1998 Honda Del sol problems

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The Honda CR-X del Sol (marketed in other markets as the Honda Civic del Sol, Honda del Sol and the Honda CRX) is a two-seater targa-top car manufactured by Honda from 1992 until 1998. Despite the body resemblance to a mid-engine car design, the del Sol is based on the front-engined Honda Civic platform and was the successor to the Honda CR-X.

The Spanish name del Sol translates to of the sun, and refers to the car's opening roof. The del Sol featured a removable aluminum hardtop that stowed onto a hinged frame in the trunk and a motorized drop-down rear window. Manual and automatic "TransTop" roofs were available in select markets. It is the first open-air Honda sold in the United States.

Production and sales ended with the 1997 model in North America and 1998 elsewhere.

1998 Honda Del sol

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Common 1998 Honda Del sol problems

The Honda Del Sol, produced from 1992 to 1997, is known for its two-seater, front-engined, front-wheel-drive layout and a removable targa top. While it was not a real convertible, it offered a unique blend of style and functionality. However, the car faced several common problems that affected its overall quality and reliability.

  • Targa Top Leaks and Noise: One of the most significant issues with the Honda Del Sol was its targa top, which was prone to leaks and noise. This problem often led to a decrease in customer satisfaction, as the leaks and noise could be distracting and uncomfortable during driving.
  • Faulty Auxiliary Lighting: The Del Sol was also known for having issues with its auxiliary lighting, which could lead to rumors about the car's demise. This problem, combined with other small issues, contributed to the car's poor quality reputation.
  • Interior Quality: Many owners complained about the interior's low-quality materials, which was a common issue in Japanese cars from that era. The Del Sol's cabin design was simple, but it lacked the gadgets and features of its time period. Additionally, base models were not equipped with power side mirrors, passenger airbags, and power steering during the first three model years, which made them feel cheaper than their predecessor, the CRX.
  • Engine Oil Leaking from Ignition Distributor Shaft Seal: Another common problem with the Honda Del Sol was engine oil leaking from the ignition distributor shaft seal . This issue could be expensive to fix, as it required removing the entire interior of the car to find the source of the leak.
  • Weak Alternator Bearings: Some Del Sols experienced issues with weak alternator bearings, which could lead to further complications if not addressed promptly .
  • Air Conditioning System Issues: The Del Sol's air conditioning system was also known to have problems, but they could be resolved by simply removing the top when the air conditioning was not in use .

While these issues may seem significant, it is important to note that the Honda Del Sol was not the worst sports car of all time. It offered precise handling, good braking, and enough power to attack corners on curvy roads, making it an entertaining vehicle for many drivers.

1998 Honda Del sol engine

Are Honda Del Sols rare?

Looking at the facts, it's safe to say the Honda Del Sol is a relatively uncommon car. In its five years of production, Honda managed to sell roughly 75,000 Del Sols. For some perspective, it sold over 1.4 million Civics during that samehalf-decade .

How many miles can a 1998 Honda Civic last?

It's not uncommon for a Civic to last upward of 20 years, and you can tack on the miles during that expanse of time. You could get from 200,000 to 300,000 miles with a Honda Civic before it completely breaks down or requires extensive repairs.

Are 1998 Honda Civics reliable?

Stylish, very comfortable, powerful enough, handles extremely well, unquestionably reliable, offers great fuel economy, great bang for your buck. Highly recommend the 6th generation Honda Civic.

Why did they stop making Honda Del Sol?

There were several reasons why Honda stopped making the Del Sol, such as: Plummeting of Sales: Sales started going down for the Del Sol around the middle of the 1990s when the Mazda Miata and other cars that competed with it became more popular comparatively.

1998 Honda Del sol car problems categorized by type of issue

After analyzing all complaints sent to the NHTSA and researching popular Honda Del sol problems, we found that the most common problems with these 2023 model year vehicles are:

  • Tires problems

The graph below shows statistics for all 1998 Honda Del sol vehicle components and the number of complaints received.

1998 Honda Del sol complaints

The NHTSA has received 1 complaints about various vehicle components related to the 1998 Honda Del sol.

