AI Damage1998 Acura TL: common problems
Owners of the 1998 Acura TL filed 20 complaints with NHTSA, most often about engine and cooling and electrical system. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 20
- involving a crash
- 3
What fails most often
- 1 Engine and cooling 45% of all complaints
- 2 Electrical system 15% of all complaints
- 3 Powertrain 10% of all complaints
- 4 Structure 10% of all complaints
- 5 Vehicle speed control 10% of all complaints
- 6 Air bags 5% of all complaints
- 7 Service brakes 5% of all complaints
- 8 Steering 5% of all complaints
- Engine and cooling: 9 complaints (45% of all).
- Electrical system: 3 complaints (15% of all).
- Powertrain: 2 complaints (10% of all).
- Structure: 2 complaints (10% of all).
- Vehicle speed control: 2 complaints (10% of all), 2 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
Engines and transmissions
US-market versions per EPA. On the right: how many NHTSA complaints name this engine or transmission type.
- 2.5 L · petrol · 5 cyl
- 3.2 L · petrol · 6 cyl
- automatic, 4-speed
Drive: FWD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 20 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) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine and cooling | 9 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical system | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Powertrain | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Structure | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Vehicle speed control | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Air bags | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Steering | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension | 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.
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.
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.
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…
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 updated 05/26/2015
The consumer stated the check engine code indicated a faulty oxygen sensor and there were exhaust fumes entering the vehicle.
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…
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 ?
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.
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 8,257 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 23% most complained about).
On average one model year of the TL has 156 complaints (20 years in the data). This year has 20, below average.
What to check before buying
- Engine and cooling. Radiator and fan after a frontal hit, coolant level and condition, overheating.
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
- Powertrain. Shift quality under load, harsh shifts, transmission codes, CV joints.
- Structure. Rails, pillars, panel gaps, signs of pulling or welding.
Other years of this model
- TL 199626 sources
- TL 199723 sources
- TL 1999157 sources
- TL 2000249 sources
- TL 2001149 sources
- TL 2002333 sources
- TL 2003391 sources
- TL 2004551 sources
- TL 2005388 sources
- TL 2006247 sources
- TL 2007124 sources
- TL 2008124 sources
- TL 200942 sources
- TL 201064 sources
- TL 201120 sources
- TL 2012130 sources
- TL 201362 sources
- TL 201417 sources
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 1998 Acura TL?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: engine and cooling, electrical system, powertrain. Total complaints: 20. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: warning lights, check engine (10%), A/C or heater (5%), headlights and tail lights (5%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 1998 Acura TL?
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 TL 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.