Acura CL Problems by Year
NHTSA has 586 owner complaints and 11 safety recalls on file for the Acura CL, across 8 model years (1997–2004). The 2001 model year has the most complaints (271). The most reported problem area overall is power train.
Acura CL years to avoid? What the complaint data shows
These model years drew at least twice as many complaints as a typical CL year: 2001. Look at what owners reported before buying one, and check the VIN for open recalls.
Model years with the most complaints
- 2001 CL: 271 complaints, 3 recalls
- 1997 CL: 82 complaints, 2 recalls
- 2003 CL: 73 complaints, 5 recalls
Model years with the fewest complaints
Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold or how long each year has been on the road, so newer and less popular years naturally have fewer complaints. Use them to spot problem patterns, not as a safety ranking.
Most common Acura CL problems (all years)
| Problem area | Complaints | Model years | Crashes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Power Train problems | 325 | 7 | 8 |
| Air Bags | 77 | 8 | 16 |
| Electrical System | 61 | 6 | 2 |
| Suspension | 26 | 5 | 1 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 25 | 7 | 4 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 24 | 6 | 1 |
| Visibility | 23 | 6 | 0 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 20 | 5 | 1 |
| Steering | 17 | 6 | 3 |
| Tires | 15 | 5 | 0 |
| Engine | 14 | 5 | 2 |
| Structure | 13 | 7 | 0 |
| Seat Belts | 11 | 5 | 2 |
| Equipment | 10 | 5 | 0 |
| Exterior Lighting | 7 | 3 | 0 |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 5 | 3 | 2 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 5 | 4 | 0 |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 5 | 3 | 0 |
| Service Brakes | 4 | 2 | 2 |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) | 3 | 1 | 1 |
| Seats | 3 | 3 | 0 |
| Wheels | 3 | 1 | 0 |
| Service Brakes, Air | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| Parking Brake | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Visibility/wiper | 1 | 1 | 0 |
Acura CL problems by model year
Problem areas with enough reports for their own page.
- 2001: power train (206)
All Acura CL model years
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Crash rating | Top problem | Compared with other years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 CL | 1 | 0 | — | Air Bags | |
| 2003 CL | 73 | 5 | — | Power Train | More complaints than other years |
| 2002 CL | 44 | 2 | — | Power Train | Fewer complaints than other years |
| 2001 CL | 271 | 3 | — | Power Train | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2000 CL | 11 | 0 | — | Power Train | Far fewer complaints than other years |
| 1999 CL | 49 | 3 | — | Power Train | About as many complaints as other years |
| 1998 CL | 55 | 5 | — | Electrical System | About as many complaints as other years |
| 1997 CL | 82 | 2 | — | Power Train | More complaints than other years |
More from Acura: all Acura models · Acura VIN decoder
Frequently asked questions
Which Acura CL years should you stay away from?
By NHTSA complaints, 2001 (271) drew at least twice as many complaints as a typical CL year. Counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, and newer years have had less time to collect complaints.
What is the biggest problem with the Acura CL?
Power Train, with 325 complaints across 7 model years.
How many recalls does the Acura CL have?
11 safety recalls across all model years. Each model year page lists its recalls and fixes.