The 1999 Acura CL has 3 safety recalls and 49 owner complaints on file with NHTSA. The most-reported problem area is power train (13 complaints).
Recalls3safety recalls
Complaints49filed by owners
Crashes · fires4 · 0reported in complaints
Injuries · deaths3 · 0reported in complaints
Safety recalls
Air bags › Frontal › Driver side › Inflator module
NHTSA recall 20V026000 · Jan 17, 2020 · 1,439,841 vehicles · opened after NHTSA action (ODI)
Problem: 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, 1997-1998 EV Plus, and 1998-1999 Isuzu Oasis vehicles. These vehicles were equipped with Non-Azide Driver air bag Inflators (NADI) and do not contain phase stabilized ammonium nitrate (PSAN) propellant. Due to a manufacturing issue, the NADI inflators may absorb moisture, causing the inflators to rupture or the air bag cushion to underinflate.
Risk: In the event of a crash necessitating air bag deployment, an inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants. An underinflated air bag cushion may not properly protect the occupant. These scenarios increase the risk of serious injury or death.
Fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the driver frontal air bag inflator, and replace it if necessary, with an inflator of a different design, free of charge. The recall began October 1, 2020. Owners may contact American Honda's Customer Support & Campaign Center at 1-888-234-2138 or Isuzu customer service at 1-800-255-6727.
Electrical system › Ignition › Switch
NHTSA recall 03V423000 · Oct 27, 2003 · 563,861 vehicles · opened after NHTSA action (ODI)
Problem: ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES AND MINI VANS, THE IGNITION SWITCH MAY WEAR EXCESSIVELY AND PREVENT PROPER INTERLOCK OPERATION, MAKING IT POSSIBLE TO TURN THE IGNITION KEY TO THE "OFF" POSITION AND REMOVE THE KEY WITHOUT SHIFTING THE TRANSMISSION TO "PARK."
Risk: IF THE VEHICLE OPERATOR DOES NOT SHIFT TO "PARK" BEFORE REMOVING THE KEY AND FAILS TO ENGAGE THE PARKING BRAKE, THE VEHICLE COULD ROLL AND A CRASH COULD OCCUR.
Fix: DEALERS WILL PERFORM AN INSPECTION PROCEDURE THAT DETERMINES THE AMOUNT OF CYLINDER BODY WEAR. IF SIGNIFICANT WEAR IS INDICATED, THE DEALER WILL REPLACE THE CYLINDER BODY, COLLAR, AND LATCH PLATE. IF NO SIGNS OF WEAR ARE INDICATED, DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE LATCH PLATE WITH A REDESIGNED PART. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN DECEMBER 8, 2003. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT HONDA AT 1-800-999-1009 OR ACURA AT 1-800-382-2238.
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.
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; Automatic transmission › Lever and linkage › Floor shift
13
2
0
2
111,587 mi
Electrical system Ignition › Switch; Alternator/generator/regulator
11
0
0
0
138,500 mi
Engine and engine cooling Engine; Exhaust system › Emission control › Gas recirculation valve (egr valve)
7
3
0
3
300 mi
Tires Sidewall; Tread/belt
6
0
0
0
—
Air bags Frontal
6
1
0
0
—
Steering Gear box (other than rack and pinion); Hydraulic power assist system
5
2
0
2
124,250 mi
Engine
5
0
0
0
138,500 mi
Equipment Mechanical
3
0
0
0
—
Visibility Power window devices and controls
2
0
0
0
—
Vehicle speed control
2
1
0
1
—
Service brakes, hydraulic Foundation components › Disc › Rotor
1
0
0
0
—
Latches/locks/linkages Doors › Latch
1
0
0
0
—
*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.
Recent owner complaints
Jul 22, 2020 · 248,000 milesElectrical system TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 ACURA CL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THERE WAS NO WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BATTERY AND ALTERNATOR WERE REPLACED TWICE. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO MCGRATH ACURA OF DOWNTOWN CHICAGO (1301 N. ELSTON AVE, CHICAGO, IL 60642) FOR A RECALL REPAIR ON THE AIR BAGS HOWEVER, THERE WAS NO MENTION OF THE FAILURE OF THE VEHICLE TO START OR FOR THE VEHICLE STALLING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BATTERY WAS BEING DRAINED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE BATTERY AND ALTERNATOR WERE REPLACED HOWEVER, THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT…
Oct 4, 2020Air bags UNABLE TO GET THE AIRBAG REPLACED AFTER MORE THAN 6 MONTHS OF THE RECALL NOTICE. I CONTACTED ACURA AND THEIR LOCAL DEALERS BUT WAS BEING BOUNCED AROUND WITHOUT ANY UPDATE IN TERMS OF PARTS AVAILABILITY OR TIMING FOR FIXING THE PROBLEM. THERE WAS ANOTHER HONDA AIRBAG RELATED FATALITY REPORTED TODAY. ACURA NEEDS TO TAKE THE AIRBAG RECALL SERIOUSLY AFTER 6 MONTHS HAS ELAPSED.
Jan 17, 2020Air bags TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 ACURA CL. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 20V026000 (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 ANTONINO ACURA LOCATED AT 340 GOLD STAR HWY, GROTON, CT 06340, (860) 215-3165), AND IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.
Jun 18, 2020Air bags I RECEIVED NOTIFICATION FROM ACURA IN MARCH 2020 ABOUT A POTENTIAL MALFUNCTION OF MY AIRBAG IN THE EVENT OF DEPLOYMENT. IT IS APPROACHING JULY AND NO FOLLOW UP MESSAGE ON A REPAIR HAS BEEN PROVIDED. I CURRENTLY DRIVE THE CAR FOR WORK SO IF THIS ISSUE ISN'T RESOLVED SOON IT PRESENTS A BIG HAZARD TO MYSELF AND OTHERS. *TR
Mar 11, 2020Air bags TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 ACURA CL. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 20V026000 (AIR BAGS) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. GOLD COAST ACURA (3195 PERKIN AVE, VENTURA, CA 93003) AND ACURA OF THOUSAND OAKS (3945 AUTO MALL DR, THOUSAND OAKS, CA 91362) WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER HAD WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND STATED THAT PARTS WOULD BE AVAILABLE IN SIX MONTHS. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.
Apr 11, 2017 · 253,580 milesElectrical system TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 ACURA CL. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE LOST ALL POWER WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE WHILE IN NEUTRAL AND COASTING. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS SHIFTED INTO DRIVE, THE POWER WAS LOST AGAIN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, BUT THE FAILURE COULD NOT DUPLICATED. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONTACT OF A NHTSA RECALL FOR THE IGNITION SWITCH. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND CASE NUMBER: 05946667 WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 02V120000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 253,580.
Jul 2, 1999Air bags TAKATA AIR BAGS RECALL- WHY IS MY CAR NOT ON THE RECALL LIST? ARE THEY NOT GOING BACK TO 1999? IS IT OK TO DRIVE. ACCORDING THE NEWSPAPER REPORTS, THE OLDER MODELS ARE AT HIGHER RISKS.
Oct 29, 2015 · 110,000 miles · crash · 1 injuryVehicle speed control TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 ACURA CL. WHILE APPROACHING A TRAFFIC LIGHT AND PROCEEDING TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED INDEPENDENTLY. IN ADDITION, WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL WAS TURNED TO THE RIGHT, THE VEHICLE TURNED IN THE LEFT DIRECTION. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE LANDED IN A MAN HOLE, WHICH CAUSED THE AIR BAGS TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED SHOULDER INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN IMPOUND LOT, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT PROVIDED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000. UPDATED 02/02/16*LJ *TR
Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.