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Vehicle safety record

2001 Acura CL Problems, complaints & recalls

Owners have filed 270 complaints about the 2001 Acura CL with NHTSA, most often about the transmission & drivetrain (206) and the airbags (31). Those complaints describe 13 crashes, 2 fires, 8 injuries and 1 death. It is covered by 3 recalls, the latest in January 2020 for the inflator module. For comparison, the 2000 has 11 and the 2002 has 61.

NHTSA data checked

FFar more problems than a typical CL year, for its age

#31 most complained-about 2001 vehicle

Complaints
270
Recalls
3
Crashes
13
Fires
2
Injuries
8
Deaths
1

Most common 2001 Acura CL problems

Share of all 270 complaints. One complaint can name more than one area. Tap an area for its complaints and recalls.

2001 Acura CL recalls 3

Recall repairs are free. Your dealer fixes them whether or not you bought the car there - check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see if yours is done. What to do

Air bags: inflator module

20V027000875,966 vehicles affected

The problem
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2001-2002 Acura 3.2CL, 2000-2003 Acura 3.5RL, 2000-2001 Acura 3.2TL, Honda CR-V and Honda Odyssey, 2001-2002 Acura MDX and 2000 Accord Coupe, Accord Sedan, Civic Coupe, and Civic Sedan vehicles. These vehicles may have received a replacement driver frontal air bag module as part of a vehicle repair. Due to a manufacturing issue, the replacement NADI inflator may absorb moisture, causing the inflator to rupture or the air bag cushion to underinflate.
The risk
In the event of a crash necessitating air bag deployment, an inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants. An underinflated air bag cushion may not properly protect the occupant. These scenarios increase the risk of serious injury or death.
The fix
Honda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the air bags in the vehicles, replacing the driver frontal air bag inflator with an inflator of a different design, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began October 1, 2020. Owners may contact American Honda's Customer Support & Campaign Center at 1-888-234-2138.

Air bags: inflator module

20V0260001,439,841 vehicles affected

The problem
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 Driver air bag Inflators (NADI) and do not contain phase stabilized ammonium nitrate (PSAN) propellant. Due to a manufacturing issue, the NADI inflators may absorb moisture, causing the inflators to rupture or the air bag cushion to underinflate.
The risk
In the event of a crash necessitating air bag deployment, an inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants. An underinflated air bag cushion may not properly protect the occupant. These scenarios increase the risk of serious injury or death.
The fix
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 Isuzu customer service at 1-800-255-6727.

Power train: automatic transmission

04V1760001,099,796 vehicles affected

The problem
On some mini vans, sport utility and passenger vehicles, certain operating conditions can result in heat build-up between the countershaft and secondary shaft second gears in the automatic transmission, eventually leading to gear tooth chipping or gear breakage.
The risk
Gear failure could result in transmission lockup, which could result in a crash.
The fix
On vehicles with 15,000 miles or less, the dealer will update the transmission with a simple revision to the oil cooler return line to increase lubrication to the second gear. On vehicles with more than 15,000 miles, the dealer will inspect the transmission to identify gears that have already experienced discoloration due to overheating. If discoloration exists, the transmission will be replaced if discoloration is not present, the dealer will perform the revision to the oil cooler return line. The recall began on april 21, 2004, for pilot, odyssey, and mdx owners. Owners of the accord vehicles will start receiving letters on june 28, 2004, and on june 29, 2004, for owners of the tl and cl vehicles. Owners should contact honda at 1-800-999-1009 or acura at 1-800-382-2238.

What owners say

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270 complaints about the 2001 Acura CL

Newest first, as filed with NHTSA by owners. Page 1 of 11.

Other & 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
Transmission & 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
AirbagsSeats & 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
Engine & coolingFuel systemCrash

I was stopped in heavy traffic. The traffic light turned green and the cars in front of me started to move. I tapped my accelerator with my right foot and the gasoline was delivered to my engine with maximum force. I could not stop the car with my foot on the brake. I steered the car to the right so that I would not rearend the car in front of me. The car sideswiped the car I front of me and I went into an embankment and stopped. A police officer thought I may have hit both the brake and the accelerator pedal...

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with my right foot, but he did not understand that I was only going about 5 mph when the accelerator exploded, so that this was impossible. The Acura agency in Latham says that I could have switched off the ignition, but with both hands gripping the steering wheel and my right foot pressing the brake pedal with maximum force, I could not have turned off the ignition at the same time. Therefore the advice was not practical.

