AI Damage1998 Acura RL: common problems
Owners of the 1998 Acura RL filed 11 complaints with NHTSA, most often about air bags and powertrain. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 11
What fails most often
- 1 Air bags 18% of all complaints
- 2 Powertrain 18% of all complaints
- 3 Seat belts 18% of all complaints
- 4 Structure 18% of all complaints
- 5 Suspension 18% of all complaints
- 6 Visibility 18% of all complaints
- 7 Electrical system 9% of all complaints
- 8 Latches, locks, linkages 9% of all complaints
- Air bags: 2 complaints (18% of all).
- Powertrain: 2 complaints (18% of all).
- Seat belts: 2 complaints (18% of all).
- Structure: 2 complaints (18% of all).
- Suspension: 2 complaints (18% of all).
Engines and transmissions
US-market versions per EPA. On the right: how many NHTSA complaints name this engine or transmission type.
- 3.5 L · petrol · 6 cyl
- automatic, 4-speed
Drive: FWD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 11 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air bags | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Powertrain | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Seat belts | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Structure | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Visibility | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical system | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Latches, locks, linkages | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 1 | 0 | 0 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
Tl* takata recall. The contact owns a 1998 acura rl. The contact received notification of nhtsa campaign number: 20v026000 (air bags) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The dealer was not contacted.
Tl* the contact owns a 1998 acura rl. The contact received notification of nhtsa campaign number: 20v026000 (air bags) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair.
I thought it was a tire blow out, but it wasn't. Vehicle was towed and inspected. Diagnosed: left lower ball joint caused the incident according to the service department. Currently car is in the shop as I am trying to see who's at fault in order to get assistance for the work to be done.
1998 acura and other honda vehicles interior door handles on drivers side fails not allowing drivers to egress the vehicle. You cant open the door from inside. The only way out of the vehicle if sitting in the drivers seat is to have someone open the door from the outside.
Dt: the contact stated intermittently two of the seat belts locked and they held the passengers in the seat. These were the passenger side front and driver side rear. The seat belts had to be unbuckled and then put back on to release. The vehicle was taken to the dealership, but they could not duplicate the problem.
A squeaking noise could be heard while driving 30 mph or less. Vehicle was taken to the dealer, who informed consumer that both lower ball joints needed to replaced.
Approximately 60 days after the vehicle was purchased it was discovered that the vehicle had no rear seat belts. The consumer stated that the engine started on its own with no key or person required. When it rained, water leaked into the vehicle.
Consumer states that windshield has a glare. Dealer notified.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 10,520 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 29% most complained about).
On average one model year of the RL has 21 complaints (20 years in the data). This year has 11, below average.
What to check before buying
- Air bags. Check the SRS light, stored codes and airbag/curtain status after any impact.
- Powertrain. Shift quality under load, harsh shifts, transmission codes, CV joints.
- Seat belts. Belt pretensioners after airbag deployment, SRS codes.
- Structure. Rails, pillars, panel gaps, signs of pulling or welding.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 1998 Acura RL?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: air bags, powertrain, seat belts. Total complaints: 11. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: seat belts (18%), door locks, latches, handles (9%), jerking, harsh shifts (9%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 1998 Acura RL?
NHTSA lists 0 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.
Should I buy a 1998 Acura RL from a US auction?
Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.
Other 1998 models
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-05.