The 1997 Acura CL has 2 safety recalls and 82 owner complaints on file with NHTSA. The most-reported problem area is power train (20 complaints).
Recalls2safety recalls
Complaints82filed by owners
Crashes · fires5 · 0reported in complaints
Injuries · deaths5 · 0reported in complaints
Safety recalls
Electrical system › Ignition › Switch
NHTSA recall 02V120000 · May 16, 2002 · 1,000,000 vehicles
Problem: ON CERTAIN SEDANS, COUPES, HATCHBACKS, AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, ELECTRICAL CONTACTS IN THE IGNITION SWITCH CAN DEGRADE DUE TO THE HIGH ELECTRICAL CURRENT PASSING THROUGH THE SWITCH WHEN THE VEHICLE IS STARTED.
Risk: WORN CONTACTS COULD CAUSE THE ENGINE TO STALL WITHOUT WARNING, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE IGNITION SWITCH. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JUNE 14, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT HONDA AT 1-800-999-1009 OR ACURA AT 1-800-382-2238.
Suspension › Front › Control arm › Lower ball joint
NHTSA recall 99V069000 · May 10, 1999 · 124,875 vehicles
Problem: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. CERTAIN VEHICLES WERE MANUFACTURED WITH BALL JOINTS THAT CAN PREMATURELY WEAR OUT AND, IN THE WORSE CASE, THE BALL JOINT WOULD SEPARATE CAUSING THE FRONT SUSPENSION TO COLLAPSE.
Risk: THIS CONDITION WOULD RESULT IN VEHICLE DECELERATION AND A SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER. ALSO STEERING CONTROLLABILITY WOULD BE REDUCED.
Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FRONT SUSPENSION LOWER BALL JOINTS.
Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. A recall listed here may already have been fixed on a particular car: enter its 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls.
What owners report
Problem area
Complaints
Crashes
Fires
Injuries
Typical mileage*
Power train Automatic transmission; Manual transmission › Floor shift assembly
20
0
0
0
95,500 mi
Electrical system Ignition › Switch; Starter assembly
17
1
0
0
170,000 mi
Air bags Frontal; Frontal › Sensor/control module
14
3
0
4
125,000 mi
Suspension Front; Front › Control arm › Lower ball joint
10
0
0
0
122,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling Engine; Engine › Gasoline
8
0
0
0
—
Service brakes, hydraulic Antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip; Foundation components
7
1
0
0
—
Visibility Power window devices and controls; Windshield
6
0
0
0
—
Vehicle speed control
4
0
0
0
—
Structure Frame and members; Body › Door
4
0
0
0
—
Unknown or other
4
0
0
0
—
Tires Tread/belt; Sidewall
3
0
0
0
—
Seat belts Front › Buckle assembly
2
0
0
0
—
*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.
Recent owner complaints
Mar 2, 2020 · 300,000 milesAir 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.
Mar 1, 2020Air 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
May 8, 2018Air 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.
Mar 18, 2020 · 176,000 miles · crash · 1 injuryAir 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…
Jun 11, 2016Air bags I NOTICED AN SRS LIGHT ON EVERY TIME AFTER I START THE ENGINE AND THE ENGINE MOUNTING ARE BROKEN AND LOSE..
Feb 26, 2018Unknown or other I AM ON MY 3RD TRANSMISSION SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR IN 2012
Dec 20, 2016 · 218,000 milesElectrical system SOMETIMES DON'T START
Feb 22, 2017 · 186,243 milesEngine 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
Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.