Filed Incident Engine · Fuel / propulsion systemNHTSA 11571956
Transmission & drivetrain

Frank let us Acura would not preform my transmission recall after it locked up "stating the recall has already been done" but they "don't have any record of it" they claim someone didn't file the paper work on it but my trans locked up going 70 miles and hour and threw me off of the road

Filed Incident Power trainNHTSA 11442489
Airbags

Tl* takata recall. The contact owns a 2001 acura cl. The contact received notification of nhtsa campaign number: 20v027000 (air bags) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The local dealer acura of troy (1828 maplelawn dr, troy, mi 48084, (877) 820-3015) and the manufacturer were made aware of the issue and it was confirmed that parts were not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact had not experienced a failure. Vin tool confirms parts not available.

Filed Incident Air bagsNHTSA 11353950
Airbags

Tl* takata recall. The contact owns a 2001 acura cl. The contact received notification of nhtsa campaign number: 20v027000 (air bags) however, the part needed to repair the defect was unavailable. An unknown dealer and the manufacturer were notified and it was confirmed that the part was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact had not experienced a failure. Vin tool confirms parts not available. *Bf*jb

Filed Incident Air bagsNHTSA 11353185
Airbags

I have a recall on my airbags but the acura repair shop does not have the part and it has been 6 months since I received the notice that their is a dangerous recall. What can I do?

Filed Incident Air bagsNHTSA 11351401
Airbags

Tl* takata recall. The contact owns a 2001 acura cl. The contact received notification of nhtsa campaign number: 20v027000 (air bags) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact called hopkins acura (1555 el camino real, redwood city, ca 94063 (650) 364-6771) and autonation acura stevens creek (4747 stevens creek blvd, santa clara, ca 95051(408) 758-5502) and it was confirmed that the part was not yet available. The contact had not experienced a failure. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. Vin tool confirms parts not available.

Filed Incident Air bagsNHTSA 11340904
Airbags

Tl* the contact owns a 2001 acura cl. The contact received notification of nhtsa campaign number: 20v027000 (air bags) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact contacted dick hannah acura of portland (12030 se stark st, portland, or 97216, (503) 506-8572) where it was confirmed that the part was not available. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact stated that the air bags warning light illuminated intermittently. The approximate failure mileage was 190,000. Vin tool confirms parts not available.

Filed Incident Air bagsNHTSA 11331477
Transmission & drivetrainAirbags

The passenger side airbag in my 2001!Acura cl was recalled and the company never contacted me about it! I bought the car on 5/28/20 with no title but I do have a bill of sale on a notebook piece of paper but anyways I saw where there was recalls for some parts on my vehicle and was researching up on this stuff and came across the information that my airbags have been recalled...What possibly is there to do about this situation? Please and thank you have a blessed day!!! Here is my campaign id '04v176000. *Tr

Filed Incident Power train · Air bagsNHTSA 11330745
Airbags

Tl* takata recall. The contact owns a 2001 acura cl. The contact received notification of nhtsa campaign number: 20v027000 (air bags) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. Gold coast acura (3195 perkin ave, ventura, ca 93003; (805) 642-3600) was contacted and it was confirmed that the part was not available. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Vin tool confirms parts not available.

Filed Incident Air bagsNHTSA 11328125
Transmission & drivetrainAirbagsCrash

Tl* the contact owns a 2001 acura cl. The contact stated when shifting gears to reverse in his garage, the brake pedal was depressed but the vehicle failed to stop and crashed into his garage wall. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact was able to turn off the vehicle. The air bags did not deploy. The contact did not sustain any injuries. No police report was filed. The contact called local dealer acura of honolulu (3251 n nimitz hwy, honolulu, hi 96819, (808) 829-3073) was made aware of...

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the failure. The vehicle had not been diagnosed or repaired as of yet. Upon investigation, the contact associated the failure with nhtsa campaign number: 04v176000 (power train). The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 102,000. *Ln*jb *bf consumer stated vehicle was repaired.*Jb

Filed Incident Power train · Air bagsNHTSA 11325068
AirbagsCrash1 injury

Tl* takata recall. The contact owned a 2001 acura cl. The contact stated that while driving the vehicle from the median strip another vehicle t-boned the passenger side of her vehicle, causing the vehicle to collide with a parked vehicle. The driver's frontal air bag did not deploy but the passenger's side frontal air bag did deploy. The contact sustained a cut on her forearm that did not require medical attention. The other driver was also not injured. A police report was filed. The dealer and manufacturer had...

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not been contacted. The vehicle was towed to the salvage yard and was totaled by the insurance company. The contact mentioned that the vehicle was still at the salvage yard two years later. The contact recently received notification of nhtsa recall campaign number: 20v-027000 (air bags). The failure mileage was unknown.

Filed Incident Air bagsNHTSA 11320328
Airbags

Tl* the contact owns a 2001 acura cl. The contact received notification of nhtsa campaign number: 20v027000 (air bags) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount time for the recall repair. The contact stated that the air bag warning light illuminated intermittently. The vehicle was taken to gettle acura located at (4891 clark rd, sarasota, fl 34233, (941) 343-5700) where it was confirmed that the part was not available. The...

