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Acura RLModel year report

1997 Acura RL Problems

Complaints
19filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
145,000miles, 10 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 1997 Acura RL (complaints, recalls, investigations). Report an error

NHTSA recorded 19 consumer complaints for the 1997 Acura RL. The part named most often is electrical system, with 4 complaints (21% of the total), followed by transmission and drivetrain (4) and suspension (3). 10 of the complaints include a mileage, and 0% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 145,000 miles. Of all complaints, 2 involved a crash, 1 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns and 11 technical service bulletins for this model year. Electrical system complaints overlap with 3 technical service bulletins filed under the same part. Transmission and drivetrain complaints overlap with 1 recall campaign filed under the same part.

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.

Also reported: Steering (1), Vehicle speed control (1).

Example complaints

Electrical system: “Switch would fail to engage after starting. I had to hold the switch between start and on in order to maintain engine running. Drove 70 miles like that until I reached home. It did it once before two years ago, but after spraying with cleaner it stopped.”

NHTSA complaint #10260651, filed 2009-03, 261,387 miles

Transmission and drivetrain: “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 parts. …”

NHTSA complaint #10140963, filed 2005-10, 147,000 miles

Suspension: “While consumer was traveling vehicle stopped. Consumer had the vehicle towed to the dealer, and mechanic determined that the passenger front ball joint stud has broken off from the lower ball joint. Mechanic informed consumer that the left and right ball joints needed to be replaced. Updated 4/12/2006 - there was no noise prior to the failure. The passenger side axle also failed. The consumer contacted honda canada for assistance but they refused because the vehicle is being operated in the united states in addition to the vehicle being outside the warranty parameters .”

NHTSA complaint #10106888, filed 2005-01, 107,433 miles

Engine cooling: “Car will not crank every time. We thought it was the battery and put a new battery in and it worked fine for about a week and then started all over again. I talked with Acura of memphis and they said it could not be fixed. They said that the 97 3.5 RL does that sometime and that it has not happened to any other Acura vehicle. They said not to worry about it. It may not crank at first, but it will always crank eventually. That is one hell of a way to depend on your car. I put up with it for several months after this until one day my wife got stranded for a long time and was very upset. …”

NHTSA complaint #10247205, filed 2008-10, 148,385 miles

Mileage when problems were reported

0% of the 10 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 104,000 and 155,000 miles.

0%0–100%10–250%25–500%50–7520%75–10050%100–15030%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (10 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 145,000 miles.

Complaints by year filed

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

520032005200720092014
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 1997 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 1997 Acura RL have?

NHTSA recorded 19 consumer complaints for the 1997 Acura RL as of Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 1997 Acura RL is reported most often?

Electrical system is named most often, in 4 complaints (21% of the total), followed by transmission and drivetrain with 4.

Has the 1997 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 1997 Acura RL reported?

Among the 10 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 145,000 miles and the middle half falls between 104,000 and 155,000 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 27, 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.