Reliability & 5-year cost of ownership — 2002 Acura RL
NHTSA data on file today
The 2002 Acura RL has 2 NHTSA recall campaigns and 42 owner complaints on file as of . Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.
Recall campaigns on file
- NHTSA #20V027000 Air Bag Inflators May Rupture or Underinflate Bag NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #02V119000 HONDA/BRAKE STOP SWITCH NHTSA notice
Most-cited components in owner complaints
- Air Bags 18 complaints
- Power Train 10 complaints
- Electrical System 5 complaints
- Steering 4 complaints
- Engine and Engine Cooling 3 complaints
- Suspension 3 complaints
Of the 42 complaints on file, 1 reports a crash (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).
Average
Estimated 5-year repair + maintenance cost: $3,500–$5,500AI estimate — not from NHTSA data
The 2002 Acura RL receives an average reliability rating. Despite airbag recall concerns, the vehicle has moderate complaint counts mostly in the airbag and powertrain systems. However, many issues, including electrical and steering, occur at manageable levels, supporting an average estimation for cost and maintenance.
Most-common failures
| Part | Typical mileage (AI estimate) | Cost range (AI estimate) | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| airbags | 50,000–80,000 miles | $500–$1,000 | very common |
| brake switch | 60,000–90,000 miles | $100–$200 | common |
| powertrain | 70,000–100,000 miles | $800–$1,200 | occasional |
AI estimate — not from NHTSA data: the mileage bands and repair-cost ranges above. Get a written repair quote before you budget.
Scheduled maintenance to budget
Routine items every owner should plan for.
- oil changes every 7,500 miles
- timing belt replacement at 90,000 miles
- brake fluid replacement every 2 years
- coolant replacement every 2 years
- tire rotation every 10,000 miles
Warning signs to watch for
Symptoms that signal a major upcoming repair.
- airbag warning light stays on
- strange noises from powertrain
- unresponsive or sticky brake pedal
- stalling or engine surges
- dim or flickering lights
Generated by gpt-4o on from the NHTSA recall campaigns and owner-complaint counts on file for the 2002 Acura RL at the time. The rating is an AI assessment; cost and mileage figures are AI estimates, not NHTSA data.