ACURA CL · model year

2002 ACURA CL

71 NHTSA complaints, 3 crash reports, and 2 active recalls for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 2002ACURACL carries 71 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 3 crashes, 0 fires, 0 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 2002 CL is power train:automatic transmission with 28 filings, followed by air bags (5) and vehicle speed control (3). 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 2 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 2002 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.

71
Complaints
3
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
3
Deaths

Total Complaints

71 filings

Crashes Reported

3 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 TRANSMISSION28
AIR BAGS5
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL3
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM3
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION3
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)3
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING2
SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:DISC2
SUSPENSION2
SEAT BELTS2
POWER TRAIN2
STEERING:GEAR BOX (OTHER THAN RACK AND PINION)1
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE1
UNKNOWN OR OTHER1
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR1

Recalls (2)

20V02700017/01/2020

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

04V17600015/04/2004

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.

Recent Complaints

20230228AIR BAGS

UNKNOWN

20230228SEAT BELTS

UNKNOWN

20200420AIR BAGS

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 ACURA CL. THE CONTACT STATED THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THE FRONT DRIVER AIR BAG NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 20V027000 (AIR BAGS). THE CONTACT STATED THAT KEYES WOODLAND HILLS HONDA (6111 TOPANGA CANYON BLVD, WOODLAND HILLS, CA 91367), EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE REPAIR. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 260,878.

Mileage: 260,878

20200324AIR BAGS

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 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 HAD EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. ACURA OF ESCONDIDO LOCATED AT (1502 AUTO PARK WAY, ESCONDIDO CA) WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

20190910AIR BAGS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 ACURA CL. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, THE "SRS" WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND REMAINED LIT ALL DAY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING, BUT AN APPOINTMENT WAS SCHEDULED WITH GOODSON ACURA OF DALLAS (4801 LEMMON AVE, DALLAS, TX 75219) FOR SEPTEMBER 11, 2019. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000.

Mileage: 140,000

20190910ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 ACURA CL. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, THE "SRS" WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND REMAINED LIT ALL DAY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING, BUT AN APPOINTMENT WAS SCHEDULED WITH GOODSON ACURA OF DALLAS (4801 LEMMON AVE, DALLAS, TX 75219) FOR SEPTEMBER 11, 2019. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000.

Mileage: 140,000

20170814FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

I BOUGHT A USED CAR FROM CHICAGO SUBURB INDIVIDUAL OWNER ABOUT 15 DAYS AGO. CLEAN TITLE WITH NO ACCIDENT HISTORY. THE GAS TANK DURING LAST 15 DAYS WAS NEVER LITTLE ABOVE HALF TANK. TODAY I FILLED GAS FULL TANK AND DROVE ABOUT 8 MILES AND PARKED IN HOME GARAGE. LIQUID FUEL LEAK FROM REAR SIDE OF THE TANK WAS OBSERVED FORMING A PUDDLE IN GARAGE GIVING STRONG GAS SMELL IN FEW MINUTES. WHEN I LOOKED UNDER THE CAR, I COULD CONTINUOUS DROP BY DROP LIQUID FUEL LEAK. I CONFIRM THAT I DID NOT OBSERVE ANY LEAK IN LAST TWO WEEKS WHEN GAS TANK WAS LESS THAN 3/4 OR LESS FULL.IN LAST 15 DAYS I CONSIDER LUCKY THAT THE LEAK DID NOT TAKE PLACE OVER EXHAUST GAS PIPE WHILE I WAS DRIVING. I HAVE TOWED MY CAR TO A REPAIR CENTER AND WILL ADVISE HIM TO SAVE EVIDENCE.

