The 2001 Acura RL has 25 owner-filed NHTSA complaints and 2 recalls on record. The most-reported areas are power train and air bags. Owners most often flag catastrophic parts availability, suspension components, body panels, interior trim pieces increasingly impossible to source, honda discontinued most parts, aftermarket support minimal, junkyard inventory depleted, specialist suppliers expensive and slow, typical repair requiring 2-4 weeks parts sourcing versus 2-3 days other hondas, very frequent.
Safety record for the 2001 model year
25
Owner complaints
2
Recalls
1
Crash reports
1
Fire reports
Source: NHTSA complaints and recalls filed for 2001 Acura RL vehicles (US, public record).
Where owners report problems
power train
8
air bags
6
service brakes
2
hydraulic
2
steering
1
Recalls affecting the 2001 RL
air bags:frontal:driver side:inflator module
Campaign 20V027000
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2001-2002 Acura 3.2CL, 2000-2003 Acura 3.5RL, 2000-2001 Acura 3.2TL, Honda CR-V and Honda Odyssey, 2001-2002 Acura MDX and 2000 Accord Coupe, Accord Sedan, Civic Coup…
exterior lighting:brake lights:switch
Campaign 02V119000
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, DURING THE MANUFACTURING PROCESS, OIL WAS APPLIED TO THE BRAKE PEDAL ASSEMBLY TO PREVENT RUST. THIS OIL CAN LEAK INTO THE BRAKE STOP SWITCH AND CONTAMINATE THE ELECTRICAL CONTACTS.
What owners say across generations
Positive to nostalgic sentiment for first-generation model, regarded as underappreciated luxury sedan offering exceptional comfort, refinement, and Honda reliability at affordable used prices. Praised for smooth 3.5L V6 engine delivering responsive performance
Catastrophic parts availability, suspension components, body panels, interior trim pieces increasingly impossible to source, Honda discontinued most parts, aftermarket support minimal, junkyard inventory depleted, specialist suppliers expensive and slow, typical repair requiring 2-4 weeks parts sourcing versus 2-3 days other Hondas, very frequent
Premium fuel requirement, requires 91+ octane for optimal performance though accepts 87 with reduced power, fuel economy disappointing 18-21 MPG combined typical, annual fuel costs $2,500-$3,500 at premium pricing, very frequent
Interior material deterioration, door handles peel apart exposing plastic substrate, dashboard warps and cracks in sunlight, center console scratches easily, leather (except seats/steering wheel) low-quality and deteriorates, typical beyond 15-20 years age, recurrent
Suspension wear, struts, strut forks, control arm bushings, ball joints deteriorate 100,000-150,000 miles (161,000-241,000 km), replacement parts extremely difficult to source, coilovers from other Acuras fit with modification, complete refresh $1,500-$3,000 if parts available, recurrent
Air conditioning failures, compressor, condenser, evaporator failures typical beyond 150,000 miles (241,000 km), refrigerant leaks common, repair cost $1,200-$2,500, parts availability challenging, recurrent
Owner insights cover all generations of the RL.
Typical used price
Used RL listings typically run $4,995–$9,998 across 1997 to 2011 model years.