RoadVitals

1998 Acura Integra Problems

Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints 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.
21
Latest Feb 21, 2012
Components namedHow many of our component categories appear on at least one report for this model year. One report can name several.
12
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
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What this page shows

Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 1998 Acura Integra, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.

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

Reports by component

Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category

  • Electrical417.4%
  • Steering313.0%
  • Visibility313.0%
  • Airbags28.7%
  • Brakes28.7%
  • Engine28.7%
  • Suspension28.7%
  • Seat belts14.3%
  • Driver assistance14.3%
  • Body & structure14.3%
  • Transmission14.3%
  • Interior & seats14.3%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Each component in detail

What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words

Electrical

Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.

4
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

1988 ACURA INTEGRA LS DRIVING WEST ON ADAMS HILL ST. AT FT. SUMTER IN SAN ANTONIO, TEX., ABOUT 6PM, 09/21/05. ALL OF A SUDDEN THE CAR STARTED SPURTING (MISSING) AND THE ENGINE STARTED SMOKING AND CAUGHT FIRE AS A RESULT OF AN ELECTRICAL FAILURE. THE FIRE WAS PUT OUT FIRER EXTINGUISHER AND FIRE DEPT. THE ENGINE/ELEC.WIRES WAS TOTALED AND BEYOND REPAIR AND NO REPAIRS DONE TO DATE. REPORT TO FARMERS INS., FIRE DEPARTMENT, AND PROCESS REPORTING TO POLICE. THIS IS FIRST ELECTRICAL FIRE ON THIS CARE SINCE OWNED. APPEARS MAIN FUSE BOX IGNITED. SEEMS LIKE MANUFACTURER DEFECT. QUICK ACTION PREVENTED LOSS OF LIFE. THE IGNITER WAS REPLACED IN THIS CAR AS RESULT OF RECALL. *NM

NHTSA ID 10137800 · filed Sep 27, 2005

BATTERY LEAKS, OCCURRED TWICE- BY SEPARATE UNITS - COULD HAVE CAUSED FIRE BY BURNING HOLE IN CHARCOAL CANISTER (POST EMMISSIONS STORAGE 3-31). SECOND INCIDENT DISCOVERED 9-12, COULD HAVE TRAUMATIC IMPACT ON ABS MOTOR RELAY SYSTEM(WIRE HARNESS DIRECTLY UNDER BATTERY MOUNT).

NHTSA ID 711313 · filed Apr 7, 2000

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Steering

Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage.

3
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

CONSUMER CAN HEAR POPPING NOISE IN STEERING WHEEL WHILE DRIVING. THIS CAN RESULT IN LOSS OF STEERING. CAUSE UNKNOWN. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK

NHTSA ID 8013226 · filed Jul 2, 2002

WHILE FOLLOWING A SLIGHT CURVE THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO VEER TO THE RIGHT OF THE ROAD AND CRASH AGAINST CEMENT BLOCKS WHICH WERE LINED UP ALONG THE EDGE OF THE ROAD, RESULTING IN DAMAGES IN EXCESS OF 5000.00. ACURA DOES NOT WANT TO BE RESPONSIBLE AND DID NOT WANT TO FIX THE PROBLEM UNDER WARRANTY. *AK

NHTSA ID 743499 · filed Apr 4, 2001

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Visibility

Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors.

3
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

WINDOW MOTOR FAILURE.

NHTSA ID 609471 · filed Sep 8, 1999

SUN ROOF MALFUNCTIONS. YH

NHTSA ID 609421 · filed Feb 1, 1999

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Airbags

Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights.

2
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

WHILE TRYING TO MAKE A SLIGHT TURN TO RIGHT, (BECAUSE OF BEND IN ROAD), THE STEERING LOCKED AND THEN RELEASED WHICH CAUSED AN OVER COMPENSATION TO THE RIGHT AND RESULTED IN A CRASH INTO A FENCE CAUSING EXTENSIVE PROPERTY DAMAGE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY CAUSING A MINOR HEAD INJURY. *AK

NHTSA ID 10068146 · filed May 1, 2004

THIS WAS A 45 MPH FRONT END COLLISION AND NEITHER THE DRIVERS OR THE PASSENGER AIRBAGS DEPLOYED, CAUSING THE DRIVER TO HIT HEAD AND CHEST ON WINDSHIELD AND DASHBOARD (DRIVER WAS WEARING SEAT-BELT). HAVE CONTACTED LOCAL ACURA DEALER WHERE CAR WAS PURCHASED AND THEY REFUSE TO TAKE ANY RESPONSIBILITY OR ACTION REGARDING THIS MATTER. I HAVE OWNED OTHER CARS WHERE A 15 MPH FRONT END COLLISION HAS CAUSED AIR BAGS TO DEPLOY. ACRUA HAS A PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE.

