2009 Acura RL Problems & Complaints

Average31% fewer complaints than a typical year of the RL at the same age

Owners have filed 8 complaints about the 2009 Acura RL with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. That is about average for the RL at the same age. The most reported problem area is the air bags (3 complaints, typically around 93,000 miles). 6 recalls cover this model year.

8complaints
6recalls
1crashes
1fires
1injuries
0deaths

Most common 2009 Acura RL problems

  • Air bags~93,000 miles
    338%
  • Brakes~15,000 miles
    225%
  • Fuel & propulsion system~17,000 miles
    225%
  • Speed control & acceleration~17,000 miles
    225%
  • Body & structure~0 miles
    113%
  • Wheels & tires~0 miles
    113%
  • Locks & latches~17,000 miles
    113%
  • Transmission & drivetrain~73,000 miles
    113%
  • Electrical system~130,000 miles
    113%

Share of the 8 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.

Acura RL complaints by model year

’96’97’98’99’00’01’02’03’04’05’06’07’08’09’10’11’12221911245912439111253220138931
Owner complaints per model year, Acura RL. Colour = our verdict for that year (red: avoid, orange: caution, green: better than average, blue: too new).

Best RL years: 2012, 2003, 2011. Years to avoid: 2005, 2000, 2002, 2006. Compare all years →

2009 Acura RL recalls (6)

Air bags › Frontal › Driver side › Inflator module

NHTSA recall 19V-500 · Jun 27, 2019 · 1,558 vehicles

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2013 Acura ILX, 2015 RDX, 2005-2010 and 2012 RL, 2009-2014 TL, 2010 and 2012 ZDX, 2007-2011 CR-V, 2011-2013 and 2015 CR-Z, 2009-2013 Fit, 2013 Fit EV, 2010-2011 and 2013 Insight and 2007-2014 Ridgeline vehicles.

Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began August 12, 2019. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138.

Air bags › Frontal › Passenger side › Inflator module

NHTSA recall 19V-501 · Jun 27, 2019 · 1,657,752 vehicles

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2003-2006 Acura MDX, 2005-2012 RL, 2003-2007 Honda Accord, 2001-2005 Civic, 2003-2005 Civic Hybrid, 2001-2005 Civic GX NGV, 2002-2006 CR-V, 2003-2011 Element, 2007-2008 Fit, 2002-2004 Odyssey, 2003-2008 Pilot, and 2006-2014 Ridgeline vehicles.

Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal airbag inflator, free of charge. The recall began August 12, 2019. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138.

Air bags › Frontal › Passenger side › Inflator module

NHTSA recall 18V-041 · Jan 9, 2018 · 24,945 vehicles

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2010-2012 Acura RL, 2010 Honda Element, and 2010-2013 Honda Ridgeline vehicles ever registered in the states of Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands…

Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began February 16, 2018. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138.

Air bags › Frontal › Passenger side › Inflator module

NHTSA recall 17V-029 · Jan 10, 2017 · 308,884 vehicles

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2005-2006 Acura MDX and Honda CR-V vehicles, 2005-2011 Honda Element vehicles, 2005-2012 Acura RL vehicles, 2006-2012 Honda Ridgeline vehicles, 2007-2008 Honda Fit vehicles and 2005-2008 Honda Pilot vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Alabama, California,…

Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall bagan March 2017. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138.

Air bags › Frontal › Passenger side › Inflator module

NHTSA recall 16V-344 · May 23, 2016 · 1,790,894 vehicles

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain model year 2003-2006 Acura MDX, 2005-2011 Acura RL, 2005-2006 Honda CR-V, 2003-2011 Element, 2007-2008 Fit, 2003-2008 Pilot, 2002-2004 Odyssey, and 2006-2011 Ridgeline vehicles originally sold, or that have ever been registered, in Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia,…

Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began June 27, 2016. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138.

Air bags › Frontal › Driver side › Inflator module

NHTSA recall 16V-061 · Feb 3, 2016 · 2,232,187 vehicles

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain model year 2007-2011 Honda CR-V, 2011-2015 CR-Z, 2010-2014 FCX, and Insight, 2009-2013 Fit, 2013-2014 Fit EV, 2007-2014 Ridgeline, 2013-2016 Acura ILX, 2013-2014 Acura ILX Hybrid, 2007-2016 RDX, 2005-2012 Acura RL, 2009-2014 Acura TL, and 2010-2013 Acura ZDX vehicles.

Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the inflator, free of charge. The recall began March 2017. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138.

What 2009 Acura RL owners say

Air bags

I have a 2009 Acura RL. While stopped at a light, the light turned green. After about 20 feet I needed to brake. The car accelerated instead of braking. We hit the car in front of us. Only the driver air bag deployed. The front end of the car was damaged. Non of the doors would open either from the inside or the outside. The trunk would not open either. I feel that because of the sudden acceleration, only one airbag deploying, and the doors refusing to open, that there is an electrical problem or something going on.

17,000 miles · Mar 2010 · crash

Tl* Takata recall. The contact owns a 2009 Acura RL. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 16V344000 (air bags); however, the part to do the repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not notified of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.

Jul 2016

2009 Acura RL engines & fuel economy

EngineTransmissionDriveMPG city / hwy / combined
3.7L 6-cyl5-speed automatic4WD/AWD16 / 22 / 18

EPA ratings. Class: Midsize car.

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2009 Acura RL a good car?

Based on 8 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2009 RL rates average: 31% 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 2009 Acura RL?

The air bags — 3 complaints, 38% of all complaints for this model year. Next are the brakes (2) and fuel & propulsion system (2).

How many recalls does the 2009 Acura RL have?

There are 6 recalls for the 2009 Acura RL, the most recent from June 27, 2019 (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 2009 Acura RL problems happen?

The median mileage reported in complaints is about 73,000 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.