There are 5 owner-reported body & structure complaints for the 2005 Acura RLin NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
MY VEHICLE'S DASHBOARD GLOVE BOX IS DEFECTIVE. I BELIEVE THIS HAPPENS TO MANY VEHICLES WHICH NO ONE BOTHERS TO REPORT. MY GLOVE BOX, WHEN IT'S HOT OR THE SUN IS OUT, THE EXTERNAL LEATHER OR MATERIAL THAT IT IS MADE OF, SOFTENS AND DETERIORATED LIKE IT'S MELTED PLASTIC. ANY CONTACT THE LEATHER HAS WITH ANYTHING, THE LEATHER IS DAMAGED EASILY AND INDENTED VERY BADLY WHERE IT'S UNABLE TO REPAIR BESIDES TAKING IT TO A PROFESSIONAL. I'VE NOTICED MANY OTHER VEHICLES WITH THIS ISSUE, AND IT SEEMS TO BE A DEFECT I. THE VEHICLE WHICH IS OVERLOOKED TO BE RECALLED. I'VE HAD MY SUNSHADE JUST TEMPORARILY LEFT TO LAY AGAINST THE GLOVE BOX IN THE SUN FOR ONLY A FEW MINUTES, AND THE LEATHER ON THE GLOVE BOX WAS INDENTED AND TORN FROM THE LIGHTWEIGHT SUNSHADE. *TR
MY 2005 ACURA RL HAS CHROME TRIM THAT IS APPARENTLY A THIN SHEET OF METAL THAT HAS BEEN APPLIED TO THE VEHICLE. AFTER SOME TIME, IT HAS DEGRADED, AND IS PEELING FROM ITS ORIGINAL POSITION. THIS HAS EXPOSED VERY SHARP EDGES. ONE OF THE DELAMINATED TRIM PIECES IS UNDER THE HOOD RELEASE, AND WHILE INSERTING MY FINGERS TO OPEN THE HOOD I RECEIVED A CUT ON MY HAND. *JS
ACURA RL 2005 LOUD CLUNKING NOISE FROM LEFT FRONT DASH AND STEERING COLUMN. *TR
1ST INCIDENT ON FEBRUARY 25 2009 -DOOR HANDLE SHORTED OUT WHILE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN GARAGE. REPLACED BY DEALER. 2ND INCIDENT ON OCTOBER 16,2012-DOOR HANDLE SHORTED OUT WHILE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN GARAGEFOR 24-36 HOURS. WE DETECTED THE SMELL OF WIRES BURNING IN THE MORNING, BUT COULD NOT FIND THE SOURCE. LATER IN THE DAY THE ACURA WOULD NOT START. NOTHING WORKED. AAA GOT IT STARTED AND I DROVE TO ACURA DEALER. ONCE AGAIN, THE DOOR HANDLE SHORTED OUT. THIS RECURRING , AND POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS , PROBLEM CAUSES A SAFETY RISK. PARTICULARLY TROUBLING DUE TO THE RECENT RECALL ISSUE WITH SOME HONDA VEHICLES WITH A SIMILAR ISSUE. COST TO OWNER--$503. *TR
I HAVE BEEN DRIVING SINCE 1980 AND HAVE HAD VARIOUS VEHICLES FROM VARIOUS MANUFACTURERS AND I HAVE NEVER HAD A DASHBOARD MELT FOR ANY REASON. I EXPECTED MY CAR TO HAVE MINOR PROBLEMS AT 40,000 MILES BUT MELTING WAS NOT ONE OF THEM. THE INTERIOR OF MY CAR IS MELTING. ESPECIALLY THE GLOVE COMPARTMENT, THE ARM REST AND THE CONSOLE. THE GLOVE COMPARTMENT HAS MELTED AND REMAIN SOFT AND STICKY, TO THE POINT THAT ANYTHING COMING INTO CONTACT WITH THE GLOVE BOX LEAVES AN IMPRESSION OR POCK MAR. THE ARM REST AND CENTER CONSOLE HAVE CRACKED AND PEELED. THE DRIVERS DOOR HANDLE CAME OUT IN MY HAND AS I WAS CLOSING THE DOOR ONE DAY, THAT'S WHEN I REALIZED IT WAS MADE OF 100 % PLASTIC COVERED IN VINYL. A CAR ORIGINALLY VALUED AT $51K BRAND NEW AND THEY INSTALL THE CHEAPEST DOOR HANDLE OF ANY MAKER? THEY COULDN'T AFFORD TO PUT IT TOGETHER WITH SCREWS, INSTEAD THEY GLUED IT TOGETHER. MY GLOVE COMPARTMENT AND DASHBOARD IS MELTING AND STICKY. IT APPEARS AS THOUGH SOME TYPE OF GLUE HAD BEEN POURED ON IT. YES YOU CAN RIDE IN MY CAR, BUT SIT IN YOU SEAT AND DON'T TOUCH THE DASHBOARD, IT WILL STICK TO YOUR HANDS. I COMPLAINED TO THE ACURA DEALER WHEN THE CAR WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY AND EVEN NOW THAT I HAVE PURCHASED EXTENDED WARRANTY, THIS IS NOT COVERED. THE REST OF MY CAR IS IN IMPECCABLE CONDITION INSIDE AND OUT AS I HAVE TAKEN CARE OF IT SINCE THE DAY I PURCHASED IT. HOWEVER I AM EMBARRASSED FOR ANYONE TO COME INSIDE THE CAR AND SEE THE TATTERED CONDITION IT IS IN. *TR
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