Photo: Nam Ngo from San Jose, United States / CC BY 2.0 / Wikimedia Commons
2004 Acura RL: common problems and reliability
An average RL year.
11 owner complaints, most about electrical system. No recalls.
Should I buy a 2004 RL?The 2004 Acura RL has 11 owner-filed NHTSA complaints and 0 recalls on record. The most-reported areas are electrical system and steering.
Safety record for the 2004 model year
Source: NHTSA complaints and recalls filed for 2004 Acura RL vehicles (US, public record).
The Year Score compares this year with other RL years only. How we score it
Is 2004 a good year for the RL?
Across the 17 RL model years we track, complaint volume runs from 1 (2012) to 125 (2005). With 11 complaints, the 2004 RL sits below 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
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 2004 ranks against the rest.
Compare the RL against its rivals
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