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manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact was informed that remedy part would be available in a year. The approximate failure mileage was 150,455. Vin tool confirms parts unavailable.

Filed Incident Air bagsNHTSA 11319306
Airbags

A recall was issued several months ago for my airbags. The parts are not available and I have yet to receive notification of the recall from acura (i found out on the web). Previously, I had contacted acura by mail and was told over the phone that I would have to pay for my airbags to be fixed when the first takata recalls happened in 2016). My car is without a doubt unsafe to drive. I've attached the original letter I wrote them based on our conversations. They do have my contact information! There is no excuse for the delay in notifying me or in repairing my airbags.

Filed Incident Air bagsNHTSA 11318863
Transmission & drivetrain

While driving on the highway at 65mph, my car suddenly slipped out of gear, engine revving and smoke pouring from under the hood. I had gotten no warning at all.The check engine light never came on and the car had no prior instances of gear problems. Had to get it towed home where it sits in my driveway because I can't afford a new transmission.

Filed Incident Power trainNHTSA 11309666
Electrical system

The left window goes down but not in going up =stop in the lower part

Filed Incident Electrical systemNHTSA 11288785
Transmission & drivetrainAirbagsEngine & cooling

TAKATA RECALL. MY TRANSMISSION IS ACTING UP.???

Filed Incident Power train · Air bags · EngineNHTSA 11217265
Transmission & drivetrain

Tl* the contact owns a 2001 acura cl. The contact stated that the transmission warning indicator illuminated. The vehicle was serviced per nhtsa campaign number: 04v176000 (power train) by lehigh valley acura (333 state ave, emmaus, pa 18049, (610) 967-6500), but the remedy failed to repair the vehicle. The contact mentioned that the transmission warning indicator remained illuminated after the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 99,000.

Filed Incident Power trainNHTSA 11203357
Transmission & drivetrain

Tl* the contact owns a 2001 acura cl. The contact stated that the transmission slipped into second gear without warning. The vehicle was serviced by an unknown dealer for nhtsa campaign number: 04v176000 (power train); however, the failure recurred. The vehicle was not included in nhtsa campaign number: 04v176000 (power train). The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was not available.

Filed Incident Power trainNHTSA 11193047
Airbags

The srs light came on due to a faulty passenger seat belt buckle switch which will render the airbags in operable in a crash. Looks like I'm not the only one with this same problem and you guys haven't done anything. The dealer wants to charge my $300 to get it fixed.

Filed Incident Air bagsNHTSA 11192598
Airbags

CAR PASSED INSPECTION IN JANUARY, SRS CAME ON

Filed Incident Air bagsNHTSA 11186233
Transmission & drivetrain

Tl* the contact owns a 2001 acura cl. When starting the vehicle, it stalled in second gear. The contact had to downshift into d4 to correct the failure. There were no warning indicators illuminated. The dealer and manufacturer were not notified. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was 157,000. The vin was invalid.

Filed Incident Power trainNHTSA 11181914
SteeringCrash

My steering wheel randomly locks while driving. As I was driving down santa teresa my steering wheel locked n caused me to hit a curb and pop my tire.

Filed Incident SteeringNHTSA 11156117

Acura CL: every year compared

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

2001 Acura CL vs rivals

More sales usually means more complaints, so compare similar vehicles of the same year. The grade compares each vehicle with its own model's other years.

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Questions about the 2001 Acura CL

Does the 2001 Acura CL have any recalls?

Yes - NHTSA lists 3 recalls for the 2001 Acura CL: inflator module (January 2020); inflator module (January 2020); automatic transmission (April 2004). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether yours has been fixed.

What are the most common problems with the 2001 Acura CL?

By the complaints owners filed with NHTSA, the most common problem areas are the transmission & drivetrain (206), airbags (31), visibility & wipers (12).

How many complaints has the 2001 Acura CL had?

270 complaints have been filed with NHTSA, the first on December 14, 2000 and the latest on January 24, 2025. Of these, 13 describe a crash and 2 a fire, and together they report 8 injuries and 1 death.

Is the 2001 Acura CL a reliable vehicle?

Its Safety Index is 11 out of 100 (grade F: far more problems than a typical Acura CL year, for its age). The index weighs complaints, crashes, fires, injuries, deaths and recalls against how long the vehicle has been on the road, compared with the same model's other years. It is not a measure of every repair - read the complaints and owner experiences, and have any used vehicle inspected before you buy.

Which Acura CL years have the most complaints?

2001 (270), 1997 (82), 2003 (79). See every Acura CL year compared.

What should I do if my 2001 Acura CL has a problem?

If it is a safety problem, stop driving it if it is unsafe and contact your dealer. Report it to NHTSA at nhtsa.gov/report-a-safety-problem - enough reports start investigations and recalls - and share your experience here so other owners know what to look for.

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

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