RoadVitals

1998 Acura TL

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.
20
Latest Nov 28, 2014
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.
2
Latest Aug 19, 1999
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.
3
3 injuries, 0 deaths reported

Overview

Our database contains 20 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1998 Acura TL, most frequently naming the engine, electrical and driver assistance categories. 2 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; and 24 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

  • Engine940.9%
  • Electrical313.6%
  • Driver assistance29.1%
  • Transmission29.1%
  • Body & structure29.1%
  • Brakes14.5%
  • Steering14.5%
  • Suspension14.5%

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

2 campaigns 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
99V227000

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

Aug 19, 1999
96,518 units potentially affected
The defect: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. A TRANSMISSION CASE BOLT CAN LOOSEN AND FALL OUT ALLOWING THE TRANSMISSION TO DISENGAGE FROM THE DIFFERENTIAL.
The risk: THE VEHICLE COULD LOSE POWER TO THE DRIVE WHEELS WITHOUT WARNING. ALSO, SHIFTING THE TRANSMISSION INTO THE PARK POSITION WOULD NOT LOCK THE WHEELS, AND A PARKED VEHICLE COULD MOVE UNEXPECTEDLY IF THE PARKING BRAKE IS NOT SET.
The remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A REDESIGNED BOLT.
AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO.Manufacturer number K68View on NHTSA.gov
99V069000

SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT

May 10, 1999
124,875 units potentially affected
The defect: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. CERTAIN VEHICLES WERE MANUFACTURED WITH BALL JOINTS THAT CAN PREMATURELY WEAR OUT AND, IN THE WORSE CASE, THE BALL JOINT WOULD SEPARATE CAUSING THE FRONT SUSPENSION TO COLLAPSE.
The risk: THIS CONDITION WOULD RESULT IN VEHICLE DECELERATION AND A SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER. ALSO STEERING CONTROLLABILITY WOULD BE REDUCED.
The remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FRONT SUSPENSION LOWER BALL JOINTS.
AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO.View on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

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

View all 20
Electrical
Filed Nov 28, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 ACURA TL. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 05V025000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM), BUT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN DRIVE POSITION, THE KEY WAS REMOVED FROM THE IGNITION. THE VEHICLE ROLLED AWAY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE WOULD FORGET TO PLACE THE VEHICLE IN PARK SOMETIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 98,000. UPDATED 12/19/14*CN UPDATED 05/26/2015 *JS

NHTSA ID
10661180
Incident
Jul 1, 2012
Mileage
98,000 mi
Engine
Filed Jan 16, 2013

1998 ACURA TL. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO DEFECTIVE OR CRACKED EXHAUST MANIFOLD AND SEEKS GOODWILL ASSISTANCE. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE CHECK ENGINE CODE INDICATED A FAULTY OXYGEN SENSOR AND THERE WERE EXHAUST FUMES ENTERING THE VEHICLE.

NHTSA ID
10492802
Incident
Jan 1, 2013
BrakesDriver assistance
Filed Nov 17, 2009
Crash reported2 injuries reported

NO EVENTS INDICATING A FAILURE WAS IMMINENT. PEDAL BRAKE FOR 1998 ACURA FAILED TO STOP WHILE DRIVING IN STOP/GO MUNICIPAL TRAFFIC. CAR ACCELERATED OUT OF CONTROL AND HIT AN OFF ROAD TREE AND WAS A TOTAL UNREPAIRABLE LOSS. POLICE INVESTIGATED. CAR OCCUPANTS TRANSPORTED TO HOSPITAL FOR EMERGENCY TREATMENT. NO OTHER PERSONAL INJURIES. ONLY MINOR PROPERTY COLLATERAL PROPERTY DAMAGES. REPORTED TO AUTO INSURANCE CARRIER AND HONDA AMERICA. HONDA AMERICA DECLINED TO INVESTIGATE OR INSPECT THE VEHICLE AND CLAIMED THE GAS PEDAL WAS MISTAKENLY ENGAGED INSTEAD OF THE PEDAL BRAKE. CONFIRMED BY HA LETTER. ACURA OWNER SETTLED CLAIM WITH INSURANCE COMPANY. THIS CONCLUSION SEEMS INCONSISTENT WITH EARLIER NHTSA INVESTIGATIONS INTO 1990S ACURAS AS I WAS ABLE TO RETRIEVE FROM HTTP://CONSUMERHASSOFSHAME.HOMESTEAD.COM///INDEX~NS4.HTML. *TR

NHTSA ID
10292489
Incident
Jun 3, 2009
Mileage
115,000 mi
Engine
Filed Mar 6, 2009

