Model year record

1996 Acura RL recalls & problems

The 1996 Acura RL has 3 safety recalls and 22 owner complaints on file with NHTSA. The most-reported problem area is visibility (6 complaints).

Recalls3safety recalls

Complaints22filed by owners

Crashes · fires2 · 2reported in complaints

Injuries · deaths0 · 0reported in complaints

Safety recalls

Exterior lightingMay 24, 2006

Exterior lighting

Recall 06E04900027,176 vehiclesopened after NHTSA action (OVSC)

Problem: CERTAIN CK MOTORSPORTS COMBINATION HEADLIGHTS, CLEAR CORNER, BUMPER, AND SIDE MARKER LIGHTS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON THE PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.
Risk: WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.
Fix: CK MOTORSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE NONCOMPLIANT LAMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 1, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CK MOTORSPORT AT 1-909-610-7211.

Power trainAug 19, 1999

Automatic transmission

Recall 99V22700096,518 vehicles

Problem: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. A TRANSMISSION CASE BOLT CAN LOOSEN AND FALL OUT ALLOWING THE TRANSMISSION TO DISENGAGE FROM THE DIFFERENTIAL.
Risk: THE VEHICLE COULD LOSE POWER TO THE DRIVE WHEELS WITHOUT WARNING. ALSO, SHIFTING THE TRANSMISSION INTO THE PARK POSITION WOULD NOT LOCK THE WHEELS, AND A PARKED VEHICLE COULD MOVE UNEXPECTEDLY IF THE PARKING BRAKE IS NOT SET.
Fix: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A REDESIGNED BOLT.

SuspensionMay 10, 1999

Front › Control arm › Lower ball joint

Recall 99V069000124,875 vehicles

Problem: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. CERTAIN VEHICLES WERE MANUFACTURED WITH BALL JOINTS THAT CAN PREMATURELY WEAR OUT AND, IN THE WORSE CASE, THE BALL JOINT WOULD SEPARATE CAUSING THE FRONT SUSPENSION TO COLLAPSE.
Risk: THIS CONDITION WOULD RESULT IN VEHICLE DECELERATION AND A SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER. ALSO STEERING CONTROLLABILITY WOULD BE REDUCED.
Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FRONT SUSPENSION LOWER BALL JOINTS.

Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. A recall listed here may already have been fixed on a particular car: enter its 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls.

What owners report

Problem area	Complaints	Crashes	Fires	Typical mileage*
VisibilityPower window devices and controls	6	0	0	—
Service brakes, hydraulicAntilock/traction control/electronic limited slip	5	1	0	144,000 mi
Engine and engine coolingEngine	4	0	0	—
Power trainAutomatic transmission › Lever and linkage › Column shift; Automatic transmission	3	0	0	—
Electrical systemWiring › Fuses and circuit breakers; Instrument cluster/panel	3	0	2	125,500 mi
Air bagsFrontal	2	1	0	—
StructureBody › Door › Hinge and attachments	1	0	0	—
Service brakes, airAntilock › Control unit/module	1	0	0	—
Unknown or other	1	0	0	—

*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.

Recent owner complaints

Unknown or other
ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM ; LOCKING SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONING. FREQUENT ALARMS.
Jul 26, 2018
Air bags
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 ACURA RL. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V061000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART FOR THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.
Feb 3, 2016
Electrical systemFire
TL* 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.
Jun 30, 2016 · 179,000 miles
Engine and engine cooling
WHEN DRIVING NORMALLY, THE ENGINE WILL COMPLETELY DIE, AS IF THE IGNITION HAD BEEN TURNED OFF. THE COSE SET IN OBD II INDICATED MISFIRE ON ALL CYLINDERS. IT STARTS AGAIN IMMEDIATELY, BUT DOES NOT ALWAYS CONTINUE TO RUN. THIS WILL HAPPEN NUMEROUS TIMES PER DAY, SEVERAL DAYS IN A ROW, THEN NOT HAPPEN AGAIN FOR SEVERAL DAYS. THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM TESTS COMPLETELY OK. FUEL PRESSURE TESTS ARE OK TOO. CAR IS AT GOSS' GARAGE IN SEABROOK, MD, PHONE 301-577-9200. *TR
Jan 27, 2011 · 193,200 miles
Engine and 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. *TR
Jan 27, 2011 · 193,200 miles
Electrical system › Instrument cluster/panel
SPEEDOMETER DEFECTIVE. *TR
May 1, 2005 · 70,000 miles
Electrical system › Wiring › Fuses and circuit breakersFire
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 ACURA 3.5RL. ON OCTOBER 22, 2007, THE CONTACT ENTERED THE VEHICLE AND SMELLED SMOKE. SHE THEN HEARD A POPPING SOUND AND NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE DASHBOARD. THE ODOMETER AND SPEEDOMETER LIGHTS WERE NOT ILLUMINATED. SHE WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE TO A MECHANIC AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE CIRCUIT BOARD BURNED OUT AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE PURCHASE DATE AND POWERTRAIN WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 125,500.
Oct 22, 2007 · 125,500 miles
Service brakes, hydraulic › Antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip
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. *AK
Sep 24, 2006 · 144,000 miles

Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.