Reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers, shown in full
Data refreshed
Our database holds 82 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1997 Acura Cl. Each one is a report filed by an owner or driver and published by NHTSA without most of them being verified. A complaint is not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. Narratives are shown exactly as filed.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Showing 1–25 of 82 · page 1 of 4
AIRBAG RECALL WAS ISSUED IN MARCH 2020. HONDA ADVISES THAT NO REPLACEMENT PARTS ARE AVAILABLE AS OF 8/14/2020.COULD BE UP TO A YEAR (FROM MARCH 2020) BEFORE PARTS ARE AVAILABLE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 ACURA CL. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 20V026000 (AIR BAGS) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT REACHED OUT TO NORRIS ACURA (8559 BALTIMORE NATIONAL PIKE, ELLICOTT CITY, MD 21043; 443-574-1240) WHERE IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE. *JS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 ACURA CL. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 20V026000 (AIR BAGS) HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. PIKES PEAK ACURA (655 AUTOMOTIVE DR, COLORADO SPRINGS, CO 80905) WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE RECALL REMEDY. 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.
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT CALLED ON BEHALF OF HIS MOTHER-IN-LAW THE OWNER AND DRIVER OF A 1997 ACURA CL. CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE HIS MOTHER-IN-LAW WAS STOPPED AND WAITING TO MAKE A LEFT TURN A SEMI- TRUCK TURNED RUNNING OVER HER VEHICLE. THE FRONT PASSENGER TO THE DRIVER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE WAS DAMAGED. NO AIR BAGS DEPLOYED IN THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED BRUISED RIBS AND SEPARATED COLLAR BONE, AND OTHER INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION AS SHE WAS TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL BY AMBULANCE. A POLICE REPORT WAS MADE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A TOW YARD AND THEN TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE INSURANCE COMPANY DEEMED THE VEHICLE A TOTAL LOSS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED AS THE VEHICLE WAS DEEMED A TOTAL LOSS AND HE WAS AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT STATED RECENTLY RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 20V026000 (AIR BAGS) WHICH COULD POSSIBLE BE THE CAUSE TO THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 176,000.
I NOTICED AN SRS LIGHT ON EVERY TIME AFTER I START THE ENGINE AND THE ENGINE MOUNTING ARE BROKEN AND LOSE..
I AM ON MY 3RD TRANSMISSION SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR IN 2012
SOMETIMES DON'T START
THE 1997 ACURA CL HARMONICA BALENCER BOLT SNAPED OFF HAD TO GET IT REPLACED AND THREE WEEKS LATER HAPPEND AGAIN IN THE MIDDEL OFF THE STREET TRAFIC ALMOST CASING AN ACEDENT
SOMETIMES THE KEY WILL NOT TURN OR IT SEEMS AS IF THE CAR IS LOCKED. THE KEY WILL GET STUCK IN THE IGNITION AND WILL NOT TURN. SOMETIMES THE KEY WILL TURN BUT WILL NOT ALLOW ME TO TAKE IT OUT VERY EASILY. LASTLY THE KEY SOMETIMES WILL NOT ENTER THE HOLE. TRIED SWITCHING THE SIDES OVER AND SOMETIMES IT WORKS AFTER 2 OR 3 TRIES.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 ACURA CL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE IGNITION KEY WAS DIFFICULT TO REMOVE FROM THE VEHICLE WITHOUT WARNING. IN ADDITION, THE KEY FAILED TO START THE VEHICLE INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 02V120000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE FAILURE MILEAGE AND VIN WERE NOT AVAILABLE.
