GVWR: Class 1C: 4,001 - 5,000 lb (1,814 - 2,268 kg)
Make: ACURA
Manufacturer: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD
Manufacturer Id: 987
Model: RL
Model Year: 2000
Plant City: Sayama
Plant Country: Japan
Plant State: Saitama
Seat Belts All: Manual
Transmission Speeds: 4
Transmission Style: Automatic
Trim: 3.5
Trim2: With NAVI
Valve Train Design: Single Overhead Cam (SOHC)
Vehicle Type: PASSENGER CAR
Model year
COMPONENT
Complaint
2000
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I AM WRITING TO REPORT A POTENTIALLY SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE WITH MY 2000 ACURA RL. THIS CAR SEEMS TO HAVE A DESIGN FLAW WHEREBY THE CAR'S NATURAL DRAIN CHANNELS GET CLOGGED AND WATER LEAKS IN THROUGH ALTERNATE PATHWAYS INTO THE VEHICLE'S FUSE BOX. THIS CAUSES ALL OF THE CAR'S ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS TO GO HAYWIRE, KEY SAFETY SYSTEMS LIKE THE AIRBAGS AND TRACTION CONTROL SHUT OFF, WINDSHIELD WIPERS GO ON BY THEMSELVES, AND THE SPEEDOMETER NEEDLE MOVES RANDOMLY. FURTHERMORE, THE SECURITY SYSTEM CAN BE TRIGGERED AND THE HORN SOUNDS, POSSIBLY WHILE DRIVING. I PERSONALLY HAVEN'T EXPERIENCED MORE SERIOUS ISSUES, BUT I WON'T BE SURPRISED IF THIS LEADS TO A FIRE EVENTUALLY. I HAVE HAD MY CAR REPAIRED FOR THIS PROBLEM TWICE. THE FIRST MAJOR FAILURE WAS IN APRIL 2007 AT AROUND 52000 MILES, AND THE SECOND MAJOR FAILURE WAS IN MAY 2006 AT 72000 MILES. BOTH TIMES, THE FUSE BOX AND ASSOCIATED RELAYS, ETC. WERE CORRODED FROM THE INSIDE, AND THE CAR NEEDED THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS IN REPAIRS. IN BETWEEN THESE TWO FAILURE TIMES, THE CAR HAS SHOWN MINOR FAILURES DURING RAIN (RANDOM SECURITY ALARM, UNEXPECTED BATTERY DRAIN, ETC), WHICH HAVE CORRECTED THEMSELVES ONCE THE RAIN GOES AWAY AND THE ELECTRONICS HAS HAD A CHANCE TO DRY OUT. ACURA KNOWS ABOUT THIS ISSUE, AND EVEN ISSUED A TSB TO FIX IT. I THINK THE PROBLEM IS SERIOUS AND WARRANTS A RECALL. WHEN I EXPERIENCED THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM WITH MY CAR FOR THE SECOND TIME, I LEARNED THAT THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN WIDELY REPORTED ONLINE IN THE ACURA OWNER COMMUNITY. IT SEEMS TO BE A DESIGN ISSUE WITH THAT PARTICULAR BODY STYLE, WHICH WAS USED FOR RL MODEL YEARS FROM 1999-2004. *TR
2000
STEERING
1. ELECTRIC TELESCOPING STEERING WHEEL FAILED TO PRESENT TO SET POSITION FROM REST. 2. FREQUENCY IS IMMEDIATE UPON FAILURE. THE STEERING WHEEL RESTS AT THE TOP POSITION (RESTING WHEN THE KEY IS REMOVED) 3. ACURA OFFERED TO REPLACE THE COLUMN AT A COST OF $3500. *TT