1996 ACURA RL — Problems, Recalls & Safety Data
N/A
Safety Rating
26
Owner Complaints
3
Recalls
5
Service Bulletins
0
Investigations
Overview of the 1996 ACURA RL
The 1996 ACURA RL has received a total of 26 safety complaints filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). There have been 3 recall campaigns affecting this vehicle, covering issues with EXTERIOR LIGHTING, POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT. 5 technical service bulletins have been issued by Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) for this model year. The most commonly reported problems involve the Visibilitypower Window Devices And Controls (6 complaints), Service Brakes Hydraulicantilocktraction Controlelectronic Limited Slip (5 complaints), and Engine And Engine Cooling (3 complaints).
Recalls for the 1996 ACURA RL
NHTSA has recorded 3 recalls for the 1996 ACURA RL, potentially affecting up to 248,569 vehicles.
Recall 06E049000 — EXTERIOR LIGHTING
| 27,176 vehicles affected
Defect: CERTAIN CK MOTORSPORTS COMBINATION HEADLIGHTS, CLEAR CORNER, BUMPER, AND SIDE MARKER LIGHTS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON THE PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.
Consequence: WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.
Remedy: CK MOTORSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE NONCOMPLIANT LAMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 1, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CK MOTORSPORT AT 1-909-610-7211.
View full details →Recall 99V227000 — POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
| 96,518 vehicles affected
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.
View full details →Recall 99V069000 — SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT
| 124,875 vehicles affected
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.
View full details →Owner Complaints for the 1996 ACURA RL
26 complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 1996 ACURA RL. Below is a breakdown by vehicle component.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Injuries | Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Visibilitypower Window Devices And Controls | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Service Brakes Hydraulicantilocktraction Controlelectronic Limited Slip | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Air Bags | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Air Bagsfrontal | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical System | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical System Instrument Clusterpanel | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical Systemwiringfuses And Circuit Breakers | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine And Engine Coolingengine | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Power Train | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Power Trainautomatic Transmission | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Power Trainautomatic Transmissionlever And Linkagecolumn Shift | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Service Brakes Airantilockcontrol Unitmodule | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Structurebodydoorhinge And Attachments | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Or Other | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Most Recent Complaints
ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM ; LOCKING SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONING. FREQUENT ALARMS.
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 ACURA RL. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V061000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART FOR THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.
TL* CONTACT OWNS A 1996 ACURA RL. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, A STRONG BURNING ODOR WAS NOTICED COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS DIMMED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 179,000.
WHEN DRIVING NORMALLY, THE ENGINE WILL COMPLETELY DIE, AS IF THE IGNITION HAD BEEN TURNED OFF. THE CODE SET INDICATES MISFIRE ON ALL CYLINDERS. STARTS AGAIN IMMEDIATELY, BUT DOES NOT ALWAYS CONTINUE TO RUN. THIS WILL HAPPEN NUMEROUS TIMES THEN NOT AGAIN FOR DAYS. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM TESTS OK, FUEL PRESSURE TEST OK, TOO. *TR
WHEN DRIVING NORMALLY, THE ENGINE WILL COMPLETELY DIE, AS IF THE IGNITION HAD BEEN TURNED OFF. THE COSE SET IN OBD II INDICATED MISFIRE ON ALL CYLINDERS. IT STARTS AGAIN IMMEDIATELY, BUT DOES NOT ALWAYS CONTINUE TO RUN. THIS WILL HAPPEN NUMEROUS TIMES PER DAY, SEVERAL DAYS IN A ROW, THEN NOT HAPPEN AGAIN FOR SEVERAL DAYS. THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM TESTS COMPLETELY OK. FUEL PRESSURE TESTS ARE OK TOO. CAR IS AT GOSS' GARAGE IN SEABROOK, MD, PHONE 301-577-9200. *TR
View all Visibilitypower Window Devices And Controls complaints →
Safety Rating for the 1996 ACURA RL
NHTSA has not yet tested the 1996 ACURA RL in its New Car Assessment Program.
Technical Service Bulletins for the 1996 ACURA RL
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) has issued 5 technical service bulletins (TSBs) for the 1996 ACURA RL. TSBs are notices sent by manufacturers to their dealers describing a known issue and the recommended repair procedure.
05012004 — EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:ANTI-THEFT DEVICES
AUDIO UNIT AND NAVI ANTI-THEFT CODES AVAILABLE ON IN. ACURA SERVICENEWS. MAY 2004. *TT
04012004 — EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:NAVIGATIONAL SYSTEM(GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM)
NAVI HDDS REPLACED WITH FLASH MEMORY CARDS. ACURA. SERVICENEWS. APRIL 2004. *TT
010200 — POWER TRAIN
CONCERNS WITH TRIP ODOMETER READING - - -. *TT
064 — VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
SUBJECT REGARDING RL WINDOW REGULATOR S/B REVISION. *TT
98-454 — POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
INFORMATION REGARDING AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION 1-2 COMPLAINTS. *YC
NHTSA Investigations for the 1996 ACURA RL
There are no NHTSA defect investigations on record for this vehicle.
Other Model Years of the ACURA RL
- 1996 ACURA RL (current)
- 1997 ACURA RL — 24 complaints
- 1998 ACURA RL — 16 complaints
- 1999 ACURA RL — 26 complaints
- 2000 ACURA RL — 79 complaints
- 2001 ACURA RL — 12 complaints
Other ACURA Models
- ACURA MDX — 4,187 total complaints
- ACURA TL — 4,042 total complaints
- ACURA RDX — 2,499 total complaints
- ACURA TLX — 1,274 total complaints
- ACURA TSX — 849 total complaints
- ACURA INTEGRA — 755 total complaints
- ACURA CL — 730 total complaints
- ACURA LEGEND — 505 total complaints