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U.S. public vehicle records

1997 Acura CL problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

65 owner complaints analyzed

2 distinct recall campaigns

107,677 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 1997 model year. Data snapshot: . 24 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Power Train:Automatic Transmission is the most frequently named component, appearing in 11 of 65 complaints (16.9%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Transmission and shifting1523.1%
Braking behavior710.8%
Engine operation69.2%
Electrical and battery issues69.2%
Steering behavior11.5%

Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.

Component breakdown

Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.

Power Train:Automatic Transmission
11
Air Bags
7
Electrical System
5
Electrical System:Ignition:Switch
4
Unknown Or Other
4
Visibility:Power Window Devices And Controls
4
Air Bags:Frontal
3
Electrical System:Starter Assembly
3
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Power Train:Automatic Transmission11
Air Bags7
Electrical System5
Electrical System:Ignition:Switch4
Unknown Or Other4
Visibility:Power Window Devices And Controls4
Air Bags:Frontal3
Electrical System:Starter Assembly3

Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 11; Air Bags: 7; Electrical System: 5; Electrical System:Ignition:Switch: 4; Unknown Or Other: 4; Visibility:Power Window Devices And Controls: 4; Air Bags:Frontal: 3; Electrical System:Starter Assembly: 3

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000
1
25,000 to 49,999
1
50,000 to 74,999
3
75,000 to 99,999
6
100,000 to 149,999
4
150,000 and above
9
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,0001
25,000 to 49,9991
50,000 to 74,9993
75,000 to 99,9996
100,000 to 149,9994
150,000 and above9

Under 25,000: 1; 25,000 to 49,999: 1; 50,000 to 74,999: 3; 75,000 to 99,999: 6; 100,000 to 149,999: 4; 150,000 and above: 9

150,000 and above miles has the most reports with usable mileage (9). 41 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.

Complaints over time

Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.

1996
1
2000
9
2001
4
2002
9
2003
7
2004
6
2005
1
2006
7
2008
4
2009
2
2010
2
2011
2
2014
1
2016
2
2017
2
2018
1
2020
5
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
19961
20009
20014
20029
20037
20046
20051
20067
20084
20092
20102
20112
20141
20162
20172
20181
20205

1996: 1; 2000: 9; 2001: 4; 2002: 9; 2003: 7; 2004: 6; 2005: 1; 2006: 7; 2008: 4; 2009: 2; 2010: 2; 2011: 2; 2014: 1; 2016: 2; 2017: 2; 2018: 1; 2020: 5

Pattern summary

Power Train:Automatic Transmission leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 15 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 7 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 6 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.

Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.

Complaint evidence

Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.

Owner report 10005125 · 2003-02-02 (February 2, 2003)

FAULTY SHIFTING 1997 ACURA CL TRANSMISSION. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10005125 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10052874 · 2004-01-11 (January 11, 2004)

ABOUT A ACURA CL 1997 , SEEMS LIKE THE COMPANY KNEW ABOUT THE TRNSMISSION PROBLEMS THIS VEHICLE HAS HAD AND NEVER RECALLED IT. THE 2.2 AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION ARE VERY POORLEY BUILT.*AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10052874 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10164010 · 2006-07-31 (July 31, 2006)

CAR SKIDDED OUT OF CONTROL. NO ONE GOT HURT. ABS INSTRUMENT PANEL WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. LEAKAGE OCCURS ON THE ABS MODULATOR WHICH PROBABLY GOT ON LEFT TIRE TO CAUSE SKID. *NM

Owner-reported narrative. 89 miles reported. Look up ODI 10164010 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10226828 · 2008-05-06 (May 6, 2008)

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 ACURA 3.0CL. IN 2004, FOUR NEW TIRES WERE PLACED ON THE VEHICLE. IN 2005, THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL MECHANIC DUE TO BRAKE FAILURE. THE CONTACT HEARS A SQUEAKING NOISE COMING FROM THE WHEEL WELL IN THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE. IT FELT AS IF THE WHEELS WERE GOING TO FALL OFF, SO SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO HER LOCAL MECHANIC AGAIN. THE BALL JOINTS WERE IDENTIFIED AS THE CAUSE FOR THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT RESEARCHED COMPLAINTS THAT OTHER ACURA OWNERS HAD WITH THERE 3.0 CL AND LOCATED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NU…

