Most common 1998 Acura TL problems
Share of the 20 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Acura TL complaints by model year
Best TL years: 2011, 2014, 2009. Years to avoid: 2004, 2003, 2002, 2005, 2000. Compare all years →
1998 Acura TL recalls (2)
Power train › Automatic transmission
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. A transmission case bolt can loosen and fall out allowing the transmission to disengage from the differential.
Remedy: Dealers will install a redesigned bolt.
Suspension › Front › Control arm › Lower ball joint
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.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the front suspension lower ball joints.
What 1998 Acura TL owners say
Engine & cooling
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 exhaust I smell the catalytic converter odor, refinery odor when I drive past refinery, skunk smell when I drive over even a spot where a skunk was removed a few days ago, etc and also the check engine light came on a year ago, as many other owners have reported, I had it diagnosed as failed oxygen sensor but it seems that goes with the cracked engine manifold. This widely reported condition should be a mfgr recall notice. There is no excuse for the failure to recall over this persistent defect. …
Exhaust system on the 1998 Acura 2.5 TL. I have had to have the o2 sensor replaced and now as told the exhaust manifold is cracked. I was aldo told by the dealer that there have been a number of cases were the manifold cracked. If this is a problem that you see repeated in a particular vehicle is it not fairly safe to say there is a problem from the manufacture? What can be done to save consumers the expense of about $1200.00 to repair what seems obvious to be a manufacturer defect with the exhaust system?
Electrical system
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 the vehicle in park sometimes. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 98,000. Updated 12/19/14 updated 05/26/2015
Horn button on the steering wheel is a design defect. It is too small (3/4" by 1"} and in a emergency or panic situation, the horn is impossible to find. Corrected action has been done to the 1999 models, but manufacturer said no correction can be done to the 1998 models, because the steering wheels are not interchangeable. While driving the car, another car ahead of my daughter backed into her in a parking garage while she was frantically searching for the button to warn him. Resulting in a low impact collision to the front bumper.
1998 Acura TL engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.5L 5-cyl | 4-speed automatic | FWD | 17 / 23 / 20 |
| 3.2L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | FWD | 17 / 22 / 19 |
EPA ratings. Class: Compact car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 1998 Acura TL a good car?
Based on 20 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 1998 TL rates better than average: 78% fewer complaints than a typical year of the TL at the same age. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 1998 Acura TL?
The engine & cooling — 9 complaints, 45% of all complaints for this model year, most often about exhaust system › manifold/header/muffler/tail pipe. Next are the electrical system (3) and speed control & acceleration (2).
How many recalls does the 1998 Acura TL have?
There are 2 recalls for the 1998 Acura TL, the most recent from August 19, 1999 (automatic transmission). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Acura TL?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2011, 2014 and 2009. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2004, 2003, 2002, 2005 and 2000. See the full Acura TL years comparison.
At what mileage do 1998 Acura TL problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 78,000 miles; 0% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.