2008 Acura RL Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls
Caution The 2008 Acura RL has 13 NHTSA complaints and 6 recalls, mostly Takata airbag inflator campaigns. Its complaint index of 50 ranks it 5th worst out of 9 model years, earning a Caution verdict.
Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology
YearToAvoid Scorecard
- Complaint Index
- 50/100
- #5 of 9 RL years
- Verdict
- Caution
- vs. other years of this model
- Complaints
- 13
- unique NHTSA reports
- Recalls
- 6
- distinct NHTSA campaigns
- Crashes
- 1
- reported in complaints
- Fires
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- Top issue
- Airbags
- NHTSA overall rating
- Not rated
- EPA combined MPG
- 19
- 16 city / 24 hwy
- Injuries / deaths
- 0 / 0
Top 2008 Acura RL problems
Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Airbags8 (62%)
- Brakes1 (8%)
- Electrical System1 (8%)
- Fuel System1 (8%)
- Other1 (8%)
- Structure & Body1 (8%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires1 (8%)
A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.
What owners report
- A tire reportedly detached from the wheel after hitting a pothole at around 35 mph.
- Owners describe gas fumes entering the passenger cabin on hot days, strong enough to cause illness.
- Several door locks stopped working electronically and had to be operated manually.
- Owners report long delays getting Takata airbag inflators replaced due to unavailable parts.
- One owner described progressive brake failure that continued even after a dealer replaced parts.
2008 Acura RL recalls
6 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.
- NHTSA 19V500000Jun 27, 2019Airbags1,558 vehicles
Air bags:frontal:driver side:inflator module
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2013 Acura ILX, 2015 RDX, 2005-2010 and 2012 RL, 2009-2014 TL, 2010 and 2012 ZDX, 2007-2011 CR-V, 2011-2013 and 2015 CR-Z, 2009-2013 Fit, 2013 Fit EV, 2010-2011 and 2013 Insight and 2007-2014 Ridgeline vehicles. These vehicles are equipped with driver frontal air bag inflators assembled as a recall remedy part or replacement service part, that may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began August 12, 2019. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are S5B and W59.
- NHTSA 19V501000Jun 27, 2019Airbags1,657,752 vehicles
Air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator module
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2003-2006 Acura MDX, 2005-2012 RL, 2003-2007 Honda Accord, 2001-2005 Civic, 2003-2005 Civic Hybrid, 2001-2005 Civic GX NGV, 2002-2006 CR-V, 2003-2011 Element, 2007-2008 Fit, 2002-2004 Odyssey, 2003-2008 Pilot, and 2006-2014 Ridgeline vehicles. The vehicles are equipped with passenger frontal air bag inflators assembled as a recall remedy part or replacement service part, that may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal airbag inflator, free of charge. The recall began August 12, 2019. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are E5D and X5C.
- NHTSA 17V029000Jan 10, 2017Airbags308,884 vehicles
Air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator module
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2005-2006 Acura MDX and Honda CR-V vehicles, 2005-2011 Honda Element vehicles, 2005-2012 Acura RL vehicles, 2006-2012 Honda Ridgeline vehicles, 2007-2008 Honda Fit vehicles and 2005-2008 Honda Pilot vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands, or "Zone A." Additionally, if not included in "Zone A" above, Honda is recalling certain 2005-2006 Acura MDX and Honda CR-V vehicles, 2005-2009 Acura RL and Honda Element vehicles, 2007-2008 Honda Fit vehicles, 2005-2008 Honda Pilot vehicles and 2006-2009 Honda Ridgeline vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia, or "Zone B." Additionally, if not included in "Zone A" or "Zone B" above, Honda is recalling certain 2005-2006 Acura MDX and Honda CR-V vehicles, 2005-2008 Acura RL, Honda Element and Honda Pilot vehicles, 2007-2008 Honda Fit vehicles and 2006-2008 Honda Ridgeline vehicles originally sold, or ever registered in Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the front air bags, these inflators may rupture due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.
Risk: An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall bagan March 2017. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are KD9 and KE0.
2008 Acura RL fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 16 MPG
- Highway
- 24 MPG
- Combined
- 19 MPG
- Annual fuel cost (EPA)
- $4,200
- 15,000 mi/yr
- Fuel
- Premium
- Current regular gas
- $4.32/gal
- national avg.
EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.
2008 compared with other RL years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2008 Acura RL reliable?
- NHTSA lists 13 complaints and 6 recalls for the 2008 RL, giving it a complaint index of 50 and a Caution verdict. It ranks 5th worst among the 9 model years with data.
- What is the top problem area for the 2008 Acura RL?
- Airbags account for 62% of complaints, driven largely by Takata inflator recalls.
- Does the 2008 Acura RL have an airbag recall?
- Yes. NHTSA lists multiple airbag recalls covering the 2008 RL, including campaigns 19V500000, 19V501000, 17V029000, 16V344000, and 16V061000, all involving Takata inflator replacement.
- How does the 2008 Acura RL compare to other RL years?
- With a complaint index of 50, the 2008 RL is less problematic than the 2005 (100, Avoid) and 2006 (88, Avoid) model years but worse than the 2010 RL, which earns a Good verdict with an index of 38.
- What is the median mileage at failure for the 2008 Acura RL?
- Across recorded complaints, the median mileage at failure was 18,177 miles.