Most common 1997 Acura RL problems
Share of the 19 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Acura RL complaints by model year
Best RL years: 2012, 2003, 2011. Years to avoid: 2005, 2000, 2002, 2006. Compare all years →
1997 Acura RL recalls (2)
Power train › Automatic transmission
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. A transmission case bolt can loosen and fall out allowing the transmission to disengage from the differential.
Remedy: Dealers will install a redesigned bolt.
Suspension › Front › Control arm › Lower ball joint
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. Certain vehicles were manufactured with ball joints that can prematurely wear out and, in the worse case, the ball joint would separate causing the front suspension to collapse.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the front suspension lower ball joints.
What 1997 Acura RL owners say
Transmission & drivetrain
1) while exiting a shopping mall parking into the street I heard a sudden loud noise followed by a loud grinding sound. My vehicle stopped dead in the middle of the street. When we pushed the vehicle to the curb side, and put it in park it started rolling downhill till I pulled the hand brake. 2) the failure was in the same area for which my vehicle was recalled previously. (99V227000) the spline of the shaft that connects the differential to the transmission had failed. 3) this shaft and the transmission had to be replaced. I have the parts. Note: this failure could have been life threatening due to sudden and unanticipated failure and loss of power. I was lucky that I was not on a highway or main street.
While consumer was traveling vehicle stopped. Consumer had the vehicle towed to the dealer, and mechanic determined that the passenger front ball joint stud has broken off from the lower ball joint. Mechanic informed consumer that the left and right ball joints needed to be replaced. Updated 4/12/2006 - there was no noise prior to the failure. The passenger side axle also failed. The consumer contacted Honda Canada for assistance but they refused because the vehicle is being operated in the united states in addition to the vehicle being outside the warranty parameters .
Electrical system
Switch would fail to engage after starting. I had to hold the switch between start and on in order to maintain engine running. Drove 70 miles like that until I reached home. It did it once before two years ago, but after spraying with cleaner it stopped.
Turning ignition key, frequently results in no activation of the starter. The dashboard warning lights will illuminate, but there is no starting. Have to turn the key to "off" position, and re-try..sometimes several times to get car to start. Checked battery terminals..cleaned, with no change.
Engine & cooling
Consumer states that while vehicle was stopped at an intersection, it was hit from the rear.the vehicle suddenly accelerated with driver feet on the brakes. Vehicle was stopped when it impacted a house, and the engine was still revving. Ts
Car will not crank every time. We thought it was the battery and put a new battery in and it worked fine for about a week and then started all over again. I talked with Acura of memphis and they said it could not be fixed. They said that the 97 3.5 RL does that sometime and that it has not happened to any other Acura vehicle. They said not to worry about it. It May not crank at first, but it will always crank eventually. That is one hell of a way to depend on your car. I put up with it for several months after this until one day my wife got stranded for a long time and was very upset. So after about an hour the car finally cranked and she got home. This is very unsatisfactory. I called the service manager at Acura of memphis and told him what the mechanic had told me about it not being able to be fixed and he said that was not right. He knew they could fix it. …
1997 Acura RL engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | FWD | 17 / 23 / 19 |
EPA ratings. Class: Midsize car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 1997 Acura RL a good car?
Based on 19 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 1997 RL rates average: 1.2× as many complaints as a typical year of the RL at the same age. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 1997 Acura RL?
The transmission & drivetrain — 4 complaints, 21% of all complaints for this model year, most often about automatic transmission. Next are the electrical system (4) and engine & cooling (3).
How many recalls does the 1997 Acura RL have?
There are 2 recalls for the 1997 Acura RL, the most recent from August 19, 1999 (automatic transmission). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Acura RL?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2012, 2003 and 2011. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2005, 2000, 2002 and 2006. See the full Acura RL years comparison.
At what mileage do 1997 Acura RL problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 147,000 miles; 0% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.