Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 1998 Acura CL, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Electrical system18
- Power train10
- Air bags8
- Suspension7
- Vehicle speed control5
- Engine and engine cooling4
- Steering4
- Latches/locks/linkages2
- Fuel system, gasoline2
- Tires2
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 3 injuries and 0 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
Fatal crashes in the US
From 2020 to 2023, 4 1998 CL vehicles were involved in crashes on US public roads in which someone died; 4 people died inside them, and 1 of the vehicles rolled over. This is a count, not a crash rate: it grows with the number of cars on the road.
NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), crash years 2020–2023 (public domain)
New York safety inspections
At its first New York inspection the 1998 Acura CL failed the safety check 1.62% of the time — 6% less often than the average 1998 passenger car (1.71%). Median odometer at inspection: 130,797 miles.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections (vezn-fmmk), initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
Recalls in Canada
3 Transport Canada recalls for the 1998 Acura CL.
| 2020014 17 Jan 2020 | Airbag Issue: On certain vehicles, exposure to moisture over time could cause the driver-front airbag not to inflate properly in a crash. In some cases, this could c… |
| 2003276 10 Nov 2003 | Other On certain vehicles, the ignition switch may wear excessively and prevent proper interlock operation, making it possible to turn the ignition key to the off pos… |
| 2002096 24 May 2002 | Electrical On certain vehicles electrical contacts in the ignition switch can degrade due to the high electrical current passing through the switch when the vehicle is sta… |
Transport Canada Vehicle Recalls Database · Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 1998 Acura 2.2CL, 1998-1999 Acura 2.3CL, 1998-1999 Acura 3.0CL, 2001 Acura 3.2CL and Acura MDX, 1998-2000 Honda Accord Coupe, Accord Sedan, Civic Sedan, Odyssey and Acura 3.5RL, 1999-2000 Acura 3.2TL, 1996-2000 Civic Coupe, 1997-2000 CR-V, 1997-1998 EV Plus, and 1998-1999 Isuzu Oasis vehicles. These vehicles were equipped with Non-Azide Driver air bag Inflators (NADI) and do not contain phase stabilized ammonium nitrate (PSAN) propellant. Due to a manufacturing issue, the NADI inflators may absorb moisture, causing the inflators to rupture or the air bag cushion to underinflate.
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES AND MINI VANS, THE IGNITION SWITCH MAY WEAR EXCESSIVELY AND PREVENT PROPER INTERLOCK OPERATION, MAKING IT POSSIBLE TO TURN THE IGNITION KEY TO THE "OFF" POSITION AND REMOVE THE KEY WITHOUT SHIFTING THE TRANSMISSION TO "PARK."
ON CERTAIN SEDANS, COUPES, HATCHBACKS, AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, ELECTRICAL CONTACTS IN THE IGNITION SWITCH CAN DEGRADE DUE TO THE HIGH ELECTRICAL CURRENT PASSING THROUGH THE SWITCH WHEN THE VEHICLE IS STARTED.
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.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES (HONDA ACCORD SEDANS MANUFACTURED FROM SEPTEMBER 18, 1997 TO JANUARY 10, 1998; COUPES MANUFACTURED DECEMBER 11, DECEMBER 15, 1997, AND JANUARY 5, 1998; ACURA 2.3CL MANUFACTURED OCTOBER 22, 1997 THROUGH JANUARY 7, 1998). DURING MANUFACTURING, THE CASTING DIE CAUSED AN IRREGULARITY IN THE RIGHT-SIDE TRANSMISSION COVER. THIS IRREGULARITY CAN LIMIT THE MOVEMENT OF THE PARKING PAWL ACTUATION LEVEL AND PREVENT ADEQUATE ENGAGEMENT OF THE PARKING GEAR PAWL. THIS DOES NOT COMPLY WITH FMVS NO. 114, "THEFT PROTECTION."
