1997 Acura CL: complaints, problems and recalls
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.
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.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 15 | 23.1% |
| Braking behavior | 7 | 10.8% |
| Engine operation | 6 | 9.2% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 6 | 9.2% |
| Steering behavior | 1 | 1.5% |
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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 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 |
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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 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 |
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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 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 |
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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
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 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 10020303 · 2003-09-12 (September 12, 2003)
THE LEFT REAR TIRE TREAD SEPARATED FROM THE TIRE (BF GOODRICH G-FORCE T/A 205/55R16). *NLM A FAILURE ALSO OCCURRED ON THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE, SAME MAKE AND MODEL. *PH *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10020303 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 10029173 · 2003-07-25 (July 25, 2003)
DRIVER'S SIDE POWER WINDOW FAILED, CAUSING WINDOW TO SLIDE INTO THE DOOR. HAD REPAIRS DONE AT A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP, BUT NOW THE ANTI-THEFT INDICATOR LIGHT IN DOOR DOES NOT WORK. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10029173 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10037056 · 2003-09-02 (September 2, 2003)
I WAS DRIVING A LONG LAST WEEK IN MY 1997 ACURA 2.2CL THAT I JUST PURCHASED LAST AUGUST 2002, WITH ONLY 27,000 MILES ON IT NOW WITH 47,000 MILES AND I WENT TO PUT DOWN MY DRIVER SIDE AUTOMATIC WINDOW AND THE WINDOW JUST FELL INTO THE DOOR. THIS SHOULD NO WAY HAPPEN TO A CAR THAT HAS ONLY 47,000 MILES ON IT. I TOOK IT TO AN AUTOBODY SHOP AND THEY SAID I NEEDED A NEW "RUNNER" AND NEW CABLES IN THE DOOR. APPROXIMATELY A 200-250$ JOB WHICH I SHOULDN'T BE PAYING FOR WHEN MY CAR IS AT SUCH YOUNG MILEAGE. I COULD SEE IF I HAD TO REPLACE A BELT OR …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10037056 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10050962 · 2003-12-22 (December 22, 2003)
97 ACURA, PURCHASED IN MAY 2003, HAD 4 BULLETINS ON THE SAME ITEM, FRONT BALANCER OIL SHAFT SEAL WAS BAD AND FAULTY. ACCORDING TO THE DEALER THIS WAS AND STILL IS A MAJOR PROBLEM. HOWEVER, NO ONE EVER MADE THIS MAJOR PROBLEM A RECALL BUT A BULLETIN. WHICH MEANS THAT ACURA SEND OUT BULLETINS FOR THE CUSTOMER AND THEY ONLY HAD 2 YEARS TO GET THIS REPAIRED BY ACURA. ON 21 DECEMBER 03, MY ACURA BEGAN TO LEAK SERVERLY. SO I TOOK IT TO AN AUTOMOTIVE SHOP TO HAVE IT REPAIRED. BEFORE THE ENGINE BLEW. MECHANIC STATED THIS WAS A MAJOR PROBLEM, SO I HAD I…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10050962 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 ↗
Recall history
2 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
02V120000 · Electrical System:Ignition:Switch
Reported: 2002-05-16 (May 16, 2002)
ON CERTAIN SEDANS, COUPES, HATCHBACKS, AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, ELECTRICAL CONTACTS IN THE IGNITION SWITCH CAN DEGRADE DUE TO THE HIGH ELECTRICAL CURRENT PASSING THROUGH THE SWITCH WHEN THE VEHICLE IS STARTED.
Consequence: WORN CONTACTS COULD CAUSE THE ENGINE TO STALL WITHOUT WARNING, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE IGNITION SWITCH. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JUNE 14, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT HONDA AT 1-800-999-1009 OR ACURA AT 1-800-382-2238.
NHTSA campaign record ↗99V069000 · Suspension:Front:Control Arm:Lower Ball Joint
Reported: 1999-05-10 (May 10, 1999)
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. CERTAIN VEHICLES WERE MANUFACTURED WITH BALL JOINTS THAT CAN PREMATURELY WEAR OUT AND, IN THE WORSE CASE, THE BALL JOINT WOULD SEPARATE CAUSING THE FRONT SUSPENSION TO COLLAPSE.
Consequence: THIS CONDITION WOULD RESULT IN VEHICLE DECELERATION AND A SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER. ALSO STEERING CONTROLLABILITY WOULD BE REDUCED.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FRONT SUSPENSION LOWER BALL JOINTS.
NHTSA campaign record ↗