Reliability & 5-year cost of ownership — 1998 Acura CL
NHTSA data on file today
The 1998 Acura CL has 5 NHTSA recall campaigns and 55 owner complaints on file as of . Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.
Recall campaigns on file
- NHTSA #20V026000 Air Bag Inflators May Rupture or Underinflate Bag NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #03V423000 HONDA/IGNITION SWITCH NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #02V120000 HONDA/IGNITION SWITCH NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #99V069000 HONDA/BALL JOINTS NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #98V018000 HONDA/TRANSMISSION PARKING PAWL NHTSA notice
Most-cited components in owner complaints
- Electrical System 17 complaints
- Power Train 10 complaints
- Air Bags 8 complaints
- Suspension 7 complaints
- Vehicle Speed Control 5 complaints
- Engine and Engine Cooling 4 complaints
Of the 55 complaints on file, 2 report a crash and 1 a fire; across all 55 complaints, owners report 3 injuries (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).
Below average
Estimated 5-year repair + maintenance cost: $4,500–$7,500AI estimate — not from NHTSA data
The 1998 Acura CL faces several recalls, notably affecting airbags and ignition systems, compounded by electrical and powertrain complaints. This suggests a higher likelihood of expensive repairs.
Most-common failures
| Part | Typical mileage (AI estimate) | Cost range (AI estimate) | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| ignition switch | 50,000–80,000 miles | $100–$300 | common |
| airbag inflator | 60,000–90,000 miles | $200–$500 | common |
| front suspension | 70,000–100,000 miles | $300–$600 | occasional |
| transmission | 80,000–110,000 miles | $1,200–$3,000 | occasional |
| electrical system | 50,000–70,000 miles | $100–$400 | occasional |
AI estimate — not from NHTSA data: the mileage bands and repair-cost ranges above. Get a written repair quote before you budget.
Scheduled maintenance to budget
Routine items every owner should plan for.
- Oil change every 5,000 miles
- Replace air filter annually
- Brake inspection every 20,000 miles
- Transmission fluid change every 60,000 miles
- Cooling system flush every 30,000 miles
Warning signs to watch for
Symptoms that signal a major upcoming repair.
- Airbag warning light
- Difficulty turning key
- Suspension noises
- Transmission slipping
- Electrical system failures
Generated by gpt-4o on from the NHTSA recall campaigns and owner-complaint counts on file for the 1998 Acura CL at the time. The rating is an AI assessment; cost and mileage figures are AI estimates, not NHTSA data.