Whether a recall was fixed on a particular car is known only to the manufacturer: check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA recalls · summaries in NHTSA's own words
Service bulletins
What Acura told its dealers about the 1998 Acura CL: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 636758 | SUBJECT REGARDING FRONT SUSPENSION SQUEAKS IN COLD WEATHER. *TT |
| 633346 | SERVICE BULLETIN INFORMATION REGARDING POWER WINDOWS THAT DO NOT WORK. *TT |
| 631035 | SOME 2000 MDX MODELS AS WELL AS OTHER MODELS MAY EXHIBIT BRIEF HESITATION WHEN ACCELERATING AT HIGH ENGINE SPEED. *TT |
| 629320 | SUBJECT REGARDING A SQUEAL NOISE AT FRONT SUSPENSION AT LOW TEMPERATURE. *TT |
| 627128 | INFORMATION REGARDING EGR PORT CLOGGING. *YH |
| 626635 | SUBJECT REGARDING CRANKS, WON'T START WITH TYPE II IMMOBILIZER SYSTEM. *YD |
| 626607 | SUBJECT REGARDING SAFETY RESTRAINT SYSTEM DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE 5-1 THROUGH 8-3, INTERNAL SAFETY RESTRAINT SYSTEM UNIT FAILURE. *YD |
| 626468 | SUBJECT REGARDING THE CL SECURITY SYSTEM LAST TRIPPED SENSOR MEMORY. *YD |
| 626428 | INFORMATION ON WARRANTY EXTENSION ON EGR SYSTEM CLOGGING.*JB |
| 626267 | V6 ENGINE OIL LEAKS. *JB THIS BULLETIN SUPERSEDES 01-041, DATED 10/29/2001. *TT |
| 626225 | SUBJECT REGARDING WARRANTY EXTENSION ON EXHAUST GAS RECIRCULATION PORT CLOGGING. *JB |
| 623629 | SUBJECT ON SECURITY SYSTEM LAST TRIPPED SENSOR MEMORY. NLM |
| 623225 | CONCERNS WITH THE MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP COMING ON WITH DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE. *JB |
| 618762 | INFORMATION ON PROGRAMMING THE IMMOBILIZER KEYS. *TT |
| 618758 | BRIEF INFORMATION REGARDING THE OIL PUMP O-RING FOR 1998 AND 1999 2.3CL MODELS. *TT |
| 615753 | SUBJECT REGARDING P1259 AFTER BARE BLOCK REPLACEMENT FOR 2001 3.2CL, 2001 MDX, 1999 - 2001 3.2TL AND 1997 - 1999 3.0CL MODEL VEHICLES. *TT |
| 613521 | INFORMATION REGARDING A PROBLEM WITH THE MECHANICAL PART OF THE WINDOW REGULATOR ON CL VEHICLES AFTER THE FOLLOWING VIN: 1998 3.0 CL, 19UYA2--WL004819, 1998 2.3 CL, 19UYA--WL005233 OR ANY 1999 CL. *MR |
| 610581 | PRODUCT UPDATE CAMPAIGN ON REPLACING PCV HOSE ROUTING. *TT |
| 610252 | BRIEF INFORMATION ON REPLACING A LEAKY TORQUE CONVERTER SEAL. *TT |
| 610236 | SOME VEHICLES BUILT WITHIN VIN 19UYA2 ... XL005044 AND 19UYA2 ... XL005158 MAY EXHIBIT A MALFUNCTION INIDCATOR LAMP ON AND DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE P0401 (INSUFFICIENT EGR FLOW) IS SET. *TT |
| 609923 | TOO MUCH CLEARANCE BETWEEN THE WINDOW GUIDE PIN AND REAR CHANNEL GUIDE CAUSING, RATTLE FROM A PARTIALLY OPEN WINDOW WHEN DRIVING ON A ROUGH ROAD. YD |
| 608037 | SERVICE MANUAL REVISION MADE TO SHOW 5W-30 MOTOR OIL BEING USED IN THE TIMING BELT AUTO-TENSIONER. *TT |
| 606306 | CUSTOMER MAY COMPLAIN OF FAST OR EARLY UPSHIFTS, SHIFT HARSHNESS, DELAY FLARING OR SLIPPAGE. *TT |
| 604642 | PROCEDURES ON REPAIRING INOPERATIVE POWER WINDOW. *TT |
| 604640 | SUBJECT REGARDING POWER SEAT MAKING A GROWLING OR RATTLING NOISE. *TT |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)