1997 ACURA RL — Problems, Recalls & Safety Data
N/A
Safety Rating
24
Owner Complaints
2
Recalls
9
Service Bulletins
0
Investigations
Overview of the 1997 ACURA RL
The 1997 ACURA RL has received a total of 24 safety complaints filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). There have been 2 recall campaigns affecting this vehicle, covering issues with POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT. 9 technical service bulletins have been issued by Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) for this model year. The most commonly reported problems involve the Suspensionfrontcontrol Armlower Ball Joint (3 complaints), Electrical Systemignitionswitch (2 complaints), and Power Trainautomatic Transmission (2 complaints).
Recalls for the 1997 ACURA RL
NHTSA has recorded 2 recalls for the 1997 ACURA RL, potentially affecting up to 221,393 vehicles.
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 1997 ACURA RL
24 complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 1997 ACURA RL. Below is a breakdown by vehicle component.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Injuries | Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Suspensionfrontcontrol Armlower Ball Joint | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Electrical Systemignitionswitch | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Power Trainautomatic Transmission | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Service Brakes Hydraulicfoundation Components | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical System | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical Systemwiringinteriorunder Dash | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Electronic Stability Control Esc | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine And Engine Coolingengine | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuelpropulsion System | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Power Trainaxle Assembly | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Power Trainaxle Assemblyaxle Shaft | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Steering | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspensionfrontcontrol Armupper Arm | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Tires | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Tirestreadbelt | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Or Other | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Most Recent Complaints
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 ACURA RL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A CLICKING NOISE UPON TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL AND IT SEIZED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED OR DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
ON-BOARD DIAGNOSTIC (OBD) SYSTEM IS DETECTING 5 CODES P1304-P1305-P1306-P1300-P1399 AND I DONT THINK THEY ARE THE RIGHT CODES. *TT
ON-BOARD DIAGNOSTIC (OBD) SYSTEM IS DETECTING 5 CODES P1304-P1305-P1306-P1300-P1399 AND I DONT THINK THEY ARE THE RIGHT CODES. *TT
ON-BOARD DIAGNOSTIC (OBD) SYSTEM IS DETECTING 5 CODES P1304-P1305-P1306-P1300-P1399 AND I DONT THINK THEY ARE THE RIGHT CODES. *TT
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 ACURA RL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE BALL JOINT SEPARATED CAUSING THE FRONT SUSPENSION TO COLLAPSE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER AND WAS IN THE PROCESS OF BEING REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT HIS VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED ACCORDING TO RECALL# 99V069000 (SUSPENSION:FRONT: CONTROL ARM: LOWER BALL JOINT) AND THEY WOULD NOT ASSUME ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE REPAIRS. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 163,000. UPDATED 10/13/09. *LJ UPDATED 10/14/09.*JB
View all Suspensionfrontcontrol Armlower Ball Joint complaints →
Safety Rating for the 1997 ACURA RL
NHTSA has not yet tested the 1997 ACURA RL in its New Car Assessment Program.
Technical Service Bulletins for the 1997 ACURA RL
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) has issued 9 technical service bulletins (TSBs) for the 1997 ACURA RL. TSBs are notices sent by manufacturers to their dealers describing a known issue and the recommended repair procedure.
010301 — POWER TRAIN
INFORMATION REGARDING VEHICLES EXHIBITING A TRIP ODOMETER THAT DISPLAYS THREE DASHE (- - -). *TT
011000 — SEAT BELTS
SUBJECT REGARDING OCCUPANT POSITION DETECTION SENSOR (OPDS) UNIT LOCATION. *TT
00005 — STRUCTURE:BODY
SOME VEHICLES FROM VIN JH4KA9 ... YC000001 THRU JH4KA9 ... YC005649 MAY EXHIBIT RATTLE TYPE NOISE FROM THE REAR OF THE MOONROOF WHILE DRIVING OVER ROUGH OR BUMPY ROADS WITH THE SUNSHADE OPEN. *TT
97-025 — SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
COMPLAINTS OF BRAKE SQUEAL WHEN YOU LIGHTLY DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL. *YC
98-012 — POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
EXPERIENCING SHIFT SHOCK, JUDDER, OR NOISE DURING 1ST TO 2ND UPSHIFT. *YC
01JUN97 — ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
CUSTOMERS MAY COMPLAIN OF ENGINE NOT STARTING OR WON'T CRANK. *TT
97019 — VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
POWER WINDOW(S) WILL NOT GO DOWN. *JD
96029 — VISIBILITY:GLASS, SIDE/REAR
BUZZING NOISE AT THE A-PILLAR. *JD
97012 — STRUCTURE:BODY:HOOD:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS
NOSE MASK FLUTTERS AT HIGHWAY SPEED. *JD
NHTSA Investigations for the 1997 ACURA RL
There are no NHTSA defect investigations on record for this vehicle.
Other Model Years of the ACURA RL
- 1996 ACURA RL — 26 complaints
- 1997 ACURA RL (current)
- 1998 ACURA RL — 16 complaints
- 1999 ACURA RL — 26 complaints
- 2000 ACURA RL — 79 complaints
- 2001 ACURA RL — 12 complaints
- 2002 ACURA RL — 54 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