Short answer
Among Acura RL model years through 2024, 2004 has the fewest NHTSA recall campaigns on record (0) and 2005 has the most (11). Recall counts are not a reliability score; they show how often a safety defect had to be corrected.
Quick read
Acura RL: Key Facts
- Model years with data
- 13 (2000–2012)
- Distinct recall campaigns
- 18
- Fewest recalls
- 2004 (0)
- Most recalls
- 2005 (11)
- Most recalled system
- Air bags (52)
Acura RL Recalls and Ratings by Model Year
| Model year | Recall campaigns | Overall crash rating | Most recalled systems |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | 6 | Not rated | Air bags |
| 2011 | 6 | Not rated | Air bags |
| 2010 | 7 | Not rated | Air bags |
| 2009 | 6 | Not rated | Air bags |
| 2008 | 6 | Not rated | Air bags, Steering |
| 2007 | 7 | Not rated | Air bags, Service brakes, hydraulic, Steering |
| 2006 | 8 | Not rated | Air bags, Equipment, Service brakes, hydraulic |
| 2005 | 11 | Not rated | Air bags, Fuel system, gasoline, Service brakes, hydraulic |
| 2004 | 0 | Not rated | None on record |
| 2003 | 1 | Not rated | Air bags |
| 2002 | 2 | Not rated | Air bags, Exterior lighting |
| 2001 | 2 | Not rated | Air bags, Exterior lighting |
| 2000 | 4 | Not rated | Air bags, Exterior lighting, Service brakes, hydraulic |
No model years match your search.
The scale of the difference
Recall Campaigns by Model Year
Distinct NHTSA recall campaigns per model year. Years after 2024 are recent and still collecting recalls.
- 20126 recalls
- 20116 recalls
- 20107 recalls
- 20096 recalls
- 20086 recalls
- 20077 recalls
- 20068 recalls
- 200511 recalls
- 20040 recalls
- 20031 recall
- 20022 recalls
- 20012 recalls
- 20004 recalls
Acura RL: Analysis
How to read recall counts
A recall campaign is a safety defect that the manufacturer or NHTSA required to be fixed. Counts depend on how long a model year has been on the road, so recent years look better than they will in time; this page therefore ranks only model years through 2024. A high count can also mean a manufacturer reacts quickly to small defects, so it says little about breakdowns or running costs.
What the recalls were about
Across all model years, the systems named most often in Acura RL recalls are air bags (52), service brakes, hydraulic (4), steering (4), exterior lighting (3) and equipment (1). The number in brackets counts model-year entries, so one campaign that covers several years is counted in each.
FAQ: Acura RL Best and Worst Years
What are the best years for the Acura RL?
By NHTSA recall campaigns, 2004 are the cleanest model years through 2024, with 0 each.
Which Acura RL model years have the most recalls?
2005 has the most, with 11 recall campaigns each.
Does a recall mean the car is unreliable?
No. A recall is a safety correction filed with NHTSA, usually repaired free of charge. It does not measure breakdowns or running costs, so use these counts together with a vehicle history report and an inspection.
Sources & methodology
Recalls and crash ratings come from the NHTSA datasets and APIs, retrieved on 2026-10-03. A record counts for this model when its make matches and its model name starts with the same words as "RL", so variants such as body styles are included. Only model years from 2000 are used, and each recall campaign is counted once per model year. The data does not say whether an individual car was repaired, so check a specific car by VIN.
NHTSA, US Department of Transportation; this page is not endorsed by NHTSA. Maintained by Artsiom Dusau. Editorial policy