ACURA CL · model year

1998 ACURA CL

69 NHTSA complaints, 2 crash reports for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 1998ACURACL carries 69 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 2 crashes, 2 fires, 3 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.

Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 1998 CL is electrical system with 10 filings, followed by air bags (7) and electrical system:ignition:switch (6). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.

NHTSA currently has 3 investigation files overlapping the 1998 CL, and 2 remain open. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.

69
Complaints
2
Crashes
2
Fires
3
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

69 filings

Crashes Reported

2 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM10
AIR BAGS7
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH6
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL5
SUSPENSION4
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION4
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:PARK/NEUTRAL START INTERLOCK SWITCH2
STEERING2
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS1
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE1
SUSPENSION:FRONT:SHOCK ABSORBER1
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM1
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM1
POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY:AXLE SHAFT:SEAL1
STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR1

Recent Complaints

20201023AIR BAGS

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 ACURA CL. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 20V026000 (AIR BAGS) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS NOT YET AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT CALLED NAPLETON'S PALM BEACH ACURA (6870 OKEECHOBEE BLVD, WEST PALM BEACH, FL 33411; (888) 980-7593) AND IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT PARTS WERE NOT YET AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

20200914AIR BAGS

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 ACURA CL. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 20V026000 (AIR BAGS) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS NOT YET AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER HAD EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. A DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT PARTS WERE NOT YET AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

20200825AIR BAGS

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 ACURA CL. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 20V026000 (AIR BAGS) HOWEVER THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT HAD SCHEDULED AN APPOINTMENT AT ROPER HONDA DEALER (902 N RANGELINE RD, JOPLIN, MO 64801) AND WAS INFORMED THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND CONFIRMED THAT PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMED PART NOT AVAILABLE. *BF*JB

20200708AIR BAGS

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 ACURA CL. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 20V026000 (AIR BAGS) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS NOT AVAILABLE. CROWN ACURA LOCATED AT 18911 US 19 NORTH CLEAR WATER FL 33764, (888) 642-5567) AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE CONTACTED ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT PARTS WOULD BE AVAILABLE FOURTH QUARTER OF 2020. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER HAD EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

20200504AIR BAGS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 ACURA CL. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 20V026000 (AIR BAGS) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER HAD EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. NAPLES ACURA LOCATED AT 659 AIRPORT-PULLING RD, NAPLES, FL 34104, (239)330-4212, WAS CONTACTED BY PHONE AND CONFIRMED THE PART TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. THE VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.*BF*JB

20200415AIR BAGS

THE NEAREST ACURA DEALERSHIP TO ME DOES NOT HAVE THE AIRBAG REPLACEMENT PART TO REPAIR MY RECALLED VEHICLE. THE ACURA DEALERSHIP HAS NO IDEA WHEN AN AIRBAG REPLACEMENT FOR THE VEHICLE WILL BE AVAILABLE TO COMPLETE THE RECALL.

20180909ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

THE SWITCH IS CAUSING MY CAR TO DIE WHILE IM DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD OR WHEN IM STOPPED AND WHEN I START TO PULL OUT ON TO THE MAIN ROAD IT HAS EVEN STAYED RUNNING WHEN I CUT THE CAR OFF AND TAKE THE KEY OUT I WOULD HAVE TO POP MY CLUTCH TO KILL IT AND THEN MY DASH LIGHTS WOULDNT GO OFF OR COME BACK ON AND I WOULDNT KNOW IT TIL I GOT BACK IN MY CAR TO LEAVE AGAIN AND THEN THE BATTERY WOULD BE DEAD, IVE HAD TO HOLD MY KEY ON WHILE DRIVING AND CHANGING GEARS AND NOW ITS CAUSING MY STARTER TO SOUND LIKE SOMETHIN AWFUL ITS GOING TO GET ME KILLED SONETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE ASAP BOUT IT. UNS CAN IGNORE THIS COMPLAINT ALL UNS WANT BUT FAIR WARNING IF I GET KILLED IN IT THERE WILL BE ONE BIG LAW SUIT ON YALLS ASS. TY HAVE A BLEESED DAY I COULD BE TURNING OR ANYTHING IT DOES IT, IT DOES NOT HOLD BACK WHEN IT GETS READY TO CUT OFF IT WILL, THERE IS NO SIGNS WHEN ITS GOING TO HAPPEN. IT HAPPENS EVERYDAY EVERYTIME I DRIVE IT IT CUTS OFF @ LEAST 40 TIMES OR MORE A DAY.

