The 1998 Acura TL has 2 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 221,393 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 22 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the engine and engine cooling. Last updated July 5, 2026.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. A TRANSMISSION CASE BOLT CAN LOOSEN AND FALL OUT ALLOWING THE TRANSMISSION TO DISENGAGE FROM THE DIFFERENTIAL.
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.
DEALERS WILL INSTALL A REDESIGNED BOLT.
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.
THIS CONDITION WOULD RESULT IN VEHICLE DECELERATION AND A SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER. ALSO STEERING CONTROLLABILITY WOULD BE REDUCED.
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FRONT SUSPENSION LOWER BALL JOINTS.
Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal information removed.
“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.”
“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…”
“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…”
“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…”
“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”
“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…”
“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 not…”
“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 exhaust…”
Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL, FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 1998 Acura TL as of July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page contains ads and affiliate links. Full methodology.