The 2005 Acura RL factory service and repair manual is matched to this exact year, engine and trim — the 3.5L 3471cc SOHC V6 in the Base Sedan 4-Door — so the OEM procedures and specifications you work from are the correct ones for this car and not a generic RL.
Engines
- 3.5L V6 — 3471cc (212 cu in), SOHC, naturally aspirated, gas
Trims
- Base Sedan 4-Door
Known issues on the 2005 RL. Seven recalls are on federal record for this model year. Five are frontal air bag inflator campaigns — two on the driver-side inflator module and three on the passenger-side module — where an inflator explosion or rupture can send metal fragments at the driver or other occupants. One covers the hydraulic brake master cylinder, where a leak of brake fluid can lead to a change in brake pedal feel and, over time, a degradation in braking. The seventh is an antilock and traction control fault that can cause sudden inadvertent braking, especially without illumination of the brake lights. There are 153 owner complaints on record for the year and 97 technical service bulletins issued for it. This manual carries the factory diagnostic and repair procedures behind each of those systems.
From a routine fluid service to a brake hydraulic diagnosis or a restraint-system fault, it keeps you on the OEM procedure and the correct specification for your specific 2005 RL.
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. These vehicles are equipped with driver frontal air bag inflators assembled as a recall remedy part or replacement service part, that may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.
An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
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. Honda's numbers for this recall are S5B and W59.
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. The vehicles are equipped with passenger frontal air bag inflators assembled as a recall remedy part or replacement service part, that may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.
An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
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. Honda's numbers for this recall are E5D and X5C.
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, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands, or "Zone A." Additionally, if not included in "Zone A" above, Honda is recalling certain 2005-2006 Acura MDX and Honda CR-V vehicles, 2005-2009 Acura RL and Honda Element vehicles, 2007-2008 Honda F
An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
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. Honda's numbers for this recall are KD9 and KE0.
American Honda Motor Co. (Honda) is recalling certain model year 2001-2005 Honda Civic, 2003-2004 Civic CNG and Element, 2002-2005 CR-V, 2002-2004 Odyssey, 2003-2005 Accord, Pilot, Civic Hybrid, and Acura MDX, 2005 Acura RL and 2006 Honda Ridgeline vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in geographic locations associated with high absolute humidity. Specifically, vehicles sold, or ever registered, in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, Saipan, Guam, and American Samoa are addressed by this recall. Upon deployment of the passenger side frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to
In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passengers frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants potentially resulting in serious injury or death.
Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger side air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began January 26, 2015. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-800-999-1009.
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, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands, or "Zone A." Additionally, unless included in "Zone A" above, Honda is recalling certain model year 2003-2006 Acura MDX, 2005-2008 Acura RL, 2005-2006 Honda CR-V, 2003-2008 Element, 2007-2008 Fit, 2003-2008 Pilot
An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
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. Honda's numbers for this recall are KA0, KA1, KA2, and KA3.
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. The affected vehicles are equipped with a dual-stage driver frontal air bag that may be susceptible to moisture intrusion which, over time, could cause the inflator to rupture.
In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
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. Honda's numbers for this recall are JY0, JY1, and JY2.
American Honda Motor Company, Inc.'s (Honda) is conducting a limited regional recall for certain model year 2003-2005 Accord, Civic, CR-V, Pilot and Acura MDX, model year 2003-2004 Odyssey and Element, and model year 2005 Acura RL, and 2006 Honda Ridgeline vehicles originally sold, or ever registered in California, and equipped with Takata-brand air bag inflators. Upon deployment of the passenger side frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to rupture.
In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passengers frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants potentially resulting in serious injury or death.
Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the inflators in all affected vehicles, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin during August 2014. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-800-999-1009.
Honda is recalling certain model year 2005 Pilot vehicles manufactured July 29, 2004, through August 29, 2005; model year 2005-2006 Acura MDX vehicles manufactured September 16, 2004, through September 22, 2005; and model year 2005 Acura RL vehicles manufactured March 1, 2004, through June 29, 2005. An electrical capacitor may have been damaged during the manufacturing of the Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA) control module causing intermittent, automatic, minor brake application. However, if the driver applies the brakes while the VSA is malfunctioning, the vehicle may come to an abrupt stop. Additionally, due to a loose ground connection, certain model year 2005 Pilots have a VSA system t
Sudden inadvertent braking, especially without illumination of the brake lights, may increase the risk of a vehicle crash.
