Acura RL Reliability by YearBest & worst years, problems & recalls — NHTSA data
Comparing used Acura RL options? We analyzed 10 model years (2003–2012) using real NHTSA complaint and recall data so you can spot stronger years, avoid riskier ones, and know what to inspect before buying.
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Found a Acura RL? Check that exact car.
Model-year trends show patterns — they can't tell you whether this car was crashed, flooded, or rolled back. A VIN check can.
- Accident & damage history
- Odometer rollback records
- Open recalls & title brands
Based on NHTSA complaint data, the Acura RL has 236 owner complaints and 58 safety recalls across model years 2003–2012. The most reported issue area is AIR BAGS. 2005 drew the most complaints; 2012 drew the fewest.
- Make
- Acura
- Model
- RL
- Model years analyzed
- 2003–2012 (10 years)
- Total NHTSA complaints
- 236
- Safety recall campaigns
- 58
- Crash-related complaints
- 14
- Fire-related complaints
- 4
- Worst model year (by complaints)
- 2005 (125 complaints)
- Best model year (fewest complaints)
- 2012 (1 complaints)
- Top reported issue area
- AIR BAGS
- Reliability signal
- Poor
By model year
Acura RL: which years to avoid & which to buy
Based on total NHTSA owner complaints per model year. Higher complaint counts indicate a riskier year to buy used — lower counts suggest a cleaner reliability record.
These years have the most owner complaints. Inspect carefully and always run a VIN check.
These years have the fewest owner complaints on record — lower risk starting points.
Crash test ratings
NHTSA NCAP crash test ratings
New Car Assessment ProgramNCAP crash tests measure how well a vehicle protects occupants in controlled frontal crash, side crash, and rollover scenarios. Stars are awarded per category (5 = safest). These laboratory results are independent of owner complaints and are performed by NHTSA engineers on new production vehicles.
Source: nhtsa.gov/ratings
What the complaint data suggests
PoorThe ACURA RL has 236 NHTSA complaints and 58 recalls on record. 14 complaints involve crash-related incidents. This data reflects owner-reported issues submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
- 236 total complaints filed with NHTSA
- 58 federal recall campaigns
- 14 crash-related complaints on record
- Review NHTSA complaint history for the most-reported components
- Check recall completion status at nhtsa.gov/recalls
- Verify service records for frequently complained components
Consult the by-year breakdown to identify model years with elevated complaint rates.
Consult the by-year breakdown to identify model years with fewer reported issues.
- Run a VIN check on the specific vehicle you are considering
- Verify all open recalls are completed at nhtsa.gov/recalls
- Request service records for the most-reported complaint components
- Have a certified mechanic inspect the vehicle before purchase
Problems by model year (best vs. worst)
Source: NHTSA public complaints database. Updated: Sep 2026
Safety recalls
NHTSA safety recalls
58 recalls foundSafety recalls are mandatory repair campaigns ordered by NHTSA when a vehicle defect poses an unreasonable risk to safety. Manufacturers are required to fix recalled vehicles free of charge. Always verify open recalls before buying a used car.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:HOSE, PIPING, AND CONNECTIONS
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
Source: NHTSA Recalls Database. Data covers model years 2003–2012. Always run a VIN-specific check below for the most up-to-date open recall status.
Common problems
What goes wrong most often
The vehicle systems owners complain about most, ranked from all 236 NHTSA complaints — these are the areas to inspect first on a used car.
Owner complaints
NHTSA complaint reports
236 totalThese are consumer-submitted safety complaints filed directly with NHTSA. Each complaint describes a real owner's experience. Complaints flagged as crash-related or fire-related are highlighted.
CANNOT SEE BEYOND ABOUT 50-60 FEET ON DARK ROADS USING LOW BEAMS ONLY. *TR
EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION DURING NORMAL CONDITIONS (NEARLY 1 QUART FOR EVERY 1000 MILES). *TR
ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, MULTIPLE WARNING SIGNALS AT ONCE CAME ON WHILE DRIVING ON AVERAGE ROADS, ACC, CMBS, CHECK TRANSMISSION, CHECK AIR BAGS AND OTHERS. THE GREEN D THAT SHOWS THE GEAR SETTING BEGAN CONSTANTLY BLINKING. WHEN I STOPPED AND SHUT OFF THE ENGINE AND STARTED AGAIN, ALL THE WARNING SIGNAL DID NOT REAPPEAR. WITHIN A PERIOD OF ABOUT 3 WEEKS, THIS HAPPENED ABOUT 7 TIMES. THE CAR RAN NORMALLY DESPITE ALL THESE WARNINGS.
