Acura Rl Recalls

The Acura RL has 19 recalls spanning the 1996–2012 production run, with the most serious being a Takata airbag inflator defect on 2005–2012 models where both the driver and passenger frontal airbag inflators can rupture during deployment and send metal fragments into the cabin, causing serious injury or death.

The airbag inflator issue is the dominant concern across the RL's production history and covers the widest range of model years. Both the driver and passenger side inflators on 2005–2012 vehicles are affected, with the passenger side also specifically called out for vehicles registered in high-humidity states and territories on 2009–2012 models. Earlier production from 2000–2003 is also subject to a driver-side inflator rupture risk if those vehicles received a replacement airbag module as part of a prior repair, and 1998–2000 models face the same concern under similar circumstances.

On the brake side, 2005–2007 models have a brake master cylinder seal that can be damaged by certain brake fluid formulations, causing a fluid leak that changes pedal feel and gradually reduces braking performance. The 2005 model year has an additional master cylinder concern where a seal can leak under specific conditions, compounding the braking risk. Going back to the 2000 model year, the master cylinder can develop internal corrosion that reduces braking performance and can eventually cause complete brake failure. That same year also has a brake stop switch contaminated by manufacturing oil that prevents the brake lights from illuminating when the pedal is pressed.

The 2005 and 2006 model years each have a power steering hose that can crack and leak fluid onto a hot catalytic converter, generating smoke and potentially starting an under-hood fire. On the drivetrain side, a transmission case bolt on 1999 models can loosen and fall out, allowing the transmission to disengage from the differential and cutting power to the drive wheels without warning. The 1996 model year has a similar issue where the same type of bolt can back out and disconnect the drivetrain between the transmission and differential.