Most common 2001 Acura CL problems
Share of the 271 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 →
2001 Acura CL recalls (3)
Air bags › Frontal › Driver side › Inflator module
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
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.
Power train › Automatic transmission
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.
Remedy: 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.
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into a possible defect involving the 2001 Acura CL:
Automatic transmission sudden downshift
See attached report.
What 2001 Acura CL owners say
Transmission & drivetrain all 206 →
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
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
Air bags all 32 →
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 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.
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, [phone]) was made aware of 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. Consumer stated vehicle was repaired.
Windows, wipers & sunroof
Rear view mirror (self dimming) on my 2001 Acura CL self destructed and spilt some toxic dark this fluid on to the console and leather seats that ate away the material. Manufacturer of these self dimming mirrors is magna donnely and this seems to be a common problem on all Acura CL and tl cars from late 90's till 2003. From seeing the number of posts on acurazine blog this is a widespread problem and a safety issue. I am having to drive with a plastic ziplock bag around my rear view mirror and a towel below it. Acura USA has refused to accept any responsibility for this issue because of the age of the car. I think there should have been a recall on these vehicles if this was happening so often. Please see posts at: http://CL.acurazine.com/forums/showthread.php?t=488763.
1) approximately 18 months ago, I began noticing an oily/greasy substance on my windshield when I used my window washer cleaner. I assumed it was faulty wipers and replaced these repeatedly over the next 18 months only to have the problem return. 2) Acura TSB 01004 and NHTSA item number 623220 details the problem...the oil/greasy film being deposited on the windshield is so severe, that it becomes impossible to see out of the windshield; which could potentially result in loss of control of the vehicle and a car crash. 3) Acura will not make the needed repair since the vehicle is no longer covered under the manufacturers warranty.
2001 Acura CL engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3.2L 6-cyl | 5-speed automatic | FWD | 17 / 27 / 20 |
EPA ratings. Class: Compact car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2001 Acura CL a good car?
Based on 271 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2001 CL rates avoid: 5.7× as many complaints as a typical year of the CL at the same age. It is one of the CL years we suggest avoiding. 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 2001 Acura CL?
The transmission & drivetrain — 206 complaints, 76% of all complaints for this model year, most often about automatic transmission. Next are the air bags (32) and windows, wipers & sunroof (12).
How many recalls does the 2001 Acura CL have?
There are 3 recalls for the 2001 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 2001 Acura CL problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 64,000 miles; 38% 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.