RoadVitals

1998 Acura Cl Electrical Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the electrical system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Electrical reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
18
Latest Sep 9, 2018
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
33%
of 55 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
0
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1998 Acura Cl submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 18 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming electrical

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

Electrical
Filed Sep 9, 2018

THE SWITCH IS CAUSING MY CAR TO DIE WHILE IM DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD OR WHEN IM STOPPED AND WHEN I START TO PULL OUT ON TO THE MAIN ROAD IT HAS EVEN STAYED RUNNING WHEN I CUT THE CAR OFF AND TAKE THE KEY OUT I WOULD HAVE TO POP MY CLUTCH TO KILL IT AND THEN MY DASH LIGHTS WOULDNT GO OFF OR COME BACK ON AND I WOULDNT KNOW IT TIL I GOT BACK IN MY CAR TO LEAVE AGAIN AND THEN THE BATTERY WOULD BE DEAD, IVE HAD TO HOLD MY KEY ON WHILE DRIVING AND CHANGING GEARS AND NOW ITS CAUSING MY STARTER TO SOUND LIKE SOMETHIN AWFUL ITS GOING TO GET ME KILLED SONETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE ASAP BOUT IT. UNS CAN IGNORE THIS COMPLAINT ALL UNS WANT BUT FAIR WARNING IF I GET KILLED IN IT THERE WILL BE ONE BIG LAW SUIT ON YALLS ASS. TY HAVE A BLEESED DAY I COULD BE TURNING OR ANYTHING IT DOES IT, IT DOES NOT HOLD BACK WHEN IT GETS READY TO CUT OFF IT WILL, THERE IS NO SIGNS WHEN ITS GOING TO HAPPEN. IT HAPPENS EVERYDAY EVERYTIME I DRIVE IT IT CUTS OFF @ LEAST 40 TIMES OR MORE A DAY.

NHTSA ID
11128371
Incident
Feb 1, 2018
Electrical
Filed Feb 27, 2018

THE VEHICLE DIED WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. I SEE WHERE THERE WAS A RECALL FOR IGNITION SWITCH BUT I AM TOLD BY THE DEALER THERE IS NO ACTIVE RECALL. THE CAR BELONGS TO MY MOTHER. THE DEALER DID NOT CHANGE THE PART IN 2012 BECAUSE THE DEALER COULD NOT REPLICATE THE COMPLAINT.

NHTSA ID
11075216
Incident
Feb 17, 2018
Mileage
95,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Jan 28, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 ACURA CL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED, WHILE DRIVING. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE COULD BE RESTARTED HOWEVER, IT TOOK NUMEROUS ATTEMPTS. THE CONTACT STATED ONCE THE VEHICLE STALLED, THE IMMOBILIZER WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE ELECTRICAL WIRING HARNESS FOR THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. PRIOR TO THE FAILURE, THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN REPAIRED FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 02V120000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE FAILURE OCCURRED DAILY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 225,000.

NHTSA ID
10822771
Incident
Dec 28, 2015
Mileage
225,000 mi
Body & structureElectricalVisibility
Filed Aug 9, 2015

IT IS MY DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW THE WINDOW PART IN DOOR THAT CAUSE WINDOW TO GO UP AND DOWN BREAKS AT ANY GIVEN TIME IT JUST HAPPENED AGAIN I LOOKED IN ACURA FORUM WHERE IT'S EVERYONE IS HAVING PROBLEMS SAME THING AND THE COMPANY NEW ABOUT THE PROBLEM DID IT ANYWAY AND HOPED NO RECALL WOULD COME ABOUT. NOW THIS IS SHADES PRACTICE I WENT TO ROLL MY WINDOW DOWN A BEE WAS IN CAR I WAS DRIVING AND COULDN'T JUST PULL OVER ON FREE WAY. MY WINDOW BROKE AGAIN I GOT STUNG I'M SWOLLEN FROM STING AND ALL CAUSE COULDN'T ROLL DOWN A WINDOW THAT SHOULD ALWAYS WORK! I HAVE HAD IT WITH ACURA.

NHTSA ID
10747283
Incident
Aug 6, 2015
Mileage
85,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Feb 1, 2015

THE CAR STOPPED AT 40 MILES AN HR WE WERE DRIVING ON ROAD WITH TRAFFIC CAR DIED WOULDN'T START IT WAS IN THE MIDDLE LANE CARS HAD TO SERVE NOT TO HIT US. NO ONE WOULD HELP MY HUSBAND PUSH IT OFF ROAD. WE DODGED A BULLET. THIS IS ONE OF MANY ISSUES WITH OWNING THE CAR. A WASTE OF MONEY CAR IS CRAP MADE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10680373
Incident
Feb 27, 2014
Mileage
90,000 mi
ElectricalPowertrain (other)
Filed Oct 3, 2014

