Acura · Known Issues

1996-2012 Acura RL Problems: 6 Known Issues

1996-2012 model years · 780+ owner reports · Updated August 2026

According to Au7o's analysis of 780+ owner reports, the 1996-2012 Acura RL has 6 documented known issues, with 4 rated critical. The most serious are Timing belt + hydraulic tensioner replacement at 90k mi / 72 months — interference engine ($1,400-$2,800 repair), Recall 20V027000: Moisture-Absorbing NADI Inflator in Replacement Driver Air Bags, NHTSA recall 99V069000: front lower ball joints may wear prematurely and separate and 3.5RL Driver Airbag Inflator Can Rupture or Underinflate — NHTSA Recall 20V026000. The most commonly reported issue is SH-AWD Torque Transfer Unit / Rear Differential Clutch Noise with 780 owner reports. Across all issues with published estimates, repair costs range from $150 to $3,000. DIY maintenance guides at au7o.io.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the most common Acura RL problems?

According to Au7o's analysis of 780+ owner reports, the 1996-2012 Acura RL has 6 documented issues. The most frequently reported are: Timing belt + hydraulic tensioner replacement at 90k mi / 72 months — interference engine, Recall 20V027000: Moisture-Absorbing NADI Inflator in Replacement Driver Air Bags, NHTSA recall 99V069000: front lower ball joints may wear prematurely and separate. Of these, 4 are rated critical and should be addressed promptly.

Is the Acura RL reliable?

The 1996-2012 Acura RL has 6 known issues documented across 780+ owner reports. 4 issues are rated critical: Timing belt + hydraulic tensioner replacement at 90k mi / 72 months — interference engine and Recall 20V027000: Moisture-Absorbing NADI Inflator in Replacement Driver Air Bags and NHTSA recall 99V069000: front lower ball joints may wear prematurely and separate and 3.5RL Driver Airbag Inflator Can Rupture or Underinflate — NHTSA Recall 20V026000. Prospective buyers should inspect for these issues and factor potential repair costs into their purchase decision. Regular maintenance following the manufacturer's schedule helps prevent many common problems.

How much does it cost to fix common Acura RL problems?

Repair costs for known Acura RL issues range from $150 to $3,000, depending on the specific problem and whether you choose DIY or professional repair. The most critical issue, Timing belt + hydraulic tensioner replacement at 90k mi / 72 months — interference engine, typically costs $1,400-$2,800 to repair. Au7o provides step-by-step DIY maintenance guides that can help reduce repair costs.

What year Acura RL is the most reliable?

Reliability varies across model years of the Acura RL. Based on documented issues, problems are most commonly reported in earlier model years. Au7o recommends checking the specific known issues for your target year before purchasing, and having a pre-purchase inspection performed by a qualified mechanic. Our known issues database covers the 1996-2012 Acura RL with 6 documented issues documented across 780+ owner reports.

What is the 1996-1999 Acura RL Timing belt + hydraulic tensioner replacement at 90k mi / 72 months — interference engine?

The first-gen RL's 3.5L C35A V6 is part of the Honda C-series V6 family, which is widely documented as interference design (valves and pistons share rotational space, separated only by timing belt synchronization). The published timing belt interval is 105,000 miles or 84 months… Repairs typically run $1,400-$2,800. Severity: high.

What is the 2000-2003 Acura RL Recall 20V027000: Moisture-Absorbing NADI Inflator in Replacement Driver Air Bags?

The 2000-2003 Acura 3.5RL is one of the vehicles named in NHTSA recall 20V027000. The problem is not the air bag the RL left the factory with — it is a replacement driver frontal air bag module that some of these sedans received during a past vehicle repair. Honda reports a manuf… Severity: high.

What is the 1996-1998 Acura RL NHTSA recall 99V069000: front lower ball joints may wear prematurely and separate?

Acura RL sedans from the 1996–1998 model years fall under NHTSA recall 99V069000. The defect is in the front suspension lower ball joints, which were built such that they can wear out prematurely. The failure mode NHTSA describes is separation of the ball joint — at that point th… Severity: high.

What is the 1998-2000 Acura RL 3.5RL Driver Airbag Inflator Can Rupture or Underinflate — NHTSA Recall 20V026000?

The 1998-2000 Acura 3.5RL is one of the vehicles covered by NHTSA recall 20V026000. Its driver frontal airbag uses a Non-Azide Driver airbag Inflator (NADI), which contains no phase stabilized ammonium nitrate (PSAN) propellant. Honda found that a manufacturing issue lets these i… Severity: high.

What is the 2005-2012 Acura RL SH-AWD Torque Transfer Unit / Rear Differential Clutch Noise?

The 2nd-gen RL's Super Handling All-Wheel Drive uses a torque transfer unit (TTU) at the transaxle output plus a rear differential containing electromagnetic clutch packs for variable side-to-side torque distribution. With age and fluid breakdown, both can develop a low-speed gri… Repairs typically run $300-$3,000. Severity: medium.

What is the 1996-2004 Acura RL Distributor shaft seal leaks oil into cap, causes misfires (P0300-P0304) on 3.5L C35A?

Like every C-series V6 Honda used in the 1990s and 2000s (Legend, NSX, CL, TL, RL all share the family), the RL's 3.5L C35A V6 has a distributor mounted at the back of the head and driven directly off the camshaft. Inside the distributor housing, an oil seal isolates the cam-driv… Repairs typically run $150-$700. Severity: medium.

All 6 Known Issues

Recall 20V027000: Moisture-Absorbing NADI Inflator in Replacement Driver Air Bags#

3.5RL Driver Airbag Inflator Can Rupture or Underinflate — NHTSA Recall 20V026000#

Timing belt + hydraulic tensioner replacement at 90k mi / 72 months — interference engine#

NHTSA recall 99V069000: front lower ball joints may wear prematurely and separate#

SH-AWD Torque Transfer Unit / Rear Differential Clutch Noise#

Distributor shaft seal leaks oil into cap, causes misfires (P0300-P0304) on 3.5L C35A#

Other Acura Models