RoadVitals

1999 Acura RL

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
24
Latest Jan 21, 2021
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
2
Latest Jan 17, 2020
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
0
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
1
2 injuries, 0 deaths reported

Overview

Our database contains 24 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1999 Acura RL, most frequently naming the airbags, visibility and seat belts categories. 2 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; and 78 manufacturer communications are on file.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • Airbags936.0%
  • Visibility416.0%
  • Seat belts312.0%
  • Fuel system28.0%
  • Powertrain (other)28.0%
  • Electrical28.0%
  • Suspension14.0%
  • Tires & wheels14.0%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

2 campaigns cover this model year

Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.

Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov
20V026000

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE

Jan 17, 2020
1,439,841 units potentially affected
The defect: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 1998 Acura 2.2CL, 1998-1999 Acura 2.3CL, 1998-1999 Acura 3.0CL, 2001 Acura 3.2CL and Acura MDX, 1998-2000 Honda Accord Coupe, Accord Sedan, Civic Sedan, Odyssey and Acura 3.5RL, 1999-2000 Acura 3.2TL, 1996-2000 Civic Coupe, 1997-2000 CR-V, 1997-1998 EV Plus, and 1998-1999 Isuzu Oasis vehicles. These vehicles were equipped with Non-Azide Driver air bag Inflators (NADI) and do not contain phase stabilized ammonium nitrate (PSAN) propellant. Due to a manufacturing issue, the NADI inflators may absorb moisture, causing the inflators to rupture or the air bag cushion to underinflate.
The risk: In the event of a crash necessitating air bag deployment, an inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants. An underinflated air bag cushion may not properly protect the occupant. These scenarios increase the risk of serious injury or death.
The remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the driver frontal air bag inflator, and replace it if necessary, with an inflator of a different design, free of charge. The recall began October 1, 2020. Owners may contact American Honda's Customer Support & Campaign Center at 1-888-234-2138 or Isuzu customer service at 1-800-255-6727.
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)Manufacturer number D8J, Z8GView on NHTSA.gov
99V227000

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

Aug 19, 1999
96,518 units potentially affected
The defect: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. A TRANSMISSION CASE BOLT CAN LOOSEN AND FALL OUT ALLOWING THE TRANSMISSION TO DISENGAGE FROM THE DIFFERENTIAL.
The risk: 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.
The remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A REDESIGNED BOLT.
AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO.Manufacturer number K68View on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

View all 24
Airbags
Filed Jan 21, 2021

1999 ACURA RL. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO AIRBAG SAFETY RECALL. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME COMPLETING THE RECALL REPAIR. *JS

NHTSA ID
11389115
Incident
Mar 1, 2020
Airbags
Filed Jul 6, 2020

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 ACURA RL. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 20V026000 (AIR BAGS) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS NOT YET AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT CALLED RADLEY ACURA (5823 COLUMBIA PIKE, FALLS CHURCH, VA 22041, (703) 824-5700) AND IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT THE PART WAS NOT YET AVAILABLE FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID
11337625
Incident
Mar 1, 2020
Airbags
Filed May 26, 2020

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 ACURA RL. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 20V026000 (AIR BAGS) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. COURTESY ACURA (3701 NICHOLASVILLE RD, LEXINGTON, KY 40503) WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID
11325999
Incident
Jan 17, 2020
Electrical
Filed Sep 27, 2016

CAR HAD ELECTRICAL MALFUNCTION THE ODOMETER KEEP HAVING EQUAL NUMBERS ALOT OF THE TIME. ALSO ACCELERATION KEPT CHANGING ON ITS OWN. AS I WAS DRIVING AND ALSO ON THE HIGHWAY GOING TOWARDS OREGON. IN JULY OF 2016. *TR

NHTSA ID
10910110
Incident
Jul 25, 2016
Airbags
Filed Sep 7, 2016

SRS LIGHT ILLUMIMATED. TOOK TO ACURA DEALER, STATED OPDS SENSOR AND/OR OPDS UNIT FAILURE. $1200-$1600 TO REPLACE 1 OR 2 UNITS. AIRBAGS WILL NOT DEPLOY IN EVENT OF IMPACT. THIS IS TOTALLY A SAFETY ISSUE AND SHOULD BE COVERED BY THE MANUFACTURER.

NHTSA ID
10904413
Incident
Jun 1, 2016
Mileage
125,000 mi
Airbags
Filed May 26, 2015

