2001 Acura Cl
The Verdict
The 2001 Acura Cl has 266 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. The most reported issues are transmission (198 complaints) and electrical (34 complaints). With a Klunk Score of 46/100, it earns a "Proceed with Caution" rating. If you're shopping for a Acura Cl, consider the 2002 model year which has 77% fewer complaints.
Safe Bet
The 2002 has 77% fewer complaints
View the 2002 Acura Cl dashboard →
Klunk Score: Proceed with Caution
About average for complaint volume. Research the specific issues before buying.
How is this calculated?
The Klunk Score ranks this vehicle year against all others in our database based on total owner complaints filed with NHTSA. 100 = fewest complaints (top tier), 0 = most complained-about. Scores above 60 are better than average; below 40 means more problems than most.
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Under the Hood
Each number is a complaint. Darker = bigger problem.
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Worst Problems
Complaints
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.
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 “stating the recall has already been done” but they “don’t have any record of it” they claim someone didn’t 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.
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
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
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.
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.
WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT 65MPH, MY CAR SUDDENLY SLIPPED OUT OF GEAR, ENGINE REVVING AND SMOKE POURING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. I HAD GOTTEN NO WARNING AT ALL.THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT NEVER CAME ON AND THE CAR HAD NO PRIOR INSTANCES OF GEAR PROBLEMS. HAD TO GET IT TOWED HOME WHERE IT SITS IN MY DRIVEWAY BECAUSE I CAN'T AFFORD A NEW TRANSMISSION.
THE LEFT WINDOW GOES DOWN BUT NOT IN GOING UP =STOP IN THE LOWER PART
TAKATA RECALL. MY TRANSMISSION IS ACTING UP.???
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 ACURA CL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 04V176000 (POWER TRAIN) BY LEHIGH VALLEY ACURA (333 STATE AVE, EMMAUS, PA 18049, (610) 967-6500), BUT THE REMEDY FAILED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WARNING INDICATOR REMAINED ILLUMINATED AFTER THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 99,000.
266 total