MY 1998 ACURA 2.5 TL HAS HAD NOTICEABLE EXHAUST LEAK INTO THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT FROM ABOUT 100,000 MILES POINT, SINCE JANUARY 2008L ABOUT ONE YEAR AGO. ALL THE OUTSIDE SMELLS COME RIGHT IN EVEN THOUGH I ALWAYS HAVE VENTS AND AIR COND OR HEATER SET TO "INSIDE AIR ONLY" SETTING. ALONG WITH EXHAUST I SMELL THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER ODOR, REFINERY ODOR WHEN I DRIVE PAST REFINERY, SKUNK SMELL WHEN I DRIVE OVER EVEN A SPOT WHERE A SKUNK WAS REMOVED A FEW DAYS AGO, ETC AND ALSO THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON A YEAR AGO, AS MANY OTHER OWNERS HAVE REPORTED, I HAD IT DIAGNOSED AS FAILED OXYGEN SENSOR BUT IT SEEMS THAT GOES WITH THE CRACKED ENGINE MANIFOLD. THIS WIDELY REPORTED CONDITION SHOULD BE A MFGR RECALL NOTICE. THERE IS NO EXCUSE FOR THE FAILURE TO RECALL OVER THIS PERSISTENT DEFECT. OWNERS NOW KNOW THAT IT WAS THE VERY SAME PROBLEM IN 1996 AND 1997 WHERE IT WAS A RECALL NOTICE ITEM; IT SHOULD BE FOR 1998 AS WELL. I HAVE BEEN THE MOST LOYAL OF ACURA OWNERS (THIS IS OUR FOURTH ACURA AS A FAMILY) BUT I AND MY HUSBAND WILL NO LONGER TOLERATE SUCH DISHONESTY IN ACURA CO. *TR

NHTSA ID
10260960
Incident
Jan 10, 2008
Mileage
100,000 mi
Suspension
Filed Nov 4, 2008

I RECENTLY BOUGHT A 1998 ACURA TL 2.5 AND THE DRIVER SIDE FRONT BALL JOINT SQUEAKS. WHILE I WAS LOOKING FOR PARTS AT AUTOZONE I WAS ALERTED THAT MY CAR WAS UNDER RECALL FOR DEFECTIVE LOWER BALL JOINTS. I AM NOT THE ORIGINAL OWNER AND WONDERED IF IT IS POSSIBLE TO GET IT REPAIRED AT NO COST ? *TR

NHTSA ID
10247627
Incident
Nov 2, 2008
Mileage
107,233 mi
Engine
Filed May 18, 2007

I OWN AN ACURA 2.5 TL MODEL YEAR 1998. I WAS INFORMED BY DEALER LAST YEAR THAT THERE WAS AN EXHAUST MANIFOLD LEAK IN THE ENGINE. THE DEALER QUOTED $2000 TO FIX THE PROBLEM. I HAVE NOT HAD IT FIXED SO FAR, BUT I FEAR THAT THE EXHAUST FUMES WERE INFILTRATING THE CABIN, AND WE WERE BREATHING EXHAUST FUMES WHEN IN THE CAR. UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION I FOUND THAT THIS PROBLEM WAS ALSO REPORTED WIDELY IN EARLIER MODEL YEARS. *AK

NHTSA ID
10191197
Incident
Nov 1, 2005
Mileage
50,000 mi
Transmission
Filed Dec 1, 2005

DT: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE PULLING OUT FROM A STOP SIGN THE TRANSMISSION CASE BOLT BROKE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A MECHANIC, WHO FOUND NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN 99V227000 FOR AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. THE MANUFACTURER SAID THAT THE RECALL REPAIRS HAD BEEN COMPLETED PREVIOUSLY, AND THEY WERE NOT WILLING TO REPAIR THE TRANSMISSION AGAIN. *AK

NHTSA ID
10144125
Incident
Nov 23, 2005
Mileage
115,000 mi
Engine
Filed Jul 14, 2005

AUTO TECHNICIAN HAS DETERMINED THAT 1998 ACURA 2.5 TL HAS A CRACKED MANIFOLD. SAME VEHICLE FROM 1995-97 HAS BEEN MANDATED BY NHTSA TO HAVE THIS REPAIRED BY MANUFACTURER. I WOULD LIKE MY VEHICLE YEAR TO BE INCLUDED IN THIS MANDATE.

NHTSA ID
10128711
Incident
Jul 12, 2005
Mileage
77,500 mi

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.

B98015

EQUIPMENT

Special Tool Loan Program: Under TOOLS AVAILABLE FOR LOAN, the list has been updated.

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

04012004

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

DON'T TEST-DRIVE WITH THE MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP OR D INDICATOR ON. ACURA. SERVICENEWS. APRIL 2004. *TT

02012004

AIR BAGS

AIRBAG ON OFF SWITCH. *EH

104

AIR BAGS:ON-OFF SWITCH ASSEMBLY

AIRBAG ON/OFF SWITCH APPLICATION CHART. ACURA. TECH LINE SUMMARY. *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 TL by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2014173151.1
2013623150.7
20121303150.4
2011203052.9
2010643048.8
2009423052.1
20081244051.7
20071244049.5
20062476049.7
20053877153.9
20045516152.7
20033915459.7
20023327563.3
20011493156.1
20002496259.7
19991574158.6
1998Viewing202051.0
1997232056.0
1996262048.4
1995100—

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.