Owners will be notified and instructed to take their vehicles to a dealer of their respective brand. The dealer will install a partial wiring harness containing a capacitor for the VSA modulator, free of charge. The affected model year 2005 Pilots will have their ground connection tightened. The recall began on April 22, 2013. Honda owners may contact Honda Automobile Customer Service at 1-800-999-1009, and select option 4 or go to www.recalls.honda.com; Acura owners may contact 1-800-382-22
HONDA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2005-2007 ODYSSEY AND ACURA RL VEHICLES. BRAKE FLUID CONTAINING POLYMERS IS USED THAT ACTS AS A LUBRICANT FOR CERTAIN BRAKE SYSTEM COMPONENTS. IF REPLACEMENT BRAKE FLUID IS USED THAT DOES NOT CONTAIN SUCH POLYMERS, OR THAT CONTAINS ONLY SMALL AMOUNTS, A PART OF THE RUBBER SEAL LOCATED AT THE REAR OF THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER MAY BECOME DRY, AND THE SEAL MAY CURL DURING MOVEMENT OF THE PISTON. IF THIS OCCURS, A SMALL AMOUNT OF BRAKE FLUID COULD SLOWLY LEAK FROM THE SEAL INTO THE BRAKE BOOSTER.
A LEAK OF BRAKE FLUID COULD LEAD TO A CHANGE IN BRAKE PEDAL FEEL AND OVERTIME A DEGRADATION IN BRAKING PERFORMANCE INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER SEAL FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING DECEMBER 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT HONDA AT 1-800-999-1009.
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, PROLONGED HIGH UNDER-HOOD TEMPERATURES MAY CAUSE THE POWER STEERING HOSE TO DETERIORATE PREMATURELY CAUSING THE HOSE TO CRACK AND LEAK POWER STEERING FLUID.
POWER STEERING FLUID LEAKING ONTO A HOT CATALYTIC CONVERTER WILL GENERATE SMOKE AND POSSIBLY LEAD TO AN UNDER-HOOD FIRE.
DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW HEAT RESISTANT POWER STEERING HOSE FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON DECEMBER 12, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT HONDA AT 800-382-2238.
ON CERTAIN VEHICLES, A COIL WIRE INSIDE THE FUEL PUMP RELAY MAY BREAK, CAUSING THE FUEL PUMP TO LOSE POWER. IF THE FUEL PUMP BECOMES INOPERATIVE, THE ENGINE MAY NOT START.
IF THE FUEL PUMP LOSES POWER WHILE DRIVING, THE ENGINE COULD STALL WITHOUT WARNING, AND A CRASH COULD OCCUR.
DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND REPLACE THE FUEL PUMP RELAY FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 2, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT HONDA AT 1-800-999-1009.
Service Bulletin - Warranty Extension: Customer Support Program For Front Passenger's Airbag Inflator.
Service Bulletin - Warranty Extension: Customer Support Program For Driver's Airbag Inflator for 2013-14 ILX Hybrid and Other Listed Years and Models.
