IllustrationLTR SUBMITTING COMPLAINT RE A DEFECTIVE ALTERNATOR ON HIS 1999 ACURA CL, ATTACHMENTS INCLUDING AN ARTICLE. *TS *NM
1999 Acura Cl
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 1999 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
20–25K
325–50K
350–75K
575–100K
11100–150K
6150K+
30 reports with mileage · 19 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 13 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 11 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Air Bags. Review the 6 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
4 crash reports0 fire reports3 injury reports
What owners actually said
49 reportsSTARTED TO NOTICE A SLIGHT SLIPPING OF AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WHEN GOING FROM LOW TO HIGH GEARS. WAS INFREQUENT BUT NOTICEABLE. RECENTLY, TRANSMISSION ALSO BEGAN TO EMIT A LOW AND STEADY HUMMING OR DRONING SOUND. ALERTED MY MECHANIC AND HAD TRANSMISSION FLUSHED/SERVICED. HE INFORMED ME THAT FLUID WAS VERY BURNT AND APPEARED …
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STARTED TO NOTICE A SLIGHT SLIPPING OF AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WHEN GOING FROM LOW TO HIGH GEARS. WAS INFREQUENT BUT NOTICEABLE. RECENTLY, TRANSMISSION ALSO BEGAN TO EMIT A LOW AND STEADY HUMMING OR DRONING SOUND. ALERTED MY MECHANIC AND HAD TRANSMISSION FLUSHED/SERVICED. HE INFORMED ME THAT FLUID WAS VERY BURNT AND APPEARED TO HIM THAT TRANSMISSION WILL REQUIRE A REBUILD (MECHANICS IS HONDA/ACURA CERTIFIED). I RECENTLY SET AN APPOINTMENT TO HAVE TRANSMISSION REBUILT. HOWEVER, I WAS URGED BY A FRIEND TO LOOK INTO THIS FURTHER, AS THE LOW MILEAGE ON MY VEHICLE DOES NOT NECESSARILY WARRANT A TRANSMISSION REBUILD. I BELIEVE THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SYSTEM TO BE DEFECTIVE. *NM
EARLY 2005, MY VEHICLE HAD DIFFICULTY SHIFTING FROM LOW GEARS TO HIGH. THIS EVENT OCCURRED FOR A FEW MONTHS RECURRING FROM TIME TO TIME. FINALLY, MY VEHICLE COULD NO LONGER BE DRIVEN SAFELY DUE TO THE INABILITY OF THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTING PROPERLY. I HAD TO HAVE THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED. RECENTLY, IT WAS BROUGHT TO MY ATTEN…
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EARLY 2005, MY VEHICLE HAD DIFFICULTY SHIFTING FROM LOW GEARS TO HIGH. THIS EVENT OCCURRED FOR A FEW MONTHS RECURRING FROM TIME TO TIME. FINALLY, MY VEHICLE COULD NO LONGER BE DRIVEN SAFELY DUE TO THE INABILITY OF THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTING PROPERLY. I HAD TO HAVE THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED. RECENTLY, IT WAS BROUGHT TO MY ATTENTION THAT SIMILAR INCIDENCES HAVE LEAD TO A RECALL OF ACURAS UNDER RECALL # PE0208. MY CONCERN IS THAT THE 1999 SERIES MAY HAVE BEEN OVERLOOKED FOR THAT OR A SIMILAR RECALL INITIATIVE. *NM
NO EVENT LEAD TO TIRE FAILURE. GOODYEAR ALLEGRA 185/65R15 WITH 23K MILES ON THEM. FOUND CRACK ON TIRE ON 12/21/05. PURCHASE AT SAM'S CLUB ON 03/09/03, SAM'S REPLACED TIRE. ON 12/30/05 FOUND FLAT ON DIFFERENT TIRE, NO VISIBLE DAMAGE. INFLATED TIRE AND CHECKED WITH SOAP. LEAKING ON SIDEWALL IN TWO PLACES NEAR RAISED LETTERING. CON…
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NO EVENT LEAD TO TIRE FAILURE. GOODYEAR ALLEGRA 185/65R15 WITH 23K MILES ON THEM. FOUND CRACK ON TIRE ON 12/21/05. PURCHASE AT SAM'S CLUB ON 03/09/03, SAM'S REPLACED TIRE. ON 12/30/05 FOUND FLAT ON DIFFERENT TIRE, NO VISIBLE DAMAGE. INFLATED TIRE AND CHECKED WITH SOAP. LEAKING ON SIDEWALL IN TWO PLACES NEAR RAISED LETTERING. CONTACTED GOODYEAR VIA E-MAIL TO COMPLAIN. TIRES APPEAR TO BE DEFECTIVE AND A HAZARD. *JB
