NHTSA vehicle safety data

1998 Acura SLX Recalls & Complaints

The 1998 Acura SLX has 1 NHTSA recall campaign and 6 owner complaints on file as of November 3, 2026. Recall repairs are usually free at an authorized Acura dealer.

NHTSA recall and complaint data for the 1998 Acura SLX. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.

1998 Acura SLX owner complaints

Owners have filed 6 complaints with NHTSA about the 1998 Acura SLX, describing incidents dated July 3, 1998 to May 4, 2006.

Most-cited components

Engine 3 complaints
Fuel/Propulsion System 1 complaint
Tires 1 complaint
Vehicle Speed Control 1 complaint

Newest complaints

ODI #10156940 · Filed May 7, 2006
MY 1998 ACURA SLX, WITH 122,000 MILES, REQUIRES A NEW ENGINE. THE CAR DEVELOPED A LOUD SLAPPING NOISE AND WAS DIAGNOSED BY 2 MECHANICS AS A BROKEN PISTON SKIRT. I WAS TOLD THAT THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE WITH THESE CARS - A RESULT OF A MISMATCH BETWEEN THE ISUZU ENGINE AND THE ACURA TRANSMISSION. *NM
ODI #10081295 · Filed July 18, 2004
IN JUNE OF 2003, WE TOOK OUR 1998 ACURA SLX W/45K MILES ON IT INTO STEVENS CREEK ISUZU DEALERSHIP FOR A MAJOR SERVICE AND TO CHECK OUT THE "PINGING/GRINDING" NOISE THAT WE HAD BEEN HEARING FOR A LONG TIME. WE WERE TOLD THEY COULDN'T DUPLICATE THE NOISE. IN JUNE 2004, WE TOOK IT TO THE RENO ISUZU FOR…
ODI #10044341 · Filed January 16, 2004
CONSUMER STATED SHE HEARD KNOCKING AND A LOUD PINGING NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE. SHE THEN PULLED OVER AND HER HUSBAND CHECKED THE VEHICLE AND SAW THAT THE OIL WAS EMPTY ALTHOUGH SHE HAD AN OIL CHANGE BEFORE THE TRIP. ALL OF THE OIL SPILLED FROM THE ENGINE. ENGINE HAD BLOWN. *AK *SC *JB

Read all 6 complaints

ISUZU/TRANSFER GEAR BOX

NHTSA #98V180000 · Power Train — Transfer Case (4-WHEEL DRIVE) · NHTSA notice

Reported August 3, 1998 · ISUZU MOTORS LIMITED

Potentially affected: 3,062 vehicles

Owners notified August 24, 1998 · Vehicles built September 1, 1997 – January 31, 1998 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES. THE TRANSFER GEARBOX FLANGE NUTS WERE NOT PROPERLY INSTALLED, CAUSING THE NUTS TO LOOSEN.

Safety consequence

IF THE FLANGE NUTS LOOSEN, THE PROPELLER SHAFT CAN SEPARATE, RENDERING THE VEHICLE INOPEATIVE.

Manufacturer remedy

DEALERS WILL INSPECT FRONT AND REAR FLANGE NUTS AND, IF FOUND LOOSE, TIGHTEN TO SPECIFIED TORQUE AND SECURED STAKED AT TWO PLACES.

Notes

OWNER NOTIFICATION IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN AUGUST 24, 1998. 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 ISUZU AT 1-800-643-4070, EXT. 300 OR ACURA AT 1-800-382-2238.ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S AUTO SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236).

try.vin has no NCAP crash-test rating on file for the 1998 Acura SLX. NHTSA rates some vehicles by body style — pickups by cab, vans by roof height — so check nhtsa.gov/ratings.

6 owner complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 1998 Acura SLX.

