Acura RL Problems — All Years, Common Issues & Reliability
Year-by-year breakdown of safety recalls, NHTSA owner complaints, reported deaths, injuries, crashes, and worst problem areas. Updated daily from federal databases.
Own a Acura RL? Check your specific VIN for a full history report.
Acura RL — Year-by-Year Problem Comparison
| Year | Verdict | Recalls | Complaints | Crashes | Injuries | Deaths | Top Issue | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012Best | Excellent | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | Full report → |
| 2011 | Excellent | 2 | 2 | — | — | — | Air Bags | Full report → |
| 2010 | Good | 2 | 7 | — | — | — | Air Bags | Full report → |
| 2009 | Good | 1 | 12 | 4 | 1 | — | Service Brakes / Hydraulic | Full report → |
| 2008 | Excellent | 2 | 5 | — | — | — | Air Bags | Full report → |
| 2007 | Good | 3 | 11 | 1 | 1 | — | Air Bags | Full report → |
| 2006 | Good | 3 | 21 | 2 | 2 | — | Air Bags | Full report → |
| 2005Worst | Avoid | 6 | 91 | 1 | 2 | — | Exterior Lighting | Full report → |
| 2004 | Good | — | 14 | — | — | — | Electrical System | Full report → |
| 2003 | Excellent | 1 | 7 | — | — | — | Air Bags | Full report → |
| 2002 | Good | 1 | 27 | 1 | — | — | Air Bags | Full report → |
| 2001 | Excellent | 1 | 5 | — | — | — | Power Train | Full report → |
| 2000 | Caution | 1 | 55 | 5 | 1 | — | Air Bags | Full report → |
| 1999 | Excellent | — | 7 | — | 1 | — | Air Bags | Full report → |
| 1998 | Excellent | — | 7 | — | — | — | Air Bags | Full report → |
| 1997 | Good | — | 13 | 1 | 3 | — | Service Brakes / Hydraulic | Full report → |
| 1996 | Excellent | — | 11 | 2 | — | — | Service Brakes / Hydraulic | Full report → |
17 model years shown. Crashes, injuries, and deaths from NHTSA complaint filings. Click any year for full details.
Most Common Acura RL Problems
Based on 295 owner complaints filed with NHTSA across all model years.
RL Years to Avoid
Best RL Years to Buy
Acura RL Problems by Year
Frequently Asked Questions — Acura RL Reliability
What year RL has the most problems?
Based on NHTSA data, the 2005 Acura RL had the highest combined complaint and recall count — 91 complaints and 6 safety recalls. See the full 2005 report for specific defects.
Is the Acura RL reliable?
The Acura RL has accumulated 295 owner-filed complaints and 25 safety recalls across all model years in NHTSA's database. The 2012 model year shows the fewest reported issues. Always run a VIN check before purchasing any used RL.
What are the most common RL problems?
The most frequently cited problem areas are: Air Bags (71 reports), Electrical System (41 reports), Exterior Lighting (39 reports), Power Train (24 reports). Based on NHTSA complaints across all model years.
How do I check if my RL has an open recall?
Use the vehicle's 17-character VIN at VinCheckEngine.com. Our free VIN report pulls the latest NHTSA recall data along with auction history, odometer records, and 30+ intelligence signals.
Check a Specific Acura RL VIN
Model-level data shows what can go wrong. A VIN-specific report shows what has gone wrong with a particular vehicle — including auction history, odometer discrepancies, open recalls, accident records, and 30+ intelligence signals.
Run a Free Acura RL VIN Report →No account required · Instant results · Updated daily