Acura CL Problems by Year

We compared every Acura CL model year from 1997–2003 using 585 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, 11 recalls and federal defect investigations. The years to avoid are 2001 and 1997, which drew far more complaints than other CL years at the same age. The best years are 2000 and 1999.

7model years
585complaints
11recalls
2001, 1997worst years
2000, 1999best years

Complaints by model year

1997199819992000200120022003825549112714473
Owner complaints per model year, Acura CL. Colour = our verdict for that year (red: avoid, orange: caution, green: better than average, blue: too new).
YearComplaintsvs. typical*RecallsTop problemVerdict
2003731.2×5TransmissionAverage
200244typical2TransmissionAverage
20012715.7×3TransmissionAvoid
200011−70%—TransmissionGood
199949−33%3TransmissionAverage
199855−14%5ElectricalAverage
1997821.6×2TransmissionCaution

* Complaints compared with the median CL year at the same age, so new and old years are judged fairly. How this works.

Most common Acura CL problems

Latest Acura CL recalls

Air bags › Frontal › Driver side › Inflator module

NHTSA recall 20V-026 · Jan 17, 2020 · 1,439,841 vehicles

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…

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.

Air bags › Frontal › Driver side › Inflator module

NHTSA recall 20V-027 · Jan 17, 2020 · 875,966 vehicles

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.

Remedy: 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.

Air bags › Frontal › Driver side › Inflator module

NHTSA recall 19V-499 · Jun 27, 2019 · 3,947 vehicles

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2003 Acura 3.2CL, 2002-2003 3.2TL, 2003-2006 MDX, 2001-2007 Honda Accord, 2001-2005 Civic, 2003-2005 Civic Hybrid, 2001-2005 Civic GX NGV, 2002-2006 CR-V, 2003-2011 Element, 2002-2004 Odyssey, 2003-2008 Pilot and 2006 Ridgeline vehicles.

Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began August 12, 2019. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138.

Air bags › Frontal › Driver side › Inflator module

NHTSA recall 19V-182 · Mar 6, 2019 · 1,101,534 vehicles

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling specific 2003 Acura 3.2CL, 2013-2016 ILX, 2013-2014 ILX Hybrid, 2003-2006 MDX, 2007-2016 RDX, 2002-2003 3.2TL, 2004-2006, and 2009-2014 TL, 2010-2013 ZDX and 2001-2007 and 2009 Honda Accord, 2001-2005 Civic, 2003-2005 Civic Hybrid, 2001-2005 Civic GX NGV, 2002-2007 and 2010-2011…

Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's air bag inflator with an alternate inflator, free of charge. The recall began April 10, 2019. Honda owners may contact customer service at 1-888-234-2138.

Air bags › Frontal › Driver side › Inflator module

NHTSA recall 15V-320 · May 28, 2015 · 6,281,043 vehicles

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain model year 2001-2007 Accord, 2001-2005 Civic, 2001-2004 Honda Civic GX, 2003-2005 Honda Civic Hybrid, 2002-2006 CR-V, 2003-2011 Element, 2002-2004 Odyssey, 2003-2008 Pilot, 2006 Ridgeline, 2003 Acura 3.2CL, 2003-2006 Acura MDX, and 2002-2003 Acura 3.2TL vehicles.

Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began on July 1, 2015. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138.

All 11 Acura CL recalls by year →

Frequently asked questions

What years of the Acura CL should you avoid?

2001 and 1997 — these years have the most complaints relative to other CL years at the same age, led by transmission & drivetrain problems in the 2001.

What is the best year for the Acura CL?

2000 has the fewest complaints compared with other CL years at the same age, followed by 1999. Newer years can look better simply because fewer complaints have come in yet, so we compare like with like.

What are the most common Acura CL problems?

Across all years, owners report the most problems with the transmission & drivetrain (325), air bags (76) and electrical system (61). Transmission complaints peak in the 2001 model year.

How many recalls has the Acura CL had?

11 recalls across 1997–2003. The model year with the most is 1998. See all Acura CL recalls by year.

Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.