NHTSA ID 729352 · filed Aug 28, 2000

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Brakes

Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.

2
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

CUSTOMER SERVICE REFUSES TO FIX PROBLEM. CONCERNED ABOUT SAFETY. NO SAFETY DEFECT MENTIONED WITHIN SUMMARY. *AK

NHTSA ID 720338 · filed Mar 19, 2000

WHILE DRIVING TRIED TO GET ONTO ANOTHER LANE AND THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP. ONCE THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP, DRIVER FELT SOMETHING VIBRATING UNDER THE VEHICLE. ALL OF A SUDDEN THE WHEEL STARTED TURNING, BUT THE COLUMN WAS LOCKED, CAUSING THE DRIVER NOT TO BE ABLE TO TURN THE WHEEL. THE VEHICLE WENT INTO THE MIDDLE LANE AND HIT A CEMENT WALL. THEN FINALLY THE WHEEL TURNED AGAIN AND WENT INTO THE BARREL IN THE STREET. DRIVER DID STEP ON THE BRAKES, THE VEHICLE STILL CRASHED INTO THE WALL. *AK

NHTSA ID 822429 · filed Apr 15, 1998

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Engine

Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.

2
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

BATTERY LEAKS, OCCURRED TWICE- BY SEPARATE UNITS - COULD HAVE CAUSED FIRE BY BURNING HOLE IN CHARCOAL CANISTER (POST EMMISSIONS STORAGE 3-31). SECOND INCIDENT DISCOVERED 9-12, COULD HAVE TRAUMATIC IMPACT ON ABS MOTOR RELAY SYSTEM(WIRE HARNESS DIRECTLY UNDER BATTERY MOUNT).

NHTSA ID 711313 · filed Apr 7, 2000

PURGE CONTROL VALVE FAILED. YH

NHTSA ID 609326 · filed Feb 1, 1999

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Suspension

Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware.

2
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

CONSUMER STATED WITHIN FOUR YEARS THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN TWO ACCIDENTS. THIS DUE TO LOWER CONTROL ARM BREAKAGE AND EXCESSIVE WEAR OF THE BALL JOINTS. THERE WERE NO INJURIES BOTH TIMES AND THE VEHICLE WAS STRUCK FROM THE BACK IN EACH INSTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS IN NEED OF COMPLETE BALL JOINT AND LOWER CONTROL ARM WORK. *PH *TS *JB

NHTSA ID 10032435 · filed Sep 12, 2003

NHTSA#14845-02-E-020-001 APRIL 4/2000 BALL JOINTS:REPLACEMENT FOR STEERING OR SUSPENSION SYSTEMS: THE MATERIAL USED IN THE MANUFACTURER OF THE SEALING BOOT CAN DETERIORATE OVER TIME PERMITTING FOREIGN OBJECTS SUCH AS WATER, DIRT TO INFILTRATE THE SEALING BOOT CAUSE RUST INSIDE THE BALL JOINTS. TS

NHTSA ID 10002296 · filed Jan 7, 2003

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Seat belts

Reports naming seat belts, buckles, retractors and pretensioners.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

DRIVERS SEAT BELT ACTIVATES INAPPROPRIATELY. THE BELT IS TOO TIGHT AND DOES NOT RELAX WHEN ATTEMPTING TO CHECK TRAFFIC WHEN MERGING. DRIVER UNHOOK BELT TO CHECK FOR SAFE CLEARANCE.

