What are the most common problems on the 1997 Acura RL?

The most-reported problem areas are electrical system (4 complaints), power train (4 complaints), suspension (3 complaints).

Photo: MercurySable99 / CC BY-SA 4.0 / Wikimedia Commons

1997 Acura RL: common problems and reliability

20 owner complaints on record.

Most complaints are about electrical system. 2 recalls.

Should I buy a 1997 RL?

The 1997 Acura RL has 20 owner-filed NHTSA complaints and 2 recalls on record. The most-reported areas are electrical system and power train.

Safety record for the 1997 model year

Owner complaints

Recalls

Crash reports

Fire reports

Source: NHTSA complaints and recalls filed for 1997 Acura RL vehicles (US, public record).

How we score it

Is 1997 a good year for the RL?

Across the 17 RL model years we track, complaint volume runs from 1 (2012) to 125 (2005). With 20 complaints, the 1997 RL sits about the same as 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

electrical system

power train

suspension

engine and engine cooling

tires

Recalls affecting the 1997 RL

power train:automatic transmission

Campaign 99V227000

VEHICLE 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 99V069000

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.

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 1997 ranks against the rest.

2012 RL 2011 RL 2010 RL 2009 RL 2008 RL 2007 RL 2006 RL 2005 RL 2004 RL 2003 RL 2002 RL 2001 RL 2000 RL 1999 RL 1998 RL 1996 RL

Compare the RL against its rivals

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