2003 Acura CL problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
73 owner complaints analyzed
5 distinct recall campaigns
74,728 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2003 model year. Data snapshot: . 52 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Power Train:Automatic Transmission is the most frequently named component, appearing in 17 of 73 complaints (23.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 37 | 50.7% |
| Braking behavior | 9 | 12.3% |
| Steering behavior | 5 | 6.8% |
| Engine operation | 4 | 5.5% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 1 | 1.4% |
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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 17 |
| Power Train | 15 |
| Air Bags | 9 |
| Electrical System | 4 |
| Power Train:Manual Transmission | 4 |
| Engine | 3 |
| Exterior Lighting:Headlights | 3 |
| Steering | 3 |
Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 17; Power Train: 15; Air Bags: 9; Electrical System: 4; Power Train:Manual Transmission: 4; Engine: 3; Exterior Lighting:Headlights: 3; Steering: 3
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 8 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 6 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 12 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 7 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 13 |
| 150,000 and above | 6 |
Under 25,000: 8; 25,000 to 49,999: 6; 50,000 to 74,999: 12; 75,000 to 99,999: 7; 100,000 to 149,999: 13; 150,000 and above: 6
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (13). 21 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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2002 | 3 |
| 2003 | 8 |
| 2004 | 5 |
| 2005 | 5 |
| 2006 | 7 |
| 2007 | 3 |
| 2008 | 2 |
| 2009 | 3 |
| 2010 | 1 |
| 2011 | 4 |
| 2012 | 4 |
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2014 | 3 |
| 2015 | 7 |
| 2016 | 2 |
| 2017 | 4 |
| 2019 | 6 |
| 2022 | 1 |
| 2023 | 1 |
| 2024 | 2 |
| 2025 | 1 |
2002: 3; 2003: 8; 2004: 5; 2005: 5; 2006: 7; 2007: 3; 2008: 2; 2009: 3; 2010: 1; 2011: 4; 2012: 4; 2013: 1; 2014: 3; 2015: 7; 2016: 2; 2017: 4; 2019: 6; 2022: 1; 2023: 1; 2024: 2; 2025: 1
Pattern summary
Power Train:Automatic Transmission leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 37 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 9 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 5 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 10009681 · 2003-03-03 (March 3, 2003)
TRANSMISSION SLIPS EVERY TIME VEHICLE IS DRIVEN. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 11,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10009681 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10026056 · 2003-07-14 (July 14, 2003)
THE TRANSMISSION IN MY 2003 ACURA CLS HESITATES DURING CERTAIN SHIFTS AND IT HAS DOWNSHIFTED AND UPSHIFTED AT THE WRONG TIMES.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 6,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10026056 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10140892 · 2005-10-26 (October 26, 2005)
I PURCHASED A NEW ACURA 3.2CL TYPE S WITH A 6 SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSION ON 5/24/03. IN 6/16/04 WITH 14,396 MILES I HAD TO HAVE THE FRONT ROTORS RESURFACED AND MY BRAKE PADS REPLACED WITH UPDATED PADS PER TSB01-017 BECAUSE OF EXTREME VIBRATION WHILE BRAKING (OUT OF ROUND ROTORS DUE TO OVER HEATING). THIS WAS DONE AT NO CHARGE UNDER WARRANTY. ON 4/26/05 (LESS THAN ONE YEAR LATER) WITH 26,097 MILES, ACURA RESURFACED THE ROTOR AS A "GOOD WILL GESTURE" AT NO CHARGE BECAUSE OF EXTREME VIBRATION WHILE BRAKING AGAIN. I WAS ADVISED THAT THE NEXT TI…
Owner-reported narrative. 14,396 miles reported. Look up ODI 10140892 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10149379 · 2006-02-03 (February 3, 2006)
