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U.S. public vehicle records

Acura RL problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

416 owner complaints analyzed

20 distinct recall campaigns

80,000 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 1996 to 2015 model years. Data snapshot: . 223 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 129 of 416 complaints (31.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Braking behavior5613.5%
Electrical and battery issues276.5%
Steering behavior256.0%
Transmission and shifting184.3%
Engine operation174.1%
Fuel system concerns61.4%

Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.

Component breakdown

Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.

Air Bags
129
Exterior Lighting
53
Electrical System
50
Power Train
15
Unknown Or Other
15
Vehicle Speed Control
15
Power Train:Automatic Transmission
12
Steering
12
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Air Bags129
Exterior Lighting53
Electrical System50
Power Train15
Unknown Or Other15
Vehicle Speed Control15
Power Train:Automatic Transmission12
Steering12

Air Bags: 129; Exterior Lighting: 53; Electrical System: 50; Power Train: 15; Unknown Or Other: 15; Vehicle Speed Control: 15; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 12; Steering: 12

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000
30
25,000 to 49,999
30
50,000 to 74,999
37
75,000 to 99,999
38
100,000 to 149,999
58
150,000 and above
30
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,00030
25,000 to 49,99930
50,000 to 74,99937
75,000 to 99,99938
100,000 to 149,99958
150,000 and above30

Under 25,000: 30; 25,000 to 49,999: 30; 50,000 to 74,999: 37; 75,000 to 99,999: 38; 100,000 to 149,999: 58; 150,000 and above: 30

100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (58). 193 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.

Complaints over time

Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.

2000
3
2001
18
2002
12
2003
11
2004
26
2005
17
2006
16
2007
14
2008
13
2009
24
2010
29
2011
14
2012
21
2013
16
2014
23
2015
18
2016
72
2017
12
2018
5
2019
7
2020
28
2021
7
2022
2
2023
2
2024
2
2025
1
2026
3
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
20003
200118
200212
200311
200426
200517
200616
200714
200813
200924
201029
201114
201221
201316
201423
201518
201672
201712
20185
20197
202028
20217
20222
20232
20242
20251
20263

2000: 3; 2001: 18; 2002: 12; 2003: 11; 2004: 26; 2005: 17; 2006: 16; 2007: 14; 2008: 13; 2009: 24; 2010: 29; 2011: 14; 2012: 21; 2013: 16; 2014: 23; 2015: 18; 2016: 72; 2017: 12; 2018: 5; 2019: 7; 2020: 28; 2021: 7; 2022: 2; 2023: 2; 2024: 2; 2025: 1; 2026: 3

Pattern summary

Air Bags leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 56 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 27 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 25 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.

Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.

Complaint evidence

Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.

Owner report 10010178 · 2003-03-09 (March 9, 2003)

WHEN I FIRST START MY CAR, I HEAR A NOISE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AT THE FIRE WALL. WHEN THE NOISE SOUNDS FOR A 20 TO 30 SECOND PERIOD, THE ABS LIGHT COMES ON AND THE ABS SYSTEMS GOES OUT. WHEN THE NOISE IS SHORT (5 SECOND BURSTS OF SOUND), THE ABS SYSTEM GOES OUT AFTER A MILE OR TWO DRIVE. DURING THE MILE OR TWO DRIVE, I HEAR THE SAME NOISE OFF AND ON UNTIL THE ABS SYSTEM EVENTUALLY GOES OUT. THIS FIRST OCCURRED ON DECEMBER 24, 2002. *NLM

Owner-reported narrative. 92,300 miles reported. Look up ODI 10010178 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10028480 · 2003-07-17 (July 17, 2003)

2 WEEKS AFTER PURCHASING THIS PREVIOUSLY-OWNED RL, I HEARD A SQUEALING NOISE THAT I THOUGHT WAS COMING FROM THE A/C AND REPORTED IT TO MY DEALER WHO COULDN'T FIND ANY PROBLEM. THE NEXT TIME I HEARD THIS NOISE MY WINDOWS WERE DOWN AND THE NOISE WAS SO LOUD, IT ECHOED OFF SURROUNDING BUILDINGS. I HIT MY BRAKES TO PULL OVER AND INVESTIGATE AND THE NOISE STOPPED. REPORTED TO DEALER BUT THEY COULDN'T FIND ANY PROBLEM. THIS NOISE STILL POPS UP FROM TIME TO TIME, BUT GOES AWAY WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED. NOISE IS A SQUEALING/HISSING SOUND THAT EMINA…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10028480 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10442629 · 2012-01-06 (January 6, 2012)

WHEN DRIVING NORMALLY, THE ENGINE WILL COMPLETELY DIE, AS IF THE IGNITION HAD BEEN TURNED OFF. THE CODE SET INDICATES MISFIRE ON ALL CYLINDERS. STARTS AGAIN IMMEDIATELY, BUT DOES NOT ALWAYS CONTINUE TO RUN. THIS WILL HAPPEN NUMEROUS TIMES THEN NOT AGAIN FOR DAYS. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM TESTS OK, FUEL PRESSURE TEST OK, TOO. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 193,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10442629 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10442640 · 2012-01-06 (January 6, 2012)

