1996 Acura RL
Only 22 complaints on file — too few for a fair verdict.
This verdict reflects complaint volume compared to this model's typical year. Recalls and safety issues below apply regardless of the verdict — always check them.
Only 22 complaints on file — too few for a fair verdict. The data below is complete but unranked.
COMPLAINTS PER YEAR
View as data table
| Year | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 1996 | 22 |
| 1997 | 19 |
| 1998 | 11 |
| 1999 | 24 |
| 2000 | 59 |
| 2001 | 12 |
| 2002 | 43 |
| 2003 | 9 |
| 2004 | 11 |
| 2005 | 125 |
| 2006 | 32 |
| 2007 | 20 |
| 2008 | 13 |
| 2009 | 8 |
| 2010 | 9 |
| 2011 | 3 |
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2015 | 2 |
KNOWN PROBLEM AREAS
Only 22 complaints on file for this model year -- too few to rank by share. Raw counts only, below.
5 of 22 total reports mention: visibility, most commonly citing power window devices and controls.
Show complaint excerpts
WINDOW REGULATOR FAILURE 5/2000 AND 11/2002. FEEL THIS IS MANUFACTURERS DEFECT. DT
NHTSA ODI report, 20021125
5 of 22 total reports mention: service brakes, most commonly citing hydraulic and air.
CRASH4 of 22 total reports mention: engine and engine cooling, most commonly citing engine.
Show complaint excerpts
ENGINE BLEW UP AS CONSUMER WAS DRIVING VEHICLE. WILL SEND IN MORE INFORMATION. *AK
NHTSA ODI report, 19990908
3 of 22 total reports mention: power train, most commonly citing column shift and automatic transmission.
Show complaint excerpts
SPEEDOMETER DEFECTIVE.
NHTSA ODI report, 19970424
3 of 22 total reports mention: electrical system, most commonly citing fuses and circuit breakers and instrument cluster/panel.
FIREShow complaint excerpts
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.
NHTSA ODI report, 20160701
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.
NHTSA ODI report, 20071023
SAFETY TIMELINE
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 SUS
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FRONT SUSPENSION LOWER BALL JOINTS.
Campaign 99V069000 — check if this car was fixed
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. A TRANSMISSION CASE BOLT CAN LOOSEN AND FALL OUT ALLOWING THE TRANSMISSION TO DISENGAGE FROM THE DIFFERENTIAL.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A REDESIGNED BOLT.
Campaign 99V227000 — check if this car was fixed
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 N
Remedy: 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.
Campaign 06E049000 — check if this car was fixed
BUY-SMART CHECKLIST
1996 Acura RL — pre-purchase inspection
- Test/inspect for visibility issues (5 reports on file for this year).
- Test/inspect for service brakes issues (5 reports on file for this year).
- Test/inspect for engine and engine cooling issues (4 reports on file for this year).
- Verify recall 99V069000 (suspension) has been completed.
- Verify recall 99V227000 (power train) has been completed.
- Verify recall 06E049000 (exterior lighting) has been completed.
FAQ
Is the 1996 Acura RL reliable?
There isn't enough NHTSA complaint data on file yet to give this model year a verdict.
What are the most common problems with the 1996 Acura RL?
The most-reported component is visibility, accounting for 23% of complaints on file.
How many recalls does the 1996 Acura RL have?
3 recalls on file for this model year.
Data updated 2026-09-16 · Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA, not independently verified defects. Methodology.