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1997 Acura Rl

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

About this comparison →
19Owner complaints

Model-year median: 12.5

2Recall campaigns

View recall details →

0Investigations

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
22
199619
199711
199824
199959
2000
Compare all Rl years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Electrical System
4Power Train
4Suspension
3Engine And Engine Cooling
2Tires
2
All reported categories
Electronic Stability Control (esc)
1Engine
1Fuel/propulsion System
1Service Brakes, Hydraulic
1Steering
1Unknown Or Other
1Vehicle Speed Control
1

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 10 of 19 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Electrical System. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Suspension. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

2 crash reports0 fire reports1 injury reports

Tires complaints

2 reports
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89,050 miles · May 24, 2006
Tires

I WAS DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE AT ABOUT 75 MPH, WHEN ONE HALF OF MY TIRE EXPANDED, CAUSING THE CAR TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY, AND ALMOST FORCING ME TO LOSE CONTROL. THE TIRE WAS TAKEN OFF, AND REPLACED WITH THE DONUT. I WILL ATTEMPT TOMORROW TO HAVE ALL 4 OF MY TIRES REPLACED, AS THEY ARE FAIRLY NEW (UNDER 10,000) AND I NO LONGER FEE…

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I WAS DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE AT ABOUT 75 MPH, WHEN ONE HALF OF MY TIRE EXPANDED, CAUSING THE CAR TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY, AND ALMOST FORCING ME TO LOSE CONTROL. THE TIRE WAS TAKEN OFF, AND REPLACED WITH THE DONUT. I WILL ATTEMPT TOMORROW TO HAVE ALL 4 OF MY TIRES REPLACED, AS THEY ARE FAIRLY NEW (UNDER 10,000) AND I NO LONGER FEEL COMFORTABLE DRIVING THE VEHICLE. THESE WERE COOPER LIFE LINER, TOURING SLE TIRES. SIZE 215 60R16 95T M+S. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10158142

Mileage unknown · Sep 11, 2002
Tires

TOYO TIRE SIZE P21560R16, NAME SPECTRUM; WHEN TRAVELING 75 MPH, CHUNKS OF TREAD FLEW OFF THE TIRE. *AK CONSUMER STATED THAT THE TIRE REMAINED INFLATED. THE DAMAGED AREA WAS DOWN TO THE WIRE CORDS. *SCC

NHTSA ODI #8018408

Official recalls

2

99V227000 · Power Train:automatic Transmission

Aug 19, 1999

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. A TRANSMISSION CASE BOLT CAN LOOSEN AND FALL OUT ALLOWING THE TRANSMISSION TO DISENGAGE FROM THE DIFFERENTIAL.

Consequence & remedy

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.

99V069000 · Suspension:front:control Arm:lower Ball Joint

May 10, 1999

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 & remedy

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.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.