HONDA / ACURA IS REFUSING TO HONOR THE BELOW EXTENDED WARRANTY (S/B 06-008) ON MY VEHICLE (WHICH IS WITHIN STATED MILEAGE LIMITS BUT OUTSIDE THE ARBITRARY TIME LIMITS) WHICH HAS BEEN DEMONSTRATING THE INDICATED PROBLEM WITH THE OPDS FOR ABOUT ONE YEAR. THEIR FILE NUMBER IS B012015-05-2601760.THEIR STATED SOLUTION IS FOR ME TO PAY FOR REPAIRS! THEY (MELISA) STATES I NEED TO PAY FOR DIAGNOSIS AT AN ACURA DEALER WITH ABSOLUTELY NO ASSURANCE OF A REIMBURSEMENT OR A FACTORY PAID REPAIR. AS THEY HAVE ACKNOWLEDGED THE FAULT IN THE SERVICE BULLETIN AND THERE ARE NUMEROUS REPORTS OF THIS FAULT PUBLISHED ON LINE IT SHOULD BE UP TO THE MANUFACTURER TO MAKE REPAIRS. IT APPEARS TO ME THEY COVERED UP WHAT SHOULD BE AN OFFICIAL RECALL WITH THE EXPIRED EXTENDED WARRANTY. HTTP://ACURAZINE.COM/FORUMS/PROBLEMS-FIXES-70/SRS-INDICATOR-LIGHT-WARRANTY-EXTENSION-478199/ HTTPS://REPAIRPAL.COM/SENSOR-PROBLEMS-IN-ABS-MAY-CAUSE-SRS-LIGHT-TO-TURN-ON-519 DATE: APRIL 5, 2006 TO: ALL ACURA SALES, SERVICE & PARTS MANAGERS FROM: AMERICAN HONDA SERVICE DIVISION RE: WARRANTY EXTENSION ANNOUNCEMENT ON MARCH 2, 2006, WE ANNOUNCED AN OPDS (OCCUPANT POSITION DETECTION SYSTEM) WARRANTY EXTENSION FOR CERTAIN 200103 3.2CLS, 200102 MDXS, 199903 3.5RLS, SELECTED 2004 RLS, 200204 RSXS, AND 200003 3.2TLS. SOME AFFECTED VEHICLES MAY HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE OPDS THAT CAUSES THE SRS INDICATOR TO STAY ON WITH ONE OR MORE SRS DTCS. TO ENSURE CONTINUED RELIABILITY WITH THE OPDS, AFFECTED VEHICLES HAVE AN EXTENDED WARRANTY ON THE OPDS UNIT AND THE OPDS SENSOR. THESE PARTS ARE NOW COVERED FOR 10 YEARS OR 150,000 MILES, WHICHEVER OCCURS FIRST. CUSTOMER NOTIFICATION ... FOR DETAILED REPAIR, VIN, AND WARRANTY INFORMATION, SEE S/B 06-008, WARRANTY EXTENSION: OPDS UNIT OR OPDS SENSOR TRIGGERS SRS DTC(S) 15-1, 15-2, 15-3.

NHTSA ID
10721483
Incident
May 11, 2015
Mileage
128,000 mi
Visibility
Filed Jul 22, 2013
1 injury reported

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 ACURA RL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, A GRITTY LIQUID BEGAN TO SECRETE FROM THE REAR VIEW MIRROR. THE LIQUID SPLATTERED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL, STEERING WHEEL AND THE FRONT SEATS AND BEGAN TO DISINTEGRATE THE LEATHER WHERE IT WAS NOT WIPED AWAY. THE LIQUID ALSO CAUSED IRRITATION TO THE CONTACT'S SKIN. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 144,000.

NHTSA ID
10526078
Incident
Jul 20, 2013
Mileage
144,000 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Jan 2, 2013

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 ACURA RL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ACCELERATING FROM A TRAFFIC STOP, THE VEHICLE EXHIBITED A LOUD NOISE AND FAILED TO ACCELERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 170,000.

NHTSA ID
10490803
Incident
Jan 1, 2013
Mileage
170,000 mi

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

DORE5C4S09

SUSPENSION

This SKU is a Front Upper Ball Joint. The customer communication requested return of unsold inventory to inspect for the outer diameter of the ball joint housing being too small. The outer diameter being too small would prevent the part from being installed, and would therefore have no impact on the end user besides time to complete installation.

BJA46167

EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL

Sending vehicle data to tech line.

B05-018

EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:NAVIGATIONAL SYSTEM(GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM)

SERVICE BULLETIN - NAVIGATION SYSTEM INFORMATION.

B98015

EQUIPMENT

Special Tool Loan Program: Under TOOLS AVAILABLE FOR LOAN, the list has been updated.

B99-040

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE; FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY

"SERVICE BULLETIN - THIS BULLETIN UPDATES THE TROUBLESHOOTING PROCEDURES FOR DTC P1456 (EVAP CONTROL SYSTEM LEAKAGE [FUEL TANK SYSTEM]) AND DTC P1457 (EVAP CONTROL SYSTEM LEAKAGE[EVAP CANISTER SYSTEM]). DEPENDING ON THE MODEL, THERE ARE TWO INDIVIDUAL PROCEDURES IN THIS BULLETIN."

SB-0708

TIRES:PRESSURE MONITORING AND REGULATING SYSTEMS

ACURA: THERE ARE GUIDELINES FOR VARIOUS SITUATIONS AND PROCEDURES INCLUDING: TIRE PRESSURE VALVE STEM INSTALLATION, TRAILER STABILITY MALFUNCTION LIGHT IS ON, ENGINE OIL APPLICATION GUIDE, NEW SOFTWARE, NEW TRANSMISSION FLUID, NOTCHY STEERING FEELING. *RM

Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Acura RL by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2017000—
2016000—
2015200—
2014000—
2013000—
2012160—
2011360—
2010970—
2009860—
2008136048.9
2007207067.5
2006328052.6
200512511356.7
2004110033.9
2003910—
2002432041.3
2001122045.0
2000594049.6
1999Viewing242049.5
1998113039.5
1997192049.8
1996223052.6

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.