What's Wrong with the 1st Generation (1996–2004) RL?

RL owners have made 16 complaints about the 1996–2004 model years. Using our PainRank™ system we've ranked it 12th out of 30 Acura generations in overall reliability, with some electrical and engine concerns.

Compare With Other RL Generations

What Owners Complain About

Sometimes it helps just to tally up the complaints and see where the biggest stacks are. Use this information to learn about troublespots or to run for the hills.

Worst Issues

What Breaks the Most

Years to Avoid

1st Generation (1996–2004) RL Key Numbers

  1. 9 model years

    Grouping all models by their year can reveal some baddies.

  2. 16 complaints

    Running tally of owner grievances filed to CarComplaints.com.

  3. 12th in reliability

    Overall reliability rank out of 30 eligible generations.

Recent Lawsuits for 1st Generation RL Owners

  • Dismissed

    Grodzitsky v. American Honda Motor Company

    1. Dismissed

      A Honda window regulator lawsuit won't move forward as a class action after an appeals court shot down that idea in a 2-1 ruling.

    2. Case Filed

      The plaintiff filed the lawsuit alleging defective Honda/Acura window regulators caused the windows to fall into the door frames.

    Class Vehicles
    • 2000-2011 MDX
    • 2000-2011 TSX
    • 2000-2011 RL
    • 2000-2011 Acura CL
    Location
    California

Recent 1st Generation (1996–2004) RL News

There's a lot of news out there, but not all of it matters. We try to boil down it to the most important bits about things that actually help you with your car problem. Interested in getting these stories in an email? Signup for free email alerts over at CarComplaints.com.

  1. Any hope of a proposed class-action lawsuit for faulty window regulators in certain Acure vehicles has fizzled after the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals shot down the proposal in a 2-to-1 ruling.

    The plaintiff argued that Honda, parent company of Acura, installed window regulators that are insufficiently strong and insufficiently durable to withstand the forces required to perform [their] intended function. Functions like making sure the dang window doesn't fall into the door, for example.

    The lawsuit originally included the 2000-2011 Acura MDX, Acura TSX, Acura RL and Acura CL but those vehicles were dropped in a last-ditch effort to save the suit.

    It didn't work.

    keep reading article "Window Regulator Class-Action Lawsuit Stopped in Appeals Court"