The 1998 Acura RL is Honda's luxury flagship with a solid 3.5L V6, but transmission failures and catastrophic engine issues plague high-mileage examples. When maintained meticulously, they're smooth and reliable; neglected ones often need major powertrain work that exceeds the car's value.
Automatic Transmission Failure (Oil Cooler & Internal Damage)
Common · high severityTypical onset: 100,000-150,000 mi
Symptoms: Delayed or harsh 2-3 upshift, especially when cold, Shuddering during light acceleration in 3rd or 4th gear, Metallic debris in transmission fluid or cooler lines, Check engine light with P0730 or P0740 codes
Fix: The transmission oil cooler fails internally, allowing coolant contamination into ATF. Once contaminated, clutch packs and torque converter degrade rapidly. Requires transmission rebuild or replacement plus cooler replacement and full cooling system flush. 12-18 labor hours for rebuild.
Estimated cost: $2,800-4,500
Catastrophic Engine Failure (Piston Ring Land / Cylinder Scoring)
Occasional · high severityTypical onset: 120,000-180,000 mi
Symptoms: Excessive oil consumption (1 quart per 500-1000 miles), Blue smoke on startup or acceleration, Loss of compression in one or more cylinders, Knocking or rattling from lower engine, especially when cold
Fix: Extended oil change intervals or running low on oil causes piston ring land fractures and cylinder wall scoring on the C35A engine. Requires complete engine rebuild with new pistons, rings, honing, and often crankshaft work. 25-35 labor hours for full rebuild.
Estimated cost: $4,500-7,000
Front Lower Ball Joint Separation (NHTSA Recall)
Common · high severityTypical onset: 80,000-120,000 mi
Symptoms: Clunking over bumps from front suspension, Excessive play in steering feel or wheel wobble, Uneven inner tire wear on front tires, Visible grease boot tears on lower control arms
Fix: Ball joint can separate from control arm causing complete loss of steering control. NHTSA recall 01V326000 covered replacement but many units never got the fix. Requires both lower control arms with new ball joints. 3-4 labor hours both sides.
Estimated cost: $600-900
Transmission Mounts Collapse
Common · medium severityTypical onset: 90,000-130,000 mi
Symptoms: Clunk when shifting from Park to Drive or Reverse, Vibration at idle that disappears when in Neutral, Engine rocks excessively during acceleration, Visible sagging of transmission when inspected from below
Fix: Hydraulic transmission mount fails, allowing excessive drivetrain movement. Front and rear mounts typically need replacement together. 2-3 labor hours for both mounts.
Estimated cost: $400-650
Fuel Filter Clogging (In-Tank Unit)
Occasional · medium severitySymptoms: Hard starting after sitting overnight, Loss of power under heavy acceleration or uphill, Engine stumbling or hesitation at highway speeds, Fuel pump whining louder than normal
Fix: In-tank fuel filter rarely gets changed and clogs with sediment, starving the engine. Requires fuel tank drop and pump assembly replacement as filter is not sold separately. 2.5-3.5 labor hours.
Estimated cost: $450-700
Head Gasket Failure (Both Banks)
Occasional · high severityTypical onset: 150,000-200,000 mi
Symptoms: White smoke from exhaust, especially at startup, Coolant loss with no visible external leaks, Oil milkshake appearance on dipstick or oil cap, Overheating or fluctuating temperature gauge
Fix: Head gaskets fail from age and thermal cycling, often both banks simultaneously. Requires cylinder head removal, machining, new gaskets, and timing belt service while apart. 16-22 labor hours for both sides with machine work.
Estimated cost: $3,200-4,800
Only buy if you find one with documented religious maintenance and recent transmission service — otherwise you're gambling on a $5k+ repair bill within a year.
AI-assisted summary drawn from NHTSA recall data, our labor-times database, and platform knowledge. Not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection on a specific vehicle.