20180227ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

THE VEHICLE DIED WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. I SEE WHERE THERE WAS A RECALL FOR IGNITION SWITCH BUT I AM TOLD BY THE DEALER THERE IS NO ACTIVE RECALL. THE CAR BELONGS TO MY MOTHER. THE DEALER DID NOT CHANGE THE PART IN 2012 BECAUSE THE DEALER COULD NOT REPLICATE THE COMPLAINT.

Mileage: 95,000

20160907AIR BAGS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 ACURA CL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SRS WARNING INDICATOR REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 138,594.

Mileage: 138,594

20160128ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 ACURA CL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED, WHILE DRIVING. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE COULD BE RESTARTED HOWEVER, IT TOOK NUMEROUS ATTEMPTS. THE CONTACT STATED ONCE THE VEHICLE STALLED, THE IMMOBILIZER WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE ELECTRICAL WIRING HARNESS FOR THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. PRIOR TO THE FAILURE, THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN REPAIRED FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 02V120000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE FAILURE OCCURRED DAILY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 225,000.

Mileage: 225,000

20150809ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

IT IS MY DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW THE WINDOW PART IN DOOR THAT CAUSE WINDOW TO GO UP AND DOWN BREAKS AT ANY GIVEN TIME IT JUST HAPPENED AGAIN I LOOKED IN ACURA FORUM WHERE IT'S EVERYONE IS HAVING PROBLEMS SAME THING AND THE COMPANY NEW ABOUT THE PROBLEM DID IT ANYWAY AND HOPED NO RECALL WOULD COME ABOUT. NOW THIS IS SHADES PRACTICE I WENT TO ROLL MY WINDOW DOWN A BEE WAS IN CAR I WAS DRIVING AND COULDN'T JUST PULL OVER ON FREE WAY. MY WINDOW BROKE AGAIN I GOT STUNG I'M SWOLLEN FROM STING AND ALL CAUSE COULDN'T ROLL DOWN A WINDOW THAT SHOULD ALWAYS WORK! I HAVE HAD IT WITH ACURA.

Mileage: 85,000

20150809STRUCTURE:BODY

IT IS MY DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW THE WINDOW PART IN DOOR THAT CAUSE WINDOW TO GO UP AND DOWN BREAKS AT ANY GIVEN TIME IT JUST HAPPENED AGAIN I LOOKED IN ACURA FORUM WHERE IT'S EVERYONE IS HAVING PROBLEMS SAME THING AND THE COMPANY NEW ABOUT THE PROBLEM DID IT ANYWAY AND HOPED NO RECALL WOULD COME ABOUT. NOW THIS IS SHADES PRACTICE I WENT TO ROLL MY WINDOW DOWN A BEE WAS IN CAR I WAS DRIVING AND COULDN'T JUST PULL OVER ON FREE WAY. MY WINDOW BROKE AGAIN I GOT STUNG I'M SWOLLEN FROM STING AND ALL CAUSE COULDN'T ROLL DOWN A WINDOW THAT SHOULD ALWAYS WORK! I HAVE HAD IT WITH ACURA.

Mileage: 85,000

20150809VISIBILITY/WIPER

IT IS MY DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW THE WINDOW PART IN DOOR THAT CAUSE WINDOW TO GO UP AND DOWN BREAKS AT ANY GIVEN TIME IT JUST HAPPENED AGAIN I LOOKED IN ACURA FORUM WHERE IT'S EVERYONE IS HAVING PROBLEMS SAME THING AND THE COMPANY NEW ABOUT THE PROBLEM DID IT ANYWAY AND HOPED NO RECALL WOULD COME ABOUT. NOW THIS IS SHADES PRACTICE I WENT TO ROLL MY WINDOW DOWN A BEE WAS IN CAR I WAS DRIVING AND COULDN'T JUST PULL OVER ON FREE WAY. MY WINDOW BROKE AGAIN I GOT STUNG I'M SWOLLEN FROM STING AND ALL CAUSE COULDN'T ROLL DOWN A WINDOW THAT SHOULD ALWAYS WORK! I HAVE HAD IT WITH ACURA.

