There are 2 owner-reported suspension complaints for the 2002 Acura RLin NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
This is a continuation complaint with national cemter for dispute settlement to fix safty issues and discontinued parts. The car is not 40 years old and i cannot find a maintenance repair book. The power door locks are coming on and off and the fob key do not work Sutton acuta in macon said it needs the antenna but the antenna is discontinued. The navigation system doesn't work because the 6 chamger dvd in the trunk is not working with no electrical tech support from on star. ABS VSA TRACHION CONTROL IS ON for motr tan 3 years but the VSA switch is discontinued part. The SRS light was turn off at the nally acura in Marietta but they came back on and been on for 3 or 5 years. The car is not safe for driving after spending 10000 dollars to repair the same issue. This is my frustration with safty and no support.
WHILE DRIVING THE 2002 ACURA 3.5 RL APPROXIMATELY 20-25 MPH (ROAD WAS FLAT AND STRAIGHT WITH NO POTHOLES, BUMPS, ETC.), THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL SUDDENLY TWISTED OUTWARDS, WHICH LED TO THE CAR SKIDDING TO A STOP. THE CAR BASICALLY DROPPED ONTO THE LEFT FRONT TIRE (WHICH WAS FACING OUTWARDS - THE INSIDE OF THE WHEEL WAS VISIBLE WHILE STANDING IN FRONT OF CAR LOOKING TOWARDS BACK OF THE CAR). THE DAMAGE ESTIMATE IS BELIEVED TO BE GREATER THAN $4,000 PER THE BODY SHOP INSURANCE ESTIMATOR. I HAD AN OIL CHANGE SERVICE DONE 1 MONTH PRIOR AT AN ACURA DEALERSHIP. THERE WAS NO HISTORY OF ANY ACCIDENTS AND THE BODY SHOP THAT CURRENTLY HAS VEHICLE ALSO ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THERE ARE NO SIGNS OF ANY PREVIOUS ISSUES WITH REGARDS TO ACCIDENTS, REPAIRS, ETC. INSURANCE COMPANY STATED THEY WILL NOT COVER THE PART WHICH FAILED (LOWER BALL JOINT) BUT WILL COVER DAMAGES AS A RESULT OF IT (MINUS $500 DEDUCTIBLE, REPAIRED WITH AFTERMARKET/RECONDITIONED PARTS AT THEIR PREFERRED LOCATION TO HAVE ANY SORT OF WARRANTY ON THE WORK DONE). I HAVE CONTACTED ACURA AND ADVISED THEM THAT IN THE YEARS 1996-1999, THERE ARE RECALLS FOR THE EXACT SAME ISSUE. THE OFFICER ON SITE AND THE TOWING REPRESENTATIVE ALSO INDICATED THAT THIS COULD HAVE POTENTIALLY BEEN A VERY DANGEROUS ACCIDENT SINCE WE WERE ABOUT TO ENTER THE INTERSTATE IN A FEW MINUTES TO GO BACK HOME (WE HAD ALREADY DRIVEN ABOUT 80 MILES ON THE INTERSTATE TO GET TO THIS LOCATION). I DO NOT BELIEVE THE DEALER IS AT FAULT ON THIS, BUT MORE SO MANUFACTURER SINCE THERE ARE NO INDICATIONS OF A POSSIBLE CAUSE (SUCH AS ACCIDENTS, REPAIRS, AFTERMARKET ACCESSORIES, ETC.). THE VEHICLE AD IS STILL AVAILABLE AT HTTP://EXOTIC-MOTORS.EBIZAUTOS.COM/DETAIL.ASPX?IID=1014802 IN CASE IT HELPS TO GIVE MORE DETAIL AS TO ITS EXCELLENT CONDITION. *NM
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
Data synced from NHTSA on Apr 25, 2026