At a glance

Reported mileage1 mi

LocationPa, USA

ColorBlack

Last listed price$475

Open recalls3

Vehicle identity & specifications

Make

Acura

Model

RL

Year

1998

Trim

3.5 Premium

Body style

Sedan/Saloon

Vehicle type

PASSENGER CAR

Engine

3.5L 6-cyl 210 hp

Cylinders

6

Fuel type

Gasoline

Transmission

Automatic

Doors

4

Assembly plant

SAYAMA, SAITAMA, JAPAN

Manufacturer

HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.

What's a 1998 Acura RL worth?

What comparable 1998 Acura RL vehicles are listed for — a quick gut-check before you negotiate.

Low

$1,500

Typical price

$2,050

High

$2,600

Most 1998 Acura RL listings fall between $1,500 and $2,600, from 6 comparable cars.

Is the seller's price fair? Get this exact VIN's current market value — retail, trade-in & loan value — in the full report.

See this car's exact value →

Full vehicle history report

$14.99 USD · one-time

What a full report checks for VIN JH4KA9669WC800842

⚠️ 3 open safety recalls — shown above, free 🔒 Title & brand records 🔒 Accident & damage history 🔒 Salvage, total-loss & theft 🔒 Odometer & owner count 🔒 Liens & market valuation

A full report searches national title databases (NMVTIS) and licensed history providers for this VIN and shows whatever records are on file — not every vehicle has every record type. The decode, safety recalls and owner complaints above are always free.

📜 Title status Clean, salvage, rebuilt, junk, flood or lemon

🏷️ Title brand history Every brand ever applied, by state

🧾 Number of owners How many registrations on record

🛞 Odometer readings Reported mileage over time

🔎 Rollback check Mileage inconsistency / tamper flags

💥 Accident & damage Reported collisions and damage events

🚧 Total-loss records Insurance total-loss declarations

♻️ Salvage & auction Salvage-yard and auction history

🚓 Theft records Reported / recovered theft events

🏦 Liens & impounds Outstanding liens or impound records

🏷️ Sale & listing history Past marketplace and dealer listings

💰 Market valuation Estimated value for this exact spec

Unlock full report — $14.99 → or get up to 20 reports a month for $19.99/mo → One-time purchase · permanent access · VIN JH4KA9669WC800842

Safety recalls 3

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 1998 Acura 2.2CL, 1998-1999 Acura 2.3CL, 1998-1999 Acura 3.0CL, 2001 Acura 3.2CL and Acura MDX, 1998-2000 Honda Accord Coupe, Accord Sedan, Civic Sedan, Odyssey and Acura 3.5RL, 1999-2000 Acura 3.2TL, 1996-2000 Civic Coupe, 1997-2000 CR-V, 1997-1998 EV Plus, and 1998-1999 Isuzu Oasis vehicles. These vehicles were equipped with Non-Azide Driv…

Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the driver frontal air bag inflator, and replace it if necessary, with an inflator of a different design, free of charge. The recall began October 1, 2020. Owners may contact American Honda's Customer Support & Campaign Center at 1-888-234-2138 or

NHTSA Campaign #20V026000 · 17/01/2020

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.

NHTSA Campaign #99V227000 · 19/08/1999

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.

NHTSA Campaign #99V069000 · 10/05/1999

Get free recall alerts for this vehicle

We'll email you the moment a new safety recall is issued — no spam, unsubscribe any time.

Common problems & what to inspect

Based on 11 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 1998 Acura RL, here are the most-reported problem areas — and exactly what to check before you buy.

Air Bags 2 reports

🔍 Confirm the airbag light turns on then off at startup — if it stays lit there's a fault (costly, and a safety risk). Check for signs of prior deployment.

Suspension 2 reports

🔍 Listen for clunks over bumps, check the car sits level, and look for uneven tire wear and worn shocks or struts.

