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ProblemsByVinFile / 2012-ACURA-RLNHTSA data synced 22 hours ago
Acura
2012 Acura RL problems
The 2012 Acura RL has 6 critical safety recalls on file — the kind NHTSA opens when crashes, fires, or injuries are documented. 1 owner complaint alongside. Read those first.
The 2012 Acura RL has 1 NHTSA owner complaint and 6 recalls on file (U.S. federal records, as of September 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.
Limited NHTSA data — only 1 complaint on file. The score reflects what's reported, but a small sample skews easily. 6 active recalls on file.
6
Critical
0
Severe
0
Moderate
Should you avoid this 2012 RL?
Not enough data for a verdict
Only 1 NHTSA complaint on file — too few for a confident call. The 6 active recalls above remain authoritative; read those first.
Our read of the federal NHTSA complaint and recall record for this exact year and model —
not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection. How we score.
NHTSA crash-test safety ratings
Rollover★★★★★5/5
Driver-assist features on the tested model:
Electronic stability control: Standard · Forward collision warning: No · Lane departure warning: No
Source: NHTSA New Car Assessment Program — tested configuration: 2012 Acura RL 4 DR 4WD. Stars rate crash protection in NHTSA's tests, not overall reliability — see the owner-complaint data below for what actually goes wrong.
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An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: 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.
An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: 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.
An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began November 6, 2018. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are H2H and S2I.
Limited NHTSA data. Only 1 owner complaint has been filed for the 2012 Acura RL, which is not enough for a meaningful reliability score. Active recalls (if any) are listed on this page and remain authoritative — those are verified defects regardless of complaint volume. For a confident reliability read we look for at least 10 owner complaints in the federal database.
Should you avoid the 2012 Acura RL?
Only 1 NHTSA complaint on file — too few for a confident call. The 6 active recalls above remain authoritative; read those first. We don't issue a buy/avoid verdict on the 2012 Acura RL without a meaningful complaint sample — doing so off a handful of filings would be guesswork.
What should I check before buying a used 2012 Acura RL?
There isn't enough NHTSA complaint data on the 2012 Acura RL to flag a standout failure pattern. Run the VIN for open recalls — those are free to fix regardless of warranty — get a standard pre-purchase inspection, and ask the seller for service records.
Is the 2012 Acura RL a good used car to buy?
Hard to say from federal data alone — only 1 owner complaint has been filed. Lean on the recall list above, a pre-purchase inspection, and a vehicle-history report on the specific VIN. Our data tells you what the model is known for; a history report tells you what that exact car has been through.
What's the most common problem on the 2012 Acura RL?
No problem area has crossed our reporting threshold yet, which is a good sign for this vehicle.
What's the most expensive thing that goes wrong?
Major repair items haven't been flagged often enough on this vehicle to single one out.
How do I check if my Acura RL has open recalls?
Paste your VIN into the decoder at the top of this page. We pull live from NHTSA, so you'll see exactly which campaigns apply to your vehicle and whether the dealer has logged the fix. Recall repairs are always free regardless of mileage or warranty status.
Is an extended warranty worth it on a 2012 Acura RL?
Hard to say from NHTSA data alone with only 1 complaint on file. A quality service contract runs $1,800–3,500 over 3 years. The decision comes down to your specific situation: vehicle cost, miles on it, how long you plan to keep it, and whether you can absorb a $3K–$8K repair without straining cashflow. With limited public data on this vehicle, lean on the recall list above and check owner forums before committing.
Recall and complaint data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database, last synced 22 hours ago. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2012/Acura/RL.
Editorial commentary written by ProblemsByVin contributors and reviewed by ASE-certified mechanics.
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