Owner-reported narrative. 77,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10226828 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10117453 · 2005-03-29 (March 29, 2005)

1997 ACURA CL 3.0 HAS PROBLEMS WITH THE IGNITION SWITCH. *MR THE CONSUMER VEHICLE WAS STALLED OUT AS SHE WAS DRIVING. THE CONSUMER WAS ADVISED IN JULY 2004 THAT THERE WAS A RECALL AND TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE NEAREST DEALERSHIP, HOWEVER IN FEB 2005, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO STALL AGAIN WHILE TRAVELING AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND UPON EXAMINING THE VEHICLE, THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS THE SOURCE OF THE PROBLEM. THE CONSUMER STATED THAT PROBLEM HAD ALREADY BEEN TAKEN CARE OF, HOWEVER THE DEALER STATED T…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10117453 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10154308 · 2006-03-31 (March 31, 2006)

CAR STALLED ON FREEWAY - FULL ELECTRICAL SHUTDOWN - GAUGES DROPPED. PUT CAR INTO NEUTRAL, RESTARTED IGNITION, SLIGHT GRIND AT STARTER, AND CAR STARTED. PULLED OVER WHEN SAFE & WHEN PUT CAR IN REVERSE, HEARD WHINING/GRINDING NOISE AND IT WOULDN'T ENGAGE. DRIVE WORKED FINE SO DROVE TO DEALER. DEALER FOUND IGNITION TO BE DEFECTIVE AND COVERED UNDER RECALL - IT CAUSED THE STALL. DEALER SAID TRANSMISSION NEEDED REPLACEMENT FOR $4800 - WON;T COVER IT AND SAY THE TRANSMISSION FAILURE AND STALL HAVE NOTING TO DO WITH EACH OTHER. THE STALL WAS VERY UNSA…

Owner-reported narrative. 112,354 miles reported. Look up ODI 10154308 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10003015 · 2003-01-20 (January 20, 2003)

SRS LIGHT ON THE DASH STAYS ON. DEALER SAID WIRING IS DEFECTIVE. AIRBAG HAS NEVER GONE OFF AND THE CAR HAS NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT. DEALER STATED THAT IT IS THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG. THE DIAGNOSIS IS THAT THE WIRE SHOWS HIGH RESISTENCE. THE MODULE WAS RESET, THE LIGHT ON THE DASH WENT OFF FOR THREE DAYS AND THEN CAME BACK ON. THE DEALER WILL NOT REPAIR. IT IS POSSIBLE THE AIR BAG WILL NOT WORK ACCORDING TO THE DEALER. THE WIRING IS DEFECTIVE.

Owner-reported narrative. 125,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10003015 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10025447 · 2003-07-05 (July 5, 2003)

UPON STARTING VEHICLE, SRS INDICATOR STAYED ILLUMINATED. VEHICLE HAS NEVER BEEN INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT, AND THE AIRBAG HAS NEVER BEEN DEPLOYED. DEALER HAS DIAGNOSED AS POOR RESISTANCE IN THE WIRING TO OR WITHIN THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG. DEALER RESET THE INDICATOR. IF RE-ILLUMINATION OCCURS, DEALER STATES A NEED TO REPLACE THE AIRBAG WIRING HARNESS OR THE AIRBAG ITSELF.*AK

Owner-reported narrative. 69,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10025447 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10238151 · 2008-08-14 (August 14, 2008)

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 ACURA 3.0CL. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD NOISE AND FELT EXCESSIVE VIBRATION FROM THE VEHICLE. SHE EXPERIENCED DIFFICULTY CONTROLLING THE STEERING WHEEL. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. PRIOR TO THE FAILURES, THE POWER STEERING WAS NOT WORKING PROPERLY. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO PULL TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE FAILURES CAUSED DAMAGES TO THE TIRE AND BUMPER. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE LOWER BALL JO…

Owner-reported narrative. 122,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10238151 at NHTSA ↗