RecallRadar

HomeAcuraRl → 1999

1999 Acura Rl Recalls & Complaints

2

open safety recalls on record

Serious

26 owner complaints filed · Severity Index 0.42 · updated 2026-08-07

The recalls

Serious20V026000

Air Bags:Frontal:Driver Side:Inflator Module

In the event of a crash necessitating air bag deployment, an inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants.

Remedy & full details

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. Owners may contact American Honda's Customer Support & Campaign Center at 1-888-234-2138 or Isuzu customer service at 1-800-255-6727.

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 Isuzu Oasis vehicles. These vehicles were equipped with Non-Azide Driver air bag Inflators (NADI) and do not contain phase stabilized ammonium nitrate (PSAN) propellant. Due to a manufacturing issue, the NADI inflators may absorb moisture, causing the inflators to rupture or the air bag cushion to underinflate.

Moderate99V227000

Power Train:Automatic Transmission

THE VEHICLE COULD LOSE POWER TO THE DRIVE WHEELS WITHOUT WARNING.

Remedy & full details

DEALERS WILL INSTALL A REDESIGNED BOLT.

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. A TRANSMISSION CASE BOLT CAN LOOSEN AND FALL OUT ALLOWING THE TRANSMISSION TO DISENGAGE FROM THE DIFFERENTIAL.

Complaint volume

26 this model-year 5 median, same year

Volume alone is not a fault rate — popular vehicles attract more reports. Read it next to the severity mix below.

Complaints filed26
Reporting a crash0
Reporting a fire1
Injuries reported2
Deaths reported0
Severity Index0.42

Severity Index weights each complaint's reported outcome (death ×10, injury ×4, fire ×3, crash ×2) and divides by total complaints. It measures how severe reports are, not how often faults occur.

What owners report most

  1. Air Bags — 6 reports
  2. Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly — 2 reports
  3. Electrical System — 2 reports
  4. Power Train — 2 reports
  5. Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip — 1 reports
  6. Unknown Or Other — 1 reports
  7. Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly — 1 reports
  8. Suspension:Front:Control Arm:Upper Arm — 1 reports
  9. Visibility:Power Window Devices And Controls — 1 reports
  10. Air Bags:Side/Window — 1 reports

What to do

  1. Find your 17-character VIN on the driver's door jamb or the base of the windscreen.
  2. Check it against NHTSA's official lookup at nhtsa.gov/recalls — the authoritative record for your exact car.
  3. Book the repair with any franchised dealer. Safety recall work is free, with no time limit and regardless of who owns the car now.

Other model years

1996 · 1997 · 1998 · 1999 · 2000 · 2001 · 2002 · 2003 · 2004 · 2005 · 2006 · 2007 · 2008 · 2009 · 2010 · 2011 · 2012 · 2015

Questions

Does an open recall mean the car is unsafe to drive?

Not usually. NHTSA issues a "do not drive" or "park outside" advisory when a defect is dangerous enough to keep you out of the car — those are flagged Critical above. Everything else should be repaired promptly but is not an immediate stop-driving order.

Do I pay for recall repairs?

No. Federal law requires the manufacturer to fix a safety recall free of charge, including parts and labour, whether or not you are the original owner.

Why are there complaints but no recalls?

Complaints are unverified reports filed by owners. They can prompt an investigation, but many never become recalls — either the fault isn't safety-related or it isn't widespread.