Acura RL complaints by model year
423 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. Red numbers above the columns are recall campaigns for that model year.
| Model year | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Recall campaigns |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2012 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 6 |
| 2011 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 6 |
| 2010 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 7 |
| 2009 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 6 |
| 2008 | 13 | 1 | 0 | 6 |
| 2007 | 20 | 1 | 1 | 7 |
| 2006 | 32 | 3 | 1 | 8 |
| 2005 | 125 | 4 | 1 | 11 |
| 2004 | 11 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 2003 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 2002 | 43 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| 2001 | 12 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| 2000 | 59 | 5 | 0 | 4 |
| 1999 | 24 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| 1998 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| 1997 | 19 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| 1996 | 22 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
Counts are owner reports, not failure rates. Higher sales years tend to draw more reports. Source: NHTSA ODI, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Among the last 15 model years at least five years old; newer years are left out because owners are still filing reports. Every year compared →
Problem areas by model year
Complaints that name each component, 2004–2015. Darker cells mean more reports. One complaint can name several components.
| Component | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Air bags | 2 | 36 | 9 | 7 | 8 | 3 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Exterior lighting | 1 | 49 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Electrical system | 5 | 18 | 8 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 0 | 8 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Vehicle speed control | 0 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Structure | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown or other | 0 | 5 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
Source: NHTSA ODI owner complaints, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Acura RL recalls (20)
Recall campaigns NHTSA lists for at least one RL model year, newest first.
| Campaign | Filed | What | Model years | Repaired |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20V026000 | Jan 17, 2020 | Air Bag Inflators May Rupture or Underinflate Bag | 1998, 1999, 2000 | 7.9% |
| 20V027000 | Jan 17, 2020 | Air Bag Inflators May Rupture or Underinflate Bag | 2000–2003 | 14% |
| 19V500000 | Jun 27, 2019 | Driver Frontal Air Bag Inflator May Explode | 2005–2012 | 71.1% |
| 19V501000 | Jun 27, 2019 | Passenger Frontal Air Bag Inflator May Explode | 2005–2012 | 47.7% |
| 18V662000 | Sep 27, 2018 | Passenger Frontal Air Bag Inflator May Explode | 2010, 2011, 2012 | 85% |
| 18V041000 | Jan 9, 2018 | Passenger Frontal Air Bag Inflator May Explode | 2009–2012 | 80.8% |
| 17V029000 | Jan 10, 2017 | Passenger Frontal Air Bag Inflator May Rupture | 2005–2012 | 71.9% |
| 16V344000 | May 23, 2016 | Passenger Frontal Air Bag Inflator May Rupture | 2005–2011 | 57.8% |
| 16V061000 | Feb 3, 2016 | Driver's Frontal Air Bag Inflator May Rupture | 2005–2012 | 85.6% |
| 14V700000 | Nov 4, 2014 | Passenger Air Bag Inflator May Rupture | 2005 | — |
| 14V353000 | Jun 20, 2014 | Passenger Side Air Bag Inflator may Rupture | 2005 | 70% |
| 13V092000 | Mar 14, 2013 | Inadvertent Application of Brakes | 2005 | — |
| 10V504000 | Oct 22, 2010 | BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER | 2005, 2006, 2007 | — |
| 07V551000 | Dec 4, 2007 | POWER STEERING HOSE OIL LEAKING | 2005–2008 | — |
| 07V097000 | Mar 14, 2007 | FUEL PUMP RELAY | 2005 | — |
Only NHTSA and your automaker know whether your specific car was repaired. Open a model-year page for each campaign's official text, or check your VIN on NHTSA.
Check on NHTSA ↗Fuel economy by model year
EPA combined mpg range across engine and transmission configurations. Your mileage will vary. Source: EPA, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Where to next
Acura RL FAQ
How many recalls has the Acura RL had?
NHTSA lists 20 recall campaigns that cover at least one Acura RL model year from 1996 to 2015. Each campaign card on the model-year pages has NHTSA's official text and the repair completion rate. Only NHTSA's VIN lookup can tell you whether a specific car was repaired.
Which Acura RL year has the most complaints?
Among the last 15 model years with settled counts, the 2005 drew the most owner complaints filed with NHTSA (125) and the 2012 the fewest (1). Counts are owner reports, not failure rates, and sales volume affects them.
What are the most common Acura RL problems?
Across the 2004–2015 model years, owners most often name the air bags, exterior lighting, electrical system in complaints filed with NHTSA.
What mpg does the Acura RL get?
EPA rates the 2012 Acura RL at 20 mpg combined, depending on engine and transmission.
How this page was madeSources, processing, limits, review and changes
Data sources
- NHTSA recalls by vehicle
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - US DOT recall completion rates (data.transportation.gov)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA ODI owner complaints
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA NCAP 5-Star Safety Ratings
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EPA fuel economy data (licence confirmation pending)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EIA weekly retail gasoline prices
Weekly, all taxes included
Processing
- Complaints are counted per component. One complaint can list several, so component totals add up to more than the total.
- Fuel cost = miles per year ÷ EPA combined mpg × EIA weekly price for your region.
Limitations
- Complaint counts are owner reports, not verified findings or failure rates. There is no sales denominator.
- Recall campaigns are listed for the model year. Only NHTSA and the automaker know whether a specific car was repaired.
- Recent model years are still collecting reports.
Review
Data compiled automatically from the official files listed here.
Changelog
- 2026-10-06 Data refreshed from the official files.