Most common 1999 Acura CL problems
Share of the 49 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Acura CL complaints by model year
Best CL years: 2000, 1999. Years to avoid: 2001, 1997. Compare all years →
1999 Acura CL 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…
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.
Electrical system › Ignition › Switch
On certain passenger vehicles and Mini vans, the ignition switch May wear excessively and prevent proper interlock operation, making it possible to turn the ignition key to the "off" position and remove the key without shifting the transmission to "park."
Remedy: Dealers will perform an inspection procedure that determines the amount of cylinder body wear. If significant wear is indicated, the dealer will replace the cylinder body, collar, and latch plate.
Electrical system › Ignition › Switch
On certain sedans, coupes, hatchbacks, and sport utility vehicles, electrical contacts in the ignition switch can degrade due to the high electrical current passing through the switch when the vehicle is started.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the ignition switch. Owner notification began June 14, 2002. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a…
What 1999 Acura CL owners say
Transmission & drivetrain
Transmission failure: the problem starts with the following symptoms : failure to place the car in drive or to remove the key from the ignition when it is in park. Loss of power to the engine while driving in highway traffic(speed drops from 55 MPH to 0 MPH while actively driving on highway). Car will not advance speed when moving through an intersection. Check engine light repeatedly turns on. Was advised by the dealer to repair or replace the following: break lamp, v-tech filters, multiple service checks at owner's expense. Have had four transmissions installed by dealer. Dealer is now refusing to make necessary repairs.
Tl contact owns a 1999 Acura 2.3 CL. The vehicle was turned on and the gear was shifted to reverse. While driving 5 MPH in reverse, the transmission was heard shifting and the vehicle suddenly accelerated forward and crashed into a vehicle. The brake was applied, however; the vehicle would not stop until it crashed into a wall. The air bags deployed. The vehicle was towed. The insurance company determined the vehicle to be destroyed. The current and failure mileages were 76,000. The consume provided medical and insurance bills for the accident. Updated 09/19/07
Electrical system
I was driving to work approximately a half mile from my house ..my car just turned off, although the ignition key was still in ..it was med-heavy traffic. I don't believe I even had lights but I can't say for sure at first I thought maybe I had gotten bad gas ..then it happened again as I was turning a corner.staring became difficult and both times I had to put my car into neutral to restart it ..from there it happened maybe 1 every week to once every 3 weeks maybe .I checked my plugs wires had my fuel filter replaced stopped going where I was gettn gas ..one day I was on the computer at work (oreillys autoparts ) and noticed my car had been involved in a recall at some point , but what they described was exactly what my car was doing .randomly turning off ..I was told by Acura becauz my car was "fixed" during the first recall I needed to replace my ignition switch at my own cost ..I've …
I was driving to work approximately a half mile from my house ..my car just turned off, although the ignition key was still in ..it was med-heavy traffic.I don't believe I even had lights but I can't say for sure at first I thought maybe I had gotten bad gas ..then it happened again as I was turning a corner.staring became difficult and both times I had to put my car into neutral to restart it ..from there it happened maybe 1 every week to once every 3 weeks maybe .I checked my plugs wires had my fuel filter replaced stopped going where I was gettn gas ..one day I was on the computer at work (oreillys autoparts ) and noticed my car had been involved in a recall at some point , but what they described was exactly what my car was doing .randomly turning off ..I was told by Acura becauz my car was "fixed" during the first recall I needed to replace my ignition switch at my own cost ..I've …
Engine & cooling
I was driving to work approximately a half mile from my house ..my car just turned off, although the ignition key was still in ..it was med-heavy traffic. I don't believe I even had lights but I can't say for sure at first I thought maybe I had gotten bad gas ..then it happened again as I was turning a corner.staring became difficult and both times I had to put my car into neutral to restart it ..from there it happened maybe 1 every week to once every 3 weeks maybe .I checked my plugs wires had my fuel filter replaced stopped going where I was gettn gas ..one day I was on the computer at work (oreillys autoparts ) and noticed my car had been involved in a recall at some point , but what they described was exactly what my car was doing .randomly turning off ..I was told by Acura becauz my car was "fixed" during the first recall I needed to replace my ignition switch at my own cost ..I've …
I was driving to work approximately a half mile from my house ..my car just turned off, although the ignition key was still in ..it was med-heavy traffic.I don't believe I even had lights but I can't say for sure at first I thought maybe I had gotten bad gas ..then it happened again as I was turning a corner.staring became difficult and both times I had to put my car into neutral to restart it ..from there it happened maybe 1 every week to once every 3 weeks maybe .I checked my plugs wires had my fuel filter replaced stopped going where I was gettn gas ..one day I was on the computer at work (oreillys autoparts ) and noticed my car had been involved in a recall at some point , but what they described was exactly what my car was doing .randomly turning off ..I was told by Acura becauz my car was "fixed" during the first recall I needed to replace my ignition switch at my own cost ..I've …
1999 Acura CL engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.3L 4-cyl | 5-speed manual | FWD | 21 / 29 / 24 |
| 2.3L 4-cyl | 4-speed automatic | FWD | 20 / 27 / 22 |
| 3.0L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | FWD | 17 / 26 / 20 |
EPA ratings. Class: Subcompact car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 1999 Acura CL a good car?
Based on 49 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 1999 CL rates average: 33% fewer complaints than a typical year of the CL at the same age. It is one of the best CL years by this measure. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 1999 Acura CL?
The transmission & drivetrain — 13 complaints, 27% of all complaints for this model year, most often about automatic transmission. Next are the electrical system (11) and engine & cooling (10).
How many recalls does the 1999 Acura CL have?
There are 3 recalls for the 1999 Acura CL, the most recent from January 17, 2020 (inflator module). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Acura CL?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2000 and 1999. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2001 and 1997. See the full Acura CL years comparison.
At what mileage do 1999 Acura CL problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 104,000 miles; 17% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
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.