Most common 2003 Acura RL problems
Share of the 9 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 →
2003 Acura RL recalls (1)
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.
What 2003 Acura RL owners say
Air bags
Tl* Takata recall. The contact owns a 2003 Acura RL. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 20V027000 (air bags) however, the part to do the recall repair was not available. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. Phil smith Acura (940 n federal hwy, pompano beach, fl 33062, [phone]) was contacted and it was confirmed that the remedy part was not available. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact stated that the air bag warning light was illuminated. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
Tl* Takata recall. The contact owns a 2003 Acura RL. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 20V027000 (air bags) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The vehicle was taken to Acura of westchester (2155 palmer ave, larchmont, ny 10538, [phone]) and it was confirmed that parts were not yet available. The contact had not experienced a failure. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
2003 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 2003 Acura RL a good car?
Based on 9 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2003 RL rates better than average: 69% fewer complaints than a typical year of the RL at the same age. It is one of the best RL years by this measure. 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 2003 Acura RL?
The air bags — 6 complaints, 67% of all complaints for this model year, most often about side/window. Next are the engine & cooling (1) and transmission & drivetrain (1).
How many recalls does the 2003 Acura RL have?
There is 1 recall for the 2003 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 2003 Acura RL problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 132,000 miles; 50% 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.