1996 Acura RL: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
19 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
144,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1996 model year. Data snapshot: . 9 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Visibility:Power Window Devices And Controls is the most frequently named component, appearing in 5 of 19 complaints (26.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 5 | 26.3% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 2 | 10.5% |
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 5.3% |
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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Visibility:Power Window Devices And Controls | 5 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 4 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 3 |
| Air Bags | 1 |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 1 |
| Electrical System | 1 |
| Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/Panel | 1 |
| Electrical System:Wiring:Fuses And Circuit Breakers | 1 |
Visibility:Power Window Devices And Controls: 5; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip: 4; Engine And Engine Cooling: 3; Air Bags: 1; Air Bags:Frontal: 1; Electrical System: 1; Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/Panel: 1; Electrical System:Wiring:Fuses And Circuit Breakers: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 0 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 1 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 1 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 4 |
| 150,000 and above | 3 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 1; 75,000 to 99,999: 1; 100,000 to 149,999: 4; 150,000 and above: 3
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (4). 10 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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 1 |
| 2001 | 2 |
| 2002 | 3 |
| 2003 | 3 |
| 2004 | 1 |
| 2006 | 1 |
| 2007 | 2 |
| 2010 | 1 |
| 2012 | 2 |
| 2016 | 1 |
| 2017 | 1 |
| 2018 | 1 |
2000: 1; 2001: 2; 2002: 3; 2003: 3; 2004: 1; 2006: 1; 2007: 2; 2010: 1; 2012: 2; 2016: 1; 2017: 1; 2018: 1
Pattern summary
Visibility:Power Window Devices And Controls leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 5 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 2 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 1 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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10003929 · 2002-12-16 (December 16, 2002)
NAR 1/15/2003. THE LEFT REAR AND RIGHT REAR WINDOW REGULATOR FAILED. THE CONSUMER STATED HE HAD USED THE WINDOW NO MORE THAN 60 TO 75 TIMES SINCE OWNING THE VEHICLE AND A WINDOW REGULATOR SHOULD NOT FAIL IN SUCH A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME. THE DEALER DID REPLACE THE RIGHT REAR WINDOW REGULATOR UNDER WARRANTY, WHICH HAD SINCE EXPIRED. THE DEALER WAS NOT WILLING TO TAKE ANY RESPONSIBILITY, EVEN THOUGH THEY ADMITTED THE REGULATORS WERE PRONE TO FAILURE. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10003929 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 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 10103681 · 2004-12-13 (December 13, 2004)
WHILE PULLING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE BRAKES FAILED, CAUSING THE CONSUMER TO STRIKE A POST. DEALER STATED THAT THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKES ON THIS VEHICLE. MANUFACTURER DID NOT AGREE.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 149,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10103681 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10166540 · 2006-08-25 (August 25, 2006)
THE WINDOW REGULATORS ON MY 1996 ACURA 3.5 RL ARE BROKEN ON THE LEFT AND RIGHT REAR WINDOWS. BEFORE THE REGULATORS BROKE, THE WINDOW WOULD COME UP SLOWLY AND STOP ALMOST TO THE TOP. AFTER A LITTLE WHILE, I HAD TO PULL THE WINDOW UP THE REST OF THE WAY. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 100,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10166540 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10190864 · 2007-05-16 (May 16, 2007)
WHEN I FIRST START VEHICLE I HEAR A NOISE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT NEAR THE FIREWALL. THE NOISE SOUNDED FOR A 20 TO 30 SECONDS, THE ABS LIGHT CAME ON AND THE ABS SYSTEMS WENT OUT. WHEN THE NOISE WAS SHORT THE ABS SYSTEM WENT OUT AFTER A MILE OR TWO DRIVE. DURING THE MILE OR TWO DRIVE. I HEARD THE SAME NOISE OFF AND ON UNTIL THE ABS SYSTEM EVENTUALLY WENT OUT. THIS FIRST OCCURRED ON SEPTEMBER 24, 2006. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 144,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10190864 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10206675 · 2007-10-23 (October 23, 2007)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 ACURA 3.5RL. ON OCTOBER 22, 2007, THE CONTACT ENTERED THE VEHICLE AND SMELLED SMOKE. SHE THEN HEARD A POPPING SOUND AND NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE DASHBOARD. THE ODOMETER AND SPEEDOMETER LIGHTS WERE NOT ILLUMINATED. SHE WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE TO A MECHANIC AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE CIRCUIT BOARD BURNED OUT AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE PURCHASE DATE AND POWERTRAIN WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 125,500.
Owner-reported narrative. 125,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10206675 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
2 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
99V069000 · Suspension:Front:Control Arm:Lower Ball Joint
Reported: 1999-05-10 (May 10, 1999)
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. CERTAIN VEHICLES WERE MANUFACTURED WITH BALL JOINTS THAT CAN PREMATURELY WEAR OUT AND, IN THE WORSE CASE, THE BALL JOINT WOULD SEPARATE CAUSING THE FRONT SUSPENSION TO COLLAPSE.
Consequence: THIS CONDITION WOULD RESULT IN VEHICLE DECELERATION AND A SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER. ALSO STEERING CONTROLLABILITY WOULD BE REDUCED.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FRONT SUSPENSION LOWER BALL JOINTS.
NHTSA campaign record ↗99V227000 · Power Train:Automatic Transmission
Reported: 1999-08-19 (August 19, 1999)
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. A TRANSMISSION CASE BOLT CAN LOOSEN AND FALL OUT ALLOWING THE TRANSMISSION TO DISENGAGE FROM THE DIFFERENTIAL.
Consequence: THE VEHICLE COULD LOSE POWER TO THE DRIVE WHEELS WITHOUT WARNING. ALSO, SHIFTING THE TRANSMISSION INTO THE PARK POSITION WOULD NOT LOCK THE WHEELS, AND A PARKED VEHICLE COULD MOVE UNEXPECTEDLY IF THE PARKING BRAKE IS NOT SET.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A REDESIGNED BOLT.
NHTSA campaign record ↗