Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 1998 Acura RL, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Suspension2
- Seat belts2
- Power train2
- Visibility2
- Structure2
- Air bags2
- Electrical system1
- Latches/locks/linkages1
- Service brakes, hydraulic1
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 0 injuries and 0 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
New York safety inspections
At its first New York inspection the 1998 Acura RL failed the safety check 2.69% of the time — 57% more often than the average 1998 passenger car (1.71%). Median odometer at inspection: 134,893 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 RL.
| 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… |
| 1999156 19 Aug 1999 | Powertrain On certain vehicles, the transmission case bolt which allows service access to disconnect the differential from the transmission could loosen and fall out. If … |
| 1999101 26 May 1999 | Suspension On certain vehicles, the front suspension lower ball joints may prematurely wear out due to improper finishing of the surface of the spherical portion of the ba… |
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.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. A TRANSMISSION CASE BOLT CAN LOOSEN AND FALL OUT ALLOWING THE TRANSMISSION TO DISENGAGE FROM THE DIFFERENTIAL.
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.
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 RL: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 637638 | INFORMATION ON DIAGNOSING SRS DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE 6-7 AND / OR 7-2 INTERNAL FAILURE OF SRS UNIT. *TT |
| 636758 | SUBJECT REGARDING FRONT SUSPENSION SQUEAKS IN COLD WEATHER. *TT |
| 633353 | INFORMATION REGARDING THE IMMOBILIZER SYSTEM, TYPE 1. *TT |
| 633348 | SERVICE INFORMATION REGARDING SHIFT SHOCK, JUDDER, OR CLUNK NOISE DURING 1ST TO 2ND UPSHIFT. *TT |
| 631033 | INFORMATION ON DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE P1106. *TT |
| 629322 | INFORMATION ON TROUBLESHOOTING DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES P1705, P1768, P0753, P0758. *TT |
| 629320 | SUBJECT REGARDING A SQUEAL NOISE AT FRONT SUSPENSION AT LOW TEMPERATURE. *TT |
| 629316 | INFORMATION ON DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE P1106, BARO SENSOR RANGE, PERFORMANCE. *TT |
| 629312 | INFORMATION ON RESETTING THE OUTSIDE AIR TEMP DISPLAY. *TT |
| 626607 | SUBJECT REGARDING SAFETY RESTRAINT SYSTEM DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE 5-1 THROUGH 8-3, INTERNAL SAFETY RESTRAINT SYSTEM UNIT FAILURE. *YD |
| 626550 | SUBJECT REGARDING WITH NAVIGATION SKYSTEM - REAR WINDOW TINT APPLICATION TIPS. *YD |
| 626524 | SUBJECT REGARDING DRIVER'S POWER WINDOW AUTO-DOWN INOPERATIVE. *YD |
| 626449 | SUBJECT REGARDING ENGINE STARTS AND DIES WHEN IGNITION IS RELEASED. *YD |
| 626434 | INFORMATION REGARDING ENGINE DIES WHEN THE IGNITION KEY IS RELEASED.*JB |
| 626232 | INFORMATION ON MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP WITH DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES P0133 OR P0153.*JB |
| 625978 | SUBJECT REGARDING INTERMITTENT ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. *JB |
| 623291 | SUBJECT REGARDING ENGINE STARTS AND DIES WHEN IGNITION IS RELEASED. *JB |
| 619898 | INFORMATION REGARDING VEHICLES EXHIBITING A TRIP ODOMETER THAT DISPLAYS THREE DASHE (- - -). *TT |
| 619889 | INFORMATION ON TROUBLESHOOTING REPLACEMENT TRANSMISSIONS EXHIBITING A HUMMING, BUZZING, OR WHISTLING SOUND THAT CHANGES TONE IN DIFFERENT GEARS. *TT |
| 619886 | SUBJECT REGARDING CURRENT VARIABLE INTERMITTENT WIPERS SPEED SENSITIVE. *TT |
| 618769 | SUBJECT REGARDING OCCUPANT POSITION DETECTION SENSOR (OPDS) UNIT LOCATION. *TT |
| 618763 | CONCERNS WITH TRIP ODOMETER READING - - -. *TT |
| 618762 | INFORMATION ON PROGRAMMING THE IMMOBILIZER KEYS. *TT |
| 617701 | BRIEF INFORMATION REGARDING BLANK NAVIGATION DISPLAY CONDITION. *TT |
| 617697 | INFORMATION ON REPLACING SEAT BELT TENSIONERS AFTER DEPLOYMENT. *TT |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)