2011 ACURA RL. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO REPLACEMENT PARTS NOT AVAILABLE TO REPAIR DRIVER FRONT AIRBAG INFLATOR RECALL NOTICE. *SMD
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 ACURA RL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A PROGRESSING FAILURE OF WHICH THE BRAKES FAILED TO FUNCTION PROPERLY WHEN APPLIED. THE DEALER (DAVE WHITE ACURA, 5868 MONROE ST, SYLVANIA, OH 43560, (419) 885-3600) SERVICED THE BRAKE SYSTEM BUT THE FAILURE CONTINUED. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE SAME DEALER WHO REPLACED VARIOUS PARTS INCLUDING THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER BUT THE REPAIRS PROVIDED NO SOLUTION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE. ...UPDATED 11/15/17 *BF UPDATED 11/27/2017*JS
2008 ACURA RL. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO RECALL NOTICES 16V-344 & 16V-061 REMEDY NOT AVAILABLE WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME FRAME- OVER 60 DAYS. *SMD
Read 14 more owner reports
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 ACURA RL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DEALER REPAIRED THE VEHICLE PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V061000 (AIR BAGS). THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO CONFIRM FOR MONTHS IF THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG RECALL WOULD BE COMPLETED OR IF THE VIN WAS EXCLUDED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED CONCERNING THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG RECALL AND HAD NOT CONFIRMED IF THE VIN WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V344000 (AIR BAGS). THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 ACURA RL. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 16V061000 (AIR BAGS) AND 16V344000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 ACURA RL. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V344000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 ACURA RL. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 16V344000 (AIR BAGS) AND 16V061000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PARTS NEEDED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 ACURA RL. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V061000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE. UPDATED 06/10/16*LJ UPDATED 06/20/16.*JB
RECEIVED0 A NOTICE ABOUT THE AIR BAG. CALL TRYING TO GET IT REPLACED IN MARCH 2016. STILL HAVE NOT HEARD ANYTHING ABOUT GETTING IT REPLACED. IT'S NOW MAY 2016.
TAKATA RECALL: MY CAR IS UNDER THE TAKATA RECALL. WHEN I CONTACTED MY LOCAL DEALER, THEY INFORMED ME I HAD TO BRING THE CAR IN FIRST AND THEN THEY WOULD ISSUE AN RON SO A RENTAL CAR COULD BE OBTAINED. THEY SAID I COULD THEN TAKE MY RL HOME AND PARK IT IN THE GARAGE UNTIL THE PARTS WERE OBTAINED. SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR AT THE DEALER, THEY HAVE SERVICED IT, AND I RECEIVED AN OFFICIAL SAFETY RECALL NOTICE FROM ACURA, WHY AM I REQUIRED TO MAKE A 40 MILE ROUND TRIP IN A VEHICLE THAT ACURA ADMITS DRIVING THE CAR CAN CAUSE SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH. IT SEEMS THE DEALERSHIP CAN SIMPLY SUPPLY THE RON OVER THE PHONE. OR AM I MISSING SOMETHING HERE?