2000-11-19

TIRES PROBLEM

  • Date Of Incident: 2000-10-27
  • VIN: 4MWGH1729WN
  • Components: TIRES
  • Summary: THE TREAD CAME OFF TIRES ON TRAILER WITHOUT GOING FLAT AND THEY ONLY HAVE ABOUT 2000 MILES ON THEM, NOT DRY ROTTED OR WORN IN ANY WAY. I HAD THREE TIRES JUST LOOSE THEIR TREAD AT THE SAME TIME. THESE TIRES ARE CHECKED FOR AIR PRESSURE EVERY TIME THEY ARE USED. THE MANUFACTURER OF THE TRAILER DELTA MANUFACTURING INC, SAID THE TIRE IS RATED FOR THIS TYPE OF TRAILER AND SAID I SHOULD CONTACT THE TIRE MANUFACTURER BECAUSE HE HAS PUT OVER 200000 OF THESE TIRES ON THESE TRAILERS. I HAVE CONTACTED ANN STOTT WITH YOKOHAMA TIRES 1-800-423-4544 AND SENT HER PICTURES BY INTERNET OF THE TIRES. THEY WANT ME TO SEND THE TIRES TO THEM BUT I BELIEVE THE DEPARTMENT OF SAFTEY SHOULD SEE THEM FIRST. I ONLY HAVE ABOUT 15 DAYS LEFT TO SEND THEM TO DEALER. IF YOU HAVE AN E-MAIL ADDRESS I CAN SEND YOU PICTURES. MY EMAIL ADDRESS IS [email protected] THIS COULD REALLY PRESENT A PROBLEM IF IT HAPPENS ON A CAR AND THEY ARE PASSENGER TIRES. PLEASE RESPOND SO I CAN SEND TIRES TO YOKOHAMA TO BE LOOKED AT. THANKS, DONALD R. BOGARD 380 NORMANDY STATION ROAD TAYLORSVILLE, KENTUCKY 40071. (DOT NUMBER: VO122-01 TIRESIZE: P235/75R15)

1998 Honda Del sol recalls

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has issued 1 recalls for different components of the 1998 Honda Del sol.

2006-03-23
  • Manufacturer: PRO-A MOTORS, INC.
  • Components: EXTERIOR LIGHTING
  • Summary: CERTAIN PRO-A MOTORS CORNER LAMPS, TURN SIGNALS, AND HEADLIGHTS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.
  • Consequence: WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.
  • Remedy: PRO-A MOTORS WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER TO REPURCHASE THE LAMPS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 3, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT PRO-A MOTORS AT 323-838-2988.
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Additional sources

More sources of information about 1998 Honda Del sol problems:

common problems after 100K miles - Honda-Tech - Honda Forum ...
common problems after 100K miles - Honda-Tech - Honda Forum ...
https://honda-tech.com/forums/honda-civic-del-sol-1992-2000-1/common-problems-after-100k-miles-901911/

Jun 21, 2004 ... Honda Civic / Del Sol (1992 - 2000) - common problems ... I have a 98 civic so if you have had problems ... I have a 98 civic so if you have had ...

Is this stock 1993 Del Sol S w 200k miles worth $3000? : r/DelSol
Is this stock 1993 Del Sol S w 200k miles worth $3000? : r/DelSol
https://www.reddit.com/r/DelSol/comments/jknaj4/is_this_stock_1993_del_sol_s_w_200k_miles_worth/

Oct 30, 2020 ... I'm new here but I've lurked a lot on other honda and del sol forums over the years here and there so I'm familiar with common issues like targa ...

Common Problems, Recalls and Service Bulletins for '92-'00 Civics ...
Common Problems, Recalls and Service Bulletins for '92-'00 Civics ...
https://honda-tech.com/forums/honda-civic-del-sol-1992-2000-1/common-problems-recalls-service-bulletins-92-00-civics-del-sols-2285479/

Apr 25, 2008 ... Honda Civic / Del Sol (1992 - 2000) - Common Problems, Recalls ... TSB 98-014. Rear main oil seal leaks. Rear ... Re: Common Problems, Recalls and ...

Q&A: Troubleshooting 97 Civic Del Sol Electrical Issues
Q&A: Troubleshooting 97 Civic Del Sol Electrical Issues
https://www.justanswer.com/honda/2yekq-97-civic-del-sol-going-electrical.html

Jan 2, 2010 ... What causes electrical problem in my 97 Civic Del sol that is going through an - Answered by a verified Mechanic for Honda.

low beam blowing on 98 civic ex common problem?> - Honda-Tech ...
low beam blowing on 98 civic ex common problem?> - Honda-Tech ...
https://honda-tech.com/forums/honda-civic-del-sol-1992-2000-1/low-beam-blowing-98-civic-ex-common-problem-2598477/

Jun 30, 2009 ... Normally the problem with the silverstar series of bulbs has issues due to USER ERROR. Most of the time people just grab their bulb and throw it ...

Other years of Honda Del sol

honda del sol 1993 photo
Del sol 1993
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Del sol 1994
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Del sol 1995
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Del sol 1996
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Del sol 1997
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Del sol 1998
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1998 Honda Del sol photo