SkipThatYearREAL DATA. SMARTER CAR DECISIONS.
← New search

1996 Acura Rl

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

About this comparison →
22Owner complaints

Model-year median: 12.5

2Recall campaigns

View recall details →

0Investigations

View investigation details →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
22
199619
199711
199824
1999
Compare all Rl years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Visibility
5Engine And Engine Cooling
4Service Brakes, Hydraulic
4Electrical System
3Power Train
3
All reported categories
Air Bags
2Service Brakes, Air
1Structure
1Unknown Or Other
1

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 9 of 22 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Visibility. Review the 5 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

2 crash reports2 fire reports0 injury reports

Service Brakes, Air complaints

1 reports
Clear category filter
Mileage unknown · Jul 17, 2003
Service Brakes, Air

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 I…

Read full complaint

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

NHTSA ODI #10028480

Official recalls

2

99V227000 · Power Train:automatic Transmission

Aug 19, 1999

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. A TRANSMISSION CASE BOLT CAN LOOSEN AND FALL OUT ALLOWING THE TRANSMISSION TO DISENGAGE FROM THE DIFFERENTIAL.

Consequence & remedy

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.

99V069000 · Suspension:front:control Arm:lower Ball Joint

May 10, 1999

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 & remedy

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.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.