BOILING WATER LEAKED INSIDE THE VEHICLE ON BOTH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDES. *NM CC TO NHTSA THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND REPAIRED. TWO MONTHS LATER BOILING WATER ENTERED THE VEHICLE AGAIN. THE DEALER BLEW AIR PRESSURE THROUGH THE PIPES AGAIN TO ALLEVIATE THE PROBLEM. *NM *JB
DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW DROPPED DOWN AND WOULD NOT WORK. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE. IT HAS ALSO HAPPENED ON THE PASSENGER SIDE ONCE. SERVICE STAFF AT ACURA DEALER WAS AWARE THIS IS A CONSTANT PROBLEM WITH THE CL. *AK
THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR FAILED TO OPEN. THE CONSUMER WAS CONCERNED IN CASE OF EMERGENCY HE WILL BE TRAPPED INSIDE. *AK *SC *JB
PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSION AND EGR VALVE. *PH *MR
DOOR CABLE REGULATOR BROKE. DUE TO THE BROKEN CABLE, THE WINDOW DROPPED DOWN INTO THE DOORS. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED AND ACKNOWLEDGED THE PROBLEM, BUT WILL NOT FIX IT. *AK ACURA WAS NOT INTERESTED IN DEVELOPING A FIX FOR THE PROBLEM. THE PROBLEM MAY RECUR IN ANY OF THE WINDOWS AND IT WAS UNSAFE TO LEAVE THE VEHICLE IN TH…
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DOOR CABLE REGULATOR BROKE. DUE TO THE BROKEN CABLE, THE WINDOW DROPPED DOWN INTO THE DOORS. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED AND ACKNOWLEDGED THE PROBLEM, BUT WILL NOT FIX IT. *AK ACURA WAS NOT INTERESTED IN DEVELOPING A FIX FOR THE PROBLEM. THE PROBLEM MAY RECUR IN ANY OF THE WINDOWS AND IT WAS UNSAFE TO LEAVE THE VEHICLE IN THE RAIN, SHOPPING CENTER, ETC., DUE TO THE FACT THE THEY COULD OPEN BY THEMSELVES. *SCC *JB
THE BRAKES OVERHEATED. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THE PROBLEM WAS FIXED. THE CONSUMER INSISTED THAT THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTED. *AK THE RADIATOR OVER HEATED. THE COOLING SYSTEM WAS FLUSHED OUT AND INSPECTED. *SCC *JB
Official recalls
320V026000 · Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module
Jan 17, 2020
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 Inflators (NADI) and do not contain phase stabilized ammonium nitrate (PSAN) propellant. Due to a manufacturing issue, the NADI inflators may absorb moisture, causing the inflators to rupture or the air bag cushion to underinflate.
Consequence & remedy
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 Customer Support & Campaign Center at 1-888-234-2138 or Isuzu customer service at 1-800-255-6727.
03V423000 · Electrical System:ignition:switch
Oct 27, 2003
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES AND MINI VANS, THE IGNITION SWITCH MAY WEAR EXCESSIVELY AND PREVENT PROPER INTERLOCK OPERATION, MAKING IT POSSIBLE TO TURN THE IGNITION KEY TO THE "OFF" POSITION AND REMOVE THE KEY WITHOUT SHIFTING THE TRANSMISSION TO "PARK."
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF THE VEHICLE OPERATOR DOES NOT SHIFT TO "PARK" BEFORE REMOVING THE KEY AND FAILS TO ENGAGE THE PARKING BRAKE, THE VEHICLE COULD ROLL AND A CRASH COULD OCCUR.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL PERFORM AN INSPECTION PROCEDURE THAT DETERMINES THE AMOUNT OF CYLINDER BODY WEAR. IF SIGNIFICANT WEAR IS INDICATED, THE DEALER WILL REPLACE THE CYLINDER BODY, COLLAR, AND LATCH PLATE. IF NO SIGNS OF WEAR ARE INDICATED, DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE LATCH PLATE WITH A REDESIGNED PART. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN DECEMBER 8, 2003. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT HONDA AT 1-800-999-1009 OR ACURA AT 1-800-382-2238.
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.
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.