Enter an Acura RL VIN for a free NHTSA vPIC decode: build details, the generation it belongs to and the NHTSA recalls for its model year. Owner reports follow below.
Free decode plus the NHTSA recalls for its model year. 17 characters, no I, O or Q.
Acura sold the RL in the US for model years 1996–2012, across two generations. The KA9 came first (1996–2004), and the KB1/KB2 took over for 2005–2012. Across those years NHTSA lists 20 vehicle recall campaigns and 421 owner complaints. Complaints pile up on the KB1/KB2. Its 2005 and 2006 model years alone account for 157 of them, with owners bringing up air bags most often and exterior lighting after that. EPA rates the KA9 at 18–19 mpg combined, while the KB1/KB2 gets 18–20 mpg. A free VIN decode gives you NHTSA vPIC’s record for the car (model year, engine, plant) and the NHTSA recalls for its model year. It won’t show theft, flood or lemon-law history.
Two generations since the 1996 model year. The KB1/KB2 (2005–2012) has both the most owner complaints and the most recall campaigns (14).
Photo: IFCAR, Public domain, via Wikimedia CommonsPhoto: IFCAR, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Mentions in 210 NHTSA complaints.
JH4KA965?YC······NHTSA vPIC decodes it as a 2000 Acura RL 3.5, built in Sayama, SaitamaMentions in 211 NHTSA complaints.
JH4KB165?5C······NHTSA vPIC decodes it as a 2005 Acura RL, built in Sayama, SaitamaNHTSA has 20 campaigns on file for RL model years 1996–2012, and the 2005 shows up in more of them than any other year (11), ahead of the 2006 (8). Move the line to your model year to see which apply.
Source: NHTSA recall database, vehicle campaigns only; row text is NHTSA’s summary. A listed year does not mean every car is covered, so check the VIN.
Transport Canada recalls for these model years were checked against this list; each one matches an NHTSA campaign shown here. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada · Transport Canada.
Between them, the 2005 and 2000 hold 184 of the 421 complaints, or 44%. Tap any bar or generation.
Mentions in 211 complaints, 2005–2012.
The 2005 is the outlier. On its own it has 125 of the KB1/KB2’s 211 complaints (59%), more than any other RL model year, and owners across the generation name air bags most often (71 mentions), then exterior lighting (59).
Mentions in 210 complaints, 1996–2004.
Air bags owns this generation. Its 70 mentions are well ahead of the next area, powertrain (36). Complaints peak with the 2000 (59 of 210).
Counts: NHTSA complaints file, records to October 1, 2026, one count per complaint; areas are NHTSA component groups.
Every RL version is counted together. Tap a year to see its top systems.
Crashes 2 · fires 2 · injuries 0
Crashes 2 · fires 0 · injuries 1
Crashes 0 · fires 0 · injuries 0
Crashes 0 · fires 1 · injuries 2
Crashes 5 · fires 0 · injuries 1
Crashes 0 · fires 1 · injuries 0
Crashes 1 · fires 0 · injuries 0
Crashes 0 · fires 0 · injuries 0
Crashes 1 · fires 0 · injuries 2
Crashes 4 · fires 1 · injuries 2
Crashes 3 · fires 1 · injuries 2
Crashes 1 · fires 1 · injuries 1
Crashes 1 · fires 0 · injuries 0
Crashes 1 · fires 1 · injuries 1
Crashes 1 · fires 0 · injuries 0
Crashes 0 · fires 0 · injuries 0
Crashes 0 · fires 0 · injuries 0
Systems as NHTSA names them; a complaint can list several. Source: NHTSA complaints data, records to October 1, 2026.
EPA lists 17 RL versions for model years 1996–2012. The lowest tailpipe CO₂ is 444 g/mi (2012). Pick a model year and powertrain to see each version.
18–19 mpg · CO₂ 468–494 g/mi
18–20 mpg · CO₂ 444–494 g/mi
Annual fuel cost is EPA’s estimate at its current fuel-price assumptions (15,000 miles a year, 55% city driving), so older years are priced at today’s fuel prices. Smog rating and emission standard can differ by sales area (federal vs. California); both are shown. Greenhouse-gas ratings start with the 2013 model year. Source: fueleconomy.gov.
Take 1996–2004. NHTSA lists 6 recall campaigns for the RL, against 11 for the Mercedes-Benz E-Class and 20 for the BMW 5 Series. Pick a range to compare.
Model years 1996–2004
Model years 1996–2004
Model years 1996–2004
Model years 2005–2012
Model years 2005–2012
Model years 2005–2012
NHTSA recalls (vehicle campaigns for all powertrain versions; equipment and tire campaigns left out), complaints (not sales-adjusted) and 5-Star overall ratings for the latest year rated for all three; EPA mpg, engines and drive. Rivals: same EPA class, picked by VinNumber.net.
Tap a spot. Every location should show the same 17 characters.
Photo: Hans Haase, CC BY-SA 3.0, cropped
Illustration: VinNumber.net
Photo: IFCAR, Public domain; edited and VIN pins added by VinNumber.net
The RL was discontinued after 2012, placing all remaining examples well past the 12-year mark. The VIN sits on a plate at the base of the driver's side windshield, with door jamb sticker and trunk lid label as secondary locations. Engine bay stamp near the firewall is also present. The KB1/KB2 generation starts with the 2005 model year; the VIN’s 10th character (5 for 2005) shows which side of that line a car falls on.
The 2005 leads with 125, ahead of the 2000 (59) and 2002 (43). Those first two alone make up 44% of the 421 RL complaints filed with NHTSA, not adjusted for sales.
NHTSA’s recall records show 20 vehicle campaigns for model years 1996–2012, leaving out equipment and tire campaigns. By generation, KB1/KB2 leads with 14. Then come the KA9 (6), and a campaign can span two generations.
20V-026, 20V-027, 16V-061, 16V-344 and 17V-029 cover air bag inflators that can rupture. 19V-500, 19V-501, 18V-041 and 18V-662 cover air bag inflator modules and how they deploy. NHTSA’s record names a fire risk in 07V-551. Each should show as closed on a VIN check.
By US model year, the KA9 is 1996–2004 and the KB1/KB2 2005–2012. Read the year off the VIN’s 10th character (5 is 2005).
It varies. EPA rates the 2005–2012 KB1/KB2 at 18–20 mpg combined, depending on engine and drive, up from 18–19 mpg for the 1996–2004 KA9 (fueleconomy.gov).
For 2005–2012 models the RL has 14 NHTSA recall campaigns. The Mercedes-Benz E-Class has 19, the BMW 5 Series 26. Complaints run 211, 2,576 and 2,331 in that order, with no sales adjustment.