WHEN DRIVING NORMALLY, THE ENGINE WILL COMPLETELY DIE, AS IF THE IGNITION HAD BEEN TURNED OFF. THE COSE SET IN OBD II INDICATED MISFIRE ON ALL CYLINDERS. IT STARTS AGAIN IMMEDIATELY, BUT DOES NOT ALWAYS CONTINUE TO RUN. THIS WILL HAPPEN NUMEROUS TIMES PER DAY, SEVERAL DAYS IN A ROW, THEN NOT HAPPEN AGAIN FOR SEVERAL DAYS. THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM TESTS COMPLETELY OK. FUEL PRESSURE TESTS ARE OK TOO. CAR IS AT GOSS' GARAGE IN SEABROOK, MD, PHONE [phone removed]. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 193,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10442640 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10616750 · 2014-07-28 (July 28, 2014)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 ACURA RL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A CLICKING NOISE UPON TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL AND IT SEIZED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED OR DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10616750 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10201954 · 2007-09-05 (September 5, 2007)

ENGINE QUIT WHILE DRIVING BECAUSE OF FAILURE OF EFI RELAY WHICH CUT OFF POWER TO THE FUEL PUMP. HAD TO HAVE CAR TOWED. PART WAS REPLACED - OLD PART NOT AVAILABLE. 1) I WAS PULLING OUT OF A PARKING LOT INTO A LOCAL STREET WHEN THE ENGINE DIED. FORTUNATELY, THERE WAS NO TRAFFIC NEAR AND I WAS ABLE TO PUSH THE CAR BACK INTO AN ADJACENT LOT. 2) HOWEVER, IF I HAD BEEN ON THE FREEWAY JUST ONE BLOCK AWAY, I WOULD HAVE LOST POWER STEERING, POWER BRAKES, AND HAVE BEEN IN MUCH HEAVIER TRAFFIC, WHICH COULD EASILY HAVE LED TO A HIGH-SPEED COLLISION. 3…

Owner-reported narrative. 81,395 miles reported. Look up ODI 10201954 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10006705 · 2003-02-06 (February 6, 2003)

AFTER RECALL#99V227000 WAS PERFORMED, THE VEHICLE REMAINED EXPERIENCING TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. PH THERE WAS A LOUD NOISE WHEN DRIVING, VEHICLE WOULDN'T MOVE, EXTENSION SHAFT AND SECONDARY DRIVE GEAR WAS WORN. A TRANSMISSION WAS ADDED, AND THE BROKEN DOOR HANDLE WAS REPLACED. SCC

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10006705 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10140963 · 2005-10-27 (October 27, 2005)

1) WHILE EXITING A SHOPPING MALL PARKING INTO THE STREET I HEARD A SUDDEN LOUD NOISE FOLLOWED BY A LOUD GRINDING SOUND. MY VEHICLE STOPPED DEAD IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET. WHEN WE PUSHED THE VEHICLE TO THE CURB SIDE, AND PUT IT IN PARK IT STARTED ROLLING DOWNHILL TILL I PULLED THE HAND BRAKE. 2) THE FAILURE WAS IN THE SAME AREA FOR WHICH MY VEHICLE WAS RECALLED PREVIOUSLY. (99V227000) THE SPLINE OF THE SHAFT THAT CONNECTS THE DIFFERENTIAL TO THE TRANSMISSION HAD FAILED. 3) THIS SHAFT AND THE TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REPLACED. I HAVE THE …

Owner-reported narrative. 147,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10140963 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10454661 · 2012-04-10 (April 10, 2012)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 ACURA RL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EMITTED A LOUD NOISE AND STALLED ON THE HIGHWAY. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED, BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 99V227000 (POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 138,000.

Owner-reported narrative. 138,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10454661 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 888381 · 2001-05-16 (May 16, 2001)

WHILE FEEDING THE FUEL TANK FLAMES CAME OUT OF FUEL TANK.CONSUMER FAST RECAPED THE TANK, AND FIRE WAS PUT OUT. CONSUMER DOES NOT FEEL SAFE IN VEHICLE.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 888381 at NHTSA ↗

Compare model years

Recalls by model year

All campaigns in the snapshot affecting each model year, including recalls announced years later.

Recall campaigns

Shared campaigns appear once in each affected model year.

1999
2
2000
4
2001
2
2002
2
2003
1
2004
0
2005
11
2006
8
2007
7
2008
6
2009
6
2010
7
2011
6
2012
6
2015
0
Recall campaigns data
CategoryCount
19992
20004
20012
20022
20031
20040
200511
20068
20077
20086
20096
20107
20116
20126
20150

1999: 2; 2000: 4; 2001: 2; 2002: 2; 2003: 1; 2004: 0; 2005: 11; 2006: 8; 2007: 7; 2008: 6; 2009: 6; 2010: 7; 2011: 6; 2012: 6; 2015: 0

Year-by-year records

Acura RL model-year comparison
Model yearComplaintsRecallsChange in recalls
1996192Not available
19971920
1998103+1
1999222-1
2000594+2
2001122-2
20024320
200391-1
2004110-1
200512511+11
2006328-3
2007207-1
2008136-1
2009860
201097+1
201136-1
2012160
201520Not available