Mileage: 85,000

20150519SUSPENSION

DRIVING INTO WORK ON THURSDAY THE 16TH OF APRIL, 2015 I WAS ROUNDING A DESIGNATED U-TURN AT APPROXIMATELY 3-5MPH. AS I WAS MIDWAY THROUGH THE TURN, MY CAR DROPPED ON THE PASSENGER SIDE AND A SCRAPPING NOISE STARTED TO SOUND. MY CAR STOPPED ABRUPTLY AND A GRINDING NOISE MADE ME WEARY TO MOVE. BECOMING STATIONARY, I WAS SIDEWAYS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD WITH CARS APPROACHING. I PROCEEDED TO SLOWLY INCH MY CAR OUT OF THE ROAD AND INTO A SAFE LOCATION WITH THE GRINDING NOISE. WHEN I LIFTED MY CAR UP USING THE JACK IN THE TRUNK I COULD VISIBLY SEE MY LOWER BALL JOINT HAD COME OUT OF THE SOCKET AND THE SUSPENSION ON THE PASSENGER SIDE WAS COLLAPSED. IF THIS OCCURRED APPROXIMATELY HALF A MILE BEFORE THE LOCATION OF THE INCIDENT I WOULD HAVE BEEN DOING 70MPH ON HIGHWAY 75. I AM LUCKY THAT THIS COMPONENT FAILURE DID NOT RESULT IN THE WHEEL BUCKLING UNDER THE PRESSURE OF THE BREAK. ALSO I AM LUCKY THERE WERE NO MORE THAN A FEW CARS APPROACHING ME WHEN THIS OCCURRED (T-BONE SITUATION). I HAVE BE

Mileage: 171,000

20150519STEERING

DRIVING INTO WORK ON THURSDAY THE 16TH OF APRIL, 2015 I WAS ROUNDING A DESIGNATED U-TURN AT APPROXIMATELY 3-5MPH. AS I WAS MIDWAY THROUGH THE TURN, MY CAR DROPPED ON THE PASSENGER SIDE AND A SCRAPPING NOISE STARTED TO SOUND. MY CAR STOPPED ABRUPTLY AND A GRINDING NOISE MADE ME WEARY TO MOVE. BECOMING STATIONARY, I WAS SIDEWAYS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD WITH CARS APPROACHING. I PROCEEDED TO SLOWLY INCH MY CAR OUT OF THE ROAD AND INTO A SAFE LOCATION WITH THE GRINDING NOISE. WHEN I LIFTED MY CAR UP USING THE JACK IN THE TRUNK I COULD VISIBLY SEE MY LOWER BALL JOINT HAD COME OUT OF THE SOCKET AND THE SUSPENSION ON THE PASSENGER SIDE WAS COLLAPSED. IF THIS OCCURRED APPROXIMATELY HALF A MILE BEFORE THE LOCATION OF THE INCIDENT I WOULD HAVE BEEN DOING 70MPH ON HIGHWAY 75. I AM LUCKY THAT THIS COMPONENT FAILURE DID NOT RESULT IN THE WHEEL BUCKLING UNDER THE PRESSURE OF THE BREAK. ALSO I AM LUCKY THERE WERE NO MORE THAN A FEW CARS APPROACHING ME WHEN THIS OCCURRED (T-BONE SITUATION). I HAVE BE

Mileage: 171,000

20150201ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

THE CAR STOPPED AT 40 MILES AN HR WE WERE DRIVING ON ROAD WITH TRAFFIC CAR DIED WOULDN'T START IT WAS IN THE MIDDLE LANE CARS HAD TO SERVE NOT TO HIT US. NO ONE WOULD HELP MY HUSBAND PUSH IT OFF ROAD. WE DODGED A BULLET. THIS IS ONE OF MANY ISSUES WITH OWNING THE CAR. A WASTE OF MONEY CAR IS CRAP MADE. *TR

Mileage: 90,000

20141003ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

WE HAD TO REPLACE OUR TRANSMISSION AFTER 70000MILES, WE HAD TO REPLACE A DRIVERS SIDE ELECTRIC WINDOW TWICE, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ALWAYS STAYS ON NOTHING WRONG, CAR STALLED GOING 45MPHS FIXED THAT PROBLEM OTHER LIGHTS NOW STAY ON NO MATTER IF NOTHING IS WRONG, THIS CAR ISN'T WORTH THE MONEY TOO MANY PROBLEMS AND THEY TELL ME MY VIN NUMBER DOESN'T FIT THE RECALLS BUT WE HAVE THE SAME PROBLEMS, I'M GOING TO START RAISING A STINK IT'S RIDICULOUS, *TR

