RoadVitals

2001 Acura Cl Powertrain (other) Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the powertrain system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Powertrain (other) reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
31
Latest Sep 12, 2024
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
11%
of 271 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
3
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
2

What this page shows

Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2001 Acura Cl submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 31 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming powertrain

The 25 most recent of 31, in the owner's own words

Powertrain (other)
Filed Sep 12, 2024

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

NHTSA ID
11614117
Incident
Jul 10, 2024
Powertrain (other)
Filed Dec 2, 2021

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

NHTSA ID
11442489
Incident
Dec 2, 2021
AirbagsPowertrain (other)
Filed Jun 25, 2020

THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG IN MY 2001!ACURA CL WAS RECALLED AND THE COMPANY NEVER CONTACTED ME ABOUT IT! I BOUGHT THE CAR ON 5/28/20 WITH NO TITLE BUT I DO HAVE A BILL OF SALE ON A NOTEBOOK PIECE OF PAPER BUT ANYWAYS I SAW WHERE THERE WAS RECALLS FOR SOME PARTS ON MY VEHICLE AND WAS RESEARCHING UP ON THIS STUFF AND CAME ACROSS THE INFORMATION THAT MY AIRBAGS HAVE BEEN RECALLED...WHAT POSSIBLY IS THERE TO DO ABOUT THIS SITUATION? PLEASE AND THANK YOU HAVE A BLESSED DAY!!! HERE IS MY CAMPAIGN ID '04V176000. *TR

NHTSA ID
11330745
Incident
Jun 25, 2020
Mileage
33,600 mi
AirbagsPowertrain (other)
Filed May 18, 2020
Crash reported

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, (808) 829-3073) 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. *LN*JB *BF CONSUMER STATED VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED.*JB

NHTSA ID
11325068
Incident
May 18, 2020
Mileage
102,000 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Feb 17, 2020

WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT 65MPH, MY CAR SUDDENLY SLIPPED OUT OF GEAR, ENGINE REVVING AND SMOKE POURING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. I HAD GOTTEN NO WARNING AT ALL.THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT NEVER CAME ON AND THE CAR HAD NO PRIOR INSTANCES OF GEAR PROBLEMS. HAD TO GET IT TOWED HOME WHERE IT SITS IN MY DRIVEWAY BECAUSE I CAN'T AFFORD A NEW TRANSMISSION.

NHTSA ID
11309666
Incident
Mar 19, 2019
Mileage
100,000 mi
AirbagsEnginePowertrain (other)
Filed Jun 1, 2019

TAKATA RECALL. MY TRANSMISSION IS ACTING UP.???

NHTSA ID
11217265
Incident
May 20, 2019
Mileage
163,000 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Apr 24, 2019

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 ACURA CL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 04V176000 (POWER TRAIN) BY LEHIGH VALLEY ACURA (333 STATE AVE, EMMAUS, PA 18049, (610) 967-6500), BUT THE REMEDY FAILED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WARNING INDICATOR REMAINED ILLUMINATED AFTER THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 99,000.

NHTSA ID
11203357
Incident
Apr 11, 2019
Mileage
99,000 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Apr 1, 2019

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 ACURA CL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION SLIPPED INTO SECOND GEAR WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED BY AN UNKNOWN DEALER FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 04V176000 (POWER TRAIN); HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 04V176000 (POWER TRAIN). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID
11193047
Incident
Jan 1, 2011
Powertrain (other)
Filed Feb 22, 2019

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 ACURA CL. WHEN STARTING THE VEHICLE, IT STALLED IN SECOND GEAR. THE CONTACT HAD TO DOWNSHIFT INTO D4 TO CORRECT THE FAILURE. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 157,000. THE VIN WAS INVALID.

