NHTSA — Exterior Lighting: Headlights Problems

4.2

definitely annoying
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
27,827 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2005 Acura RL lights problems

lights problem

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2005 Acura RL Owner Comments

problem #7

Aug 052011

RL 6-cyl

  • 85,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

My accura Rl 2005 lights flicker on and off and then shut right off while driving at night. This is extremely dangerous! it not only impairs my driving but distracts drivers in front of me thinking im flashing lights at them and taking thier eyes off the road ahead of them. The lights are also pointed at the ground. Cant see at night very far infront of the vehicle. Acura says it would be around $1200 to fix each headlight, thats $2400 to fix a safety issue! that is ridiculous! read the internet, this is an ongoing problem with all of these Acura Rls.

- Saginaw, MI, USA

problem #6

Aug 022011

RL 6-cyl

  • 106,837 miles
2005 Acura Rl low beam headlights totally failed, unexpectedly, and the car was not moving forward. This has been a recurring problem with the left side low beam, sometimes I didn't know it until told and now it happens to both at the same time while idling in my driveway. My daughter told me both had cut out on her earlier this month, but I could not verify until today. Turning the switch off / on will bring the lights back on, but then again for how long is questionable. Dealers deny it exist or can't verify, but a quick web search has now validated my problem has existed for a very long time with this car. This is much more serious than I thought, clearly a problem you should be aware of.

- Mount Gretna, PA, USA

problem #5

Nov 122005

RL 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 2,894 miles
The headlights on my car pose serious safety problems on unlit roads. The lights only shine 50-70 feet out on the street. When there are no street lights, I can not see more than 50 feet and I must travel at slow speeds due to extremely poor visibility. The navigation system identifies an upcoming turn, but I can't see the street or street sign. At speeds over 20 mph; I feel this is very unsafe. The dealer said this is normal and within specification. The headlights are terrible!

- Valencia, CA, USA

problem #4

Dec 012005

RL 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 60 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The vertical self adjusting headlights pose serious safety concerns on unlit roadways, often illuminating only 40 feet in front of the car. On hilly terrain, the headlights will adjust down as the vehicle starts uphill, illuminating approximately 40 feet in front of the vehicle. This also occurs when the vehicle travels over bumps and any minor changes in vehicle attitude. It is very easy to overdrive the headlights, often at speeds less than 20 mph. You simply can not see road hazards or pedestrians. The dealer advised this is normal and within specification.

- Camarillo, CA, USA

problem #3

Jan 212005

RL 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
: the consumer stated when using low beam, the headlights do not illuminate more than 50 feet. The lack of visibility decreases further while traveling down hill. The dealership could not reposition the headlights. The manufacturer was contacted which determined this is how the vehicle was manufactured.

- Timonium, MD, USA

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problem #2

Sep 062005

RL 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
The headlights on the 2005 Acura Rl do not provide sufficient light unless the high beam is engaged which you often cannot do.

- Far Hills, NJ, USA

problem #1

Sep 102005

RL 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 1 miles
Ref 2005 Acura Rl the high beam headlights do not shine far enough down the road. I was driving in Vermont on dark country roads and almost hit a tree. Driving at the speed limit of 50 mph I outrun the lights. Acura says there is no way to adjust the halogen lights & that the parameters were approved by dot. I feel that a mistake has been made on your part that will result in unnecessary single vehicle accidents on the nations highways.

- Orangeburg, NY, USA

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