RoadVitals

1998 Acura Slx

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

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.
6
Latest May 7, 2006
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
1
Latest Aug 3, 1998
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
0
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.
0

Overview

Our database contains 6 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1998 Acura Slx, most frequently naming the engine, driver assistance and fuel system categories. 1 safety recall has been issued covering this model year; and 11 manufacturer communications are on file.

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

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • Engine350.0%
  • Driver assistance116.7%
  • Fuel system116.7%
  • Tires & wheels116.7%

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

Safety recalls

1 campaign cover this model year

Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.

Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov
98V180000

POWER TRAIN:TRANSFER CASE (4-WHEEL DRIVE)

Aug 3, 1998
3,062 units potentially affected
The defect: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES. THE TRANSFER GEARBOX FLANGE NUTS WERE NOT PROPERLY INSTALLED, CAUSING THE NUTS TO LOOSEN.
The risk: IF THE FLANGE NUTS LOOSEN, THE PROPELLER SHAFT CAN SEPARATE, RENDERING THE VEHICLE INOPEATIVE.
The remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT FRONT AND REAR FLANGE NUTS AND, IF FOUND LOOSE, TIGHTEN TO SPECIFIED TORQUE AND SECURED STAKED AT TWO PLACES.
ISUZU MOTORS LIMITEDView on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

Engine
Filed May 7, 2006

MY 1998 ACURA SLX, WITH 122,000 MILES, REQUIRES A NEW ENGINE. THE CAR DEVELOPED A LOUD SLAPPING NOISE AND WAS DIAGNOSED BY 2 MECHANICS AS A BROKEN PISTON SKIRT. I WAS TOLD THAT THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE WITH THESE CARS - A RESULT OF A MISMATCH BETWEEN THE ISUZU ENGINE AND THE ACURA TRANSMISSION. *NM

NHTSA ID
10156940
Incident
May 4, 2006
Mileage
122,000 mi
Engine
Filed Jul 18, 2004

IN JUNE OF 2003, WE TOOK OUR 1998 ACURA SLX W/45K MILES ON IT INTO STEVENS CREEK ISUZU DEALERSHIP FOR A MAJOR SERVICE AND TO CHECK OUT THE "PINGING/GRINDING" NOISE THAT WE HAD BEEN HEARING FOR A LONG TIME. WE WERE TOLD THEY COULDN'T DUPLICATE THE NOISE. IN JUNE 2004, WE TOOK IT TO THE RENO ISUZU FOR AN OIL CHANGE AND TO CHECK OUT THE NOISE AND WE WERE TOLD THAT WE NEEDED A NEW ENGINE. OUR CAR NOW HAS 54K MILES ON IT. WE TOOK IT TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC SHOP FOR A SECOND OPINION AND WERE TOLD THAT A ROD WAS BLOWN AND A NEW ENGINE WOULD BE NEEDED. THE CAR IS STILL IN THE SHOP. WE PAID $4K FOR A NEW ENGINE SO FAR AND WILL OWE ABOUT $3K IN LABOR & MISC. PARTS. WE FEEL THAT SINCE THIS PROBLEM STARTED WHILE STILL UNDER "MILEAGE" WARRANTY BUT COULD NOT BE DIAGNOSED, ACURA/ISUZU SHOULD PAY FOR THE ENGINE AND LABOR THAT WE HAVE INCURED. OUR MILEAGE IS EXTREMELY LOW AND THERE SHOULD BE NO REASON TO REPLACE THE ENGINE THIS SOON. WE OWN A 1993 JEEP CHEROKEE THAT HAVE 117K MILES ON THE ORIGINAL ENGINE! WE HAVE READ MANY COMPLAINTS ON OTHER WEBSITES ABOUT THE ACURA/ISUZU ENGINES BLOWING SO EARLY. WE ARE VERY DISAPPOINTED AND WILL NEVER RECOMMEND NOR BUY AN ACURA/ISUZU AGAIN.

NHTSA ID
10081295
Incident
Jun 1, 2004
Mileage
38,000 mi
Engine
Filed Jan 16, 2004

CONSUMER STATED SHE HEARD KNOCKING AND A LOUD PINGING NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE. SHE THEN PULLED OVER AND HER HUSBAND CHECKED THE VEHICLE AND SAW THAT THE OIL WAS EMPTY ALTHOUGH SHE HAD AN OIL CHANGE BEFORE THE TRIP. ALL OF THE OIL SPILLED FROM THE ENGINE. ENGINE HAD BLOWN. *AK *SC *JB

NHTSA ID
10044341
Incident
Oct 20, 2003
Mileage
75,000 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Mar 21, 2001

THROTTLE SUCKED TO THE GROUND AND WOULD NOT RELEASE WHEN BRAKES APPLIED, WHEN EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS EXTENDED. *AK

NHTSA ID
742841
Tires & wheels
Filed Sep 20, 2000

UNABLE TO STEER STRAIGHT LINE AT 70 MPH 95 DEGREES, WANDERS OVER ROAD, OKAY WHEN TIRES COLD. *AK( DOT NUMBER: CLL417 TIRE SIZE: P245/70R16 )

NHTSA ID
732031
Incident
Aug 20, 2000
Fuel system
Filed Jul 31, 1998

THE QUICK DISCONNECT GAS TANK CONNECTION CAME LOOSE ON THE HIGHWAY. DRIVER IS UNAWARE OF LEAK UNTIL MADE AWARE OF IT BY SOMEONE ELSE.

NHTSA ID
539076
Incident
Jul 3, 1998

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

BJA46167

EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL

Sending vehicle data to tech line.

Service Bulletin

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL; ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE

Service bulletin - The MIL comes on and DTC P1441 (EVAP system flow during non-purge) is set. The PCM software does not compensate for signal variation in the fuel tank pressure sensor when fuel sloshes in a nearly full fuel tank.

SB-0708

TIRES:PRESSURE MONITORING AND REGULATING SYSTEMS

ACURA: THERE ARE GUIDELINES FOR VARIOUS SITUATIONS AND PROCEDURES INCLUDING: TIRE PRESSURE VALVE STEM INSTALLATION, TRAILER STABILITY MALFUNCTION LIGHT IS ON, ENGINE OIL APPLICATION GUIDE, NEW SOFTWARE, NEW TRANSMISSION FLUID, NOTCHY STEERING FEELING. *RM

1003

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

SHIFT SOLENOID IDENTIFICATION. *TT

1002

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

CLEARING ANTILOCK BRAKING SYSTEM DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES. OCTOBER TECH LINE INFORMATION. *TT

010702

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

THIS ARTICLE MENTIONS THERE IS NO T ON REPLACEMENT TOP PISTON RINGS. *TT

Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Acura Slx by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2000100—
1999100—
1998Viewing610—
1997120—
1996321—
1995101—
1994000—
1993000—

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. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.