death.
Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the air bags in the vehicles, replacing the driver frontal air bag inflator with an inflator of a different design, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began October 1, 2020. Owners may contact American Honda's Customer Support & Campaign Center at 1-888-234-2138.
02V119000 · Exterior Lighting:brake Lights:switch
May 14, 2002
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, DURING THE MANUFACTURING PROCESS, OIL WAS APPLIED TO THE BRAKE PEDAL ASSEMBLY TO PREVENT RUST. THIS OIL CAN LEAK INTO THE BRAKE STOP SWITCH AND CONTAMINATE THE ELECTRICAL CONTACTS.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: EVENTUALLY, THE BRAKE LIGHTS WILL NOT ILLUMINATE WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED, WHICH INCREASES THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL CLEAN ANY EXCESS OIL FROM THE PEDAL ASSEMBLY AND REPLACE THE STOP SWITCH. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN MAY 16, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT ACURA AT 1-800-382-2238.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.