IllustrationFAULTY SHIFTING 1997 ACURA CL TRANSMISSION. *JB
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.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Cl years →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
10–25K
125–50K
350–75K
675–100K
4100–150K
10150K+
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 reportsMR. ROBERT GIBBONS OF ACURA OF USA PROVIDED THE PARTS, BUT I HAD TO PAY $680 FOR THE LABOR AND $318.84 FOR A CAR RENTAL WITH A TOTAL OF $998.84. WHICH HE DECLINED TO REIMBURSE ME FOR, STATING THAT THE PARTS WERE OFFERED AS A GOODWILL GESTURE, AND THUS HE MADE ME A PARTNER IN A FAILING ACURA. HOWEVER, THE UNITED STATES FEDERAL L…
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MR. ROBERT GIBBONS OF ACURA OF USA PROVIDED THE PARTS, BUT I HAD TO PAY $680 FOR THE LABOR AND $318.84 FOR A CAR RENTAL WITH A TOTAL OF $998.84. WHICH HE DECLINED TO REIMBURSE ME FOR, STATING THAT THE PARTS WERE OFFERED AS A GOODWILL GESTURE, AND THUS HE MADE ME A PARTNER IN A FAILING ACURA. HOWEVER, THE UNITED STATES FEDERAL LAW REGARDS THIS GOODWILL GESTURE AS A HIDDEN WARRANTY AND OBLIGATES THE MANUFACTURER TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE FULL AMOUNT. DT
8/14/00 - TRANSMISSION FAILURE - ACURA REPLACED TRANSMISSION AT ACURA PASADENA (GOOD WILL GESTURE FROM ACURA PROVIDED RE-BUILT TRANSMISSION), AND I PAYED FOR THE LABOR - OVER $1,000.00. ON 10/21/02 ANOTHER TRANSMISSION FAILURE THIS TIME AT 68 MPH, ON THE FREEWAY IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC, 210 FWY, EAST BOUND BETWEEN LOWELL AVE & LA …
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8/14/00 - TRANSMISSION FAILURE - ACURA REPLACED TRANSMISSION AT ACURA PASADENA (GOOD WILL GESTURE FROM ACURA PROVIDED RE-BUILT TRANSMISSION), AND I PAYED FOR THE LABOR - OVER $1,000.00. ON 10/21/02 ANOTHER TRANSMISSION FAILURE THIS TIME AT 68 MPH, ON THE FREEWAY IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC, 210 FWY, EAST BOUND BETWEEN LOWELL AVE & LA TUNA CANYON ROAD. CAR WAS TOWED TO ACURA PASADENA, WHERE ON 10/22 I WAS INFORMED BY THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT THAT THE TRANSMISSION HAD FAILED AND THAT THE COST WOULD BE $4,600.00 OUT OF MY POCKET. A WARRANTY ISSUED ON THE REBUILT TRANSMISSION WAS FOR 36 MONTHS/36,000 MILES. TRANSMISSION FAILED AT 38,387 MILES.
DURING A COLD START, THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILS TO SHIFT GEARS PROPERLY UNTILL THE ENGINE IS WARM. EVERYDAY SINCE I HAVE HAD THE CAR, THIS HAS HAPPENED. THE CAR IS NOT UNDER WARRENTY SO REPLACING THE TRANSMISSION WOULD COST ME A FEW THOUSAND DOLLARS, WHICH I AM NOT PREPARED TO SPEND.*AK
MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LIGHT CAME ON. DEALER INFORMED ME THAT THE PRIMARY CONTROL MODULE FOR THE TRANSMISSION HAD FAILED. I WILL HAVE TO PAY FOR THE TESTS TO ISOLATE PROBLEM AN FOR LABOR TO REPAIR. ACURA WILL REPLACE THE PCM AS 'GOODWILL' BUT AS MAINTANANCE WAS DONE PER ACURA RECOMMENDATIONS THIS PROBLEM SHOULD HAVE BEEN CAUGHT.*…
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MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LIGHT CAME ON. DEALER INFORMED ME THAT THE PRIMARY CONTROL MODULE FOR THE TRANSMISSION HAD FAILED. I WILL HAVE TO PAY FOR THE TESTS TO ISOLATE PROBLEM AN FOR LABOR TO REPAIR. ACURA WILL REPLACE THE PCM AS 'GOODWILL' BUT AS MAINTANANCE WAS DONE PER ACURA RECOMMENDATIONS THIS PROBLEM SHOULD HAVE BEEN CAUGHT.*AK
WHEN VEHICLE IS PLACED IN REVERSE ON THE SELECTED GEAR SHIFT POSITION VEHICLE CONTINUES TO MOVE FORWARD. ALSO, THERE IS A DELAY IN RESPONDS WHEN SHIFTING. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER. DEALER STATED TRANSMISSION NEEDED REPLACING. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION LOCKED IN 4TH GEAR AND WOULD NOT DOWNSHIFT.
WHILE TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY, THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION BECAME LOCKED IN FOURTH GEAR, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, AND THE D4 INDICATOR ON DASH BEGAN TO BLINK. DEALER SAYS CAUSE WAS RUSTED INTERNAL VALVES IN THE TRANSMISSION.
TRANSMISSION FAILURE. STUCK IN FOURTH GEAR AND WOULD NOT SHIFT.
TRANSMISSION CONTRO UNIT FAILED.
Official recalls
202V120000 · 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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.