1996 Acura RL problems
The 1996 Acura RL has 26 complaints on file with NHTSA. The largest share (23%) concerns brakes. Next are wipers, windshield & visibility (23%) and engine (15%).
At a glance
- Complaints
- 26 filed with NHTSA
- Most reported
- Brakes 23% of complaints
- Crashes and fires
- 2 and 2
- Injuries and deaths
- 0 and 0
Source: NHTSA owner complaints
Where the complaints are
Share of this model year's complaints by the part of the car involved. One complaint can name more than one part, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.
What the data shows
Safety-related details: 2 complaints mention a crash; 2 complaints mention a fire.
Looking only at complaints filed within five years of the model year (so older and newer years are comparable), the 1996 ranks 5th most-complained-about out of 6 model years of the Acura RL with enough data (7 complaints in that window). It is also covered by 2 safety recall campaigns.
What owners wrote
A few complaints as filed, shortened and with personal details removed. The first ones are among the most serious reports for this model year; the rest are typical.
Tl*the contact owns a 1996 acura 3.5rl. On october 22, 2007, the contact entered the vehicle and smelled smoke. She then heard a popping sound and noticed smoke coming from the dashboard. The odometer and speedometer lights were not illuminated. She was able to drive the vehicle to a mechanic and was informed that the circuit board burned out and needed to be replaced. The purchase date and powertrain were unknown. The current and failure mileages were 125,500.
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.
Vehicle was invoved in a frontal collision of 40 MPH in which both air bags failed to depoy. Dealer/manufacturer were not notified at this time.
The window regulators on my 1996 acura 3.5 rl are broken on the left and right rear windows. Before the regulators broke, the window would come up slowly and stop almost to the top. After a little while, I had to pull the window up the rest of the way.
When I first start vehicle I hear a noise in the engine compartment near the firewall. The noise sounded for a 20 to 30 seconds, the ABS light came on and the ABS systems went out. When the noise was short the ABS system went out after a mile or two drive. During the mile or two drive. I heard the same noise off and on until the ABS system eventually went out. This first occurred on september 24, 2006.