Most common 1999 Acura RL problems
Share of the 24 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 →
1999 Acura RL recalls (2)
Air bags › Frontal › Driver side › Inflator module
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 1998 Acura 2.2CL, 1998-1999 Acura 2.3CL, 1998-1999 Acura 3.0CL, 2001 Acura 3.2CL and Acura MDX, 1998-2000 Honda Accord Coupe, Accord Sedan, Civic Sedan, Odyssey and Acura 3.5RL, 1999-2000 Acura 3.2TL, 1996-2000 Civic Coupe, 1997-2000 CR-V, 1997-1998 EV Plus, and 1998-1999…
Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the driver frontal air bag inflator, and replace it if necessary, with an inflator of a different design, free of charge. The recall began October 1, 2020.
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.
What 1999 Acura RL owners say
Air bags
SRS light illumimated. Took to Acura dealer, stated opds sensor and/or opds unit failure. $1200-$1600 to replace 1 or 2 units. Airbags will not deploy in event of impact. This is totally a safety issue and should be covered by the manufacturer.
Honda / Acura is refusing to honor the below extended warranty (s/b 06-008) on my vehicle (which is within stated mileage limits but outside the arbitrary time limits) which has been demonstrating the indicated problem with the opds for about one year. Their file number is b012015-05-2601760.their stated solution is for me to pay for repairs! They (melisa) states I need to pay for diagnosis at an Acura dealer with absolutely no assurance of a reimbursement or a factory paid repair. As they have acknowledged the fault in the service bulletin and there are numerous reports of this fault published on line it should be up to the manufacturer to make repairs. It appears to me they covered up what should be an official recall with the expired extended warranty. …
Windows, wipers & sunroof
The rear view mirror in my wife's 1999 Acura RL has a liquid substance sloshing around inside. My wife was complaining of a headache that day when she came in, and, not knowing the contents of the mirror, I removed it for fear that it would leak. The dealership quotes $300+ to replace, which I feel is unreasonable for the type of part we're talking about. I located other consumers who had the same problem, except that they left their mirror in place and it either leaked or exploded. Apparently the liquid inside the mirror is corrosive because in every case the interior of the car was ruined wherever the substance came in contact with it. I then contacted the manufacturer of the mirror but they have so far ignored my calls and emails.
Tl* the contact owns a 1999 Acura RL. The contact stated that while driving 45 MPH, a gritty liquid began to secrete from the rear view mirror. The liquid splattered on the instrument panel, steering wheel and the front seats and began to disintegrate the leather where it was not wiped away. The liquid also caused irritation to the contact's skin. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The vehicle had not been repaired. The failure and current mileage was 144,000.
Seat belts
Dt*: the contact stated upon placing the key in the ignition, the airbag warning light illuminated and remained on. The contact referred to the owner's manual which indicated if the airbag warning light was illuminated, it was inoperative. The vehicle was inspected by a dealer, who determined the supplemental front airbags failed, and the buckle assembly for the right front passenger seat belt needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was alerted.
Accura issued a warranty extension to correct problem if the SRS (supplemental restraint system indicator) light stays on. When car brought in for what was described as a free of charge repair I was told only 2 of the 3 broken system components was covered and that the repair would cost $1,150.
1999 Acura RL engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | FWD | 16 / 22 / 18 |
EPA ratings. Class: Midsize car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 1999 Acura RL a good car?
Based on 24 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 1999 RL rates average: 1.4× 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 1999 Acura RL?
The air bags — 9 complaints, 38% of all complaints for this model year, most often about side/window. Next are the windows, wipers & sunroof (4) and seat belts (3).
How many recalls does the 1999 Acura RL have?
There are 2 recalls for the 1999 Acura RL, the most recent from January 17, 2020 (inflator module). 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 1999 Acura RL problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 93,000 miles; 13% 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.