Acura RL Problems by Model Year
NHTSA recorded 417 consumer complaints across the 15 model years of the Acura RL (1996–2010) that have at least 5 complaints. 2005 has the most, with 125. Across all years, the part named most often is air bags (140 mentions). Pick a model year below to see its parts, mileage, recalls and service bulletins.
All RL model years
Years with fewer than 5 complaints are not listed. The score compares years of the same model, allowing for the era and for how long each year has collected complaints: 50 is a typical year, lower means fewer complaints. It is not adjusted for sales volume.
| Year | Complaints | Median mi | Recalls | TSBs | Score (50 = typical) | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 9 | 20,100 | 7 | 62 | — | Not enough data |
| 2009 | 8 | 45,160 | 6 | 63 | — | Not enough data |
| 2008 | 13 | 18,177 | 6 | 72 | — | Not enough data |
| 2007 | 20 | 34,750 | 7 | 71 | — | Falling |
| 2006 | 32 | 46,000 | 8 | 79 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 2005 | 125 | 73,000 | 11 | 131 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 2004 | 11 | 104,000 | 0 | 24 | — | Not enough data |
| 2003 | 9 | 80,818 | 1 | 28 | — | Not enough data |
| 2002 | 43 | 76,500 | 2 | 31 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 2001 | 12 | 112,200 | 2 | 26 | — | Not enough data |
| 2000 | 59 | 77,000 | 4 | 27 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 1999 | 24 | 92,751 | 2 | 16 | — | Falling |
| 1998 | 11 | 99,446 | 3 | 12 | — | Not enough data |
| 1997 | 19 | 145,000 | 2 | 11 | — | Stable |
| 1996 | 22 | 144,000 | 2 | 11 | — | Stable |
Parts named most often, all years
Counts add up complaint mentions across the listed years. A complaint can name several parts.
- Air bags140 36%
- Exterior lighting60 16%
- Electrical system60 16%
- Transmission and drivetrain41 11%
- Brakes32 8.3%
- Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)18 4.7%
- Other or unknown18 4.7%
- Vehicle speed control15 3.9%
Example complaints
One per model year, chosen for length and detail. Personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
2010: “Takata recall trying to get a replacement rental no one returns calls have called on several occasions just get a run around napletons palm beach Acura does not want to help they told me to call another dealer..very unprofessional ..I requested new air bag in may 2016 and they said no latter than july...this is truely a poor organization”
NHTSA complaint #10897719, filed 2016-08, 40,000 miles2000: “The srs sensor jus pop on the ABS sensor pop on also the check engine light pops I don't know what to do and also I heard ticking and tapping and the engine started jumping whether I'm going slow or fast I really need some serious help why is because I can possibly be in great danger do to the sensors that are going out in my vehicle .”
NHTSA complaint #10789136, filed 2015-11, 162,090 miles2005: “Assorted light came on across dash board (warning light) then the transmission began to start slipping,I had the car towed to dealer. Dealer tell me that the shift solenoid went bad, replace shift solenoid 10/24/2012,I had to replace transmission 11/27/2013. Anytime there was an issue my car I had it services and kept up with my maintenance.”
NHTSA complaint #10560783, filed 2014-01, 76,205 milesOther Acura models
3,322 complaintsAcura TL
3,117 complaintsAcura RDX
2,177 complaintsAcura TLX
891 complaintsAcura TSX
671 complaintsAcura Integra
658 complaintsAcura CL
585 complaintsAcura Legend
382 complaints
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Methodology