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
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 ACURA CL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN PULLED OVER TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD. AFTER TURNING THE KEY IN THE IGNITION THE VEHICLE RESTARTED. THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTICS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE, AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED UNDER RECALL 02V120000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED A SECOND TIME. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 190,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
1997 ACURA CL. CONSUMER STATES TRANSMISSION LOCKED UP WHILE DRIVING INTERSTATE SPEED. *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE CAME TO AN ABRUPT AND VIOLENT STOP, WITHOUT ANY FORWARD OR REVERSE. *JB
1997 ACURA CL CUTS OFF/QUITS WHILE DRIVING. IT WILL NOT RESTART AT FIRST BUT AFTER A REST IT WILL RESTART. THIS HAPPENED OVER 6 MONTH PERIOD. THEN IT WOULD NOT START BACK AT ALL. MANY REPAIRS WERE ATTEMPTED WHICH INCLUDED CHANGING FUEL RELAY AND IGNITION SWITCH. CAR IS STILL STALLING UNEXPECTEDLY AND NOW REVS AT INTERVALS WHILE DRIVING. VERY UNRELIABLE AND DANGEROUS TO DRIVE. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 ACURA 3.0 CL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE KEY COULD NOT BE REMOVED FROM THE IGNITION WHILE IN PARK OR DRIVE. THE CONTACT NOTICED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 02V120000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH) BUT WAS ADVISED BY THE MANUFACTURER THAT HIS VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL CAMPAIGN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 152,072.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 ACURA 3.0CL. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD WHEN THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT IT WOULD COST $3000 TO REPAIR THE TRANSMISSION. THERE ARE NO RELATED RECALLS OR WARRANTIES AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 88,000.
MY CAR IS SERVICED AT AN AUTHORIZED DEALER, TISCHER OF LAUREL WHO HAS PROVIDED ME WITH EXCELLENT CARE FOR MORE THAN A DECADE. MY MANUAL AND MY MECHANIC HAVE DETAILED PRETTY MUCH WHAT CAN BE EXPECTED AS A REPLACEMENT COST THROUGH THE LIFE OF THE VEHICLE. THAT IS WHAT LEADS ME TO THIS POINT, BEING DIAGNOSED WITH A BALL BEARING FALLING OUT OF THE PACKING IN THE FRONT DRIVE OF MY 2.2 CL WITH THE MILEAGE AND A RECORD THAT ANYONE WOULD WANT WAS A HUGE DISAPPOINTMENT. I?VE DONE SOME RESEARCH WHICH REVEALS A DESIGN DEFECT IN THE ACURA CL 2.2 WHICH MAY HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO WHY ACURA VOLUNTARILY DISCONTINUED THIS MODEL. THERE IS NO INDICATION IN MY OWNER?S MANUAL THAT THIS WILL EVER BE A PROBLEM. AGAIN I HAVE MAINTAINED MY CAR AND MY MECHANICS CAN VERIFY THAT IT IS IN EXCELLENT CONDITION FOR ITS AGE. THIS LEADS ME TO TRYING TO UNDERSTAND WHY I HAVE HAD TO PAY FOR THIS SERVICE THAT SEEMS UNLIKELY? I BELIEVE THIS IS A DESIGN DEFECT THAT SHOULD BE COVERED BY THE MANUFACTURER AND NOT THE CONSUMER. THE AXLE WAS REPLACED IN 1999 AND HAS NO TYPE OF PROBLEM THAT CAN BE CONSIDERED MAJOR. IF WE WERE DISCUSSING A CAR THAT WAS ITS CURRENT AGE AND 250,000 OR MORE MILES I WOULD NOT CARE, CONSIDERING MY DRIVING SKILLS AND MAINTENANCE RECORD. BASED ON MY RESEARCH, THERE ARE DESIGN FLAWS IN MY BELOVED CL 2.2 WHICH WERE NOT DISCLOSED TO THE BUYER AND WERE NOT A VOLUNTARY RECALL ISSUED. INSTEAD, THE DECISION WAS MADE TO DISCONTINUE THIS MODEL. IN LATER MODELS ACURA RL AND TSX THE AXEL IS DESIGNED DIFFERENTLY. HONDA/ACURA KNEW OF THIS PROBLEM. I CONTACTED MR. IWAMURA OF ACURA WHO SAID THEY CAN'T DO ANYTHING BECAUSE THE CAR IS OUT OF WARRENTY? THERE IS NO WAY A CONSUMER WOULD KNOW ABOUT THIS PROBLEM UNTIL THE WARRANTY IS OUT. CAN YOU HELP WITH ACURA TO RESOLVE THIS ISSUE? *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 ACURA CL. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO MOVE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND THE VEHICLE RESTARTED. WHEN THIS OCCURRED, SHE HAD TO HOLD THE KEY IN THE IGNITION IN THE ON POSITION TO DRIVE TO HIS RESIDENCE. SHE ALSO HAD TO HOLD THE KEYS IN THE ON POSITION TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS NOT WORKING. THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE WEATHER AND ROAD CONDITIONS WERE NOT A FACTOR. ONCE AT THE DEALER, THEY STATED THAT THERE WAS A RECALL; HOWEVER, HER VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 170,000.
