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Acura RLModel year report

2002 Acura RL Problems

Complaints
43filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
76,500miles, 15 complaints with mileage
Recalls
2campaigns on record
Trend
FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.

Sources: NHTSA records for the 2002 Acura RL (complaints, recalls, investigations), NHTSA crash tests. Report an error

NHTSA recorded 43 consumer complaints for the 2002 Acura RL. The part named most often is air bags, with 18 complaints (42% of the total), followed by transmission and drivetrain (10) and electrical system (5). 15 of the complaints include a mileage, and 20% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 76,500 miles. Of all complaints, 1 involved a crash, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns and 31 technical service bulletins for this model year. Air bags complaints overlap with 1 recall campaign covering the inflator module and 2 technical service bulletins filed under the same part.

Not compared (before 2008). Model years 2008–2023 of the same vehicle that have at least 25 complaints are compared, and a model needs at least 3 of them.

Which parts are reported most

Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.

Also reported: Exterior lighting (1), Other or unknown (1), Seat belts (1).

Example complaints

Air bags: “Takata recall the vehicle was traveling in city at approximately 10mph. I had just finished gasing up. As I was driving I noticed the srs light was illuminated. Once arriving home, I began to research and troubleshoot the issue. I came up with 2 codes. The first was 3-5, and the second was 1-1. 3-5 was pertaining to a ground for the seatbelt pretensioner, driver's side. 1-1 was pertaining to a module for an airbag. I can't remember which side. As aforementioned, the research I did confirmed there were some recalls pertaining to the air bag system. …”

NHTSA complaint #11114362, filed 2018-07, 85,500 miles

Transmission and drivetrain: “The car has a known TSB that the car may stall and shut down if it is at very low speeds. This has happened to me twice and the last time it happened 3 days ago. I was in traffic waiting in traffic the car just stalled and rolled back and hit the guy in the back lucky for me it was sitting traffic. One other time the car was making a slow speed turn and the car shut off and lost power. The car has a known TSB that this happens due to a malfunctioned PCM. …”

NHTSA complaint #10140751, filed 2005-10, 46,059 miles

Electrical system: “Doors lock when inside, sitting stationary, and can't get them to unlock from drivers position. Passenger may need to get out to use key to unlock from outside.”

NHTSA complaint #11319330, filed 2020-03, 8,600 miles

Steering: “The adjustable steering column quit working in a position that isn't good for me to drive, you can't buy a part to fix this you have to replace the steering column. This is a $2,500.00 repair. It is not safe to drive in the position it quit working for me. I feel Acura should fix this or replace it with a column that can be repaired instead of replacing the whole column. This could be a serious safety issue. The vehicle was stationary when I tried to adjust it.”

NHTSA complaint #10864456, filed 2016-05, 100,000 miles

Mileage when problems were reported

20% of the 15 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 60,000 and 100,000 miles.

13%0–100%10–257%25–5020%50–7527%75–10020%100–15013%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (15 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 76,500 miles.

Complaints by year filed

Trend: falling. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.

’02’04’06’10’14’17’2013’24
Complaints by year the complaint was filed with NHTSA. Red bars: the last 3 full calendar years used for the trend. The current year (2026) is partial.

Crash test ratings

NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 2002 Acura RL. Frontal results are shown driver / passenger; rollover shows the star rating and NHTSA's estimated risk of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.

VersionOverallFrontalSideSide poleRollover
RL · sedan not rated4 / 4———

Ratings before the 2011 model year come from an older, less demanding test and are not comparable with ratings for 2011 and later.

Source: NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (5-Star Safety Ratings), nhtsa.gov/ratings.

Recalls and investigations

Recall details for the 2002 Acura RL → · Check a VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls

Technical service bulletins

TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 31 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 31 bulletins →

Other model years of the Acura RL

YearComplaintsMedian miRecallsCrash ★MPGScore (50 = typical)Trend
2010920,1007—18—Not enough data
2009845,1606—18—Not enough data
20081318,1776—19—Not enough data
20072034,7507—19—Falling
20063246,0008—19Not compared (before 2008)Stable
200512573,00011—19Not compared (before 2008)Falling
200411104,0000———Not enough data
2003980,8181———Not enough data
20024376,5002——Not compared (before 2008)Falling
200112112,2002———Not enough data
20005977,0004——Not compared (before 2008)Falling
19992492,7512———Falling
19981199,4463———Not enough data
199719145,0002———Stable
199622144,0002———Stable

All Acura RL model years · Best and worst years by complaints

Frequently asked questions

How many NHTSA complaints does the 2002 Acura RL have?

NHTSA recorded 43 consumer complaints for the 2002 Acura RL as of Oct 28, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 2002 Acura RL is reported most often?

Air bags is named most often, in 18 complaints (42% of the total), followed by transmission and drivetrain with 10.

Has the 2002 Acura RL been recalled?

NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

At what mileage are problems with the 2002 Acura RL reported?

Among the 15 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 76,500 miles and the middle half falls between 60,000 and 100,000 miles; 20% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 28, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Crash ratings are from NHTSA’s New Car Assessment Program.

Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.