NHTSA ID
11181914
Incident
Jan 1, 2019
Mileage
157,000 mi
BrakesPowertrain (other)Seat belts
Filed Jul 31, 2018
Crash reported1 death reported

THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN FATALITY WHICH WAS MY BROTHER, THEY CANNOT EXPLAIN WHY THE VEHICLE ENTERED INTO A SKID ON A PRETTY STRAIGHT PART OF THE HIGHWAY NOT SURE IF IT WAS A POWERTRAIN ISSUE AS I DID SEE A RECALL AFTER I DID SOME RESEARCH FOLLOWING THE ACCIDENT. THE OTHER ISSUE IS THE MECHANISM ON HOW THE DRIVER SAFETY BELT ATTACHES TO THE FRAME AS THAT WAS DAMAGED ON FIRST IMPACT WHICH CAUSED MY BROTHER TO BE EJECTED. SOMETHING AS IMPORTANT AS A SAFETY SHOULD NOT BE COMPROMISED SO EASILY.

NHTSA ID
11114701
Incident
Jul 30, 2016
Mileage
160,000 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed May 25, 2018

TRANSMISSION FAILED PREMATURELY. TRANSMISSION WAS REBUILT. TRANSMISSION FAILED AGAIN YEARS LATER UNEXPECTEDLY ON THE HIGHWAY.

NHTSA ID
11097875
Incident
May 12, 2018
Powertrain (other)Suspension
Filed Jun 25, 2017

MY CAR IS HAVING THE TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS ITS CONSENT WANT TO SHIFT IN 3RD GEAR,AND THE FRONT SUSPENSION IS MAKING A LOT OF CRADLING AND CLSNKING WHILE DRIVING OVER TINY BUMPSS

NHTSA ID
11001197
Incident
Apr 12, 2017
Mileage
93,000 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Jun 9, 2017

TRANSMISSION SLIPS THROUGH GEARS, SHIFTS HARD INTO PARK, AND D5 WILL BLINK AND EVERYTHING GOES BLACK. CAR HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP NUMEROUS TIMES AND ONLY WORKS PROPERLY WHEN IT WANTS TO. WHEN IT BEGINS TO SLIP THE CAR IS UNCONTROLLABLE AND DANGEROUS.

NHTSA ID
10994206
Incident
Sep 1, 2013
Mileage
86,000 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Nov 29, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 ACURA CL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE INTERMITTENTLY WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO SECOND OR THIRD GEAR. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 04V176000 (POWER TRAIN), BUT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 136,000. UPDATED 01/05/2017*CT

NHTSA ID
10928497
Incident
Nov 29, 2013
Mileage
136,000 mi
AirbagsPowertrain (other)
Filed Feb 3, 2016

THIS CAR HAS HAD MULTIPLE ISSUES WITH THE SRS SYSTEM, WHICH HAS RENDERED IT INOPERABLE. APPARENTLY, THERE ARE DESIGN ISSUES WITH THE SEAT BUCKLE AND SEAT SENSOR THAT HAVE BEEN THERE ALL ALONG. THERE ARE MULTIPLE OWNER COMPLAINTS HERE AND ON THE INTERNET ABOUT THIS. THIS APPARENTLY MAKES THE ENTIRE SRS SYSTEM INOPERABLE, INCLUDING THE DRIVER AIRBAG. THIS ALONG WITH THE WELL DOCUMENTED TRANSMISSION ISSUES MAKE THIS A "ROLLING COFFIN"-- I AM NOT SURE WHY HONDA IS NOT CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY OF ITS OWNERS. I GUESS IT WOULD TAKE MAJOR INJURIES AND LAWSUITS AND PUBLICITY TO GET SOME ACTION.

NHTSA ID
10824082
Incident
Feb 3, 2016
Mileage
133,000 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Dec 18, 2014