PURCHASED VEHICLE @ 103,000 MILES, DROVE IT 2000 MILES AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ONE, "D" STARTED TO FLASH AND VEHICLE WOULD NOT COME OUT OF 2ND GEAR. AFTER PROPER DIAGNOSIS, FOUND INTERNAL TRANSMISSION FAILURE(AFTER RESEARCH FOUND OUT IT WAS A COMMON PROBLEM) REPLACE TRANSMISSION WITH OEM UNIT, STILL (AND HAVE HAD SINCE DAY ONE, A HESITATION UPON ACCELERATION)PRIOR TO TRANSMISSION PROBLEM HAD THROTTLE BODY CLEANED, STILL HAD HESITATION WITH OR WITHOUT AC ON-PRIOR OWNER HAD SAME PROBLEM, UNABLE TO CORRECT PROBLEM TO THIS DAY. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 ACURA 3.0CL. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD NOISE AND FELT EXCESSIVE VIBRATION FROM THE VEHICLE. SHE EXPERIENCED DIFFICULTY CONTROLLING THE STEERING WHEEL. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. PRIOR TO THE FAILURES, THE POWER STEERING WAS NOT WORKING PROPERLY. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO PULL TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE FAILURES CAUSED DAMAGES TO THE TIRE AND BUMPER. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE LOWER BALL JOINTS AND DRIVE SHAFT CAUSED THE FAILURES. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 122,000.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 ACURA 3.0CL. IN 2004, FOUR NEW TIRES WERE PLACED ON THE VEHICLE. IN 2005, THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL MECHANIC DUE TO BRAKE FAILURE. THE CONTACT HEARS A SQUEAKING NOISE COMING FROM THE WHEEL WELL IN THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE. IT FELT AS IF THE WHEELS WERE GOING TO FALL OFF, SO SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO HER LOCAL MECHANIC AGAIN. THE BALL JOINTS WERE IDENTIFIED AS THE CAUSE FOR THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT RESEARCHED COMPLAINTS THAT OTHER ACURA OWNERS HAD WITH THERE 3.0 CL AND LOCATED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 99V069000 (SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT). THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT HER VIN DOES NOT APPLY TO THE RECALL. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 79,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 77,000.
FRONT SUSPENSION HAD TO BE REPLACED AS THE ARM ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE HAD BROKEN. *NM
A SIDEWALL BUBBLE OF APPROXIMATELY 1.5 INCHES HAS FORMED ON EACH OF TWO RIGHT SIDE TIRES, NITTO NT 555 ZRS. ONE TIRE IS JUST OVER 1.5 YEARS OLD WITH UNDER 10,000 MILES ON IT. THE OTHER IS OLDER WITH MORE WEAR. THE TIRES ARE WORKING FINE CURRENTLY, BUT I AM CONCERNED THAT THIS MIGHT BE HAZARDOUS. SEARCHING THE NITTO SITE, I WAS UNABLE TO FIND AN MANUFACTURER'S WARRANTY, SO APPEAR TO HAVE NO RECOURSE TO GET THE TIRE REPLACED. (BOTH TIRES WERE ON THE CAR WHEN I PURCHASED IT USED SO THERE IS NO RECEIPT). THANK YOU, [XXX]. *NM INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
CAR SKIDDED OUT OF CONTROL. NO ONE GOT HURT. ABS INSTRUMENT PANEL WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. LEAKAGE OCCURS ON THE ABS MODULATOR WHICH PROBABLY GOT ON LEFT TIRE TO CAUSE SKID. *NM
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THE THROTTLE WAS STUCK IN THE OPEN POSITION. THE DEALER HAS BEEN ALERTED.
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
Data on this page last refreshed .