ACURA CL · model year

1997 ACURA CL

106 NHTSA complaints, 5 crash reports for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 1997ACURACL carries 106 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 5 crashes, 0 fires, 5 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.

Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 1997 CL is power train:automatic transmission with 13 filings, followed by air bags (7) and air bags:frontal (5). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.

NHTSA currently has 3 investigation files overlapping the 1997 CL, and 2 remain open. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.

106
Complaints
5
Crashes
0
Fires
5
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

106 filings

Crashes Reported

5 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION13
AIR BAGS7
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL5
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS5
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM5
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL4
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP4
SUSPENSION4
UNKNOWN OR OTHER4
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH4
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE3
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:STARTER ASSEMBLY3
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS2
POWER TRAIN2
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY2

Recent Complaints

20200814AIR BAGS

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.

Mileage: 300,000

20200710AIR BAGS

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

20200526AIR BAGS

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.

20200427CrashAIR BAGS

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

Mileage: 176,000

20200324AIR BAGS

I NOTICED AN SRS LIGHT ON EVERY TIME AFTER I START THE ENGINE AND THE ENGINE MOUNTING ARE BROKEN AND LOSE..

20200324ENGINE

I NOTICED AN SRS LIGHT ON EVERY TIME AFTER I START THE ENGINE AND THE ENGINE MOUNTING ARE BROKEN AND LOSE..

20200324UNKNOWN OR OTHER

I NOTICED AN SRS LIGHT ON EVERY TIME AFTER I START THE ENGINE AND THE ENGINE MOUNTING ARE BROKEN AND LOSE..

20180306UNKNOWN OR OTHER

I AM ON MY 3RD TRANSMISSION SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR IN 2012

20170406ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

SOMETIMES DON'T START

Mileage: 218,000

20170316ENGINE

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

Mileage: 186,243

20170316STEERING

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

Mileage: 186,243

20160901UNKNOWN OR OTHER

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.

Mileage: 1,560,000

20160720ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

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.

20140428SUSPENSION

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

Mileage: 190,000

20140428POWER TRAIN

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

Mileage: 190,000

20110714ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

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.

Mileage: 190,000

20110615POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

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

20101004ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH

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.

Mileage: 152,072

20101004ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

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

Mileage: 212,000

20101004VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

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

Mileage: 212,000

Compare 1997ACURACL to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations 2 Open

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 1997 ACURA CL have?
The 1997 ACURA CL has 106 NHTSA complaints, 5 crashes, 0 fires, 5 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1997 ACURA CL?
The most-complained component for the 1997 ACURA CL is POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION with 13 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include AIR BAGS and AIR BAGS:FRONTAL.
Is the 1997 ACURA CL safe to buy?
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.

Vehicle Safety Guides

Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.