CONTACTED DUNCAN ACURA IN ROANOKE ,VA. TRANSMISSION DROPS SPEED FROM 70MPH TO 10 MPH WITHOUT WARNING ON HIGHWAY. WAS TOLD TRANSMISSION WAS REPAIRED WHEN RECALL CAME OUT BUT CAR HAD TOO MANY MILES ON IT NOW 223,000. THE SERVICE MANAGER AT DUNCAN WOULD NOT RETURN MY CALLS OR SCHEDULE TO GET TRANSMISSION INSPECTED AFTER I UNDERSTOOD THAT I WOULD NEED TO PAY FOR THE INSPECTION. CONTACTED ACURA HEADQUARTERS AND THEY ISSUED A CLAIM & CLAIM REP TO HELP OUT. NEVER WILL TRUST DUNCAN ACURA WITH A SAFETY ISSUE. JUST WANTED TO KNOW IF THIS ISSUE WAS THE SAME AS THE EARLIER RECALL WAS FOR ON THESE CARS. NOT SAFE TO DRIVE AND ACURA DEALER WOULD NOT TAKE THE TIME TO INSPECT IT. STILL WAITING ON RESPONSE FROM ACURA BEEN 4 DAYS. *TR

NHTSA ID
10667177
Incident
Dec 15, 2014
Mileage
223,500 mi
Driver assistancePowertrain (other)
Filed Dec 16, 2014

TRANSMISSION LOCKUP AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. VEHICLE WOULD DROP SPEED FROM 70 MPS TO 10 MPS WITHOUT WARNING IN A MATTER OF SECONDS ALMOST CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL & CRASH WITH CARS FOLLOWING ON HIGHWAY. AS DESCRIBED IN ACURA SERVICE BULLETIN 04-020. CAR WAS FITTED WITH REPAIR PART BUT DID NOT PREVENT IT FROM OCCURRING AGAIN OVER TIME & MILES FROM DRIVING. *TR

NHTSA ID
10664597
Incident
Dec 15, 2014
Mileage
223,000 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed May 25, 2014

TRANSMISSION FAILURE. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD AS THE TRANSMISSION STALLS AND THEN SLAMS INTO GEAR. I NO LONGER FEEL SAFE TO DRIVE THIS CAR. I HAD TO PAY A GREAT AMOUNT OF MONEY TO FIX MY DEFECTIVE TRANSMISSION. *TR

NHTSA ID
10593938
Incident
May 9, 2014
Mileage
81,339 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Apr 19, 2014

SUMMARY: I OWN A 2001 ACURA CL WITH 32,437 MILES ON IT. THE CAR HAS BEEN PERFECTLY MAINTAINED. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20-30 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION SLIPPED HARD BETWEEN FIRST AND SECOND GEAR JERKILY, AND THE RPMS INCREASED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN IMMEDIATELY TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. I INQUIRED ABOUT ANY RECALLS REGARDING TRANSMISSION AND THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 04V176000 (POWER TRAIN: AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION) . I DIDNT REMEMBER. I FEEL STRONGLY THAT THE FAILURE WAS EITHER NOT CORRECTED PROPERLY, OR THAT ACURA CORPORATION FAILED TO PROPERLY IDENTIFY THIS SERIOUS AND RECURRING ISSUE. MY CAR HAS BEEN DRIVEN ABOUT ONCE A WEEK SINCE PURCHASE AND A FEW TIMES FOR VACATION. GIVEN THE LOW MILEAGE AND REGULAR MAINTAINENCE I FEEL THIS $4,511.39 REPAIR ISSUE IS ONE I CANNOT AFFORD TO IGNORE. IT SHOULD HAVE AT LEAST INCLUDED A LIFETIME WARRANTY, INSTEAD OF 3 YEARS OR 36,000 MILES. DO I HAVE ANY RECOURSE OR IS THIS A FORUM SIMPLY FOR COMPLAINTS? *TR

NHTSA ID
10583685
Incident
Apr 8, 2014
Mileage
32,437 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Feb 14, 2014

