Skip to content

1999 Acura RL Recalls, Complaints & Specs

2 safety recalls list the 1999 Acura RL, and owners have filed 24 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.

2
safety recalls
24
owner complaints to NHTSA
0 / 1
complaints citing a crash / fire
18
MPG combined (EPA)

2 safety recalls for the 1999 Acura RL

Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.

  1. Inflator module (air bags)

    NHTSA 20V026000 Reported 1,439,841 vehicles potentially affected Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)

    Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 1998 Acura 2.2CL, 1998-1999 Acura 2.3CL, 1998-1999 Acura 3.0CL, 2001 Acura 3.2CL and Acura MDX, 1998-2000 Honda Accord Coupe, Accord Sedan, Civic Sedan, Odyssey and Acura 3.5RL, 1999-2000 Acura 3.2TL, 1996-2000 Civic Coupe, 1997-2000 CR-V, 1997-1998 EV Plus, and 1998-1999 Isuzu Oasis…

    Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the driver frontal air bag inflator, and replace it if necessary, with an inflator of a different design, free of charge. The recall began October 1, 2020. Owners may…

  2. Automatic transmission (power train)

    NHTSA 99V227000 Reported 96,518 vehicles potentially affected AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO.

    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.

24 owner complaints filed with NHTSA

Owners of the 1999 Acura RL have filed 24 complaints with NHTSA; 1 describe a fire. Reports cite 2 injuries and 0 deaths. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 95,493 miles. Complaints peaked in 1999 with 2 filed that year.

Most-reported components

What owners are reporting

“1999 acura rl. Consumer writes in regards to AIRBAG safety recall. *ld the consumer stated the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time completing the recall repair. *js”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, January 21, 2021 · Air bags

“Tl* the contact owns a 1999 acura rl. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 20v026000 (air bags) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stat”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, July 6, 2020 · Air bags

Fuel economy and specs

EPA ratings for the 1999 Acura RL (3.5RL). Ranges cover every tested configuration.

Combined18 mpg
City / Highway16 / 22
FuelPremium
EPA classMidsize Cars
Engine6 cyl, 3.5 L
TransmissionAutomatic 4-spd

Compare Acura RL model years

Recall and complaint counts for every Acura RL model year in NHTSA's database.

Model yearRecallsComplaints
1996 Acura RL222
1997 Acura RL219
1998 Acura RL311
1999 Acura RL224
2000 Acura RL459
2001 Acura RL212
2002 Acura RL243
2003 Acura RL19
2004 Acura RL011
2005 Acura RL11125
2006 Acura RL832
2007 Acura RL720
2008 Acura RL613
2009 Acura RL68
2010 Acura RL79
2011 Acura RL63
2012 Acura RL61
2015 Acura RL02

Checking a specific 1999 Acura RL

How do I know if my 1999 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 1999 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 20V026000).

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

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.