THREE OF THE FOUR DOOR LOCKS ON THE VEHICLE DO NOT FUNCTION ELECTRONICALLY AND MUST BE MANUALLY ACTUATED. *TR
MY WIFE DRIVES A 2008 ACURA RL. WE LIVE IN LAS VEGAS, NEVADA. MY WIFE NOTICED GAS FUMES INSIDE THE PASSENGER CABIN LAST SUMMER (2009) AND AGAIN THIS SUMMER (2010) ON HOT DAYS TO THE POINT SHE WOULD BECOME ILL. I COULD SMELL STRONG GAS FUMES AFTER SHE PARK THE RL IN THE GARAGE LAST SUMMER (2009) AND THIS SUMMER (2010) ON HOT DAYS. NOTHING WAS DONE LAST YEAR (2009) BECAUSE WE WERE TOLD THERE WAS NO REPAIR TO THE PROBLEM. THIS SUMMER (2010) SHE DROVE THE RL TO OUR LOCAL ACURA SERVICE DEPARTMENT AND THE STAFF AT THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT ALSO NOTICED THE SMELL OF GAS FUMES INSIDE THE CAR. AFTER THE INSPECTION WE WERE TOLD THAT THIS WAS NORMAL DUE TO OUR SUMMER HEAT HERE IN LAS VEGAS. THE AFTERNOON TEMPERATURE WAS AROUND 107 DEGREES. THE SERVICE MANAGER SAID THAT HE COULD FIX THE PROBLEM WITH HIS OWN TYPE OF REPAIR, HE SAID THAT WAS NOT AN OFFICIAL REPAIR FROM ACURA. THE PROBLEM WITH THE GAS FUMES INSIDE THE CAR SEEMS TO HAVE BEEN FIXED BY THE LOCAL SERVICE MANAGERS REPAIR BUT ON HOT DAYS WE STILL SMELL STRONG GAS FUMES IN OUR GARAGE. WE WERE TOLD VERBALLY FROM ACURA TO PARK THE RL OUTSIDE AND NOT IN THE GARAGE ON HOT DAYS IF WE SMELL GAS FUMES COMING FROM THE RL. I ASKED ACURA TO PUT THAT IN WRITING IF THAT WAS ACURA?S POSITION, ACURA REFUSED TO PUT ANYTHING IN WRITING REGARDING GAS FUMES AND OUR ACURA RL. *TR
NOTE: 2009 ACURA NOT YET AVAILABLE ON "PULL DOWN" MENU- SO I LISTED 2008.... ENTERING DIVIDED HIGHWAY ON "CLOVERLEAF" ENTRY, APPROX 38 MPH, APPROX 4/5 OF CURVED ENTRY DRIVEN, CAR (2009 ACURA RL) BEGAN TO FISHTAIL, REMOVED FOOT FROM ACCELERATOR, PROBLEM GOT WORSE, BRAKING AND STEERING INEFFECTUAL, "SH" HANDLING, CRASH AVOIDANCE SYSTEMS PRECLUDING DRIVER INITIATED ATTEMPTS OR ALLOWING DRIVER TO BRING CAR UNDER CONTROL. RESULTING IN DAMAGE IN COLLISION WITH GUARD RAIL, FRONT AND REAR. MANUFACTURER HAS PERFORMED "INVESTIGATION" AND CAREFULLY EXAMINED CAR/ DOWNLOADED COMPUTER "HISTORIC" INFO AND SAYS UP TO OEM SPEC/ DESIGN. I SAY THERE IS STILL A PROBLEM THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. I HOPE A RECALL IS ISSUED OR CHANGES MADE BEFORE SERIOUS INJURIES OCCUR 2009 ACURA RL *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 ACURA RL. THE VEHICLE HAS MICHELIN RADIAL X TIRES. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE CONTACT DROVE OVER A DEEP POTHOLE AND THE TIRE PRESSURE ICON ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO A DEALER AND THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT A TIRE WAS MISSING. THE DEALER COULD NOT DETERMINE WHY THE TIRE DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE, BUT STATED THAT THE TIRE'S DISTANCE FROM THE GROUND PLAYED A ROLE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 3,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,600. UPDATED 04/25/08 *BF
My RL 2007 had battery fire incident on 3/19. Car started smoke and fire after 5 min parked outside restaruant. RL was totaled.
SH-AWD will randomly come on and I’ll lose power suddenly as it switches from awd to front wheel drive. It can be scary especially if you are accelerating to get up to speed for the freeway or trying to take a quick left hand turn. The whole car shutters while the awd kicks off. It happens randomly, it has probably happened 15-20 I’ve the last few years
At low speed while driving on a parking lot of a local supermarket. The Car surged without accelerator being pressed , causing an unintended acceleration that was dangerous to pedestrians. No check engine or other safety information was displayed.
