Acura RL: Years to Avoid and Best Years to Buy
Acura RL: 2 model years scored from 4 NHTSA owner complaints and 12 recall campaigns. Worst year 2011, best year 2012.
Year-by-year data table
Best year in our data: 2012 (score 76). Worst: 2011 (score 74, BUY).
Running cost is fuel or energy plus the maintenance band midpoint for that car at its age today, re-priced to your country. Purchase price, insurance and depreciation are not included.
Photographs and every generation of the RL, through the years →
What goes wrong on the Acura RL
Across every RL model year in our index, owners report these component groups most often. The cost beside each one is the representative repair for that group at a US independent shop, re-priced to your country.
- Vehicle Speed Control1 complaints across all RL years · typical job: Throttle body, pedal sensor or cruise module replacement$520–$1,150
- Exterior Lighting1 complaints across all RL years · typical job: Headlamp assembly or lighting-module replacement$360–$1,380
- Engine1 complaints across all RL years · typical job: Cooling-system or timing-drive repair$1,040–$2,220
- Air Bags1 complaints across all RL years · typical job: Airbag module, clockspring or sensor replacement$600–$1,700
Flat-rate labour hours x local shop rate plus a parts band. An estimate of what this class of failure costs, not a quote. Formula.
FAQ
What is the best year for the Acura RL?
On our data the 2012 Acura RL scores 76/100 — the highest of the 2 model years we hold, with 1 NHTSA complaints and 6 recall campaigns on record.
Which Acura RL years should I avoid?
The 2011 is the weakest year we score, at 74/100 (BUY), on 3 complaints and 6 recalls. Check the year-by-year table above before committing to any particular car.
What is the most common Acura RL problem?
1 of the complaints filed against the RL across all its model years sit in the Vehicle Speed Control group — more than any other component.
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Sources: NHTSA, EPA · Methodology · Updated 2026-10-04