ACURA RL · model year

1996 ACURA RL

26 NHTSA complaints, 2 crash reports for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 1996ACURARL carries 26 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 2 crashes, 2 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.

Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 1996 RL is visibility:power window devices and controls with 6 filings, followed by service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip (5) and engine and engine cooling (3). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.

NHTSA currently has 3 investigation files overlapping the 1996 RL, and 2 remain open. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.

26
Complaints
2
Crashes
2
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

26 filings

Crashes Reported

2 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS6
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP5
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING3
POWER TRAIN1
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE1
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:COLUMN SHIFT1
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL1
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION1
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS1
SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:ANTILOCK:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE1
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS1
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL1
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM1
AIR BAGS1
UNKNOWN OR OTHER1

Recent Complaints

20180727UNKNOWN OR OTHER

ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM ; LOCKING SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONING. FREQUENT ALARMS.

20170412AIR 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.

20160701FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM

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.

Mileage: 179,000

20120106ENGINE 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

Mileage: 193,200

20120106ENGINE 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

Mileage: 193,200

20100906ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL

SPEEDOMETER DEFECTIVE. *TR

Mileage: 70,000

20071023FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS

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.

Mileage: 125,500

20070516SERVICE 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

Mileage: 144,000

20060825VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS

THE WINDOW REGULATORS ON MY 1996 ACURA 3.5 RL ARE BROKEN ON THE LEFT AND RIGHT REAR WINDOWS. BEFORE THE REGULATORS BROKE, THE WINDOW WOULD COME UP SLOWLY AND STOP ALMOST TO THE TOP. AFTER A LITTLE WHILE, I HAD TO PULL THE WINDOW UP THE REST OF THE WAY. *JB

Mileage: 100,000

20041213CrashSERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

WHILE PULLING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE BRAKES FAILED, CAUSING THE CONSUMER TO STRIKE A POST. DEALER STATED THAT THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKES ON THIS VEHICLE. MANUFACTURER DID NOT AGREE.*AK

Mileage: 149,000

20041201VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS

NAR 1/15/2003. THE LEFT REAR AND RIGHT REAR WINDOW REGULATOR FAILED. THE CONSUMER STATED HE HAD USED THE WINDOW NO MORE THAN 60 TO 75 TIMES SINCE OWNING THE VEHICLE AND A WINDOW REGULATOR SHOULD NOT FAIL IN SUCH A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME. THE DEALER DID REPLACE THE RIGHT REAR WINDOW REGULATOR UNDER WARRANTY, WHICH HAD SINCE EXPIRED. THE DEALER WAS NOT WILLING TO TAKE ANY RESPONSIBILITY, EVEN THOUGH THEY ADMITTED THE REGULATORS WERE PRONE TO FAILURE. *JB

20030717SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:ANTILOCK:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE

2 WEEKS AFTER PURCHASING THIS PREVIOUSLY-OWNED RL, I HEARD A SQUEALING NOISE THAT I THOUGHT WAS COMING FROM THE A/C AND REPORTED IT TO MY DEALER WHO COULDN'T FIND ANY PROBLEM. THE NEXT TIME I HEARD THIS NOISE MY WINDOWS WERE DOWN AND THE NOISE WAS SO LOUD, IT ECHOED OFF SURROUNDING BUILDINGS. I HIT MY BRAKES TO PULL OVER AND INVESTIGATE AND THE NOISE STOPPED. REPORTED TO DEALER BUT THEY COULDN'T FIND ANY PROBLEM. THIS NOISE STILL POPS UP FROM TIME TO TIME, BUT GOES AWAY WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED. NOISE IS A SQUEALING/HISSING SOUND THAT EMINATES FROM THE ABS AREA UNDER MY HOOD NEXT TO THE FIREWALL ON THE PASSENGER SIDE, ABS LIGHTS HAVEN'T ILLUMINATED DURING THE EVET AT ANY TIME, YET.*AK

20030309SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

WHEN I FIRST START MY CAR, I HEAR A NOISE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AT THE FIRE WALL. WHEN THE NOISE SOUNDS FOR A 20 TO 30 SECOND PERIOD, THE ABS LIGHT COMES ON AND THE ABS SYSTEMS GOES OUT. WHEN THE NOISE IS SHORT (5 SECOND BURSTS OF SOUND), THE ABS SYSTEM GOES OUT AFTER A MILE OR TWO DRIVE. DURING THE MILE OR TWO DRIVE, I HEAR THE SAME NOISE OFF AND ON UNTIL THE ABS SYSTEM EVENTUALLY GOES OUT. THIS FIRST OCCURRED ON DECEMBER 24, 2002. *NLM

Mileage: 92,300

20030206POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

AFTER RECALL#99V227000 WAS PERFORMED, THE VEHICLE REMAINED EXPERIENCING TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. PH THERE WAS A LOUD NOISE WHEN DRIVING, VEHICLE WOULDN'T MOVE, EXTENSION SHAFT AND SECONDARY DRIVE GEAR WAS WORN. A TRANSMISSION WAS ADDED, AND THE BROKEN DOOR HANDLE WAS REPLACED. SCC

20030206ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

AFTER RECALL#99V227000 WAS PERFORMED, THE VEHICLE REMAINED EXPERIENCING TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. PH THERE WAS A LOUD NOISE WHEN DRIVING, VEHICLE WOULDN'T MOVE, EXTENSION SHAFT AND SECONDARY DRIVE GEAR WAS WORN. A TRANSMISSION WAS ADDED, AND THE BROKEN DOOR HANDLE WAS REPLACED. SCC

20030206STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS

AFTER RECALL#99V227000 WAS PERFORMED, THE VEHICLE REMAINED EXPERIENCING TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. PH THERE WAS A LOUD NOISE WHEN DRIVING, VEHICLE WOULDN'T MOVE, EXTENSION SHAFT AND SECONDARY DRIVE GEAR WAS WORN. A TRANSMISSION WAS ADDED, AND THE BROKEN DOOR HANDLE WAS REPLACED. SCC

20021125VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS

WINDOW REGULATOR FAILURE 5/2000 AND 11/2002. FEEL THIS IS MANUFACTURERS DEFECT. DT

20020514SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

CONSUMER STATED THAT AS VEHICLE STARTED HE HEARD NOISE UNDER THE HOOD, WHERE SYSTEM-SUPPLEMENTING ANTILOCK BRAKES. THE NOISE COMES ON EVERY TIME THE CAR IS STARTED, 10 DAYS LATER ANTI LOCK BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYED ON CONTINUOUSLY. *YD

20020228SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

CONSUMER STATED THAT AS VEHICLE STARTED HE HEARD NOISE UNDER THE HOOD, WHERE SYSTEM-SUPPLEMENTING ANTILOCK BRAKES. THE NOISE COMES ON EVERY TIME THE CAR IS STARTED, 10 DAYS LATER ANTI LOCK BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYED ON CONTINUOUSLY. *YD

20010816VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS

FAILED LEFT FRONT, LEFT BACK, RIGHT BACK WINDOW REGULATORS WITH IN 3 MONTHS I STRONGLY BELIEVE THIS IS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT , BUT ACURA IS NOT ADMITTING

Compare 1996ACURARL to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations 2 Open

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 1996 ACURA RL have?
The 1996 ACURA RL has 26 NHTSA complaints, 2 crashes, 2 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1996 ACURA RL?
The most-complained component for the 1996 ACURA RL is VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS with 6 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP and ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING.
Is the 1996 ACURA RL safe to buy?
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.

Vehicle Safety Guides

Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.