Structure 2 reports

🔍 Inspect for rust, fresh undercoating, mismatched paint, uneven panel gaps and any sign of prior collision or frame repair.

Seat Belts 2 reports

🔍 Check that every belt latches, retracts and locks under a sharp tug, and that none are frayed.

Visibility 2 reports

🔍 Test wipers, washers, defrosters and all mirrors. Check the windshield for cracks and any camera/sensor for fogging or faults.

Power Train 2 reports

🔍 Drive through every gear: watch for slipping, hard or delayed shifts, and shudder. Check for transmission/driveline leaks and noises.

Pre-purchase checklist

Match the VIN on the dash, door jamb and title — they must be identical.
Cold-start the engine; listen for knocks and check for blue or white exhaust smoke.
Test-drive through all gears at low and highway speed — no slipping, shudder or pulling.
Confirm every warning light clears at startup (none should stay on).
Check fluids — oil, coolant, transmission — for level, color and leaks.
Look underneath for rust, fresh undercoating or signs of collision repair.
Always get an independent pre-purchase inspection from a trusted mechanic.

Owner complaints 11

Complaints filed with NHTSA by owners of the 1998 Acura RL.

AIR BAGS

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 ACURA RL. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 20V026000 (AIR BAGS) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF T…

NHTSA ODI #11340379

AIR BAGS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 ACURA RL. 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. AN UNKNOWN DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT PARTS WERE NO…

NHTSA ODI #11327944

SUSPENSION

MAY 15, 2010...I HAD MY LEFT CV AXLE AND TIRE ALIGNMENT ON THE LEFT SIDE SERVICED. JULY 2, 2010 I WAS DRIVING AND MADE A LEFT TURN. ABOUT A HALF A MILE DOWN THE ROAD MY CAR ON THE LEFT SIDE COMPLETELY COLLAPSED. I THOUGHT IT WAS A TIRE BLOW OUT, BUT IT WASN'T. VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND INSPECTED. DIAGNOSED: LEFT LOWER BALL JOINT CAUSED THE INCIDENT ACCORDING TO …

NHTSA ODI #10341626

STRUCTURE,LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES

1998 ACURA AND OTHER HONDA VEHICLES INTERIOR DOOR HANDLES ON DRIVERS SIDE FAILS NOT ALLOWING DRIVERS TO EGRESS THE VEHICLE. YOU CANT OPEN THE DOOR FROM INSIDE. THE ONLY WAY OUT OF THE VEHICLE IF SITTING IN THE DRIVERS SEAT IS TO HAVE SOMEONE OPEN THE DOOR FROM THE OUTSIDE. ACURA REFUSES TO FIX STATING VEHICLES ARE OUT OF WARRANTY. IF VEHICLE IS STUCK FROM OP…

NHTSA ODI #10255952

SEAT BELTS

DT: THE CONTACT STATED INTERMITTENTLY TWO OF THE SEAT BELTS LOCKED AND THEY HELD THE PASSENGERS IN THE SEAT. THESE WERE THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT AND DRIVER SIDE REAR. THE SEAT BELTS HAD TO BE UNBUCKLED AND THEN PUT BACK ON TO RELEASE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP, BUT THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10140777

SUSPENSION

A SQUEAKING NOISE COULD BE HEARD WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH OR LESS. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO INFORMED CONSUMER THAT BOTH LOWER BALL JOINTS NEEDED TO REPLACED.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10106910

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,VISIBILITY,SEAT BELTS,STRUCTURE

APPROXIMATELY 60 DAYS AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD NO REAR SEAT BELTS. *NM THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE ENGINE STARTED ON ITS OWN WITH NO KEY OR PERSON REQUIRED. WHEN IT RAINED, WATER LEAKED INTO THE VEHICLE. SENSORS</A>, WARNING LIGHTS ON THE DASH BOARD AND WIPERS HAVE NOT FUNCTIONED PROPERLY SINCE THE PURCHAS…

NHTSA ODI #10101140