2005 Acura RL Exterior lighting Problems
- Complaints
- 49about this part
- Share
- 39%of 125 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 73,000miles
- Trend
- FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 49 complaints about the exterior lighting of the 2005 Acura RL, 39% of the 125 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 73,000 miles. 1 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“I was driving at night front headlight started flickering and cut off. I turned lights off then back on and headlights came back on. The next day both headlights started flickering and both went off turned lights off and on until they came back on.”
NHTSA complaint #10573744, filed 2014-03, 186,454 miles“Own 2005 Acura RL, that has afs light system. While driving vehicle on interstate, the headlights are intermittent and goes off at times, leaving me without visibility of the road ahead. I've contacted Acura and they state that vehicle is out of warranty and cannot service. My concern is that is a safety issue. I have also googled issue and have seen numerous complaints abut the afs system.”
NHTSA complaint #10269482, filed 2009-05, 81,000 miles“I have a 2005 Acura RL. The headlights flicker and periodically go out. The only way to get them to come back on is if I turn the headlights off and then back on. This, of course, happens at night and is extremely dangerous when I'm traveling down the road at 65 MPH! This has been occurring for the past 4 months. The dealer replaced the sop hid control unit two days ago and it has not fixed the problem. It did cost me $553.95.”
NHTSA complaint #10295202, filed 2009-12, 65,000 miles“2005 Acura RL: head lights flicker when hitting bump in the road. Occurs daily (nightly) now and getting worse. I expect they will eventually go out. Now getting quotes to correct. Hundreds of dollars and probably over $1000 that I don't think I should pay.”
NHTSA complaint #10293639, filed 2009-11, 75,000 miles“My headlight on my Acura RL are intermittent and going out every so often, more often then not. The problem just started to happen. It happens all the time off and on. The problem is with the light ballast and it will run you from $500 to $1200 to repair.”
NHTSA complaint #10279072, filed 2009-08, 62,750 milesExterior lighting: other model years
Other parts of the 2005 Acura RL
36 complaintsElectrical system
18 complaintsBrakes
8 complaintsBody and structure
7 complaintsOther or unknown
6 complaintsVehicle speed control
4 complaintsEquipment
3 complaintsFuel system
3 complaintsSuspension
3 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
3 complaintsElectronic stability control
2 complaintsEngine
2 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2005 Acura RL
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology