Most common 2001 Acura RL problems
Share of the 12 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Acura RL complaints by model year
Best RL years: 2012, 2003, 2011. Years to avoid: 2005, 2000, 2002, 2006. Compare all years →
2001 Acura RL recalls (2)
Air bags › Frontal › Driver side › Inflator module
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.
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.
Exterior lighting › Brake lights › Switch
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.
Remedy: Dealers will clean any excess oil from the pedal assembly and replace the stop switch. Owner notification began May 16, 2002.
What 2001 Acura RL owners say
Transmission & drivetrain
While driving at slower speeds, vehicle stalled. Transimmison has been having problems accelerating & decelerating.
Transmission on this model failing across the nation, Acura not acknowledging.
Air bags
I called Acura to see if the type air bag inflator in my car used ammonium nitrate. My car is not on the recalled list but given the nature of the problem I was going to replace, at least the driver's side, if the inflator was using the unstable propellant. Acura would not provide me any information. I called NHTSA and they told me to provide information to this site to see if I can get the information to protect myself and family regardless of the corporate decision.
2001 Acura RL. SRS light is on. Dealer checked and found problem with opds unit and sensor and replaced. After replacement, re-initialized the system but the SRS stays on. Now, turn out that the SRS control unit is bad. Dealer said it will cost approx $2000 to replace the SRS control unit. Why SRS control unit is not considered a safety item?
2001 Acura RL engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | FWD | 16 / 22 / 18 |
EPA ratings. Class: Midsize car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2001 Acura RL a good car?
Based on 12 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2001 RL rates average: 23% fewer complaints than a typical year of the RL at the same age. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2001 Acura RL?
The transmission & drivetrain — 5 complaints, 42% of all complaints for this model year, most often about automatic transmission. Next are the air bags (5) and brakes (1).
How many recalls does the 2001 Acura RL have?
There are 2 recalls for the 2001 Acura RL, the most recent from January 17, 2020 (inflator module). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Acura RL?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2012, 2003 and 2011. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2005, 2000, 2002 and 2006. See the full Acura RL years comparison.
At what mileage do 2001 Acura RL problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 113,000 miles; 0% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.