Photo: MercurySable99 / CC BY-SA 4.0 / Wikimedia Commons
1996 Acura RL: common problems and reliability
24 owner complaints on record.
Most complaints are about service brakes. 3 recalls.
Should I buy a 1996 RL?The 1996 Acura RL has 24 owner-filed NHTSA complaints and 3 recalls on record. The most-reported areas are service brakes and visibility.
Safety record for the 1996 model year
Source: NHTSA complaints and recalls filed for 1996 Acura RL vehicles (US, public record).
Is 1996 a good year for the RL?
Across the 17 RL model years we track, complaint volume runs from 1 (2012) to 125 (2005). With 24 complaints, the 1996 RL sits above the model's median of 20.
These are raw NHTSA complaint totals, not adjusted for how many cars sold or how long each model year has been on the road. Older and higher-selling years accumulate more complaints.
Where owners report problems
Recalls affecting the 1996 RL
exterior lighting
Campaign 06E049000CERTAIN 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 NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.
power train:automatic transmission
Campaign 99V227000VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. A TRANSMISSION CASE BOLT CAN LOOSEN AND FALL OUT ALLOWING THE TRANSMISSION TO DISENGAGE FROM THE DIFFERENTIAL.
suspension:front:control arm:lower ball joint
Campaign 99V069000VEHICLE 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.
What owners say across generations
Owners regard the RL as a comfortable, quiet, well-built luxury sedan with a strong V6 and a notably refined cabin, and several long-term owners report trouble-free runs past 200,000 miles.
Owner insights cover all generations of the RL. See the full RL owner picture and every model year.
Typical used price
Used RL listings typically run $5,890–$9,995 across 1997 to 2012 model years.
Other RL model years
Compare every RL year side by side to see how 1996 ranks against the rest.
Compare the RL against its rivals
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