VEHICLE BUYER'S GUIDE
Acura RL1996–2012
Year-by-year buyer intelligence from NHTSA safety data — reliability, value, and which years to target or avoid.
Best Years to Buy a Acura RL
Buyer Score combines reliability (65%) and depreciation value (35%) — higher is better.
Acura RL Years to Avoid
4 recalls · 0 complaints
Top issue: No complaints on record
3 recalls · 0 complaints
Top issue: No complaints on record
3 recalls · 0 complaints
Top issue: No complaints on record
Federal Defect Investigations
NHTSA investigations are the stage that precedes a recall. 2 past investigations into the RL became recalls.
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Data current as of September 11, 2026.
Acura RL — Year-by-Year Comparison
Every model year ranked by Buyer Score. Click any year for its detailed problem report.
| Year | Recalls | Complaints | Injuries | Deaths | Reliability | Value | Buyer Score | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 57 | 42 | 52 | Caution |
| 2011 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 57 | 39 | 51 | Caution |
| 2010 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 57 | 39 | 51 | Caution |
| 2009 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 57 | 39 | 51 | Caution |
| 2008 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 57 | 39 | 51 | Caution |
| 2007 | 3 | 0 | — | — | 57 | 39 | 51 | Avoid |
| 2006 | 3 | 0 | — | — | 57 | 39 | 51 | Avoid |
| 2005 | 4 | 0 | — | — | 57 | 39 | 51 | Avoid |
| 2004 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 82 | 39 | 67 | Excellent |
| 2003 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 57 | 39 | 51 | Good |
| 2002 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 57 | 39 | 51 | Caution |
| 2001 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 57 | 39 | 51 | Caution |
| 2000 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 57 | 39 | 51 | Caution |
| 1999 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 82 | 39 | 67 | Excellent |
| 1998 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 82 | 39 | 67 | Excellent |
| 1997 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 82 | 39 | 67 | Excellent |
| 1996 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 82 | 39 | 67 | Excellent |
Buyer Score = Reliability (65%) + Value window (35%). Deaths and injuries sourced from NHTSA complaint filings. Year links open full NHTSA problem reports.
Shopping by Era
How each generation of the RL compares — best year within each era shown.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best year RL to buy?+
The 2012 Acura RL scores highest on our Buyer Score (52/100) — combining a reliability score of 57/100 with a value score of 42/100. It has 2 recalls and 0 NHTSA complaints on record.
Which RL years have the most problems?+
The 2005, 2006, 2007 model years have the highest problem scores in our analysis. The 2005 RL leads with 4 recalls and 0 owner complaints.
What is the Buyer Score?+
The Buyer Score is a composite metric that combines reliability (65% weight) and depreciation value (35% weight). Reliability reflects recall and complaint severity. Value reflects how much of the vehicle's depreciation has already been absorbed by prior owners — a 4–6 year old vehicle typically sits in the sweet spot.
What are the most common RL problems?+
See the complaint chart on this page for a breakdown by component.
Deep-Dive Research
A buyer's guide shows model-level risk. A VIN report shows the individual vehicle — accidents, odometer history, open recalls, and auction records.