1998 ACURA TL — Problems, Recalls & Safety Data
N/A
Safety Rating
22
Owner Complaints
2
Recalls
2
Service Bulletins
0
Investigations
Overview of the 1998 ACURA TL
The 1998 ACURA TL has received a total of 22 safety complaints filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). There have been 2 recall campaigns affecting this vehicle, covering issues with POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT. 2 technical service bulletins have been issued by Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) for this model year. The most commonly reported problems involve the Engine And Engine Coolingexhaust Systemmanifoldheadermufflertail Pipe (7 complaints), Electrical Systemhorn (2 complaints), and Power Trainautomatic Transmission (2 complaints).
Recalls for the 1998 ACURA TL
NHTSA has recorded 2 recalls for the 1998 ACURA TL, potentially affecting up to 221,393 vehicles.
Recall 99V227000 — POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
| 96,518 vehicles affected
Defect: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. A TRANSMISSION CASE BOLT CAN LOOSEN AND FALL OUT ALLOWING THE TRANSMISSION TO DISENGAGE FROM THE DIFFERENTIAL.
Consequence: 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.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A REDESIGNED BOLT.
View full details →Recall 99V069000 — SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT
| 124,875 vehicles affected
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.
Consequence: THIS CONDITION WOULD RESULT IN VEHICLE DECELERATION AND A SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER. ALSO STEERING CONTROLLABILITY WOULD BE REDUCED.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FRONT SUSPENSION LOWER BALL JOINTS.
View full details →Owner Complaints for the 1998 ACURA TL
22 complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 1998 ACURA TL. Below is a breakdown by vehicle component.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Injuries | Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine And Engine Coolingexhaust Systemmanifoldheadermufflertail Pipe | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical Systemhorn | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Power Trainautomatic Transmission | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 2 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Air Bagsfrontalsensorcontrol Module | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Electrical System | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine And Engine Coolingexhaust System | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine And Engine Coolingexhaust Systememission Control | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Service Brakes Hydraulic | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Steering | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Structurebody | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Structurebodytrunk Lid | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspensionfront | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Most Recent Complaints
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
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.
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
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
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
View all Engine And Engine Coolingexhaust Systemmanifoldheadermufflertail Pipe complaints →
Safety Rating for the 1998 ACURA TL
NHTSA has not yet tested the 1998 ACURA TL in its New Car Assessment Program.
Technical Service Bulletins for the 1998 ACURA TL
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) has issued 2 technical service bulletins (TSBs) for the 1998 ACURA TL. TSBs are notices sent by manufacturers to their dealers describing a known issue and the recommended repair procedure.
010302 — SUSPENSION
SUBJECT REGARDING FRONT SUSPENSION SQUEAKS IN COLD WEATHER. *TT
1001 — EQUIPMENT
SUBJECT REGARDING PGM TESTER SOFTWARE VERSION SN200. *YD
NHTSA Investigations for the 1998 ACURA TL
There are no NHTSA defect investigations on record for this vehicle.
Other Model Years of the ACURA TL
- 1995 ACURA TL — 3 complaints
- 1996 ACURA TL — 33 complaints
- 1997 ACURA TL — 29 complaints
- 1998 ACURA TL (current)
- 1999 ACURA TL — 197 complaints
- 2000 ACURA TL — 323 complaints
- 2001 ACURA TL — 163 complaints
- 2002 ACURA TL — 403 complaints
- 2003 ACURA TL — 466 complaints
Other ACURA Models
- ACURA MDX — 4,187 total complaints
- ACURA RDX — 2,499 total complaints
- ACURA TLX — 1,274 total complaints
- ACURA TSX — 849 total complaints
- ACURA INTEGRA — 755 total complaints
- ACURA CL — 730 total complaints
- ACURA RL — 523 total complaints
- ACURA LEGEND — 505 total complaints