CarComplaints.com Notes: The automatic transmission on the 2nd generation CL (2001-2003) is a downshifting mess. According to reports it slips, flares, and eventually fails --- sometimes around 40,000 miles.

The troubled transmission got an extended warranty for some CL owners that was later extended even further thanks to a class-action lawsuit in the United States. But even with the extended warranty, the transmission in this car is well known for overheating and locking up suddenly and without warning.

10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
3 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
2 / 0
Average Mileage:
78,119 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2001 Acura CL seat belts / air bags problems

seat belts / air bags problem

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2001 Acura CL Owner Comments (Page 1 of 2)

problem #27

Jan 262024

CL

  • 262,515 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

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.

- Costa Mesa, CA, USA

problem #26

Mar 012020

CL

  • miles
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.

- Southfield, MI, USA

problem #25

Feb 012020

CL 6-cyl Diesel

  • miles
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.

- Redding, CA, USA

problem #24

Mar 312020

CL

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

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?

- Tacoma, WA, USA

problem #23

Jan 172020

CL

  • 0 miles
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.

- Menlo Park, CA, USA

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problem #22

Jun 292018

CL

  • 190,000 miles
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.

- Lake Oswego, OR, USA

problem #21

Jun 252020

CL 6-cyl

  • 33,600 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

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.

- Lawrenceburg, IN, USA

problem #20

Mar 012020

CL

  • 0 miles
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.

- Camarillo, CA, USA

problem #19

May 182020

CL 6-cyl

  • 102,000 miles
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. Consumer stated vehicle was repaired.

- Kalaheo, HI, USA

problem #18

Apr 102018

CL

  • miles
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.

- Baltimore, MD, USA

problem #17

Jan 172020

CL

  • 150,455 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

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.

- Sarasota, FL, USA

problem #16

Mar 202020

CL

  • 0 miles
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.

- Plano, TX, USA

problem #15

May 202019

CL

  • 163,000 miles
Takata recall. My transmission is acting up."?"

- Pembroke Pines, FL, USA

problem #14

Oct 252018

CL

  • miles
The SRS light came on due to a faulty passenger seat belt buckle switch which will render the airbags in operable in a crash. Looks like I'm not the only one with this same problem and you guys haven't done anything. The dealer wants to charge my $300 to get it fixed.

- St Charles, MO, USA

problem #13

Mar 062019

CL

  • 120,000 miles
Car passed inspection in January, SRS came

- Bronx, NY, USA

problem #12

May 142018

CL

  • 133,454 miles
The air bag light keeps coming on for no reason. Go to the dealer to get it checked and there is no code for the airbag. The light will stay off until I hit any bump in road. I was on the interstate when it comes on and in town when it has come on for no reason.

- Morrisville, VT, USA

problem #11

Aug 152014

CL

  • 167,000 miles
Alarm for airbag turned red all time. Request for tests and verifications were denied by dealer.

- Anaheim, CA, USA

problem #10

Feb 032016

CL

  • 133,000 miles
This car has had multiple issues with the SRS system, which has rendered it inoperable. Apparently, there are design issues with the seat buckle and seat sensor that have been there all along. There are multiple owner complaints here and on the internet about this. This apparently makes the entire SRS system inoperable, including the driver airbag. This along with the well documented transmission issues make this a "rolling coffin"-- I am not sure why Honda is not concerned about the safety of its owners. I guess it would take major injuries and lawsuits and publicity to get some action.

- Ellsworth, WI, USA

problem #9

Sep 232015

CL

  • 118,000 miles
My SRS light is on, and always on, driving, in park, etc. However, my car has not been recalled. I read that if the SRS light is on the system will not work, however the seat belt restraint in both front seats and side air bag indicator both work. Dealer should examine, determine problem and fix at no cost. My navi dvr system also works only intermittently. I have the most recent disc. Mostly it is a bunch of lines across the screen, black and white, sometime blue and white. I would say one in 20 starts the navi system works.

- Madison, WI, USA

problem #8

Apr 122015

CL

  • 159,000 miles
When the passenger seat belt was fastened, the supplemental restraint system (SRS) warning light lit up. The SRS light remained on until I erased the scs by entering the appropriate memory erase signal. After the passenger seat belt was buckled again, the SRS light came on again requiring another scs erasure to turn it off. After every scs erasure to turn the SRS light off, it turns back on every time the passenger seat buckle is fastened. It is my understanding that in this car (2001 Acura Cl type S), the air bag deployment system is inactivated whenever the SRS light is on.

- Lake Oswego, OR, USA

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