2004 Acura RL: common problems and reliability

The 2004 Acura RL has 11 owner-filed NHTSA complaints and 0 recalls on record. The most-reported areas are electrical system and steering. Owners most often flag catastrophic parts availability, suspension components, body panels, interior trim pieces increasingly impossible to source, honda discontinued most parts, aftermarket support minimal, junkyard inventory depleted, specialist suppliers expensive and slow, typical repair requiring 2-4 weeks parts sourcing versus 2-3 days other hondas, very frequent.

Safety record for the 2004 model year

11
Owner complaints
0
Recalls
1
Crash reports
0
Fire reports

Source: NHTSA complaints and recalls filed for 2004 Acura RL vehicles (US, public record).

Is 2004 a good year for the RL?

Across the 4 RL model years we track, complaint volume runs from 8 (2009) to 32 (2006). With 11 complaints, the 2004 RL sits belowthe model's median of 25.

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
5
steering
2
air bags
2
power train
1
electronic stability control (esc)
1

What owners say across generations

Positive to nostalgic sentiment for first-generation model, regarded as underappreciated luxury sedan offering exceptional comfort, refinement, and Honda reliability at affordable used prices.

  • Catastrophic parts availability, suspension components, body panels, interior trim pieces increasingly impossible to source, Honda discontinued most parts, aftermarket support minimal, junkyard inventory depleted, specialist suppliers expensive and slow, typical repair requiring 2-4 weeks parts sourcing versus 2-3 days other Hondas, very frequent
  • Premium fuel requirement, requires 91+ octane for optimal performance though accepts 87 with reduced power, fuel economy disappointing 18-21 MPG combined typical, annual fuel costs $2,500-$3,500 at premium pricing, very frequent

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 $4,995–$9,998 across 1997 to 2011 model years.

Other RL model years

Compare every RL year side by side to see how 2004 ranks against the rest.

Compare the RL against its rivals