1998 ACURA TL

2 recalls, 22 complaints - 24 TSBs

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

Defect Description

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.

96,518 vehicles affected

Manufacturer: AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO.

SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT

Defect Description

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.

124,875 vehicles affected

Manufacturer: AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO.

Complaint Statistics

22 total complaints 4 crashes 5 injuries

Top Reported Components

Component	Complaints
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE	7
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN	2
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL	2
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION	2
STEERING	1
STRUCTURE:BODY	1
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE	1
STRUCTURE:BODY:TRUNK LID	1
SUSPENSION:FRONT	1
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM	1

Incident date: Jul 1, 2012

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 T... Read more

Incident date: Jan 1, 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.

Incident date: Jun 3, 2009

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 ... Read more

Crash 2 injured

Incident date: Jun 3, 2009

Crash 2 injured

Incident date: Jan 10, 2008

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 EXHAUS... Read more

Incident date: Nov 2, 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

Incident date: Nov 1, 2005

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 EXHAUS... Read more

Incident date: Nov 23, 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 N... Read more

Incident date: Jul 12, 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.

Incident date: Jan 11, 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

Incident date: Jan 11, 2005

EXHAUST SYSTEM ON MY 1998 ACURA 2.5 TL HAS A CRACK IN THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD. I'VE BEEN TOLD THE MANUFACTURER REPLACED THIS ON THE 96 & 97 TL'S BUT WILL NOT FOR THE 1998. I UNDERSTAND FROM RESEARCH THERE WERE NO CHANGES TO THE BODY STYLE OR ENGINE BETWEEN THE 96 -98 SO WHY WON'T THEY COVER THE 98? ... Read more

Incident date: Oct 9, 2004

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

Incident date: Jul 5, 2004

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

Incident date: Jul 5, 2004

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

Incident date: Mar 10, 2004

EXHAUST SYSTEM ON THE 1998 ACURA 2.5 TL. I HAVE HAD TO HAVE THE O2 SENSOR REPLACED AND NOW AS TOLD THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD IS CRACKED. I WAS ALDO TOLD BY THE DEALER THAT THERE HAVE BEEN A NUMBER OF CASES WERE THE MANIFOLD CRACKED. IF THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT YOU SEE REPEATED IN A PARTICULAR VEHICLE IS... Read more

Incident date: Apr 10, 2004

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

Crash 1 injured

Incident date: Jun 5, 2003

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

Incident date: Jun 11, 2002

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 SOM... Read more

Crash

Incident date: Apr 2, 2001

CRACK IN EXHAUST MANIFOLD. *AK

Incident date: Sep 23, 1999

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 A... Read more

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

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 WHEEL... Read more

Technical Service Bulletins, 1998 ACURA TL

24 manufacturer communications from 19 unique bulletins. TSBs describe known problems and recommended fixes from the manufacturer.

Most Affected Components

Component	Bulletins
103000 POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION	3
036000 SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP	2
350000 EQUIPMENT	2
140000 AIR BAGS	2
357100 EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER	2
034000 SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS	1
114200 ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH	1
355200 EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL	1

355200 EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL

Sending vehicle data to tech line.

350000 EQUIPMENT

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

199000 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 STEERI

103000 POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

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

140000 AIR BAGS

AIRBAG ON OFF SWITCH. *EH

145000 AIR BAGS:ON-OFF SWITCH ASSEMBLY

AIRBAG ON/OFF SWITCH APPLICATION CHART. ACURA. TECH LINE SUMMARY. *TT

116100 ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH

LETTER TO SERVICE MANAGER REGARDING IGNITION SWITCH RECALL CAMPAIGN. *TT

036000 SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

TROUBLESHOOTING ABS OR TCS DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE 51 AND/OR 53. *NM

357100 EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER

AIR CONDITIONING (A/C) COMPRESSOR CONTROL LOGIC. ACURA SERVICE NEWS. *TT

357100 EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER

A/C COMPRESSOR CONTROL LOGIC. OCTOBER TECH LINE INFORMATION. *TT

141100 AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE

INTERMITTENT SRA DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE 1-1 TO 1-5, DRIVER'S AIRBAG INFLATOR CIRCUIT. OCTOBER TECH LINE INFORMATION. *TT

036000 SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

CLEARING ANTILOCK BRAKING SYSTEM DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES. OCTOBER TECH LINE INFORMATION. *TT

020000 SUSPENSION

SUBJECT REGARDING FRONT SUSPENSION SQUEAKS IN COLD WEATHER. *TT

021000 SUSPENSION:FRONT

SUBJECT REGARDING A SQUEAL NOISE AT FRONT SUSPENSION AT LOW TEMPERATURE. *TT

116200 ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE

INFORMATION ON TROUBLESHOOTING DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES P1705, P1768, P0753, P0758. *TT

980000 UNKNOWN OR OTHER

INFORMATION ON MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP WITH DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES P0133 OR P0153.*JB

140000 AIR BAGS

SUBJECT REGARDING SAFETY RESTRAINT SYSTEM DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE 5-1 THROUGH 8-3, INTERNAL SAFETY RESTRAINT SYSTEM UNIT FAILURE. *YD

350000 EQUIPMENT

SUBJECT REGARDING PGM TESTER SOFTWARE VERSION SN200. *YD

023000 SUSPENSION:MULTIPLE AXLE

EXPERIENCING GROWLING OR WHINING FROM ONE OR BOTH OF THE REAR WHEELS WHEN DRIVING. *TT

061100 ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

BRIEF INFORMATION REGARDING STARTER MOTOR REPLACEMENT. *TT

114200 ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH

CONCERNS WITH THE MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP (MIL) ON WITH DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES (DTCS) P0133 OR P0153 STORED. *TT

103000 POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

CUSTOMER MAY COMPLAIN OF 1 - 2 SHIFT. *TT

034000 SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS

COMPLAINTS OF BRAKE SQUEAL WHEN YOU LIGHTLY DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL. *YC

103000 POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

INFORMATION REGARDING AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION 1-2 COMPLAINTS. *YC

NHTSA Safety Investigations, ACURA TL

Investigations opened by NHTSA into potential safety defects. These are separate from recalls and may or may not result in a recall.