Mileage: 194,600

20160303ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)

THE CAR GOES INTO NEUTRAL WHILE DRIVING ALMOST BEEN IN A ACCIDENT SEVERAL TIMES OVER THIS ISSUE .I DON'T EVEN DRIVE IT ANYMORE

Mileage: 228,000

20160303POWER TRAIN

THE CAR GOES INTO NEUTRAL WHILE DRIVING ALMOST BEEN IN A ACCIDENT SEVERAL TIMES OVER THIS ISSUE .I DON'T EVEN DRIVE IT ANYMORE

Mileage: 228,000

20141021CrashFatalAIR BAGS

MY SON HIT A POLE AND THE AIR BAG CRUSHED HIM. HE DIED! IT RIPPED HIS AORTA, HIS LIVER, CRUSHED HIS LUNGS, HEAD INJURY, METAL IN CHEST. *TR

Mileage: 140,000

20141021CrashFatalELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)

MY SON HIT A POLE AND THE AIR BAG CRUSHED HIM. HE DIED! IT RIPPED HIS AORTA, HIS LIVER, CRUSHED HIS LUNGS, HEAD INJURY, METAL IN CHEST. *TR

Mileage: 140,000

20141021CrashFatalSUSPENSION

MY SON HIT A POLE AND THE AIR BAG CRUSHED HIM. HE DIED! IT RIPPED HIS AORTA, HIS LIVER, CRUSHED HIS LUNGS, HEAD INJURY, METAL IN CHEST. *TR

Mileage: 140,000

20120402ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)

FOR A COUPLE DAYS MY CAR WOULD BEGIN STALLING WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. I FELT LIKE IT SLOWED DOWN TO SHIFT OUT OF GEAR BUT NEVER COMPLETELY SHIFTED. THEN, ONE DAY WHEN I WAS DRIVING, ON MY WAY HOME MY CAR SLIPPED OUT OF GEAR COMPLETELY AND I COULDN'T DRIVE FORWARD. MY CAR ONLY ALLOWED ME TO GO IN REVERSE. 2AFTER ALLOWING IT TO SIT FOR A WHILE IT WOULD DRIVE BUT WHILE TRYING TO DRIVE HOME IT CONSTANTLY SLIPPED OUT OF GEAR WHICH WAS VERY DANGEROUS ESPECIALLY WHEN IT HAPPENED AT AN INTERSECTION. *TR

20120402VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

FOR A COUPLE DAYS MY CAR WOULD BEGIN STALLING WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. I FELT LIKE IT SLOWED DOWN TO SHIFT OUT OF GEAR BUT NEVER COMPLETELY SHIFTED. THEN, ONE DAY WHEN I WAS DRIVING, ON MY WAY HOME MY CAR SLIPPED OUT OF GEAR COMPLETELY AND I COULDN'T DRIVE FORWARD. MY CAR ONLY ALLOWED ME TO GO IN REVERSE. 2AFTER ALLOWING IT TO SIT FOR A WHILE IT WOULD DRIVE BUT WHILE TRYING TO DRIVE HOME IT CONSTANTLY SLIPPED OUT OF GEAR WHICH WAS VERY DANGEROUS ESPECIALLY WHEN IT HAPPENED AT AN INTERSECTION. *TR

20111122POWER TRAIN

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 ACURA 3.2 CL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER HAVING THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED, THE TRANSMISSION MALFUNCTIONED AND EXHIBITED A HARD JERK WHEN SHIFTING GEARS. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT COULD SMELL TRANSMISSION FLUID BURNING. THE CONTACT DID NOT TAKE THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER OR MECHANIC FOR REPAIRS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 173,000.

Mileage: 173,000

20100519POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILS ABRUPTLY. VEHICLE ACCELERATES ABRUPTLY WHEN GEARS SHIFT. POTENTIAL SAFETY HAZARD IF FAILURE OCCURS IN HIGHWAY. *TR

Mileage: 85,000

20100316POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

TRANSMISSION FAILURE CAR HAS ONLY 45K ON IT. MINOR TRANS REPAIR BY PRIOR OWNER UNDER WARRANTY. CLASS ACTION APPLIED BUT PAST TIME LIMIT. ACURA OFFERED 50% OF REPAIR COST NOT 100%. I BELIEVE TIME LIMIT INAPPROPRIATE. TIME DOES NOT DAMAGE TRANS. *TR

Mileage: 45,500

20080118POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

2002 ACURA 3.2CL WITH DEFECTIVE TRANSMISSIONS. CONSUMER STATES THAT HER 1ST TRANSMISSION FAILED WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH. DEALER INFORMED HER THAT THEY KNEW THE TRANSMISSIONS WERE BAD. *KB THE FIRST TIME THE TRANSMISSION FAILED, IT WOULD NOT GO INTO REVERSE. NOW, IT IS 2 YEARS LATER AND THE TRANSMISSION IS SLIPPING. THE DEALER STATED THERE WAS AN INTERNAL FAILURE. *JB