I TOOK MY CAR TO NALLEY ACURA 1355 COBB PKWY. SOUTH MARIETTA GEORGIA 30060 I WAS TOLD THAT 2 JETTERS WAS PUT INTO MY TRANSMISSION AND THEY TOOK A PICTURE AND SENT IT TOO THE MANUFACTURER. I ASKED FOR A RECORD OF THE MAINTENANCE I NEVER GOT ONE [XXX] THE SERVICE TECH. SAID THAT I WOULD BE MAILED ONE. I DO NOT BELIEVE THE PICTURE THAT WAS SENT TO ME WAS OF MY TRANSMISSION, CAUSE IT TOOK DAYS FOR THEM TO COME UP WITH THIS PICTURE AND I DID NOT SEE MY NAME BY IT OR MY VIN NUMBER. THE INFO THE COMPANY SENT ME WAS OUT OF A BOOK THAT WAS SHOWING ME A DIAGRAM OF A TRANSMISSION. I STOOD THERE FOR 4 HOURS AND ALL THAT WAS DONE WAS MY HOOD WAS RAISED AN NO ONE HARDLY TOUCH MY CAR. IT WAS NEVER PUT UPON A JACK OR RAISED TO A LEVEL WHERE YOU COULD GET A GOOD LOOK A THE TRANSMISSION. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ID
10564427
Incident
Jan 20, 2014
Mileage
141,000 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Feb 7, 2014

I TOOK MY CAR TO NALLEY ACURA 1355 COBB PARKWAY SOUTH MARIETTA GEORGIA 30060 THE TOLD ME THEY PUT IN A JETTER INTO MY TRANSMISSION AND TOOK A PICTURE INTO MANUFACTURER. I ASKED FOR A SUMMATION OT WHAT THEY DID AND THEY SENT ME BACK PICTURES OUT OF A BOOK NOTHING SIGNED WHERE ANYONE DONE ANYTHING JUST PICTURES OUT OF A BOOK. THIS WAS A RECALL OF 2ND GEAR TRANSMISSION CLAIM. *TR

NHTSA ID
10563418
Incident
Feb 20, 2013
Powertrain (other)Transmission
Filed Apr 24, 2013

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 ACURA CL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION SLIPPED AND THE RPMS INCREASED EXCESSIVELY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 04V176000 (POWER TRAIN: AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION) IN 2004 BUT THE FAILURE WAS NOT CORRECTED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 57,000. *TR

NHTSA ID
10509417
Incident
Feb 20, 2013
Mileage
57,000 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Jan 23, 2013

PARKED CAR. MOVED TRANSMISSION LEVER TO WHAT I THOUGHT WAS PARK (PUSH STRAIGHT UP). STARTED TO SWING OUT OF CAR PUTTING WEIGHT ON OUTSIDE FOOT. THE TRANSMISSION WAS ACTUALLY IN NEUTRAL AND THE KEY WAS REMOVED - IT CAN BE REMOVED IN ANY GEAR POSITION JUST LIKE THE 2001 HONDA ACCORD RECALL SAYS. THE ACURA OF THE SAME YEAR NEVER HAD THE RECALL EVEN THOUGH IT IS USING THE SAME DEFECTIVE PART NUMBERS. CAR STARTED TO ROLL BACKWARDS AND I WAS FORCED TO STOP CAR USING FOOT AND HAND PRESSURE RESULTING IN SLIGHT SPRAIN TO WRIST REQUIRING NO ADDITIONAL CARE. THIS IS A TROUBLING SAFETY ISSUE THAT WAS ACTUALLY RECALLED FOR HONDA BRAND VEHICLES ONLY IGNORING ACURA BRAND DEFECTS. *TR

NHTSA ID
10494393
Incident
Aug 17, 2012
Mileage
98,000 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Jul 10, 2012
Fire reported

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 ACURA CL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE EMITTED SMOKE FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO COAST THE VEHICLE ONTO THE SHOULDER WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC. THE FAILURE WAS LOCATED AT THE TRANSMISSION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED AT 85,000 MILES UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 04V176000 (POWER TRAIN: AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION) BUT THE FAILURE WAS NOT CORRECTED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AND THE LOCAL MECHANIC REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 170,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 174,458.

NHTSA ID
10465083
Incident
May 1, 2012
Mileage
170,000 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Nov 24, 2011

IT'S BEEN SLIPPING...BUT IT NEVER BOTHERED ME UNTIL NOW AND IT'S SUPER BAD. *TR

NHTSA ID
10437214
Incident
Dec 14, 2009
Mileage
170,000 mi

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.

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Data on this page last refreshed .