Mileage: 62,000

20141003POWER TRAIN

WE HAD TO REPLACE OUR TRANSMISSION AFTER 70000MILES, WE HAD TO REPLACE A DRIVERS SIDE ELECTRIC WINDOW TWICE, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ALWAYS STAYS ON NOTHING WRONG, CAR STALLED GOING 45MPHS FIXED THAT PROBLEM OTHER LIGHTS NOW STAY ON NO MATTER IF NOTHING IS WRONG, THIS CAR ISN'T WORTH THE MONEY TOO MANY PROBLEMS AND THEY TELL ME MY VIN NUMBER DOESN'T FIT THE RECALLS BUT WE HAVE THE SAME PROBLEMS, I'M GOING TO START RAISING A STINK IT'S RIDICULOUS, *TR

Mileage: 62,000

20121013ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

AT 55 MPH THE CAR ENGINE SHUT DOWN AND ALL POWER WAS LOST. CONTACTING THE COMPANY ABOUT A RECALL THAT I SAW ON THE INTERNET THE COMPANY SAID THAT THE RECALL WAS ALREADY COMPLETED ON MY CAR. I DID NOT REMEMBER IT BEING DONE BUT TOLD THEM THAT THE PROBLEM FOR THE FIRST TIME IN OWNING THE CAR IN 344,000 MILES HAS NOW STARTED. THEY SAID THEY COULD FIX IT BUT COULD NOT BE COVERED BY THE RECALL. I DROVE TO THE DEALERSHIP TO HAVE THE PROBLEM CONFIRMED AND REPAIRED THE NEXT DAY. THEY SAID IT WAS THE ELECTRICAL PART OF IGNITION SWITCH, BUT THAT THEY DID NOT HAVE IT AND I WOULD HAVE TO TAKE THE CAR BACK AND MAKE ANOTHER APPOINTMENT WHEN THE PART WAS IN STOCK.

Mileage: 344,000

20121011ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

THE CAR, WHILE DRIVING SHUT DOWN AND LOST ALL POWER WHILE BEING DRIVEN AT 55 MPH, I CHECKED THE INTERNET FOR ANYONE ELSE HAVING THAT ISSUE AND FOUND THE RECALL ON MY CAR FOR IGNITION SWITCH, I CALLED THE DEALER AND THEY SAID THAT MY CAR ALREADY HAD THE RECALL PERFORMED BUT WOULD LOOK AT IT AND CONFIRM THE PROBLEM. I DROVE THE CAR OVER, WHILE DOING SO IT DIED ON ME AGAIN. THE DEALER CONFIRMED THAT THEY THOUGHT IT WAS THE SWITCH AND SINCE IT WAS ALREADY BEEN RECALLED I WOULD HAVE TO PAY THE $500.00 TO REPLACE IT. ( I WOULD THINK THAT SINCE IT APPEARED THAT THE "FIX" DID NOT WORK THAT IT SHOULD BE REPLACED AGAIN.) THE DEALER THEN TOLD ME THAT SINCE THEY DID NOT HAVE THE PART IN STOCK THAT I WOULD HAVE TO MAKE ANOTHER APPOINTMENT AND GAVE ME MY CAR TO DRIVE HOME. (NOW THERE'S A REAL SAFETY ISSUE.) SINCE I AM CURRENTLY NOT WORKING I DECIDED TO REPLACE THE SWITCH MYSELF AND UPON OPENING UP THE STEERING COLUMN I FOUND THAT THE 2 BOLTS HOLDING THE KEY LOCK TO THE COLUMN ARE A SAFETY TYPE " PAN

Mileage: 344,000

Compare 1998ACURACL to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations 2 Open

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 1998 ACURA CL have?
The 1998 ACURA CL has 69 NHTSA complaints, 2 crashes, 2 fires, 3 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1998 ACURA CL?
The most-complained component for the 1998 ACURA CL is ELECTRICAL SYSTEM with 10 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include AIR BAGS and ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH.
Is the 1998 ACURA CL safe to buy?
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.

Vehicle Safety Guides

Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.