2001 ACURA CL — Problems, Recalls & Safety Data

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N/A

Safety Rating

316

Owner Complaints

23 Crashes 2 Fires 3 Deaths

3

Recalls

ACTIVE RECALL

16

Service Bulletins

0

Investigations

Overview of the 2001 ACURA CL

The 2001 ACURA CL has received a total of 316 safety complaints filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). There have been 3 recall campaigns affecting this vehicle, covering issues with AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE, POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. 16 technical service bulletins have been issued by Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) for this model year. The most commonly reported problems involve the Power Trainautomatic Transmission (171 complaints), Power Train (30 complaints), and Air Bags (27 complaints).

Recalls for the 2001 ACURA CL

NHTSA has recorded 3 recalls for the 2001 ACURA CL, potentially affecting up to 3,415,603 vehicles.

Recall 20V026000 — AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE

| 1,439,841 vehicles affected

Defect: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 1998 Acura 2.2CL, 1998-1999 Acura 2.3CL, 1998-1999 Acura 3.0CL, 2001 Acura 3.2CL and Acura MDX, 1998-2000 Honda Accord Coupe, Accord Sedan, Civic Sedan, Odyssey and Acura 3.5RL, 1999-2000 Acura 3.2TL, 1996-2000 Civic Coupe, 1997-2000 CR-V, 1997-1998 EV Plus, and 1998-1999 Isuzu Oasis vehicles. These vehicles were equipped with Non-Azide Driver air bag...

Consequence: In the event of a crash necessitating air bag deployment, an inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants. An underinflated air bag cushion may not properly protect the occupant. These scenarios increase the risk of serious injury or death.

Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the driver frontal air bag inflator, and replace it if necessary, with an inflator of a different design, free of charge. The recall began October 1, 2020. Owners may contact American Honda's...

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Recall 20V027000 — AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE

| 875,966 vehicles affected

Defect: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2001-2002 Acura 3.2CL, 2000-2003 Acura 3.5RL, 2000-2001 Acura 3.2TL, Honda CR-V and Honda Odyssey, 2001-2002 Acura MDX and 2000 Accord Coupe, Accord Sedan, Civic Coupe, and Civic Sedan vehicles. These vehicles may have received a replacement driver frontal air bag module as part of a vehicle repair. Due to a manufacturing issue,...

Consequence: In the event of a crash necessitating air bag deployment, an inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants. An underinflated air bag cushion may not properly protect the occupant. These scenarios increase the risk of serious injury or death.

Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the air bags in the vehicles, replacing the driver frontal air bag inflator with an inflator of a different design, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began October 1, 2020. Owners...

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Recall 04V176000 — POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

| 1,099,796 vehicles affected

Defect: ON SOME MINI VANS, SPORT UTILITY AND PASSENGER VEHICLES, CERTAIN OPERATING CONDITIONS CAN RESULT IN HEAT BUILD-UP BETWEEN THE COUNTERSHAFT AND SECONDARY SHAFT SECOND GEARS IN THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, EVENTUALLY LEADING TO GEAR TOOTH CHIPPING OR GEAR BREAKAGE.

Consequence: GEAR FAILURE COULD RESULT IN TRANSMISSION LOCKUP, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.

Remedy: ON VEHICLES WITH 15,000 MILES OR LESS, THE DEALER WILL UPDATE THE TRANSMISSION WITH A SIMPLE REVISION TO THE OIL COOLER RETURN LINE TO INCREASE LUBRICATION TO THE SECOND GEAR. ON VEHICLES WITH MORE THAN 15,000 MILES, THE DEALER WILL...

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Owner Complaints for the 2001 ACURA CL

316 complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2001 ACURA CL. Below is a breakdown by vehicle component.

Power Trainautomatic Transmission
Complaints: 171 2 Crashes 1 Fire 3 Injuries
Power Train
Complaints: 30 2 Crashes 1 Fire 1 Injury 1 Death
Air Bags
Complaints: 27 3 Crashes 2 Injuries
Vehicle Speed Control
Complaints: 8 2 Crashes 1 Injury
Electrical System
Complaints: 7 1 Crash
Power Trainmanual Transmission
Complaints: 6
Power Trainautomatic Transmissioncontrol Module Tcmpcmtecm
Complaints: 5 2 Crashes 1 Injury
Seat Belts
Complaints: 4 2 Crashes 1 Injury 1 Death
Suspension
Complaints: 4
Visibilityrearview Mirrorsdevicesexterior
Complaints: 4
Engine
Complaints: 3 2 Crashes 1 Injury
Service Brakes Hydraulicfoundation Componentsdiscrotor
Complaints: 3
Visibility
Complaints: 3
Air Bagsfrontal
Complaints: 2 2 Crashes 1 Injury
Air Bagsfrontalsensorcontrol Module
Complaints: 2
Engine And Engine Cooling
Complaints: 2
Equipment
Complaints: 2
Fuelpropulsion System
Complaints: 2 2 Crashes 1 Injury
Service Brakes
Complaints: 2 2 Crashes 1 Injury 1 Death
Service Brakes Hydraulic
Complaints: 2
Service Brakes Hydraulicantilocktraction Controlelectronic Limited Slip
Complaints: 2
Steering
Complaints: 2 1 Crash
Structurebody
Complaints: 2
Visibilityrearview Mirrorsdevices
Complaints: 2
Visibilitywindshield Wiperwasher
Complaints: 2
Air Bagssidewindow
Complaints: 1
Electrical Systemignitionswitch
Complaints: 1
Engine And Engine Coolingengine
Complaints: 1
Engine And Engine Coolingenginegasoline
Complaints: 1
Equipmentelectricalanti Theft Devices
Complaints: 1
Fuel System Gasolinefuel Injection System
Complaints: 1
Latcheslockslinkages
Complaints: 1
Latcheslockslinkagestrunk Lidlock
Complaints: 1
Power Trainaxle Assembly
Complaints: 1
Seats
Complaints: 1
Service Brakes Hydraulicfoundation Components
Complaints: 1
Service Brakes Hydraulicfoundation Componentsdisc
Complaints: 1
Suspensionfrontcontrol Armupper Arm
Complaints: 1
Tirestreadbelt
Complaints: 1
Unknown Or Other
Complaints: 1
Visibilityglass Siderear
Complaints: 1
Visibilityrearview Mirrorsdevicesinterior
Complaints: 1

