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Acura RLModel year report

1996 Acura RL Problems

Complaints
22filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
144,000miles, 9 complaints with mileage
Recalls
2campaigns on record
Trend
StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.

Sources: NHTSA records for the 1996 Acura RL (complaints, recalls, investigations). Report an error

NHTSA recorded 22 consumer complaints for the 1996 Acura RL. The part named most often is brakes, with 5 complaints (23% of the total), followed by visibility (5) and engine cooling (4). 9 of the complaints include a mileage, and 0% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 144,000 miles. Of all complaints, 2 involved a crash, 2 a fire, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns and 11 technical service bulletins for this model year.

This model year has fewer than 25 complaints on record, so the numbers below can change a lot with a few new reports.

Which parts are reported most

Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.

Example complaints

Brakes: “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.”

NHTSA complaint #10190864, filed 2007-05, 144,000 miles

Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors): “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.”

NHTSA complaint #10166540, filed 2006-08, 100,000 miles

Engine cooling: “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.”

NHTSA complaint #10442629, filed 2012-01, 193,200 miles

Electrical system: “Contact owns a 1996 Acura RL. While driving 40 MPH, a strong burning odor was noticed coming from the front of the vehicle. The instrument panel lights dimmed. The vehicle was towed to the contact's residence. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 179,000.”

NHTSA complaint #10882156, filed 2016-07, 179,000 miles

Mileage when problems were reported

0% of the 9 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 100,000 and 179,000 miles.

0%0–100%10–250%25–5011%50–7511%75–10044%100–15033%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (9 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 144,000 miles.

Complaints by year filed

Trend: stable. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.

’99’013’033’06’10’16’18
Complaints by year the complaint was filed with NHTSA. Red bars: the last 3 full calendar years used for the trend. The current year (2026) is partial.

Recalls and investigations

Recall details for the 1996 Acura RL → · Check a VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls

Technical service bulletins

TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 11 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 11 bulletins →

Other model years of the Acura RL

YearComplaintsMedian miRecallsCrash ★MPGScore (50 = typical)Trend
2010920,1007—18—Not enough data
2009845,1606—18—Not enough data
20081318,1776—19—Not enough data
20072034,7507—19—Falling
20063246,0008—19Not compared (before 2008)Stable
200512573,00011—19Not compared (before 2008)Falling
200411104,0000———Not enough data
2003980,8181———Not enough data
20024376,5002——Not compared (before 2008)Falling
200112112,2002———Not enough data
20005977,0004——Not compared (before 2008)Falling
19992492,7512———Falling
19981199,4463———Not enough data
199719145,0002———Stable
199622144,0002———Stable

All Acura RL model years · Best and worst years by complaints

Frequently asked questions

How many NHTSA complaints does the 1996 Acura RL have?

NHTSA recorded 22 consumer complaints for the 1996 Acura RL as of Oct 29, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 1996 Acura RL is reported most often?

Brakes is named most often, in 5 complaints (23% of the total), followed by visibility with 5.

Has the 1996 Acura RL been recalled?

NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

At what mileage are problems with the 1996 Acura RL reported?

Among the 9 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 144,000 miles and the middle half falls between 100,000 and 179,000 miles; 0% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 29, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.