NHTSA ID 540457 · filed Sep 1, 1998

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Driver assistance

Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

I PULLED INTO THE PARKING LOT. SINCE MY CAR WAS NOT STRAIGHT, I WANTED TO BACK OUT AND PARK AGAIN. I STEPPED ONTO THE BRAKE, AND SWITCHED TO REVERSE GEAR. AS I PREPARE TO DRIVE BACKWARDS, I RELAXED MY FOOT FROM THE BRAKE. HOWEVER, MY CAR SUDDENLY ROARED AND CHARGED FORWARD. IT RAN OVER THE CURB, AND KEPT GOING. I HAD TRIED TO BRAKE 2 OR 3 TIMES, BUT THE BRAKE BECAME SO STIFF, IT SIMPLY WOULD NOT STOP. IT FINALLY HIT THE FIRE HYDRATE, TURNING 90 DEGREES TO THE RIGHT, THEN CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP. THERE WAS WATER SPILLED ALL OVER, AND STEAM COMING OUT OF THE ENGINE. MY FOOT WAS STILL ON BRAKE. I WANTED TO PARK, THEN GET OUT OF THE CAR. AS I LOOKED DOWN, IT WAS STILL ON THE REVERSE GEAR. I WAS VERY SHOCKED THAT THE CAR WOULD SUDDENLY ACCELERATE FORWARD WHILE ON THE REVERSE GEAR, AND THE BRAKE WOULD NOT WORK. IF IT WERE NOT FOR THE FIRE HYDRATE, MY CAR WOULD SURELY HAVE RAN INTO THE BUSY STREET AND HIT THE INCOMING TRAFFIC. I HAVE DRIVEN THIS CAR SINCE 1998, AND TAKEN MY CAR FOR ALL MINOR, INTERMEDIATE, AND MAJOR SERVICES ON TIME AT ACURA DEALER, SO IT WAS UNLIKELY THE ACCIDENT WAS MY FAULT. *TR

NHTSA ID 10448601 · filed Feb 21, 2012

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Body & structure

Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

I AM NOT THE OWNER OF THE VEHICLE. THE OWNER WAS MY NIECE JILLIAN TENNYSON, SHE AND HER SISTER ALLISON TENNYSON WERE BOTH KILLED IN CAR ACCIDENT ON 1/2/99. THEIR CAR WAS SPLIT IN 2 DIRECTLY BEHIND THE FRONT SEATS. THE STATE TROOPERS SAID THEY HAVE NEVER SEEN A CAR DO THIS. IT WAS LIKE THE CAR WAS A HOT CUBE OF BUTTER SLICED IN 2. FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND ,THE CAR HAS A "UNIBODY" WHICH I UNDERSTAND TO BE ALL ONE PIECE. AFTER THE CAR SPLIT INTO 2. THE DRIVERS SEAT FAILED. IT FELL COMPLETELY BACKWARDS WHICH ALLOWED MY NIECE TO BE EJECTED OUT OF THE BACK OF THE CAR, OR LACK THERE OF. MY INTENT IS NOT TO GO AFTER ACURA. I WANT THE CAR INVESTIGATED TO BE SURE THAT IT WASN'T FAULTY. IF WE FIND IT WAS I ONLY WANT TO HAVE THIS INFORMATION TO AVOID ANY FURTHER SITUATIONS LIKE WHAT HAPPENED TO OUR FAMILY. MAYBE A RECALL IS NEEDED. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND CONCIDERATION. *AK

NHTSA ID 703400 · filed Feb 17, 1999

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Transmission

Reports naming the automatic or manual transmission, including shifting behaviour, shudder, slipping and transmission control modules.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

NO SUMMARY. DT

NHTSA ID 769368 · filed Nov 6, 2002

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Interior & seats

Reports naming seats, latches, locks, linkages and interior fittings.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

THE HOOD LATCH ASSEMBLY BECOMES LOOSE OR NO LONGER FUNCTIONS AS NORMAL WHEN CLOSING THE HOOD. THIS PREVENTS THE HOOD FROM CLOSING COMPLETELY AND MAKES IT DANGEROUS TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE AT HIGHER SPEEDS SUCH AS HIGHWAYS WITHOUT RISKING THE HOOD FLIPPING UP OR BREAKING OFF THE VEHICLE WHICH CAN CAUSE DANGEROUS ACCIDENTS. *TR

NHTSA ID 10378452 · filed Jan 24, 2011

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

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.

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .