Avg. Price Paid:$19,458 - $19,727
Original MSRP: $46,280 - $53,700
MPG: 16 City / 24 Hwy
Search Used Listings:

2008 Acura RL Recalls & Reliability

These scores and this review are from when the car was new.

Scorecard

Overall: 2008 Acura RL U.S. News Best Cars 8.9
Critics' Rating: 8.8
Performance: 8.3
Interior: 8.5
Safety: 9.4
Reliability:
How we calculate scores
Research analyzed for this review

Pros & Cons

  • Loaded with hi-tech standard features
  • Outstanding safety scores
  • Excellent predicted reliability
  • Impressive All Wheel Drive (AWD) comes standard
  • Lacking in interior and cargo space, for its class
  • Some may be disappointed to find no V8 engine option
  • Many find the nondescript exterior styling underwhelming

Research Other Years

Review Last Updated: 7/10/08

Recalls

There has been 1 safety recall issued from NHTSA.

STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:HOSE, PIPING, AND CONNECTIONSRecall Date: 11/28/2007
  • Consequence: POWER STEERING FLUID LEAKING ONTO A HOT CATALYTIC CONVERTER WILL GENERATE SMOKE AND POSSIBLY LEAD TO AN UNDER-HOOD FIRE.
  • NHTSA Campaign ID: 07V551000
  • Potential Number of Units Affected: 43200
  • Summary: ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, PROLONGED HIGH UNDER-HOOD TEMPERATURES MAY CAUSE THE POWER STEERING HOSE TO DETERIORATE PREMATURELY CAUSING THE HOSE TO CRACK AND LEAK POWER STEERING FLUID.
  • Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW HEAT RESISTANT POWER STEERING HOSE FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN ON OR ABOUT DECEMBER 17, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT HONDA AT 800-382-2238.
  • Notes: HONDA RECALL NO. Q65. CUSTOMERS MAY ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), OR GO TO HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV.

Reliability

Our reliability score is based on the J.D. Power and Associates Vehicle Dependability Study (VDS) rating or, if unavailable, the J.D. Power Predicted Reliability rating.

Dependability Ratings1 2008
Overall Dependability
Powertrain Dependability
Feature & Accessory Dependability
Body & Interior Dependability

1These scores come from consumer ratings of their vehicles after three years of ownership.

  • Key:
  • Among The Best
  • Better Than Most
  • About Average
  • The Rest

J.D. Power and Associates Power Circle Ratings do not include all information used to determine J.D. Power and Associates awards. See JDPower.com for more information on Power Circle Ratings. Your experience may vary.

All information provided by J.D. Power and Associates is proprietary information owned by J.D. Power and Associates and is protected by U.S. and international copyright law and conventions. Reproduction of this information, in whole or in part, by any means is prohibited without the express written consent of J.D. Power and Associates, other than printing copies of the J.D. Power and Associates content by site visitors for their personal use. J.D. Power and Associates® is a registered trademark of J.D. Power and Associates.

Warranty

The 2008 RL carries Acura's substantial four-year/50,000 mile basic warranty and six-year year/70,000 mile powertrain warranty.

According to Newsday, Acura "bears a name whose reputation is excellent for quality and customer satisfaction." The San Antonio Post-Express states that "the RL makes a nice package with the kind of quality and reliability that one can expect from a Honda product." IntelliChoice named the 2008 Acura RL a Best in Class Winner for SmartChoice Repair Costs.

Next Steps: Acura RL

  • To get local pricing, enter your zip code: Get Best Price Cancel
  • Search used Acura RL for sale (345 listings)
  • Find low financing rates for the Acura RL
  • View Acura RL Photos
  • See Luxury Large Cars rankings