RQ, Closed , Model Year: 2002

RUPTURING DRIVER'S AIR BAG INFLATORS

This RQ investigation was opened to collect and analyze additional information to better evaluate the scope and timeliness of Honda's two safety recalls addressing rupturing of the driver's side air bag inflators (08V-593 and 09V-259).In an earlier response to RMD's request for information, Honda in... dicated that the second recall (09V-259), essentially an expansion of the first (08V-593), was necessary since later information informed that the source of the defect was different than originally postulated, and so the scope of the vehicles affected changed. Honda indicated that it had relied on its supplier of the air bag inflators, Takata, Inc. (Takata), in studying the possible sources of the inflator ruptures and identifying the recall populations.Accordingly, RMD issued a request forinformation to Takata on November 20, 2009, and Takata provided a partial response on December 23, 2009.Takata then provided its complete response on February 19, 2010.Takata informed ODI that, after analysis of several ruptured inflators, Takata and Honda initially attributed the defect to handling of the propellant during inflator assembly that could have yielded increased moisture levels that, when coupled with thermal cycling in automobiles over time, could lead to reduced propellant density and overly aggressive combustion during air bag deployment.However, it discovered upon review of inflators returned from the 08V-593 recall campaign, some of which fell outside the manufacturing range when Takata suspected the propellant was exposed to elevated moisture, that the source of the defect was more likely due to problems with a specific compression press (Stokes press) used to form the inflator's propellant.Specifically, the propellant tablets produced by the press were found to be less dense, and therefore more susceptible to overly aggressive combustion during air bag deployment.Takata identified the manufacturing time frame over which the tablets were shown to have less dense properties as the end of calendar year 2000. Takata informed Honda of its discovery on or about June 12, 2009.Honda made its defect decision and then notified NHTSA of it on June 30, 2009.Honda then supplemented its filing with an identification of the specific vehicles to be included in the campaign, as well as identifying additional models to be included, on July 29, 2009.As with the 08V-593 campaign, Takata examined inflators returned from the 09V-259 campaign, and some of which were manufactured outside of the range when the Stokes press was found to have produced less dense propellant (beyond the end of February 2001).It provided those findings to Honda and Honda decided to expand safety recall 09V-259 to include all vehicles with inflators containing propellant manufactured using the Stokes press.Honda notified NHTSA of its decision on February 9, 2010.Based upon all available information, there is insufficient information to suggest that Honda failed to make timely defect decisions on information it was provided.Also, given that all inflators with propellant manufactured using the Stokes press have been recalled, there are no additional vehicles to be investigated and campaigned.Accordingly, this RQ is closed.Read more

PE, Closed , Model Year: 2004

WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR FAILURE

THE MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED NHTSA BY LETTER DATED FEBRUARY 26, 2008, THAT A SAFETY RELATED RECALL HAS BEEN INITIATED TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM ON CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2004 AND 2005 ACURA TL VEHICLES.THE RECALL AFFECTS APPROXIMATELY 129,600 SUBJECT VEHICLES MANUFACTURED BETWEEN MARCH 2003 AND MAY 2005.THE ... Read more

PE, Closed , Model Year: 1999

IGNITION-PARK INTERLOCK

THE ABOVE FAILURE REPORT COUNTS ARE FOR MODEL YEAR (MY) 1999 - 2001 HONDA ACCORD MODELS THAT WERE NOT WITHIN THE SCOPE OF A RELATED HONDA RECALL ACTION (NHTSA 03V423); THESE VEHICLES WERE INVESTIGATED BY ODI UNDER DEFECT PETITION (DP) 04-006.COMPLAINT INFORMATION FOR OTHER MODELS AND MODEL YEARS WAS... Read more

ACURA TL - All Years Overview

Complete safety history for the ACURA TL across all model years (1996, 2014).

76 Total Recalls

4,053 Total Complaints

3 Investigations

219 Reported Crashes

57 Reported Fires

8 Reported Deaths

ACURA TL - Year by Year

Compare recalls and complaints across model years. Click any year to see full details.

Year	Recalls	Complaints
2014	3	17	View
2013	3	74	View
2012	3	162	View
2011	3	23	View
2010	3	75	View
2009	3	51	View
2008	4	181	View
2007	4	167	View
2006	6	345	View
2005	7	551	View
2004	6	766	View
2003	5	466	View
2002	7	403	View
2001	3	163	View
2000	6	325	View
1999	4	197	View
1998 (current)	2	22
1997	2	29	View
1996	2	33	View
1995	0	3	View

Other ACURA Models

Model	Recalls	Complaints
MDX	510	4,287	View
TLX	340	1,306	View
RDX	335	2,540	View
ILX	275	337	View
RLX	187	163	View
NSX	161	20	View
INTEGRA	132	758	View
TLX TYPE S	120	2	View

Vehicle Safety

Consumer Safety

Infrastructure

Public Health

1998 ACURA TL

Complaint Statistics

Top Reported Components

Technical Service Bulletins, 1998 ACURA TL

Most Affected Components

NHTSA Safety Investigations, ACURA TL

ACURA TL - All Years Overview

ACURA TL - Year by Year

Other ACURA Models