Acura RL: which model years draw the most owner complaints?
346 complaints filed with NHTSA about the Acura RL, model years 2000 to 2015. No model year stands out for the engine or transmission against the others. Quietest mature years by complaint count: 2007, 2006. Counts of unverified owner reports, compared only with other years of the same model; not failure rates.
Complaints by model year
| MODEL YEAR | COMPLAINTS | VS OTHER YEARS | STANDS OUT | RECALLS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 RLFEW REPORTS | 59 | — | 4 | |
| 2001 RLFEW REPORTS | 11 | — | 2 | |
| 2002 RLFEW REPORTS | 43 | — | 2 | |
| 2003 RLFEW REPORTS | 9 | — | 1 | |
| 2004 RLFEW REPORTS | 11 | — | 0 | |
| 2005 RLFEW REPORTS | 125 | — | 11 | |
| 2006 RLFEW REPORTS | 32 | quiet: 2 of 5 | 8 | |
| 2007 RLFEW REPORTS | 20 | quiet: 1 of 5 | 7 | |
| 2008 RLFEW REPORTS | 13 | — | 6 | |
| 2009 RLFEW REPORTS | 8 | — | 6 | |
| 2010 RLFEW REPORTS | 9 | — | 7 | |
| 2011 RLFEW REPORTS | 3 | — | 6 | |
| 2012 RLFEW REPORTS | 1 | — | 6 | |
| 2015 RLFEW REPORTS | 2 | — | 0 |
"Stands out" = 40 or more complaints naming that system and at least twice the model's quiet (lower-quartile) year, or twice the share seen across every vehicle of that model year. Newer years have had less time on the road. "Quiet" ranks only years with 7+ years on the road and 20+ complaints. NHTSA data through November 2026.
Check your RL at your mileage
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Other Acura models
Acura CL · Acura ILX · Acura Integra · Acura MDX · Acura RDX · Acura RSX · Acura TL · Acura TLX · Acura TSX. All makes and models.
Source: NHTSA public complaints, recalls, service bulletin and investigation databases, data received through November 2026. Complaints are unverified reports from owners, not failure rates: sales volumes are unknown, so a model year is only compared with other years of the same model. Not a diagnosis and not financial advice. PulsCar is not affiliated with NHTSA. Year pages: