1998 ACURA TL Problems

Complaints Reported

Complaints by Component

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

8 complaints

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.

Jan 16, 2013

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

Mar 06, 2009

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

May 18, 2007

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.

Jul 14, 2005

PART B TO ODI# 10106272 FORGOT TO NOTE THAT EXHAUST COMES INTO THE VEHICLE FROM THE FRESH AIR INTAKE AND GIVES ME HEADACHES ON LONG TRIPS. *NM

Jan 18, 2005

+ 3 more complaints for this component

POWER TRAIN

4 complaints

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

Dec 01, 2005

CONSUMER STATES THE BOLT ON THE VEHICLE BROKE. RECALL NUMBER 99V227000 THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THE RECALL HAD BEEN PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE . THE CONSUMER WAS NOT THE ORIGINAL OWNER. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. JB *TC

Dec 03, 2004

TO MY KNOWLEDGE, THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS LINKED TO THE 3.0 V6 OF THE ACURA CL AND HONDA ACCORD HAVE BEEN GIVING NUMEROUS HONDA CUSTOMERS PROBLEMS. THE TRANS. HAS BEEN SHIFTING ABRUPTLY AND INTO INAPPROPRIATE GEARS FOR SOME TIME. THIS IS POTENTIALLY HAZARDOUS DUE TO THE FACT THAT I NEARLY TOTALED MY ACURA WHILE TRYING TO PASS A SLOW MOVING VEHICLE AND THE TRANSMISSION MALFUNCTIONED DURING THIS ATTEMPT AT PASSING. I NEARLY COLLIDED WITH ON COMING TRAFFIC. MY CAR IS CURRENTLY IN THE SHOP FOR THIS PROBLEM AND HAS CAUSED ME TO HAVE TO REBUILD THE TRANSMISSION BECAUSE I CANNOT AFFORD THE COST OF A NEW REPLACEMENT FROM THE FACTORY. THIS HAS CAUSED ME A LOT OF WASTED TIME AND MONEY. ON A "LUXURY" BRAND AUTOMOBILE, ONE WOULD NOT EXPECT TO HAVE TO REPLACE OR REBUILF THE TRANSMISSION JUST APPROX. 3 YEARS AFTER IT WAS SOLD AS BRAND NEW. I WAS TOLD THAT THIS IS A FAMILIAR PROBLEM WITH THIS PARTICULAR TYPE OF TRANSMISSION AND EXPECT THE HONDA MANUFACTURER TO RECOGNIZE THIS PROBLEM AND REPLACE OR FIX THE PROBLEM THAT MANY OWNERS ARE HAVING. I WOULD APPRETIATE BEING UPDATED ON *ANY* PROGRESS THAT IS MADE WITH CORRECTING THIS PROBLEM. I CAN BE REACHED AT MY E-MAIL ADDRESS-( [email protected] )-- THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION TO THIS MATTER.*AK

Sep 07, 2001

THE VEHICLE TRANSMISSION HAS A HESITATION AND CLUNK WHEN IT SHIFTS FROM 1ST INTO 2ND , THE MANUFACTURER REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION DURING APRIL 1999. THE REPLACEMENT TRANSMISSION HAS BEGUN TO EXHIBIT THE SAME HESITATION AND JOLT WHEN IT SHIFTS FROM 1ST TO 2ND. THE DEALER STATES THAT THE MANUFACTURER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND IS WORKING ON A FIX. DEALER STATES THAT THE PROBLEM IS NOT SAFETY RELATED, BUT WILL GET INCREASINGLY WORSE. *AK

May 10, 1999

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

3 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

Nov 28, 2014

THE BOTTON FOR THE HORN IS TOO SMALL TO LOCATE IN A PANIC SITUATION. DEALER SAYS THAT NOTHING CAN BE DONE BECAUSE OF THE DESIGN. *AK

Sep 29, 1998

HORN BUTTON ON THE STEERING WHEEL IS A DESIGN DEFECT. IT IS TOO SMALL (3/4" BY 1"} AND IN A EMERGENCY OR PANIC SITUATION, THE HORN IS IMPOSSIBLE TO FIND. CORRECTED ACTION HAS BEEN DONE TO THE 1999 MODELS, BUT MANUFACTURER SAID NO CORRECTION CAN BE DONE TO THE 1998 MODELS, BECAUSE THE STEERING WHEELS ARE NOT INTERCHANGEABLE. WHILE DRIVING THE CAR, ANOTHER CAR AHEAD OF MY DAUGHTER BACKED INTO HER IN A PARKING GARAGE WHILE SHE WAS FRANTICALLY SEARCHING FOR THE BUTTON TO WARN HIM. RESULTING IN A LOW IMPACT COLLISION TO THE FRONT BUMPER.

