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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

Power Train complaints

20 reports
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190,000 miles · Apr 28, 2014
Power TrainSuspension

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 ACURA CL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 3 MPH AND MAKING A HARD RIGHT TURN, THERE WAS A LOUD POP SOUND HEARD AS THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S HOUSE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE LOWER BALL JOINT WAS FRACTURED AND BECAME DETACHED. THE MANUFACTURER W…

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

NHTSA ODI #10585337

Mileage unknown · Jun 15, 2011
Power Train

1997 ACURA CL. CONSUMER STATES TRANSMISSION LOCKED UP WHILE DRIVING INTERSTATE SPEED. *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE CAME TO AN ABRUPT AND VIOLENT STOP, WITHOUT ANY FORWARD OR REVERSE. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10407789

88,000 miles · Sep 21, 2009
Power Train

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 ACURA 3.0CL. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD WHEN THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT IT WOULD COST $3000 TO REPAIR THE TRANSMISSION. THERE ARE NO RELATED RECALLS OR WARRANTIES AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 88,000.

NHTSA ODI #10284770

103,000 miles · Aug 19, 2008
Power Train

PURCHASED VEHICLE @ 103,000 MILES, DROVE IT 2000 MILES AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ONE, "D" STARTED TO FLASH AND VEHICLE WOULD NOT COME OUT OF 2ND GEAR. AFTER PROPER DIAGNOSIS, FOUND INTERNAL TRANSMISSION FAILURE(AFTER RESEARCH FOUND OUT IT WAS A COMMON PROBLEM) REPLACE TRANSMISSION WITH OEM UNIT, STILL (AND HAVE HAD SINCE DAY…

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PURCHASED VEHICLE @ 103,000 MILES, DROVE IT 2000 MILES AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ONE, "D" STARTED TO FLASH AND VEHICLE WOULD NOT COME OUT OF 2ND GEAR. AFTER PROPER DIAGNOSIS, FOUND INTERNAL TRANSMISSION FAILURE(AFTER RESEARCH FOUND OUT IT WAS A COMMON PROBLEM) REPLACE TRANSMISSION WITH OEM UNIT, STILL (AND HAVE HAD SINCE DAY ONE, A HESITATION UPON ACCELERATION)PRIOR TO TRANSMISSION PROBLEM HAD THROTTLE BODY CLEANED, STILL HAD HESITATION WITH OR WITHOUT AC ON-PRIOR OWNER HAD SAME PROBLEM, UNABLE TO CORRECT PROBLEM TO THIS DAY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10238922

122,000 miles · Aug 14, 2008
Power TrainSteeringSuspension

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 N…

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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 JOINTS AND DRIVE SHAFT CAUSED THE FAILURES. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 122,000.

NHTSA ODI #10238151

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

68,500 miles · Jan 4, 2006
Power Train

MY TRANSMISSION ON MY ACURA 3.0 FAILED AFTER ONLY 68,000 MILES. THE DEALER AND ACURA HEADQUARTERS REFUSE TO HANDLE THE ISSUE. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10146847

25,000 miles · Nov 9, 2004
Power Train

THE VEHICLE JUMPS OUT OF GEAR, AND SOMETIMES STICKS. TRANSMISSION IS DEFECTIVE. DEALER STATED THAT HE COULD NOT FIND THE PROBLEM.*AK *TC

NHTSA ODI #10095140

85,000 miles · Apr 5, 2004
Power Train

DRIVE AXLE ON MANUAL TRANSMISSION IS LOOSE AND MAY COME APART AND CAUSE A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10064573

Mileage unknown · Jan 11, 2004
Power Train

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

NHTSA ODI #10052874

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.