WE HAD TO REPLACE OUR TRANSMISSION AFTER 70000MILES, WE HAD TO REPLACE A DRIVERS SIDE ELECTRIC WINDOW TWICE, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ALWAYS STAYS ON NOTHING WRONG, CAR STALLED GOING 45MPHS FIXED THAT PROBLEM OTHER LIGHTS NOW STAY ON NO MATTER IF NOTHING IS WRONG, THIS CAR ISN'T WORTH THE MONEY TOO MANY PROBLEMS AND THEY TELL ME MY VIN NUMBER DOESN'T FIT THE RECALLS BUT WE HAVE THE SAME PROBLEMS, I'M GOING TO START RAISING A STINK IT'S RIDICULOUS, *TR

NHTSA ID
10641153
Incident
Oct 1, 2014
Mileage
62,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Oct 13, 2012

AT 55 MPH THE CAR ENGINE SHUT DOWN AND ALL POWER WAS LOST. CONTACTING THE COMPANY ABOUT A RECALL THAT I SAW ON THE INTERNET THE COMPANY SAID THAT THE RECALL WAS ALREADY COMPLETED ON MY CAR. I DID NOT REMEMBER IT BEING DONE BUT TOLD THEM THAT THE PROBLEM FOR THE FIRST TIME IN OWNING THE CAR IN 344,000 MILES HAS NOW STARTED. THEY SAID THEY COULD FIX IT BUT COULD NOT BE COVERED BY THE RECALL. I DROVE TO THE DEALERSHIP TO HAVE THE PROBLEM CONFIRMED AND REPAIRED THE NEXT DAY. THEY SAID IT WAS THE ELECTRICAL PART OF IGNITION SWITCH, BUT THAT THEY DID NOT HAVE IT AND I WOULD HAVE TO TAKE THE CAR BACK AND MAKE ANOTHER APPOINTMENT WHEN THE PART WAS IN STOCK.

NHTSA ID
10480501
Incident
Oct 2, 2012
Mileage
344,000 mi
ElectricalEngine
Filed Oct 11, 2012

THE CAR, WHILE DRIVING SHUT DOWN AND LOST ALL POWER WHILE BEING DRIVEN AT 55 MPH, I CHECKED THE INTERNET FOR ANYONE ELSE HAVING THAT ISSUE AND FOUND THE RECALL ON MY CAR FOR IGNITION SWITCH, I CALLED THE DEALER AND THEY SAID THAT MY CAR ALREADY HAD THE RECALL PERFORMED BUT WOULD LOOK AT IT AND CONFIRM THE PROBLEM. I DROVE THE CAR OVER, WHILE DOING SO IT DIED ON ME AGAIN. THE DEALER CONFIRMED THAT THEY THOUGHT IT WAS THE SWITCH AND SINCE IT WAS ALREADY BEEN RECALLED I WOULD HAVE TO PAY THE $500.00 TO REPLACE IT. ( I WOULD THINK THAT SINCE IT APPEARED THAT THE "FIX" DID NOT WORK THAT IT SHOULD BE REPLACED AGAIN.) THE DEALER THEN TOLD ME THAT SINCE THEY DID NOT HAVE THE PART IN STOCK THAT I WOULD HAVE TO MAKE ANOTHER APPOINTMENT AND GAVE ME MY CAR TO DRIVE HOME. (NOW THERE'S A REAL SAFETY ISSUE.) SINCE I AM CURRENTLY NOT WORKING I DECIDED TO REPLACE THE SWITCH MYSELF AND UPON OPENING UP THE STEERING COLUMN I FOUND THAT THE 2 BOLTS HOLDING THE KEY LOCK TO THE COLUMN ARE A SAFETY TYPE " PAN HEAD " THAT CANT BE REMOVED EASILY. THE FUNNY THING IS I REALLY FIND IT HARD TO BELIEVE THAT THE DEALERSHIP WOULD USE THIS TYPE OF BOLT TO REPLACE A RECALL ITEM. THERE ARE NO EASY WAYS TO GET AT THE SPOT TO RE-INSTALL THEM. IF THE MANUFACTURER RECALLED THE ITEM FOR THIS ISSUE IT SHOULDN'T HAPPEN AGAIN WITH THE RECALL SWITCH IN IT. *TR

NHTSA ID
10479726
Incident
Oct 1, 2012
Mileage
344,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Jul 11, 2008

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 ACURA CL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILS TO TURN OFF, EVEN AFTER THE KEY IS REMOVED FROM THE IGNITION. THE IS THE FIRST TIME THE FAILURE OCCURRED AND THE CONTACT FEELS THAT THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE THE VEHICLE SHOULD NOT BE RUNNING WHEN THE KEY IS REMOVED. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 105,500.