Sep 29, 1998

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

2 complaints

I HAD JUST MADE A RIGHT TURN INTO A PARKING SPACE PROCEEDING AT ABOUT 2 MILES PER HOUR WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE AND WAS ABOUT TWO FEET FROM THE END OF THE SPACE, ABOUT TO TURN OFF THE ENGINE, WHEN SUDDENLY THE CAR ACCELERATED FORWARD, WENT OVER A BUMPER, AND PROCEEDED TO GO DOWN A HILL, PART ON SOME CONCRETE STAIRS AND PART ON GRASS. I BRAKED ALL THE WAY AND STOPPED AT THE BOTTOM OF TWO SETS OF STAIRS. SWITCHED CAR INTO NEUTRAL, ENGINE WAS RACING, AND TURNED OFF ENGINE. CAR WAS TOTALLED. NO INJURIES.*AK

Jul 03, 2002

Crash: 1

VEHICLE ACCELERATES WHEN BRAKES APPLIED IN SHARP TURN; OCCURS AT 35 MPH AND 10 MPH. THREE OCCURRENCES TO DATE WITH TWO DIFFERENT DRIVERS.*AK

May 20, 2001

Crash: 1

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

1 complaint

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

Nov 17, 2009

Crash: 1

Injuries: 2

SUSPENSION

1 complaint

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

Nov 04, 2008

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,STRUCTURE

1 complaint

ENGINE MANIFOLD DEVELOPED A CRACK. AS A RESULT, VEHICLE PRODUCED AN EXTREME LOUD NOISE. *AK MANIFOLD REPLACED. TRUNK LEAKS WHEN IT RAINS. *TC

Nov 02, 2004

AIR BAGS

1 complaint

VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN WHEN, FOR NO APPARENT REASON, THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED RESULTING IN A COLLISION THAT TOTALLED THE CAR. WE WANT THE INFORMATION INSIDE THE AIRBAG COMPUTER READ/EXTRACTED. WE SUSPECT INSURANCE FRAUD IN THIS INCIDENT.*AK

Apr 26, 2004

Crash: 1

Injuries: 1

STRUCTURE

1 complaint

TO REPAIR A TRUNK LEAK MY DEALER FOUND THE TAIL LIGHT GASKETS ON BOTH SIDES FAILED ALLOWING WATER TO LEAK INTO THE TRUNK. HE FURTHER STATED THIS IS COMMON IN THE BODY STYLE CAR I OWN AND THAT OTHER MODELS EXPERIENCE SIGNIFICANTLY FEWER REPAIRS OF THIS NATURE. *NLM

Jun 18, 2003

SEATS

1 complaint

I WAS STOPPED TO TURN LEFT AND WAS HIT FROM BEHIND. THE OTHER VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING AT A SPEED ESTIMATED AT 45-50MPH. WHEN MY VEHICLE WAS STRUCK FROM BEHIND, THE DRIVER'S SEAT BACK COLLAPSED COMPLETELY. THE SEAT BACK FOLDED BACKWARDS UNTIL HITTING THE BOTTOM OF THE REAR SEAT. MY VEHICLE WAS THEN PROJECTED ACROSS ONCOMING TRAFFIC, WHILE MY SEAT WAS RECLINED. FORTUNATELY, I DID NOT STRIKE THE ONCOMING VEHICLES AND THERE WAS NO PASSENGER OR CAR SEAT IN THE REAR SEAT.*AK

Jan 10, 2001

Crash: 1

Injuries: 1

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,EQUIPMENT

1 complaint

MORALS COMPUTERIZED SYSTEM FAILED CAUSING CHECK LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE, RADIO DOES NOT WORK PROPERLY. *MJS

Feb 08, 2000

STEERING

1 complaint

WHILE DRIVING ALONG AT A SPEED 45-55 MPH ON A STRAIGHT ROAD IN SUNNY WEATHER CONDITIONS CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD NOISE, AND THEN THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY WENT OUT OF CONTROL, ALMOST STRIKING SEVERAL VEHICLES.THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A BODY SHOP. PLEASE THE STRUT ROD HAD BROKEN OFF THE REAR WHEEL SPINDLE ASSEMBLEY, THE WHEEL WENT UP INTO THE WHEEL WELL CAUSING VEHICLE TO GO OUT OF CONTROL. *AK

Oct 26, 1999

AIR BAGS,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

1 complaint

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION RESULTING IN VEHICLE COLLISION, VIOLENT DEPLOYMENT OF AIR BAGS DAMAGED WINDOW.

Oct 15, 1998

Crash: 1

Injuries: 1

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Frequently Asked Questions

How many problems does the 1998 ACURA TL have?

The 1998 ACURA TL currently has 26 owner-reported complaints according to NHTSA database. These complaints are organized by component to help identify common issues.

What are the most common problems with 1998 ACURA TL?

The most common problems reported for the 1998 ACURA TL are organized by component above. Each component section shows owner-reported issues, crash reports, and fire incidents to help identify patterns and problem areas.

Where does this 1998 ACURA TL problem data come from?

All problem and complaint data for the 1998 ACURA TL comes directly from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) database. These are real complaints submitted by actual vehicle owners.