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:
2 / 1
Injuries / Deaths:
3 / 0
Average Mileage:
37,494 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.
Driving home doing about 65 in a line of traffic when my car decides to go from 5th gear to 2nd w/ no input by me! even though I was belted I thought I was going thru the windshield since the nose of the car went straight down.
My 2001 Acura 3.2 Cl type-S with 5-speed automatic transmission shifted from 5th gear to 1st gear on her own while my car was going 40mph on the highway, which caused a sudden pause. Luckily the cars behind me were able to veer away, otherwise it would've been disastrous. Few minutes after that my car lost 5th, 4th and 3rd gear, I had to drive home using 2nd gear... when I got home, I realized the car also lost reverse gear. Now I am on my 2nd transmission, and somtimes it would also start surging a bit during shifting which is early sign for another transmission failure. I am just nervous everytime I sit in that car. Especially after I learned that so many people had the same problem.
2001 Acura Cl type S transmission failure.this is the 2nd time I have been through this.today the trans shifted from 5th gear down to 2nd.if I did not have my seat belt on, I would have been put into the steering wheel.this happened on route 1 going North in Edison.
Transmission not engaging fourth gear and revving-out on third gear. Check engine dash indicator stayed on and traction control indicators come on intermittently. Second transmission replacement with less than 40 K miles on the car.
2001 Acura Cl type S automanual transmission went from 5th gear to I believe 2nd with no warning or input by me as driver. Thankfully roads were only wet and not slippery as they usually are in buffalo this time of year. There were vehicles behind me that were not pleased with my "driving." Incident date: 1/8/03
I have a 2001 Acura Cl type S. while driving on Friday afternoon, Jan 3, 2003 my transmission started to falter. I was just a few minutes from my home so I decided to keep driving the car till I got there. The tranny would jerk the car into second gear and then slip into third. At one point I was going about 50 mph and the car shifted unexpectedly into second gear. I felt a big jolt but was able to maintain control. The shift lasted about 4 seconds when suddenly the tranny upshifted to third gear. This made me think what would have happen if this had occur in the highway when the average speed is about 65mph. The car did give me advance warning that the transmission was failing but I never thought that it would downshift like that. I really believe that the tranny may someday cause an accident that results in injury or death. My Acura Cl has only 21,400 miles. Needless to say, I had the car towed to the dealership.
Transmission has shown not to engage in third gear (when in sport shift control) causing strain on the engine also it may not shift down from 3rd gear to second on "sport shift". this has happened continously servicer since 10000 miles and I learned to live with it (not using the sport shift). Further more in August/September of 2002 I have started hearing a sound which has ben diagnosed by a third party garage as indicative of serious transmission "problems". ol (dt)
Transmission was used in a normal fashion. This vehicle was never used any harsh conditions. For such a well made vehicle it's ashame for such an expensive piece of equipment to fail.
Complete transmission failure while driving. Vehicle suddenly throws you in second gear and starts to jerk and swerve. Transmission was replaced, and now 10K miles later the replacement tranny is leaking atf fluid again and slipping which are early signs of another failure.
The original transmission failed and downshifted into 1st gear when I was traveling on the highway at 60 mph RPM's went well past the red line and speed reduced to 35mph. I nearly went through the windshield but I was buckled. Then I had the transmission replaced and the same thing happened about 15-20,000 miles later. I am on my 3rd tranny now.
I took my car to the dealer at 16,000 miles, because the transmission was slipping and jerking. They said they couldn't duplicate the problem. The transmission totally failed and was replaced at 25,000 miles. The replacement transmission started acting the same way. It failed at 44,000 miles. Acura claimed that the solenoids needed to be replaced this time... not the whole transmission. 1,300 miles after having the solenoids replaced the transmission has begun slipping and jerking again. Acura won't do anything until the transmission fails again. This is rediculous. Acura (and Honda) must be forced to do something about these transmissions. Both of my failures have happened in traffic, and the first time my car had to be towed to the dealer on a flatbed. Please help!
The trans started to act strange. Hunting for and missing gears. I contacted the dealer for an appointment, and had to wait 4 days to get in. All the while the trans is getting worse. The day before I had to bring it in, I was coming home from work when all of a sudden, without warning, at 65 mph the trans dropped to 2nd. No lights, no indicators nothing. I was almost rear ended by a Cadillac escalade. Since the trans locked up there were no brake lights. I had a heck of a time keeping the car under control. Needless to say the driver in the caddy was very upset with me. And proceeded to perform "road rage" manuevers in order to show me his disdain. He cut me off, gave me the one finger salute, challenge me to pull over. Luckily I was able to avoid him and continue home. The next day I took the car into the dealer, all the while the trans is missing gears, hunting and pecking, and downshifting for no reason. I stayed on slow surface streets and side streets all the way to the dealer. 16 miles away. I did not want to give the car to lock up again at freeway speed. The dealer claimed that the failure was do to an aftermarket air intake and springs. They would replace this trans but no others should the case arise due to the modifications. I explained to them that I know of several other owners who have had a similar problem. Including one gentlemen who has been through 4 transmissions. They still insisited that they would only replace this trans. Acura client services said the same thing. "you modified the car, therefore the failure is because of that." That statement insults my intelligence as a consumer and human being. Both the dealer and Acura took this stance. The dealer even went so far as to say that people with "my type" of accessories. Drive the car hard. Which is ludicrous. This car could have caused a serious accident, it has been fully maintained and taken care off. The trasnmission failure is not the fault of anything I did to the car.
I was driving on the highway, in morning rush-hour traffic, at about 60 mph when the transmission started to shift erratically for a number of seconds. Without warning, the car downshifted and I nearly hit my head on the steering wheel. Fortunately, I was in a stretch where traffic was somewhat lighter, reducing the risk of being rear-ended. The transmission was completely uncontrollable for the remaining mile-or-two of my commute. Once I was off the highway, the engine was running at about 4,500 - 5,000 RPM although I was doing only 15 mph. Finally, reverse was inoperable once I reached my office park and tried to back into a parking space. I called Acura roadside assistance, which dispatched a flatbed. The car was towed to Acura of boston. Eventually, I was told I would be receiving a "new" transmission. However, I believe it is a rebuilt transmission from another failure. I had noticed a strange humming noise almost immediately upon having the car returned to me from the dealer. I spoke to Acura of boston and sunnyside Acura (nashua, nh), and was told no noise could be heard by the techs or the advisors. This is, apparently, very similar to the experiences of other Acura Cl owners. And, it appears that Acura knows about the defects/problems, but is unwilling to acknowledge it publicly by issuing a recall. I could have been seriously injured or killed, and others have said the same thing. This is very disappointing for any car, never mind a car(maker) with this "reputation" and price tag.
There is a serious problem with the Acura transmissions. There have been numerous failures and my biggest concern right now is that the failures are so random, that injuries or even fatalities are possible. The transmission fails and there is nothing we can do but hope no one rear end us or that it does not fail on us while we are on a highway. Which could become an extremely hazardous situation. Acura needs to fix the problem rather than just offer us an extended warranty.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Tyson's Corner, VA, USA