Service News - The navigation clock and date are incorrect. This is due to a limited GPS receiver capacity resulting in rollover of internal chip memory. The rollover occurred on January 1, 2022 at 12:00AM local time
Service bulletin - This bulletin is a notification of a class action settlement relating to airbag inflators. American Honda is offering a Customer Support Program (Warranty Extension) to cover any manufacturing defects in the replacement d
Service Bulletin - This bulletin is a notification of a class action settlement relating to airbag inflators. American Honda is offering a Customer Support Program (Warranty Extension) to cover any manufacturing defects in the replacement d
ServiceNews Article - The clock shows the incorrect time. This issue is due to a limited GPS receiver capacity resulting in "rollover" of the internal chip memory; the "rollover" will occur on January 1, 2022, at 12:00AM local time. As a re
Service Bulletin - This bulletin is a notification of a class action settlement relating to airbag inflators. American Honda is offering a Customer Support Program (Warranty Extension) to cover any manufacturing defects in the replacement f
Service Bulletin - This bulletin is a notification of a class action settlement relating to airbag inflators. American Honda is offering a Customer Support Program (Warranty Extension) to cover any manufacturing defects in the replacement d
Showing the 8 most recent of 132 technical service bulletins on file with NHTSA.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2005 ACURA RL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HER SON WAS DRIVING AND APPROACHED A CRASH THAT HAD ALREADY TAKEN PLACE. THE VICTIM OF THE CRASH WAS EJECTED FROM THE VEHICLE AND WAS LYING IN THE ROAD. THE CONTACT APPLIED THE BRAKES AND ATTEMPTED TO AVOID A VEHICLE THAT WAS STOPPED IN THE ROAD. THE CONTACT'S SON SWERVED INTO THE OTHER LANE AND CRASHED INTO THE VEHICLE THAT WAS INVOLVED IN THE CRASH AS WELL AS THE VEHICLE THAT WAS STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. THE DRIVER'S VEHI
WAS STRUCK BY A DRUNK DRIVER WHILE TRAVELING NORTH ON GSP. LEFT DRIVER SIDE OF THE CAR WAS SIDE SWIPED FROM THE BACK TO THE FRONT. I HADN'T NOTICE THE LIGHT PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT HOWEVER ACCORDING TO THE BODY SHOP THERE WAS A PROBLEM PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT. THE AFS LIGHT WAS NOT TRIGGERED BY THE INCIDENT AND IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE. INSURANCE REFUSED TO REPAIR UNDER CLAIM AS STATED BY THEM.....ACURA SHOULD REPAIR DUE TO THE RECALL. *TR
DT: THE CALLER WAS PULLING OUT OF A PARKING SPOT WHEN SHE SUDDENLY LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. IT ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN , AND SHE TRIED THE BRAKE AND IT DID NOT WORK. SHE SAID THE STEERING WHEEL DID NOT WORK, SHE TRIED TO TURN THE WHEEL AND NOTHING HAPPENED. THE VEHICLE HIT A PARKED CAR. THE POLICE CAME AND A REPORT WAS TAKEN. NO ONE WAS HURT. DEALER HAS NOT BEEN CONTACTED YET. THE MANUFACTURER SAID A CASE WORKER WILL CALL HER THIS WEEK. THEY CALLED HER BACK AND SAID THE CASE WAS CLOSED,
AFTER INFORMING THE ACURA SERVICE CENTER ABOUT 3 MONTHS PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT THAT THE BRAKES WERE NOT FUNCTIONING PROPERLY ON 2 SEPARATE OCCASIONS, AND BEING REASSURED THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE BRAKES, I REAR-ENDED ANOTHER CAR ON APRIL 5 BECAUSE THE BRAKES FAILED AGAIN. ACURA REFUSED TO RUN A COMPUTER CHECK ON THE CAR OR TO SEND ANYONE FROM CALIFORNIA TO INSPECT THE CAR. THE DEALER SERVICE CENTER HAD INITIALLY TOLD ME THAT THEY WOULD HAVE SOMEONE FROM CALIFORNIA COME TO INSPECT TH
Small electric fire in driver side door panel melted all the way through outside door handle . After this happened to me I looked through forums and this seems to be a common issue with this car and there has been no recall for this issue . Very unsafe
MY 2005 ACURA RL HAS CHROME TRIM THAT IS APPARENTLY A THIN SHEET OF METAL THAT HAS BEEN APPLIED TO THE VEHICLE. AFTER SOME TIME, IT HAS DEGRADED, AND IS PEELING FROM ITS ORIGINAL POSITION. THIS HAS EXPOSED VERY SHARP EDGES. ONE OF THE DELAMINATED TRIM PIECES IS UNDER THE HOOD RELEASE, AND WHILE INSERTING MY FINGERS TO OPEN THE HOOD I RECEIVED A CUT ON MY HAND. *JS
DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE MIRRORS BECAME DANGEROUSLY LOOSE. SERVICE BULLETIN 08-022 ISSUED JUNE 7, 2008 BY ACURA WARNING "PROBABLE CAUSE: THE BOLTS FASTENING THE MIRROR HOUSING TO THE MIRROR BASE WERE NOT PROPERLY TORQUED." MIRRORS MUST BE REPLACED AT COST OF $750 EACH TO CONSUMER PLUS INSTALLATION. *KB
2005 ACURA RL BROKE DOWN WITHIN 10 MILES OF DEALERSHIP IMMEDIATELY AFTER PURCHASE. VEHICLE HAS ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. *BF ON EACH BREAKDOWN, THE SH-AWD AND VSA WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AT THE SAME TIME. THE NAVIGATION SCREEN WHICH CONTROLLED ALL OF THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM TOTALLY FAILED. THE YAR RATE SENSOR UNDER THE CENTER DASH WAS DEFECTIVE. *SC
GLOVE BOX MATERIAL IS MELTING AND SAGGING. ITHE GLOVE BOX MATERIAL HAS ALSO "ORANGE PEELED". WHEN GOOGLED, THIS IS A WIDESPREAD AND COMMON PROBLEM WITH ACURA'S BETWEEN 2005-2007. A DEFECTIVE MATERIAL WAS USED ON THE GLOVE BOX.
