Verdict · NHTSA data
Limited data — recalls on file
NHTSA has just 24 complaints on file for the 1997 Acura RL — too few to judge reliability from owner reports alone — but 2 recall campaigns apply to this year, so any used example should have its VIN checked for completed recall work.
24
NHTSA complaints
2
Recalls
0
Investigations
2
Crash-involved
0
Fires reported
3
Injuries
0
Deaths
—
NCAP overall
| Component | Complaints | Share | vs prior year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical System | 5 | 21% | ▲ up |
| Suspension | 4 | 17% | new |
| Transmission | 4 | 17% | ▲ up |
| Engine | 3 | 13% | — flat |
| Brakes | 2 | 8% | ▼ down |
| Tires & Wheels | 2 | 8% | new |
| Steering | 1 | 4% | new |
| Other | 1 | 4% | — flat |
| Fuel System | 1 | 4% | new |
| Speed Control | 1 | 4% | new |
2 NHTSA recall campaigns on file. Recall repairs are free at franchised dealers.
Defect
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. A TRANSMISSION CASE BOLT CAN LOOSEN AND FALL OUT ALLOWING THE TRANSMISSION TO DISENGAGE FROM THE DIFFERENTIAL.
Consequence
THE VEHICLE COULD LOSE POWER TO THE DRIVE WHEELS WITHOUT WARNING. ALSO, SHIFTING THE TRANSMISSION INTO THE PARK POSITION WOULD NOT LOCK THE WHEELS, AND A PARKED VEHICLE COULD MOVE UNEXPECTEDLY IF THE PARKING BRAKE IS NOT SET.
Remedy
DEALERS WILL INSTALL A REDESIGNED BOLT.
Defect
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.
Consequence
THIS CONDITION WOULD RESULT IN VEHICLE DECELERATION AND A SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER. ALSO STEERING CONTROLLABILITY WOULD BE REDUCED.
Remedy
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FRONT SUSPENSION LOWER BALL JOINTS.
Representative excerpts, cleaned of personal information. These are consumer statements, not verified defects.
“TURNING IGNITION KEY, FREQUENTLY RESULTS IN NO ACTIVATION OF THE STARTER. THE DASHBOARD WARNING LIGHTS WILL ILLUMINATE, BUT THERE IS NO STARTING. HAVE TO TURN THE KEY TO "OFF" POSITION, AND RE-TRY..SOMETIMES SEVERAL TIMES TO GET CAR TO START. CHECKED BATTERY TERMINALS..CLEANED, WITH NO CHANGE.*AK”
“NHTSA RECALL ID# 98-V-227-000/ MANUFACTURER'S RECALL K60/99-039; WHILE DRIVING SUDDENLY THERE WAS A LOUD GRINDING NOISE COMING FROM FRONT END. VEHICLE WAS VERY SLUGGISH, AND TRNSMISSION WENT OUT WITHOUT WARNING. DEALER WAS CONTACTED. *AK”
“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 ACURA RL. THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD CLICKING NOISE COMING FROM THE WHEELS WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE LOWER BALL JOINTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. HE DID NOT HAVE THE BALL JOINTS REPLACED BECAUSE THEY WERE…”
“CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED AT AN INTERSECTION, IT WAS HIT FROM THE REAR.THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED WITH DRIVER FEET ON THE BRAKES. VEHICLE WAS STOPPED WHEN IT IMPACTED A HOUSE, AND THE ENGINE WAS STILL REVVING. TS”
“I WAS DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE AT ABOUT 75 MPH, WHEN ONE HALF OF MY TIRE EXPANDED, CAUSING THE CAR TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY, AND ALMOST FORCING ME TO LOSE CONTROL. THE TIRE WAS TAKEN OFF, AND REPLACED WITH THE DONUT. I WILL ATTEMPT TOMORROW TO HAVE ALL 4 OF MY TIRES REPLACED, AS THEY ARE FAIRLY NEW…”
The record is thin — 24 NHTSA complaints — so owner-report data can't strongly confirm reliability either way, though 2 recalls should be verified as completed.
According to NHTSA complaint data, the leading problem areas are electrical system (5 complaints), transmission (4 complaints), suspension (4 complaints).
Yes — NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns affecting the 1997 Acura RL. Recall repairs are free at franchised dealers; check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm the work was done.
Based on complaint rates and open investigations, the RL years to avoid are 2005, 2000, 2002, 2006. The cleanest record among RL years belongs to 2012.
Based on NHTSA ODI data through June 2026. Complaints are consumer-reported and unverified. Updated July 5, 2026.
Compiled by Sharon Ben-Moshe, Founder.