Model year record

1997 Acura RL recalls & problems

The 1997 Acura RL has 2 safety recalls and 19 owner complaints on file with NHTSA. The most-reported problem area is power train (4 complaints).

Recalls2safety recalls

Complaints19filed by owners

Crashes · fires2 · 0reported in complaints

Injuries · deaths1 · 0reported in complaints

Safety recalls

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	Injuries	Typical mileage*
Power trainAutomatic transmission; Axle assembly › Axle shaft	4	0	1	—
Electrical systemIgnition › Switch; Wiring › Interior/under dash	4	0	0	—
SuspensionFront › Control arm › Lower ball joint; Front › Control arm › Upper arm	4	0	2	125,216 mi
Service brakes, hydraulicFoundation components	2	0	0	—
TiresTread/belt	2	0	0	—
Engine and engine coolingEngine	2	1	0	—
Unknown or other	1	0	0	—
Vehicle speed control	1	1	0	—
Electronic stability control (esc)	1	0	0	—
Fuel/propulsion system	1	0	0	—
Engine	1	0	0	—
Steering	1	0	0	—

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

Recent owner complaints

Steering
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 ACURA RL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A CLICKING NOISE UPON TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL AND IT SEIZED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED OR DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
Jun 7, 2014
Electronic stability control (esc)
ON-BOARD DIAGNOSTIC (OBD) SYSTEM IS DETECTING 5 CODES P1304-P1305-P1306-P1300-P1399 AND I DONT THINK THEY ARE THE RIGHT CODES. *TT
Apr 21, 2012 · 155,000 miles
Suspension › Front › Control arm › Lower ball joint
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 ACURA RL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE BALL JOINT SEPARATED CAUSING THE FRONT SUSPENSION TO COLLAPSE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER AND WAS IN THE PROCESS OF BEING REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT HIS VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED ACCORDING TO RECALL# 99V069000 (SUSPENSION:FRONT: CONTROL ARM: LOWER BALL JOINT) AND THEY WOULD NOT ASSUME ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE REPAIRS. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 163,000. UPDATED 10/13/09. *LJ UPDATED 10/14/09.*JB
Sep 2, 2009 · 163,000 miles
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. *TR
Mar 3, 2009 · 261,387 miles
Engine and 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. SO AFTER ABOUT AN HOUR THE CAR FINALLY CRANKED AND SHE GOT HOME. THIS IS VERY UNSATISFACTORY. I CALLED THE…
Oct 8, 2008 · 148,385 miles
Vehicle speed controlCrash
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 ACURA RL. WHILE PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE AT APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND CRASHED INTO FOUR PARKED VEHICLES. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE INSURANCE COMPANY STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED; HOWEVER, THEY DID NOT INVESTIGATE THE FAILURE. THE ACCELERATION FAILURE ALSO OCCURRED WITH THE CONTACTS 1986 ACURA LEGEND, WHICH WAS CAUSED BY A STUCK BUTTERFLY VALVE. POLICE REPORT NUMBER 08-007317 WAS FILED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 104,000. UPDATED 02-19-08 *BF UPDATED 02/19/08 *TR
Jan 15, 2008 · 104,000 miles
Suspension › Front › Control arm › Lower ball joint
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 ACURA RL. THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD CLICKING NOISE COMING FROM THE WHEELS WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE LOWER BALL JOINTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. HE DID NOT HAVE THE BALL JOINTS REPLACED BECAUSE THEY WERE REPLACED AT 70,000 MILES. THE CONTACT FILED A COMPLAINT WITH THE MANUFACTURER. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 143,000. UPDATED 01-29-08. *KB UPDATE
Mar 7, 2007 · 143,000 miles
Tires
I WAS DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE AT ABOUT 75 MPH, WHEN ONE HALF OF MY TIRE EXPANDED, CAUSING THE CAR TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY, AND ALMOST FORCING ME TO LOSE CONTROL. THE TIRE WAS TAKEN OFF, AND REPLACED WITH THE DONUT. I WILL ATTEMPT TOMORROW TO HAVE ALL 4 OF MY TIRES REPLACED, AS THEY ARE FAIRLY NEW (UNDER 10,000) AND I NO LONGER FEEL COMFORTABLE DRIVING THE VEHICLE. THESE WERE COOPER LIFE LINER, TOURING SLE TIRES. SIZE 215 60R16 95T M+S. *JB
May 23, 2006 · 89,050 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.