2003 ACURA 3.2CL TYPE S - 75,000 MILES - MANUAL TRANSMISSION (MT) IS HARD TO SHIFT INTO SECOND AND REVERSE GEARS. ALSO NOTICED THAT AFTER HOLDING THE CLUTCH PEDAL IN WHILE AT A STOP LIGHT, SITTING IN TRAFFIC, ETC., THE PRESSURE CHANGES WHILE LETTING THE PEDAL OUT AND DOESN'T ENGAGE/CATCH WHILE ATTEMPTING TO SHIFT. MUST PUSH PEDAL DOWN AGAIN AND TRY TO SHIFT AGAIN. THE FIRST COUPLE OF TIMES THIS HAPPENED, I SHIFTED FROM FIRST INTO SECOND GEAR AND THE GEAR GRINDED AND CAR JERKED. THE PEDAL PRESSURE ALMOST FEEL LIKE A BRAKE PEDAL DOES WHEN COM…
Owner-reported narrative. 68,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10149379 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10980455 · 2017-04-25 (April 25, 2017)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 ACURA CL. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO BRAKE, THE CONTACT FELT A VIBRATION IN THE STEERING WHEEL AND BRAKE PEDAL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO FOUR DEALERS. ONE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE BRAKES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED; HOWEVER, THE CONTACT STATED THAT NOTHING FAILED AND SHE DID NOT KNOW WHAT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. ANOTHER DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE REAR ROTORS COULD BE WARPED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE OTHER TWO DEALERS ALSO DIAGNOSED THAT THERE WAS AN ISSUE WITH THE BRAKES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. TH…
Owner-reported narrative. 10,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10980455 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11245484 · 2019-08-21 (August 21, 2019)
UPON REMOVING MY FRONT RIGHT (PASSENGER SIDE) WHEEL TO CHECK MY BRAKE PADS, I NOTICED THE REAR PORTION OF THE SUB-FRAME (WHICH HOLDS UP THE ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION AS WELL AS THE STEERING RACK AND SWAY BAR) HAD RUSTED AWAY ALLOWING THE SWAY BAR TO COME COMPLETELY LOOSE ON THE RIGHT SIDE. I RESEARCHED THIS PROBLEM AND FOUND THAT MANY LATE 1990S AND EARLY 2000 HONDA/ACURA MODELS (PRIMARILY HONDA ACCORDS, ACURA TL AND CL MODELS) HAD THIS ISSUE DUE TO THE POORLY DESIGNED AIR-CONDITIONING CONDENSER DRAIN THAT DRAINED RIGHT ON TOP OF THIS PART, CAUSI…
Owner-reported narrative. 236,700 miles reported. Look up ODI 11245484 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10044163 · 2003-10-17 (October 17, 2003)
WHILE DRIVING AT NORMAL SPEED VEHICLE WOULD INTERMITTENTLY STALL. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10044163 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10090560 · 2004-09-07 (September 7, 2004)
TRANMISSION FAILURES: 2003 ACURA CL. 1ST INCIDENT WAS AT 3,000 MILES. CAR STALLED AND WAS ACTING UP ON A VERY BUSY FREEWAY IN CA (405 FREEWAY). I WASN'T IN A FAMILIAR AREA WHEN I PULLED OVER. ACURA ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE SAID TO DRIVE TO THE NEAREST DEALERSHIP WHEN I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW WHERE ONE WAS. IT WAS DANGEROUS BUT I ENDED UP MAKING IT TO DEALERSHIP. REPLACED TRANSMISSION AND SOME OTHER FLUIDS AFTER 1 WEEK OF BEING IN THE SHOP. 2ND INCIDENT WAS AT 25K MILES AND NOT EVEN 2 YRS OLD. CAR WAS PULLING I SLOWED DOWN AND HAD A BLOW OUT ON ANOTHER…
Owner-reported narrative. 25,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10090560 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11203227 · 2019-04-23 (April 23, 2019)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 ACURA CL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE INTERMITTENTLY SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT HAD TO ADD STARTER FLUID TO THE VEHICLE IN ORDER TO GET IT TO DRIVE. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 02V120000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 278,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 278,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11203227 at NHTSA ↗