Recalls (2)
NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for the 1997 Acura RL. Check whether yours was repaired with NHTSA's free VIN lookup ↗
Only NHTSA and your automaker know whether your specific car was repaired. PlainVIN shows every recall campaign listed for a model year, with the official text and how many cars have been fixed so far.
Check on NHTSA ↗HONDA/TRANSMISSION
- Summary
- VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. A TRANSMISSION CASE BOLT CAN LOOSEN AND FALL OUT ALLOWING THE TRANSMISSION TO DISENGAGE FROM THE DIFFERENTIAL.
- Consequence
- 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.
- Remedy
- DEALERS WILL INSTALL A REDESIGNED BOLT.
HONDA/BALL JOINTS
- Summary
- 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.
- Consequence
- THIS CONDITION WOULD RESULT IN VEHICLE DECELERATION AND A SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER. ALSO STEERING CONTROLLABILITY WOULD BE REDUCED.
- Remedy
- DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FRONT SUSPENSION LOWER BALL JOINTS.
PlainVIN shows public government records for education. It isn't a vehicle inspection or legal advice. Check your own VIN with NHTSA or your dealer.
Owner complaints (19)
19 complaints filed with NHTSA (owner reports, not verified findings). The electrical system is mentioned most often.
As reported by owners in their complaints. These are reports, not NHTSA findings.
Most-reported components
| Component | Complaints | % of 19 |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical system | 4 | 21.1% |
| Power train | 4 | 21.1% |
| Suspension | 3 | 15.8% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 2 | 10.5% |
| Tires | 2 | 10.5% |
| Electronic stability control | 1 | 5.3% |
| Engine | 1 | 5.3% |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 1 | 5.3% |
| Service brakes | 1 | 5.3% |
| Steering | 1 | 5.3% |
How 1997 compares with other RL years
Best and worst RL years →| Model year | Complaints | Recall campaigns |
|---|---|---|
| 1996 | 22 | 2 |
| 1997 | 19 | 2 |
| 1998 | 11 | 3 |
| 1999 | 24 | 2 |
| 2000 | 59 | 4 |
| 2001 | 12 | 2 |
| 2002 | 43 | 2 |
| 2003 | 9 | 1 |
| 2004 | 11 | 0 |
| 2005 | 125 | 11 |
Counts are owner reports, not failure rates. Higher sales years tend to draw more reports. Owners are still filing reports for recent model years, so these counts will grow. Source: NHTSA ODI, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Fuel economy: up to 19 mpg combined
- EPA annual fuel cost
- $4,350
- CO₂ tailpipe
- 468 g/mi
- EPA class
- Midsize Cars
What it costs you to run
Miles ÷ 19 mpg × $4.354 (EIA US average regular, week of Oct 5, 2026, all taxes included). Source: EPA · EIA.
EPA label estimates from lab tests; your mileage will vary.
Specs by configuration
| Engine · transmission | Drive | City / Hwy / Comb | EPA $/yr | CO₂ g/mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 L 6-cyl · 4-speed automatic | Front-Wheel Drive | 17 / 23 / 19 | $4,350 | 468 |
Source: EPA fuel economy data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026. Configurations are listed when EPA and NHTSA records match.
Looking at a 1997 RL for sale?
Print a one-page buyer's checklist: each recall campaign with a box to tick when the seller shows proof of repair, the top complaint areas to inspect, crash stars, MPG, and a link back to this page.
Where to next
1997 Acura RL FAQ
How many recalls does the 1997 Acura RL have?
NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns: 99V227000 (power train), 99V069000 (suspension). Use NHTSA's VIN lookup to see whether a specific car was repaired.
What are the most common 1997 Acura RL problems?
Owners filed 19 complaints with NHTSA. Electrical system (4), Power train (4), Suspension (3) are mentioned most. These are owner reports, not verified findings.
What mpg does the 1997 Acura RL get?
EPA rates the 3.5 L 6-cyl · 4-speed automatic version at 17 city, 23 highway and 19 combined mpg.
How does the 1997 RL compare with other years?
Among the 1996–2005 Acura RL model years at least five years old, the 2003 drew the fewest complaints (9) and the 2005 the most (125). The 1997 drew 19. Counts are owner reports, not failure rates.
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.