Most Recent Complaints

#11638412 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | | N/A miles
I have a safety concern. When my vehicle was assembled, someone decided to have the workers not remove the protective film from the plastic screen on the navigation system that would typically be released. I assume this saved money and time during production. However, that film has deteriorated and crinkled over time, making it difficult to see the screen, especially at night. This does not seem acceptable, and I have been told that the remedy is costly, which upset me as removing the film should have been part of the assembly procedure.
#11614117 | POWER TRAIN | | N/A miles
In and around July 2024 my Acura cl started to have erratic shifting and locking up at highways speeds the vehicle is so unsafe to drive I cannot get the air bags fixed it shifts from 5th gear to 2nd gear in 2004 a remedy was applied to the transmission to aid and fix the downshifting issues and overheating issues the vehicle does have these problems and was not repaired correctly in 2004 by Acura I called Honda/acura and they are not willing to replace or fix the transmission
#11582200 | AIR BAGS | | 262,515 miles Crash 1 Injury
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.
#11582200 | SEAT BELTS | | 262,515 miles Crash 1 Injury
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.
#11571956 | ENGINE | | N/A miles Crash
I was stopped in heavy traffic. The traffic light turned green and the cars in front of me started to move. I tapped my accelerator with my right foot and the gasoline was delivered to my engine with maximum force. I could not stop the car with my foot on the brake. I steered the car to the right so that I would not rearend the car in front of me. The car sideswiped the car I front of me and I went into an embankment and stopped. A police officer thought I may have hit both the brake and the accelerator pedal with my right foot, but he did not understand that I was only going about 5 mph when the accelerator exploded, so that this was impossible. The Acura agency in Latham says that I could have switched off the ignition, but with both hands gripping the steering wheel and my right foot pressing the brake pedal with maximum force, I could not have turned off the ignition at the same time. Therefore the advice was not practical.

View all Power Trainautomatic Transmission complaints →

Safety Rating for the 2001 ACURA CL

NHTSA has not yet tested the 2001 ACURA CL in its New Car Assessment Program.

Technical Service Bulletins for the 2001 ACURA CL

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) has issued 16 technical service bulletins (TSBs) for the 2001 ACURA CL. TSBs are notices sent by manufacturers to their dealers describing a known issue and the recommended repair procedure.

090103 — ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM

UNDERSTANDING OUTSIDE AIR TEMPERATURE INDICATOR LOGIC. ACURA SERVICENEWS. *TT

1202 — SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:POWER ADJUST

POWER SEAT NOISY OR MOVES SLOWLY. *TT

110102 — EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER

AIR CONDITIONING (A/C) COMPRESSOR CONTROL LOGIC. ACURA SERVICE NEWS. *TT

B020008 — SEATS

INFORMATION REGARDING SEAT BACK PANEL REPAIR KIT. *SLC

061201 — VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:WINDSHIELD:ELECTRICAL HEATING ELEMENT

INFORMATION REGARDING THE HEATER VALVE CABLE SOMETIMES DISCONNECTS AT THE AIR MIX CONTROL LINKAGE. *YH

01031 — EXTERIOR LIGHTING

VEHICLES MAY EXPERIENCE BURNED OUT ROAD LAMP BULB. *JB

070801 — STRUCTURE

CUSTOMERS MAY COMPLAIN OF SQUEAK AND RATTLE COMPLAINTS. *JB

701 — VISIBILITY:GLASS, SIDE/REAR

SUBJECT REGARDING WITH NAVIGATION SKYSTEM - REAR WINDOW TINT APPLICATION TIPS. *YD

01062001 — UNKNOWN OR OTHER

SUBJECT REGARDING S/M FIX: VSA NEUTRAL POSITION MEMORIZATION. ALL MODELS. *YD

01062001 — EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER

SUBJECT REGARDING CLIMATE CONTROL DISPLAY CHANGES INTERMITTENTLY. *YD

Showing 10 of 16 technical service bulletins.

NHTSA Investigations for the 2001 ACURA CL

There are no NHTSA defect investigations on record for this vehicle.

Other Model Years of the ACURA CL

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Other ACURA Models

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