1997 Acura RL Recalls, Complaints & Specs
2 safety recalls list the 1997 Acura RL, and owners have filed 19 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.
2 safety recalls for the 1997 Acura RL
Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.
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Automatic transmission (power train)
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. A transmission case bolt can loosen and fall out allowing the transmission to disengage from the differential.
Remedy: Dealers will install a redesigned bolt.
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Suspension: lower ball joint
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.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the front suspension lower ball joints.
19 owner complaints filed with NHTSA
Owners of the 1997 Acura RL have filed 19 complaints with NHTSA; 2 describe a crash. Reports cite 1 injury and 0 deaths. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 140,626 miles. Complaints peaked in 2002 with 5 filed that year.
Most-reported components
What owners are reporting
“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 man”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, July 28, 2014 · Steering
“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 an”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, September 4, 2009 · Suspension
Fuel economy and specs
EPA ratings for the 1997 Acura RL (3.5RL). Ranges cover every tested configuration.
| Combined | 19 mpg |
|---|---|
| City / Highway | 17 / 23 |
| Fuel | Premium |
| EPA class | Midsize Cars |
| Engine | 6 cyl, 3.5 L |
| Transmission | Automatic 4-spd |
Compare Acura RL model years
Recall and complaint counts for every Acura RL model year in NHTSA's database.
| Model year | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|
| 1996 Acura RL | 2 | 22 |
| 1997 Acura RL | 2 | 19 |
| 1998 Acura RL | 3 | 11 |
| 1999 Acura RL | 2 | 24 |
| 2000 Acura RL | 4 | 59 |
| 2001 Acura RL | 2 | 12 |
| 2002 Acura RL | 2 | 43 |
| 2003 Acura RL | 1 | 9 |
| 2004 Acura RL | 0 | 11 |
| 2005 Acura RL | 11 | 125 |
| 2006 Acura RL | 8 | 32 |
| 2007 Acura RL | 7 | 20 |
| 2008 Acura RL | 6 | 13 |
| 2009 Acura RL | 6 | 8 |
| 2010 Acura RL | 7 | 9 |
| 2011 Acura RL | 6 | 3 |
| 2012 Acura RL | 6 | 1 |
| 2015 Acura RL | 0 | 2 |
Checking a specific 1997 Acura RL
How do I know if my 1997 Acura RL has an open recall?
Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle. 2 campaigns currently list the 1997 Acura RL; your car may already have been repaired under some of them.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised Acura dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number (for example 99V069000).
What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?
A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.
Other Acura models
- MDX3,296 complaints
- TL3,118 complaints
- RDX2,164 complaints
- TLX891 complaints
- TSX671 complaints
- Integra657 complaints
- Cl586 complaints
- Legend382 complaints
Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.