Acura CL Complaints

586 consumer complaints on file.

#11734509April 29, 2026
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
The contact owns a 2001 Acura CL. The contact stated that while driving on the highway at approximately 60 MPH, the vehicle stalled. There was no warning light illuminated. On another occasion, while making a left turn on a city street, the vehicle stalled and experienced a loss of power steering functionality. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was shifted to neutral(N) and restarted. The failure was intermittent. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed with an ignition cylinder failure; however, the vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unavailable.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11690951October 2, 2025
POWER TRAIN
I purchased this vehicle in March 2021 and noticed the issue with the transmission the first time I operated the vehicle. There is a grinding sound whenever the transmission is placed in third gear. I brought the car to Acura by Executive in Wallingford, CT at some point in 2021 to enquire about the issue. I was informed by the service advisor that the problem is a known issue but because there is no recall on the issue and the vehicle is out of warranty Acura is not required to resolve it. Recently I came across service bulletin 08-018 and noticed where it stated that after warranty expiration a repair may be eligible for goodwill consideration. I called Acura Customer Service, was given case #15843108, and told to acquire a formal diagnosis from an Acura dealership. The diagnosis from Acura of Berlin in Berlin, CT verified that the symptoms were the result of the faulty transmission as described in the TSB. I submitted this information to Acura Customer Service and was informed on September 29, 2025, that due to the age of the vehicle Acura will not compensate me fully or partially for the repair. In my view, although this is an older vehicle, it has low mileage at 102.000 miles and is therefore expected to be on the road for many years. The transmission only grinds at this point, but it may start to pop out of third gear in the future as described in the TSB. I consider this a safety issue in that the transmission popping out of gear unexpectedly would result in some loss of control of the vehicle. I don't expect Acura to fully compensate me for this repair but in light of this problem being a known and documented issue with this vehicle and all the parts for repair are still available I would expect that Acura would stand by its product and offer to contribute to the total cost of this repair.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11638412January 24, 2025
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
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.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11614117September 12, 2024
POWER TRAIN
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11612868September 5, 2024
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM, STEERING
There is a major issue with the relay under the steering wheel blocking the fuel from the pump going to the engine. This also affects the security system as well as the rack and pinion. The vehicle security turns itself on and off as it pleases, often leaving driver/passengers stranded and sometimes with the alarm not shutting off. This is after having keys re-programmed and most parts replaced for a hefty price tag. Due to this, the vehicle will only start at times. I've seen several similar complaints and taken it to many costly mechanics. I paid $7,000 for this vehicle a couple of years ago but only got to drive it a few times because there is always an issue that can't be fixed.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11582200April 10, 2024
AIR BAGS, SEAT BELTS
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.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#11580365April 1, 2024
AIR BAGS
My 2003 3.2cls Acura had an airbag recall in in 2016. My vehicle was supposedly repaired at this time. However, recently my SRS light has been on requiring me to take my car to an Acura dealer. The dealer believes my steering wheel air bag has a faulty air inflator, which they claim is out of warranty and may require me to pay $3000 to repair. I do not understand how the manufacturer of the airbag/inflator can avoid repairing this. Shouldn't an airbag last longer than 8 years? What if everyone had to replace their airbags every eight years?
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11571956February 14, 2024
ENGINE, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
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 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.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11538632August 15, 2023
AIR BAGS, SEAT BELTS
I have an SRS light illuminated on my dashboard. Upon researching this, it is apparently a sensor issue which, when the light is on, indicates that the sensor in the seat - belt is malfunctioning, and this will keep the air bags from deploying. This of course is a serious safety issue. Also, in reviewing the warranty information, it states that all seat-belt issues are under a lifetime warranty. I'm wondering if you could provide confirmation of this. Thank you, [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) Randal Steadman
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11509494February 28, 2023
AIR BAGS, SEAT BELTS
UNKNOWN
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11450505February 4, 2022
STEERING, SUSPENSION, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Subframe rusted through on the passenger side where the cause is a manufacturer defect of condensation from the air conditioning dripping directly above onto the subframe on the passenger side, which created a perforation of the passenger side subframe. Subframe holds the suspension and steering components together and if the passenger side frame from the manufacter defect were to break traveling at highway speed, the car would loose control and cause accidents. The vehicle was inspected at an independent facility and is ready to be inspected again upon request.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11442489December 2, 2021
POWER TRAIN
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11383338December 14, 2020
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 ACURA CL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THERE WAS NO WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BATTERY AND ALTERNATOR WERE REPLACED TWICE. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO MCGRATH ACURA OF DOWNTOWN CHICAGO (1301 N. ELSTON AVE, CHICAGO, IL 60642) FOR A RECALL REPAIR ON THE AIR BAGS HOWEVER, THERE WAS NO MENTION OF THE FAILURE OF THE VEHICLE TO START OR FOR THE VEHICLE STALLING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BATTERY WAS BEING DRAINED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE BATTERY AND ALTERNATOR WERE REPLACED HOWEVER, THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ON ANOTHER OCCASION WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND COASTED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROADWAY. THE CONTACT CALLED AAA AND THE VEHICLE WAS JUMPSTARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED AND DRIVEN HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 248,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11365952October 23, 2020
AIR BAGS
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 ACURA CL. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 20V026000 (AIR BAGS) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS NOT YET AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT CALLED NAPLETON'S PALM BEACH ACURA (6870 OKEECHOBEE BLVD, WEST PALM BEACH, FL 33411; (888) 980-7593) 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 MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11362726October 5, 2020
AIR BAGS
UNABLE TO GET THE AIRBAG REPLACED AFTER MORE THAN 6 MONTHS OF THE RECALL NOTICE. I CONTACTED ACURA AND THEIR LOCAL DEALERS BUT WAS BEING BOUNCED AROUND WITHOUT ANY UPDATE IN TERMS OF PARTS AVAILABILITY OR TIMING FOR FIXING THE PROBLEM. THERE WAS ANOTHER HONDA AIRBAG RELATED FATALITY REPORTED TODAY. ACURA NEEDS TO TAKE THE AIRBAG RECALL SERIOUSLY AFTER 6 MONTHS HAS ELAPSED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11354950September 14, 2020
AIR BAGS
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 ACURA CL. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 20V026000 (AIR BAGS) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS NOT YET AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER HAD EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. A DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT PARTS WERE NOT YET AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11353950September 9, 2020
AIR BAGS
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.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11353185September 4, 2020
AIR BAGS
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11351401August 26, 2020
AIR BAGS
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?
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11351163August 25, 2020
AIR BAGS
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 ACURA CL. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 20V026000 (AIR BAGS) HOWEVER THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT HAD SCHEDULED AN APPOINTMENT AT ROPER HONDA DEALER (902 N RANGELINE RD, JOPLIN, MO 64801) AND WAS INFORMED THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND CONFIRMED THAT PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMED PART NOT AVAILABLE. *BF*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

← Back to Acura CL