NHTSA ID
10234030
Incident
Jul 11, 2008
Mileage
105,500 mi
Electrical
Filed Nov 19, 2006

THE IGNITION SWITCH ON MY 98 ACURA 3.0CL IS DEGRADING AND MY POWER STEERING IS GOING OUT, AND THE CAR ACCESSORIES STILL RUN JUST NOT THE CAR, AND THE THEFT LIGHT IS COMING ON, I'VE JUST FOUND OUT ABOUT THE RECALL AFTER I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE ON THE 14-15TH OF NOVEMBER 2006. *JB

NHTSA ID
10173808
Incident
Nov 18, 2006
Mileage
114,535 mi
Electrical
Filed Jul 25, 2005

HAD INGINTION SWITCH CHANGED ON RECALL OF 2003 ON 2-19-04. NOW I AM HAVING IGNITION FAILURE ALREADY AFTER 1 1/2 YEARS. THIS HAS BEEN VERY SCARY GOING 70 MPS ON INTERSTATE AND HAVE CAR DIE, NO POWER STERRING, NO BRAKES. WHY WOULD THIS BE HAPPENING ALREADY? MORE FAULTY INGNITION SWITCHES FROM ACURA?

NHTSA ID
10129987
Incident
May 1, 2005
Mileage
89,900 mi
ElectricalEngine
Filed Jul 30, 2004

THE VEHICLE HAD A TENDENCY TO CONTINUE RUNNING AFTER BEING TURNED OFF. THE VEHICLE WOULD ALSO INTERMITTENTLY STALL ON THE HIGHWAY WITHOUT WARNING. THERE WAS A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN CONCERNING THIS PROBLEM. *AK THE IGNITION SWITCH WOULD NOT TURN OFF, EVEN WHEN THE KEY WAS REMOVED. THE DEALER WOULD NOT TAKE RESPONSIBILITY WHEN THEY FAILED TO REPLACE THE IGNITION SWITCH. *SC

NHTSA ID
10081717
Incident
Apr 9, 2004
Mileage
87,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Mar 24, 2004

THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN O THE DEALER FOR NHTSA RECALL # 03V423000 SUBJECT:IGNITION SWITCH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR THE FREE REMEDY. AFTER THE REPAIR, THE DRIVER COULD NOT TAKE THE KEY OUT OF THE IGNITION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHERE THE MECHANIC WAS ABLE TO GET THE KEY OUT OF THE IGNITION. NOW THE KEY CAN BE TAKEN OUT OF THE IGNITION WHILE IN OTHER GEARS. CONSUMER REQUESTS ODI TO CALL WITH INFORMATION ON HOW THIS WILL BE HANDLED. *NM

NHTSA ID
10064844
Incident
Mar 8, 2004
Electrical
Filed Oct 7, 2002

VEHICLE STALLED WHILE DRIVING, MECHANIC REPLACED THE EGR VALVE, HOWEVER THE VEHICLE STALLED AGAIN, CONSUMER WAS INFORMED OF A RECALL WITH THE IGNITION SWITCH AND THE VEHICLE WAS REPLACED FREE OF CHARGE. THE DEALERSHIP STATED THAT AN EGR UPGRADE WAS NEEDED AND THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS OUT, CONSUMER STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION HAD NOT EXPERIENCED ANY PRIOR PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSION, CONSUMER HAD BEEN INFORMED BY OTHER MECHANICS THAT ALL THE COASTING THAT SHE HAD TO DO COULD HAVE CAUSED THE TRANSMISSION TO OVERHEAT, CAUSING IT TO GO OUT, CONSUMER IS BEING CHARGED FOR THE WORK TO THE TRANSMISSION AND DOESN'T FEEL SHE SHOULD BE. *SLC

NHTSA ID
567746
Incident
Aug 24, 2002
Electrical
Filed Sep 17, 2002

CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE IN THE MAIL REGARDING THE IGNITION SWITCH. CONSUMER HAS ATTEMPED TO CONTACT THE ACURA CLIENT SERVICE AND RECEIVES A MESSAGE EACH TIME REPLYING THE OFFICE IS CLOSED. TO DATE THE RECALL REPAIR HAS NOT BEEN MADE, RECALL NOTICE 02V12. *JG *DT

NHTSA ID
567494
Incident
Aug 31, 2002
ElectricalTransmission
Filed Feb 1, 1999

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILURE CAUSED DASH BOARD AND HEAD LIGHTS TO DIM ON ITS OWN. YH

NHTSA ID
606624
Electrical
Filed Feb 1, 1999

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM APPEARS TO CONTAIN A SHORT, ALL LIGHTING (HEAD,DASHBOARD AND TAIL) ALL FLASH IN SINC WITH THE TURN SIGNAL LIGHTING WHEN APPLIED. MJS

NHTSA ID
605959
Incident
Jun 1, 1998
ElectricalSuspension
Filed Jul 10, 1998

WHEN DRIVING ON FLAT SURFACE AT APPROXIMATELY 40MPH, 1500RPMS THE VEHICLE WILL JERK AND PULL FOR APPROX. 30 SECONDS OR UNTILL THE SPEED IS CHANGED. THE DEALERSHIP THINKS THAT THE COMPUTER IS THE PROBLEM, WHICH WILL IN SOME CASES AFFECT THE TRANSMISSION. *AK

NHTSA ID
825268
Incident
Jun 10, 1998

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

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Data on this page last refreshed .