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1997 Acura Cl

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 1997 Acura Cl do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 52.

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

All reported categories

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

25 reports with mileage · 57 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Power Train. Review the 20 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 15 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Air Bags. Review the 14 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

5 crash reports0 fire reports4 injury reports

Electrical System complaints

15 reports
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218,000 miles · Apr 6, 2017
Electrical System

SOMETIMES DON'T START

NHTSA ODI #10970842

Mileage unknown · Jul 20, 2016
Electrical System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 ACURA CL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE IGNITION KEY WAS DIFFICULT TO REMOVE FROM THE VEHICLE WITHOUT WARNING. IN ADDITION, THE KEY FAILED TO START THE VEHICLE INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA C…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 ACURA CL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE IGNITION KEY WAS DIFFICULT TO REMOVE FROM THE VEHICLE WITHOUT WARNING. IN ADDITION, THE KEY FAILED TO START THE VEHICLE INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 02V120000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE FAILURE MILEAGE AND VIN WERE NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI #10886174

190,000 miles · Jul 14, 2011
Electrical System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 ACURA CL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN PULLED OVER TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD. AFTER TURNING THE KEY IN THE IGNITION THE VEHICLE RESTARTED. THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR D…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 ACURA CL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN PULLED OVER TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD. AFTER TURNING THE KEY IN THE IGNITION THE VEHICLE RESTARTED. THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTICS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE, AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED UNDER RECALL 02V120000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED A SECOND TIME. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 190,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI #10412306

212,000 miles · Oct 4, 2010
Electrical SystemVehicle Speed Control

1997 ACURA CL CUTS OFF/QUITS WHILE DRIVING. IT WILL NOT RESTART AT FIRST BUT AFTER A REST IT WILL RESTART. THIS HAPPENED OVER 6 MONTH PERIOD. THEN IT WOULD NOT START BACK AT ALL. MANY REPAIRS WERE ATTEMPTED WHICH INCLUDED CHANGING FUEL RELAY AND IGNITION SWITCH. CAR IS STILL STALLING UNEXPECTEDLY AND NOW REVS AT INTERVALS WHILE …

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1997 ACURA CL CUTS OFF/QUITS WHILE DRIVING. IT WILL NOT RESTART AT FIRST BUT AFTER A REST IT WILL RESTART. THIS HAPPENED OVER 6 MONTH PERIOD. THEN IT WOULD NOT START BACK AT ALL. MANY REPAIRS WERE ATTEMPTED WHICH INCLUDED CHANGING FUEL RELAY AND IGNITION SWITCH. CAR IS STILL STALLING UNEXPECTEDLY AND NOW REVS AT INTERVALS WHILE DRIVING. VERY UNRELIABLE AND DANGEROUS TO DRIVE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10359194

152,072 miles · Oct 4, 2010
Electrical System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 ACURA 3.0 CL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE KEY COULD NOT BE REMOVED FROM THE IGNITION WHILE IN PARK OR DRIVE. THE CONTACT NOTICED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 02V120000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH) BUT WAS ADVISED BY THE MANUFACTURER THAT HIS VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL CAMPAIGN. THE VEHICLE…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 ACURA 3.0 CL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE KEY COULD NOT BE REMOVED FROM THE IGNITION WHILE IN PARK OR DRIVE. THE CONTACT NOTICED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 02V120000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH) BUT WAS ADVISED BY THE MANUFACTURER THAT HIS VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL CAMPAIGN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 152,072.

NHTSA ODI #10359136

170,000 miles · Nov 3, 2008
Electrical System

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 ACURA CL. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO MOVE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND THE VEHICLE RESTARTED. WHEN THIS OCCURRED, SHE HAD TO HOLD THE KEY IN THE IGNITION IN THE ON POSITION TO DRIVE TO HIS RESIDENCE. SHE ALSO HAD TO HOLD THE KEYS IN …

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 ACURA CL. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO MOVE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND THE VEHICLE RESTARTED. WHEN THIS OCCURRED, SHE HAD TO HOLD THE KEY IN THE IGNITION IN THE ON POSITION TO DRIVE TO HIS RESIDENCE. SHE ALSO HAD TO HOLD THE KEYS IN THE ON POSITION TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS NOT WORKING. THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE WEATHER AND ROAD CONDITIONS WERE NOT A FACTOR. ONCE AT THE DEALER, THEY STATED THAT THERE WAS A RECALL; HOWEVER, HER VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 170,000.

NHTSA ODI #10247585

77,000 miles · Jun 18, 2006
Electrical System

VEHICLE UNABLE TO START. NO RESPONSE. STARTER MOTOR DEFECTIVE. 2ND REPLACEMENT. 1ST REPLACEMENT OCCURRED IN DEC 2003. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10160104

112,354 miles · Mar 31, 2006
Electrical SystemPower Train

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 …

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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 UNSAFE AND SHIFTING INTO NEUTRAL WAS BEST SAFEST MANUEVER (AGREED TO BY DEALER AND ACURA USA), BUT THEY ARGUE NO CAUSALITY. SEEKING REMEDY THROUGH BUREAU OF AUTO REPAIR, LAWSUIT IF NECESSARY. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10154308

Mileage unknown · Mar 29, 2005
Electrical System

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. …

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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 THE PREVIOUS DEALER DID NOT USE THE CORRECT PART FOR THE RECALL. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE ORIGINAL DEALER WHO THEN STATED IT WAS NOT THE IGNITION SWITCH, BUT THE 02 SENSOR AND EGR VALVE WHICH WAS EVENTUALLY REPLACED, HOWEVER 2 WEEKS LATER THE VEHICLE STALLED OUT AGAIN. THE DEALER FINALLY DETERMINED THAT IT WAS INDEED THE IGNITION SWITCH AFTER THE CONSUMER BOUGHT HER PERSONAL MECHANIC WITH HER TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER STATED THE PART WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY AND THERE WOULD BE A CHARGE. THE CONSUMER EVENTUALLY HAD HER PERSONAL MECHANIC REPLACE THE IGNITION SWITCH. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10117453

Mileage unknown · Aug 20, 2002
Electrical SystemService Brakes, Hydraulic

CONSUMER STATES THAT THE KEY CAN ONLY BE REMOVED WHEN IN NEUTRAL GEAR, CONSUMER HAD THE ENTIRE IGNITION REPLACED, LATER RECEIVED RECALL 02V12 AND STATES MANUFACTURER REFUSES TO REIMBURSE. *SLC

NHTSA ODI #786436

Official recalls

2

02V120000 · Electrical System:ignition:switch

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 & remedy

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.

99V069000 · Suspension:front:control Arm:lower Ball Joint

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 & remedy

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.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.