Total Complaints
316 filings
ACURA CL · model year
316 NHTSA complaints, 23 crash reports, and 3 active recalls for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 2001ACURACL carries 316 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 23 crashes, 2 fires, 13 injuries, and 3 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 2001 CL is power train:automatic transmission with 171 filings, followed by power train (30) and air bags (27). 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. This model year has 3 active recall campaigns, which means the manufacturer is obligated to remedy the covered defect at no charge for the life of the vehicle — the full NHTSA campaign numbers are listed below.
NHTSA currently has 3 investigation files overlapping the 2001 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.
Total Complaints
316 filings
Crashes Reported
23 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
Above median complaint volume — review patterns below.
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION | 171 |
| POWER TRAIN | 30 |
| AIR BAGS | 27 |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 8 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 7 |
| POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION | 6 |
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM) | 5 |
| VISIBILITY:REARVIEW MIRRORS/DEVICES:EXTERIOR | 4 |
| SUSPENSION | 4 |
| SEAT BELTS | 4 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR | 3 |
| VISIBILITY | 3 |
| ENGINE | 3 |
| AIR BAGS:FRONTAL | 2 |
| VISIBILITY:REARVIEW MIRRORS/DEVICES | 2 |
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2001-2002 Acura 3.2CL, 2000-2003 Acura 3.5RL, 2000-2001 Acura 3.2TL, Honda CR-V and Honda Odyssey, 2001-2002 Acura MDX and 2000 Accord Coupe, Accord Sedan, Civic Coupe, and Civic Sedan vehicles. These vehicles may have received a replacement
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 1998 Acura 2.2CL, 1998-1999 Acura 2.3CL, 1998-1999 Acura 3.0CL, 2001 Acura 3.2CL and Acura MDX, 1998-2000 Honda Accord Coupe, Accord Sedan, Civic Sedan, Odyssey and Acura 3.5RL, 1999-2000 Acura 3.2TL, 1996-2000 Civic Coupe, 1997-2000 CR-V, 1997-1
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
ON SOME MINI VANS, SPORT UTILITY AND PASSENGER VEHICLES, CERTAIN OPERATING CONDITIONS CAN RESULT IN HEAT BUILD-UP BETWEEN THE COUNTERSHAFT AND SECONDARY SHAFT SECOND GEARS IN THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, EVENTUALLY LEADING TO GEAR TOOTH CHIPPING OR GEAR BREAKAGE.
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.
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
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.
Mileage: 262,515
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.
Mileage: 262,515
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.
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.
Frank let us Acura would not preform my transmission recall after it locked up âstating the recall has already been doneâ but they âdonât have any record of itâ they claim someone didnât file the paper work on it but my trans locked up going 70 miles and hour and threw me off of the road
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.
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
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?
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 NOT YET AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT CALLED HOPKINS ACURA (1555 EL CAMINO REAL, REDWOOD CITY, CA 94063 (650) 364-6771) AND AUTONATION ACURA STEVENS CREEK (4747 STEVENS CREEK BLVD, SANTA CLARA, CA 95051(408) 758-5502) AND IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT THE PART WAS NOT YET AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.
TL* 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 CONTACT CONTACTED DICK HANNAH ACURA OF PORTLAND (12030 SE STARK ST, PORTLAND, OR 97216, (503) 506-8572) 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 WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAGS WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 190,000. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.
Mileage: 190,000
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
Mileage: 33,600
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
Mileage: 33,600
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. GOLD COAST ACURA (3195 PERKIN AVE, VENTURA, CA 93003; (805) 642-3600) WAS CONTACTED AND 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 WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.
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
Mileage: 102,000
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
Mileage: 102,000
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNED A 2001 ACURA CL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE FROM THE MEDIAN STRIP ANOTHER VEHICLE T-BONED THE PASSENGER SIDE OF HER VEHICLE, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO COLLIDE WITH A PARKED VEHICLE. THE DRIVER'S FRONTAL AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY BUT THE PASSENGER'S SIDE FRONTAL AIR BAG DID DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A CUT ON HER FOREARM THAT DID NOT REQUIRE MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE OTHER DRIVER WAS ALSO NOT INJURED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE SALVAGE YARD AND WAS TOTALED BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS STILL AT THE SALVAGE YARD TWO YEARS LATER. THE CONTACT RECENTLY RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 20V-027000 (AIR BAGS). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
TL* 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 NOT YET AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO GETTLE ACURA LOCATED AT (4891 CLARK RD, SARASOTA, FL 34233, (941) 343-5700) WHERE IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT REMEDY PART WOULD BE AVAILABLE IN A YEAR. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,455. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS UNAVAILABLE.
Mileage: 150,455
A RECALL WAS ISSUED SEVERAL MONTHS AGO FOR MY AIRBAGS. THE PARTS ARE NOT AVAILABLE AND I HAVE YET TO RECEIVE NOTIFICATION OF THE RECALL FROM ACURA (I FOUND OUT ON THE WEB). PREVIOUSLY, I HAD CONTACTED ACURA BY MAIL AND WAS TOLD OVER THE PHONE THAT I WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR MY AIRBAGS TO BE FIXED WHEN THE FIRST TAKATA RECALLS HAPPENED IN 2016). MY CAR IS WITHOUT A DOUBT UNSAFE TO DRIVE. I'VE ATTACHED THE ORIGINAL LETTER I WROTE THEM BASED ON OUR CONVERSATIONS. THEY DO HAVE MY CONTACT INFORMATION! THERE IS NO EXCUSE FOR THE DELAY IN NOTIFYING ME OR IN REPAIRING MY AIRBAGS.
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.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.