Engine and Engine Cooling

ODI #10156940

Incident: May 4, 2006 · Filed: May 7, 2006

MY 1998 ACURA SLX, WITH 122,000 MILES, REQUIRES A NEW ENGINE. THE CAR DEVELOPED A LOUD SLAPPING NOISE AND WAS DIAGNOSED BY 2 MECHANICS AS A BROKEN PISTON SKIRT. I WAS TOLD THAT THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE WITH THESE CARS - A RESULT OF A MISMATCH BETWEEN THE ISUZU ENGINE AND THE ACURA TRANSMISSION. *NM

Engine and Engine Cooling

ODI #10081295

Incident: June 1, 2004 · Filed: July 18, 2004

IN JUNE OF 2003, WE TOOK OUR 1998 ACURA SLX W/45K MILES ON IT INTO STEVENS CREEK ISUZU DEALERSHIP FOR A MAJOR SERVICE AND TO CHECK OUT THE "PINGING/GRINDING" NOISE THAT WE HAD BEEN HEARING FOR A LONG TIME. WE WERE TOLD THEY COULDN'T DUPLICATE THE NOISE. IN JUNE 2004, WE TOOK IT TO THE RENO ISUZU FOR AN OIL CHANGE AND TO CHECK OUT THE NOISE AND WE WERE TOLD THAT WE NEEDED A NEW ENGINE. OUR CAR NOW HAS 54K MILES ON IT. WE TOOK IT TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC SHOP FOR A SECOND OPINION AND WERE TOLD THAT A ROD WAS BLOWN AND A NEW ENGINE WOULD BE NEEDED. THE CAR IS STILL IN THE SHOP. WE PAID $4K FOR A NEW ENGINE SO FAR AND WILL OWE ABOUT $3K IN LABOR & MISC. PARTS. WE FEEL THAT SINCE THIS PROBLEM STARTED WHILE STILL UNDER "MILEAGE" WARRANTY BUT COULD NOT BE DIAGNOSED, ACURA/ISUZU SHOULD PAY FOR THE ENGINE AND LABOR THAT WE HAVE INCURED. OUR MILEAGE IS EXTREMELY LOW AND THERE SHOULD BE NO REASON TO REPLACE THE ENGINE THIS SOON. WE OWN A 1993 JEEP CHEROKEE THAT HAVE 117K MILES ON THE ORIGINAL ENGINE! WE HAVE READ MANY COMPLAINTS ON OTHER WEBSITES ABOUT THE ACURA/ISUZU ENGINES BLOWING SO EARLY. WE ARE VERY DISAPPOINTED AND WILL NEVER RECOMMEND NOR BUY AN ACURA/ISUZU AGAIN.

Engine and Engine Cooling

ODI #10044341

Incident: October 20, 2003 · Filed: January 16, 2004

CONSUMER STATED SHE HEARD KNOCKING AND A LOUD PINGING NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE. SHE THEN PULLED OVER AND HER HUSBAND CHECKED THE VEHICLE AND SAW THAT THE OIL WAS EMPTY ALTHOUGH SHE HAD AN OIL CHANGE BEFORE THE TRIP. ALL OF THE OIL SPILLED FROM THE ENGINE. ENGINE HAD BLOWN. *AK *SC *JB

Vehicle Speed Control

ODI #742841

Filed: March 21, 2001

THROTTLE SUCKED TO THE GROUND AND WOULD NOT RELEASE WHEN BRAKES APPLIED, WHEN EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS EXTENDED. *AK

Tires

ODI #732031

Incident: August 20, 2000 · Filed: September 20, 2000

UNABLE TO STEER STRAIGHT LINE AT 70 MPH 95 DEGREES, WANDERS OVER ROAD, OKAY WHEN TIRES COLD. *AK( DOT NUMBER: CLL417 TIRE SIZE: P245/70R16 )

Fuel System, Gasoline

ODI #539076

Incident: July 3, 1998 · Filed: July 31, 1998

THE QUICK DISCONNECT GAS TANK CONNECTION CAME LOOSE ON THE HIGHWAY. DRIVER IS UNAWARE OF LEAK UNTIL MADE AWARE OF IT BY SOMEONE ELSE.

Other Acura SLX model years

Check your 1998 Acura SLX VIN

Not every recall applies to every VIN in a given year. Enter the 17-character VIN from your Acura SLX at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether your specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.

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