PASSENGER SIDE LOW BEAM FLICKERS AND WILL COMPLETELY GO OFF. HAVE TAKEN INTO DEALER WITH NO RESULTS (CLAIM THEY COULD NOT FIND THE PROBLEM). THIS I BELIEVE IS A SAFETY ISSUE. PEOPLE HAVE COMPLAINED OF THIS SINCE 2005 WITH NO SOLUTION. IF WHEN DRIVING YOU TURN YOUR LIGHTS OFF THEN BACK ON THEY COME BACK ON TILL THE FLICKERING STARTS AGAIN. *TR
HEADLIGHTS FLICKER WHEN CAR HIT BUMPS OR WHEN HEADLIGHTS TURN. IT IS VERY ANNOYING. THE FLICKERING COMES AND GOES, BUT IT IS GETTING MORE FREQUENT. HAVE CALLED THE DEALER ABOUT TAKING THE CAR IN AND WILL MAKE AN APPOINTMENT TO TAKE MY CPO RL TO DEALER FOR INSPECTION THIS WEEK. CAR HAS 56K MILES AND IT IS A CPO ACURA. *TR
2205 RL HEADLIGHT BRIEFLY GO OUT WHEN I HIT A BUMP IN THE ROAD. HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR PAST 6 MONTHS BUT NOW I AM NOTICING IT HAPPENING MORE FREQUENTLY. VERY DANGEROUS AT NIGHT. *TR
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. *TR
1) FILLING GAS TANK - REPEAT SHUT OFF AT FILLING STATION IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING INCIDENCE AT FILLING STATION THE NEST DAY THE FOLLOWING OCCURRED TO MY VEHICLE: 2) REMOTE KEYLESS ENTRY FAILURE 3) NAVIGATION SYSTEM FAILURE 4) NO HEAT OR AIR CONDITIONING $ 700 CHARGE AT DEALER FOR THEM TO REPLACE: PASSENGER SIDE OUTER DOOR HANDLE FOR TRACED SHORT TO HANDLE CAUSING BLOWN FUSE WHICH WAS (ABOVE LISTED ) RESOLVED PROBLEMS 2-4. $ 1700+ CHARGE AT DEALER FOR THEM TO REPLACE FUEL TANK - PROBLEM
HID HEADLIGHTS. MY PROBLEM HAS BEEN WITH MY HEADLIGHTS EVER SINCE I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE USED IN JULY OF 2015. EVERY NOW AND THEN THE PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT WOULD FLICKER AND GO OUT. I CAN GET THE HEADLLIGHT TO COME BACK ON BY TURNING OFF THE HEADLIGHTS AND TURNING THEM BACK ON. THE PROBLEM CAN BE SO BAD AT TIMES THAT I HAVE TO DO IT REPEATEDLY WHILE I'M DRIVING. I DO MOST OF MY DRIVING AT NIGHT SO THIS HAS BECOME A VERY REAL ISSUE FOR ME. I'VE READ HOW OTHERS HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM BUT ACURA
Showing the 15 most serious of 125 complaints filed with NHTSA.
