no report yet
Power train: automatic transmission
Risk. THE VEHICLE COULD LOSE POWER TO THE DRIVE WHEELS WITHOUT WARNING.
1996 Acura RLProblems, recalls & complaints
NHTSA has logged 22 owner complaints about the 1996 Acura RL, most often about the visibility. It is covered by 2 safety recalls.
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through July 27, 2018. Updated daily.
Complaints by system
Where the 1996 Acura RL has problems
22 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.
5Visibility
4Service brakes, hydraulic1 crash/fire/injury
4Engine and engine cooling
3Electrical system2 crash/fire/injury
3Power train
2Air bags1 crash/fire/injury
1Structure
1Service brakes, air
| System | Complaints | Crash, fire or injury |
|---|---|---|
| Visibility | 5 | 0 |
| Service brakes, hydraulic | 4 | 1 |
| Engine and engine cooling | 4 | 0 |
| Electrical system | 3 | 2 |
| Power train | 3 | 0 |
| Air bags | 2 | 1 |
| Structure | 1 | 0 |
| Service brakes, air | 1 | 0 |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.
2 recalls
1996 Acura RL recalls and how many were fixed
Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
no report yet
Control arm: lower ball joint
Risk. THIS CONDITION WOULD RESULT IN VEHICLE DECELERATION AND A SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER.
Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with Acura.
Best & worst years
1996 vs. every other RL year
Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the RL median. How we score
'96'97'98'99'00'01'02'03'04'05'06'07'08'09'10'11'12'15
- Avoid
- Caution
- Solid
- Best
- Not rated
In owners' words
What RL owners report
Recent visibility complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.
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
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…
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
Own a 1996 RL?
Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.