Mileage: 103,000

20071227POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

ACURA IS KNOWINGLY PUTTING DEFECTIVE TRANSMISSIONS IN THESE CARS. WHEN MY FIRST TRANS WENT OUT, I WAS DOING 50 MPH ON LAKE SHORE DR. AND IF I WEREN'T WEARING MY SEATBELT, I WOULD'VE GONE THROUGH THE WINDSHIELD. THEY ADMITTED THAT THEY KNEW ALL THESE TRANS WERE BAD AND REPLACED THE 1ST ONE @ 103,000 MILES AND SAID THEY WOULD "GOOD WILL" THESE TRANS AS LONG AS IM THE ORIGINAL OWNER. MY HUSBAND WAS A MASTER TECH. MECHANIC AT ACURA FOR 10 YRS. AND SAID THEY NEVER CAME OUT WITH A GOOD TRANS. FOR THESE CARS. THEY JUST KEEP REBUILDING THEM AND REPLACING THEM WHEN THEY GO OUT! NOW MY REPLACEMENT TRANS IS GOING OUT @ 30,000 LESS MILES THAN THE 1ST AND THEY REFUSE TO REPLACE IT WITHOUT ME PAYING FOR IT! PAY FOR ANOTHER BAD TRANSMISSION? THEY WROTE ON MY CAR WORK ORDER "TEST DROVE VEHICLE FOUND TRANS SLIPPING - CUSTOMER ADVISED OF TRANS OPERATION, NOT RECOMMENDED TO DRIVE VEHICLE!" THEY PUT ME BACK ON THE STREET WITH THEIR UNSAFE TRANSMISSION. IT'S NOT RIGHT THAT THEY ARE PUTTING 'ACCIDENTS WAIT

Mileage: 171,000

20071227EQUIPMENT:RECREATIONAL VEHICLE/TRAILER

ACURA IS KNOWINGLY PUTTING DEFECTIVE TRANSMISSIONS IN THESE CARS. WHEN MY FIRST TRANS WENT OUT, I WAS DOING 50 MPH ON LAKE SHORE DR. AND IF I WEREN'T WEARING MY SEATBELT, I WOULD'VE GONE THROUGH THE WINDSHIELD. THEY ADMITTED THAT THEY KNEW ALL THESE TRANS WERE BAD AND REPLACED THE 1ST ONE @ 103,000 MILES AND SAID THEY WOULD "GOOD WILL" THESE TRANS AS LONG AS IM THE ORIGINAL OWNER. MY HUSBAND WAS A MASTER TECH. MECHANIC AT ACURA FOR 10 YRS. AND SAID THEY NEVER CAME OUT WITH A GOOD TRANS. FOR THESE CARS. THEY JUST KEEP REBUILDING THEM AND REPLACING THEM WHEN THEY GO OUT! NOW MY REPLACEMENT TRANS IS GOING OUT @ 30,000 LESS MILES THAN THE 1ST AND THEY REFUSE TO REPLACE IT WITHOUT ME PAYING FOR IT! PAY FOR ANOTHER BAD TRANSMISSION? THEY WROTE ON MY CAR WORK ORDER "TEST DROVE VEHICLE FOUND TRANS SLIPPING - CUSTOMER ADVISED OF TRANS OPERATION, NOT RECOMMENDED TO DRIVE VEHICLE!" THEY PUT ME BACK ON THE STREET WITH THEIR UNSAFE TRANSMISSION. IT'S NOT RIGHT THAT THEY ARE PUTTING 'ACCIDENTS WAIT

Mileage: 171,000

Compare 2002ACURACL to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations 2 Open

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 2002 ACURA CL have?
The 2002 ACURA CL has 71 NHTSA complaints, 3 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 3 deaths reported.
Are there any recalls for the 2002 ACURA CL?
Yes, the 2002 ACURA CL has 2 recall(s). The most common affected component is AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE. Recalls are issued by NHTSA and manufacturers must provide a free remedy.
What are the most common problems with the 2002 ACURA CL?
The most-complained component for the 2002 ACURA CL is POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION with 28 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include AIR BAGS and VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL.
Is the 2002 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.