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1997-2004 · 8 model years

Acura CL Problems by year

Owners have filed 608 complaints about the Acura CL across 8 model years, and it has 11 recalls. The 2001 has the most complaints once its age is allowed for (270), while 2000, 2004 have far fewer than a typical year. The most reported problem area is the transmission & drivetrain, followed by the airbags.

Most complaints for its age2001270 complaints · 3 recallsSee the 2001
Complaints
608
Recalls
11
Crashes
33
Fires
3
Injuries
29
Deaths
3

CL complaints by model year

Highlighted: the year with the most complaints for its age. Older vehicles have had more time to collect complaints - the Safety Index grade allows for that.

YearComplaintsRecallsCrashesFiresTop problemGrade
20041000AirbagsA
200379570Transmission & drivetrainD
200261210Transmission & drivetrainC
20012703132Transmission & drivetrainF
200011010Transmission & drivetrainA
199949340Transmission & drivetrainC
199855521Electrical systemC
199782250Transmission & drivetrainD

Most common CL problems

Acura CL recalls 11

Engine

02V22600017,551 vehicles affected

On certain minivans, sedans, coupes, and sport utility vehicles equipped with v6 engines, a timing belt tensioner pulley on the water pump is misaligned and could cause the timing belt to contact a bolt on the cylinder head. Eventually the belt could be...

Latest CL complaints

2003 Acura CLTransmission & drivetrain

I purchased this vehicle in March 2021 and noticed the issue with the transmission the first time I operated the vehicle. There is a grinding sound whenever the transmission is placed in third gear. I brought the car to Acura by Executive in Wallingford, CT at some point in 2021 to enquire about the issue. I was informed by the service advisor that the problem is a known issue but because there is no recall on the issue and the vehicle is out of warranty Acura is not required to resolve it. Recently I came across...

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service bulletin 08-018 and noticed where it stated that after warranty expiration a repair may be eligible for goodwill consideration. I called Acura Customer Service, was given case #15843108, and told to acquire a formal diagnosis from an Acura dealership. The diagnosis from Acura of Berlin in Berlin, CT verified that the symptoms were the result of the faulty transmission as described in the TSB. I submitted this information to Acura Customer Service and was informed on September 29, 2025, that due to the age of the vehicle Acura will not compensate me fully or partially for the repair. In my view, although this is an older vehicle, it has low mileage at 102.000 miles and is therefore expected to be on the road for many years. The transmission only grinds at this point, but it may start to pop out of third gear in the future as described in the TSB. I consider this a safety issue in that the transmission popping out of gear unexpectedly would result in some loss of control of the vehicle. I don't expect Acura to fully compensate me for this repair but in light of this problem being a known and documented issue with this vehicle and all the parts for repair are still available I would expect that Acura would stand by its product and offer to contribute to the total cost of this repair.

Filed Incident Power trainNHTSA 11690951
2001 Acura CLOther & unknown

I have a safety concern. When my vehicle was assembled, someone decided to have the workers not remove the protective film from the plastic screen on the navigation system that would typically be released. I assume this saved money and time during production. However, that film has deteriorated and crinkled over time, making it difficult to see the screen, especially at night. This does not seem acceptable, and I have been told that the remedy is costly, which upset me as removing the film should have been part of the assembly procedure.

Filed Incident Unknown or otherNHTSA 11638412
2001 Acura CLTransmission & drivetrain

In and around July 2024 my Acura cl started to have erratic shifting and locking up at highways speeds the vehicle is so unsafe to drive I cannot get the air bags fixed it shifts from 5th gear to 2nd gear in 2004 a remedy was applied to the transmission to aid and fix the downshifting issues and overheating issues the vehicle does have these problems and was not repaired correctly in 2004 by Acura I called Honda/acura and they are not willing to replace or fix the transmission

Filed Incident Power trainNHTSA 11614117
2003 Acura CLSteeringElectrical systemFuel system

There is a major issue with the relay under the steering wheel blocking the fuel from the pump going to the engine. This also affects the security system as well as the rack and pinion. The vehicle security turns itself on and off as it pleases, often leaving driver/passengers stranded and sometimes with the alarm not shutting off. This is after having keys re-programmed and most parts replaced for a hefty price tag. Due to this, the vehicle will only start at times. I've seen several similar complaints and taken it to many costly mechanics. I paid $7,000 for this vehicle a couple of years ago but only got to drive it a few times because there is always an issue that can't be fixed.

Filed Incident Steering · Electrical system · Fuel / propulsion systemNHTSA 11612868
2001 Acura CLAirbagsSeats & seat beltsCrash1 injury

The contact owned a 2001 Acura CL. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 45 MPH, there was a vehicle driving toward the contact's driver's side that ran the red light and crashed into the front of the vehicle. The entire front of the vehicle was damaged. The air bags did not deploy and the seat belt restraint system did not operate. The contact was treated for a back muscle injury and it was unknown if the other driver sustained injuries. The vehicle was towed to the contact's residence where the...

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contact was informed the vehicle was a total loss. The vehicle was towed to the junkyard. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 262,515.

Filed Incident Air bags · Seat beltsNHTSA 11582200
2003 Acura CLAirbags

My 2003 3.2cls Acura had an airbag recall in in 2016. My vehicle was supposedly repaired at this time. However, recently my SRS light has been on requiring me to take my car to an Acura dealer. The dealer believes my steering wheel air bag has a faulty air inflator, which they claim is out of warranty and may require me to pay $3000 to repair. I do not understand how the manufacturer of the airbag/inflator can avoid repairing this. Shouldn't an airbag last longer than 8 years? What if everyone had to replace their airbags every eight years?

Filed Incident Air bagsNHTSA 11580365

Questions about the Acura CL

Which Acura CL years have the most problems?

By the number of complaints owners filed with NHTSA: 2001 (270), 1997 (82), 2003 (79). Allowing for how long each has been on the road, the 2001 stands out most. Complaint counts also rise with sales, so compare years of the same model rather than different models.

Which Acura CL years have the fewest complaints?

Among model years that have been on the road for at least three years, 2004, 2000 have the best Safety Index - the fewest complaints, crashes and recalls for their age compared with other CL years. Always check the exact vehicle's recalls by VIN before you buy.

What are the most common Acura CL problems?

Across every model year, owners report problems with the transmission & drivetrain (334), airbags (78), electrical system (60) most often.

How many recalls does the Acura CL have?

NHTSA lists 11 recalls across all Acura CL model years. Each year's page lists the recalls for that year; check your own vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether the repair has been done.

Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) complaints and recalls, checked daily. Complaints are owners' own reports and are not verified. How we use the data

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