1998 Acura CL: complaints, problems and recalls

A COUPLE MONTHS AGO MY CAR STARTED TO HAVE WOBBLING. TOOK IT TO HAVE AN ALIGNMENT THAT DID NOT WORK SO THEN I BOUGHT ALL NEW TIRES AND STILL HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM SO I TOOK IT TO ACURA AND THEY CLAIM IT IS THE TIRES SO I CHANGED THE TIRES WITH WIDER TIRES STILL THE PROBLEM IS THERE . MY CAR IS A LUXURY CAR IT SHOULD RIDE SMOOTH AND IT IS NOT. *NLM

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10020528 at NHTSA ↗

THERE IS A RECALL ON THE EMISSION CONTROL/EGR VALVE WHICH IS NOT WORKING PROPERLY. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10022567 at NHTSA ↗

WHILE BACKING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE SUDDENLY LURCHED FORWARD HITTING ANOTHER VEHICLE AND PEDESTRIANS. NO WARNING. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10024369 at NHTSA ↗

1998 ACURA CL 3.0. THE STEERING IS LOOSE. IMPERFECTIONS OF THE ROAD PULL THE STEERING WHEEL. SOMETIMES DANGEROUSLY SO. SOMETIMES DEPENDING ON THE DEFECT IN THE ROAD AND THE DRIVING EVENT (EVASIVE MANEUVER, HEAVY BREAKING) THE CAR IS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO KEEP IN ONES' LANE. I HAVE SEARCHED ONLINE FORUMS, AND THIS PROBLEMS EFFECTS OTHER ACURA OWNERS, UNLIKE OTHER ISSUES, THIS ONE SEEMS TO BE A MYSTERY. PLEASE HELP. SINCERELY ROBERT GENTILE . *AK

Owner-reported narrative. 45,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10049667 at NHTSA ↗

TRANSMISSION FAILED AT 63,000 MILES. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. 63,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10059154 at NHTSA ↗

WHILE DRIVING ON AN OPEN STRETCH OF HIGHWAY, MY 1998 ACURA 3.0CL BEGAN ACCELERATING WITHOUT ME PUSHING DOWN ON THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. THE CAR REACHED A SPEED OF 95 MPH, AND I COULD NOT STOP IT WITH THE BRAKES, THEY WERE COMPLETELY USELESS. I HAD TO SLAM THE TRANSMISSION INTO PARK TO MAKE THE CAR SLOW DOWN. WHEN THE CAR BEGAN TO SLOW DOWN TO 60 MPH I USED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO BRING IT TO A STOP. THE ENGINE WAS WOUND UP AT THIS POINT DUE TO THE ACCELERATOR STILL BEING STUCK. I SHUT THE ENGINE OFF. I AM RETURNING THIS CAR TO ACURA AND MAY …

Owner-reported narrative. 64,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10060569 at NHTSA ↗

THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN O THE DEALER FOR NHTSA RECALL # 03V423000 SUBJECT:IGNITION SWITCH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR THE FREE REMEDY. AFTER THE REPAIR, THE DRIVER COULD NOT TAKE THE KEY OUT OF THE IGNITION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHERE THE MECHANIC WAS ABLE TO GET THE KEY OUT OF THE IGNITION. NOW THE KEY CAN BE TAKEN OUT OF THE IGNITION WHILE IN OTHER GEARS. CONSUMER REQUESTS ODI TO CALL WITH INFORMATION ON HOW THIS WILL BE HANDLED. *NM

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10064844 at NHTSA ↗

WHILED DRIVING BETWEEN 25 TO 30 MP CONSUMER'S VEHICLE REAR ENDED A HEAVY TRUCK. UPON IMPACT, NEITHER OF THE FRONT AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. 90,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10066998 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2002-05-16 (May 16, 2002)

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.

Consequence: WORN CONTACTS COULD CAUSE THE ENGINE TO STALL WITHOUT WARNING, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE IGNITION SWITCH. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JUNE 14, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT HONDA AT 1-800-999-1009 OR ACURA AT 1-800-382-2238.

Reported: 2003-10-27 (October 27, 2003)

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."

Consequence: IF THE VEHICLE OPERATOR DOES NOT SHIFT TO "PARK" BEFORE REMOVING THE KEY AND FAILS TO ENGAGE THE PARKING BRAKE, THE VEHICLE COULD ROLL AND A CRASH COULD OCCUR.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL PERFORM AN INSPECTION PROCEDURE THAT DETERMINES THE AMOUNT OF CYLINDER BODY WEAR. IF SIGNIFICANT WEAR IS INDICATED, THE DEALER WILL REPLACE THE CYLINDER BODY, COLLAR, AND LATCH PLATE. IF NO SIGNS OF WEAR ARE INDICATED, DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE LATCH PLATE WITH A REDESIGNED PART. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN DECEMBER 8, 2003. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT HONDA AT 1-800-999-1009 OR ACURA AT 1-800-382-2238.

Reported: 2020-01-17 (January 17, 2020)

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.

Consequence: In the event of a crash necessitating air bag deployment, an inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants. An underinflated air bag cushion may not properly protect the occupant. These scenarios increase the risk of serious injury or death.

Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the driver frontal air bag inflator, and replace it if necessary, with an inflator of a different design, free of charge. The recall began October 1, 2020. Owners may contact American Honda's Customer Support & Campaign Center at 1-888-234-2138 or Isuzu customer service at 1-800-255-6727.

Reported: 1998-02-10 (February 10, 1998)

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."

Consequence: THIS CONDITION CAN CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO ROLL DOWN AN INCLINE WHEN THE TRANSMISSION IS LOCKED IN "PARK," INCREASING THE RISK OF PERSONAL INJURY AND/OR PROPERTY DAMAGE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A COLLAR ON THE TRANSMISSION PARKING PAWL TO ENSURE PROPER MOVEMENT OF THE ACTUATION LEVER.

Reported: 1999-05-10 (May 10, 1999)

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.