Showing 20 of 236 total NHTSA complaints. Source: NHTSA Complaints Database
Check the exact car
Before you buy, check the exact Acura RL
These pages show model-year patterns across 10 years. Enter a VIN to verify the exact vehicle's accident history, title brands, odometer records, and open recall status before purchase.
The basics
How to read this data
Complaints, recalls, investigations — here’s what each number actually tells you about a used Acura RL, in plain English.
What is an NHTSA Complaint?
An NHTSA safety complaint is a report filed directly by a vehicle owner or driver describing a safety-related issue. Anyone can submit a complaint at NHTSA.gov. The number of complaints is a signal of how common a problem is — but complaints per model-year matter more than raw totals, since popular vehicles naturally receive more reports. The Acura RL has 236 complaints on record across 10 model years.
What is a Safety Recall?
A safety recall is a mandatory campaign issued by NHTSA when a vehicle component poses an unreasonable risk to safety or does not comply with federal motor vehicle safety standards. Unlike complaints (which are owner-reported), recalls are formally investigated and confirmed by regulators. Manufacturers must fix recalled vehicles free of charge. The Acura RL has 58 recall campaigns in the NHTSA database.
What Are Crash Complaints?
Crash complaints are NHTSA filings where the owner indicates a crash occurred as part of the incident. 14 of the Acura RL's 236 complaints involved a crash. This metric is particularly important because it indicates how often defects resulted in actual collisions — a key safety signal beyond general reliability.
How Is the Reliability Verdict Calculated?
The reliability verdict (Poor) is generated by analyzing the vehicle's total complaints, recall history, crash complaint ratio, fire complaint ratio, and top component failures relative to class averages. This verdict gives buyers a quick interpretation before they review year-level details and VIN-level history. It should be treated as one decision input, not a substitute for a VIN-specific report.
Why Do Newer Years Have Fewer Complaints?
Newer model years appear to have fewer complaints because there has been less time for owners to file them. Complaints accumulate over years of ownership. A 2020 model year vehicle will typically show fewer complaints than a 2015 model year even if it is less reliable — simply because fewer owners have had time to report issues. Focus on complaints per year of market presence when comparing across model years.
Fleet Data vs. Individual VIN
Everything on this page reflects aggregated data across all Acura RL vehicles on the road — not any specific car. Two Acura RL vehicles of the same year can have very different histories: one may have been in three accidents and have an open recall; another may be clean. A VIN check gives you the individual car's history: accidents, title brands, odometer records, service history, and real-time recall status.
What Are NHTSA Investigations?
When NHTSA receives a pattern of related safety complaints, it opens a formal investigation. A Preliminary Evaluation (PE) is the first stage — NHTSA determines if a safety defect may exist. If evidence is strong, it escalates to an Engineering Analysis (EA), which can result in a mandatory recall. The Acura RL has 0 investigations on record (0 active). Investigations listed above may have already led to the recalls shown on this page.
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How does the Acura RL stack up? Compare complaint history with similar vehicles.
By state
Check a Acura RL by state
Title-branding rules, flood-damage exposure, and salvage laws vary by state. Run a free VIN check or explore state-specific vehicle history guidance before buying a used Acura RL.
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Keep researching before you buy
Compare brands and categories, then check the exact car's history by VIN.
Acura RL reliability — frequently asked questions
Is the Acura RL reliable?
Poor. The Acura RL has 236 NHTSA owner complaints and 58 recall campaigns across model years. A commonly reported issue area is AIR BAGS. Use year-level data as a pattern guide, then verify the exact car with a VIN check before purchase.
Which Acura RL years to avoid?
Years with the most NHTSA complaints: 2005 (125 complaints), 2006 (32 complaints), 2007 (20 complaints). Use these years as a shortlist for deeper inspection, and always run a VIN check on the exact vehicle before purchase.
What are the most common Acura RL problems?
Top reported issues: AIR BAGS (81 complaints); EXTERIOR LIGHTING (60 complaints); ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (36 complaints).
Does the Acura RL have recalls?
Yes — 58 NHTSA recall campaigns have been issued for the Acura RL. Check nhtsa.gov/recalls or run a VIN check to see if your specific vehicle has open recalls.