NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
271 reports29,600 miles · May 10, 2005
Power Train
MY VEHICLE HAS BEEN REGULARLY SERVICED AND MAINTAINED AS SUGGESTED BY ACURA. HOWEVER, I AM CURRENTLY EXPERIENCING GREAT DIFFICULTY WITH MY 2001 ACURA CL TYPE S BECAUSE THE TRANSMISSION SYSTEM IS MALFUNCTIONING. THE TRANSMISSION WILL ABRUPTLY SHIFT INTO HIGHER GEARS WHILE THE VEHICLE IS TRAVELING AT LOW SPEEDS. THE CAR HAS LOS…
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MY VEHICLE HAS BEEN REGULARLY SERVICED AND MAINTAINED AS SUGGESTED BY ACURA. HOWEVER, I AM CURRENTLY EXPERIENCING GREAT DIFFICULTY WITH MY 2001 ACURA CL TYPE S BECAUSE THE TRANSMISSION SYSTEM IS MALFUNCTIONING. THE TRANSMISSION WILL ABRUPTLY SHIFT INTO HIGHER GEARS WHILE THE VEHICLE IS TRAVELING AT LOW SPEEDS. THE CAR HAS LOST POWER WHEN ASCENDING STEEP HILLS AND PRESENTS GREAT DANGER TO OTHER VEHICLES BECAUSE OF THE NEED TO PULL-OVER OR STOP. ALTHOUGH ACURA WARRANTY COVERS THIS PROBLEM AND APPLIES TO VEHICLES IN THE US VIRGIN ISLANDS, THEY HAVE NOT EXPEDITIOUSLY DEALT WITH THE PROBLEM. ALREADY, AFTER ONE MONTH, ACURA HAS NOT SENT THE NECESSARY PARTS TO THE DEALER OR MADE ACCOMODATIONS SO THAT I WOULD NOT BE DRIVING AN UNSAFE VEHICLE. AFTER NUMEROUS ATTEMPTS TO INFORM ACURA AND THEIR CUSTOMER SERVICE DEPARTMENT, I HAVE RECEIVED VERY LITTLE ASSISTANCE. I HOPE THIS COMPLAINT WILL HELP BUILD THE RECORD SHOWING THAT ACURA IS MANUFACTURING A FAULTY, UNSAFE PRODUCT AND IS FAILING TO ADEQUATELY REMEDY THE PROBLEM.
NHTSA ODI #10120514
Mileage unknown · Apr 7, 2005
Power Train
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE, GEARS SLIPPED OUT AND GO INTO A DIFFERENT GEAR OR WENT INTO NEUTRAL, PREVENTING THE VEHICLE FROM MOVING WHILE ON THE ROAD. TAKEN TO THE DEALER THREE TIMES TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION, BUT THE PROBLEM RECURRED.*AK
NHTSA ODI #10117582
46,000 miles · Feb 5, 2005
Power Train
MY 2001 ACURA CL WITH ONLY 45K MILES ON IT HAD THE TRANSMISSION GO OUT IN A VERY DANGEROUS MANNER. THE CAR WITHOUT NOTICE WOULD DOWN SHIFT INTO SECOND GEAR WHEN YOU WERE GOING ABOUT 50 MPH. IT WOULD START SHIFTING ON ITS OWN CAUSING THE CAR TO RAPIDLY SLOW DOWN. THE CAR WAS VERY HARD TO CONTROL AT THIS POINT BUT BECAUSE I WAS O…
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MY 2001 ACURA CL WITH ONLY 45K MILES ON IT HAD THE TRANSMISSION GO OUT IN A VERY DANGEROUS MANNER. THE CAR WITHOUT NOTICE WOULD DOWN SHIFT INTO SECOND GEAR WHEN YOU WERE GOING ABOUT 50 MPH. IT WOULD START SHIFTING ON ITS OWN CAUSING THE CAR TO RAPIDLY SLOW DOWN. THE CAR WAS VERY HARD TO CONTROL AT THIS POINT BUT BECAUSE I WAS ONLY A FEW MILE FROM THE DEALERSHIP I WAS ABLE TO MAKE IT THERE AND GOT A NEW TRANSMISSION. WHEN I DROVE INTO THE DEALER WITH IN 10 SECONDS THEY SAID "YOU NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION". I THOUGHT THIS WAS A BIT ODD AND DID A LITTLE RESEARCH ON THE WEB AND FOUND OUT WHAT BAD TRANSMISSIONS THESE CARS HAD. ACURA TOLD ME THEY HAD FIXED THE PROBLEM. NOW, LESS THAN 5K MILES LATER THE SAME THING HAPPENED WITH MY "NEW" TRANSMISSION". I BOUGHT AN ACURA FOR RELIABILITY AND QUALITY. I FEEL THIS PROBLEM IS NOT BEING PROPERLY ADDRESSED (JUST PUTTING SAME BAD TRANSMISSIONS BACK IN CARS WITH SMALL MODIFICATIONS). ALL OVER THE NET YOU READ ABOUT HONDA AND ACURA OWNERS HAVING SIMILAR STORIES BUT THERE IS VERY LITTLE "OFFICIAL NEWS" ON THE PROBLEM. UNTIL HONDA GETS SOME HEAT FOR THIS MISTAKE I THINK THEY WILL NOT PROPERLY FIX THE PROBLEM. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10109911
18,700 miles · Jan 19, 2005
Power Train
THE VEHICLE TRANSMISSION FAILED AT 18700 MILES. *NM THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A NOTICE THAT THE MANUFACTURER WAS EXTENDED THE WARRANTY ON THE TRANSMISSION. A LITTLE OVER A YEAR LATER THE CONSUMER TRANSMISSION FAILED AND WAS REPLACED WITH A NEW ONE. THE CONSUMER THEN RECEIVED A RECALL ON THE TRANSMISSION AND HAD IT REPLACED A SE…
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THE VEHICLE TRANSMISSION FAILED AT 18700 MILES. *NM THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A NOTICE THAT THE MANUFACTURER WAS EXTENDED THE WARRANTY ON THE TRANSMISSION. A LITTLE OVER A YEAR LATER THE CONSUMER TRANSMISSION FAILED AND WAS REPLACED WITH A NEW ONE. THE CONSUMER THEN RECEIVED A RECALL ON THE TRANSMISSION AND HAD IT REPLACED A SECOND TIME. NOW THE TRANSMISSION IS STARTING TO SLIP AGAIN. *NM
NHTSA ODI #10111011
65,000 miles · Jan 2, 2005
Seats
LEATHER UPHOLSTERY FAILURE ON THE FRONT SEATS OF 2001 ACURA 3.2CL PURCHASED 5/1/01. STEERING WHEEL PREVIOUSLY REPLACED BECAUSE OF LEATHER FAILURE. AM NOW HAVING PROBLEM WITH FRONT SEATS AND A SECOND FAILURE OF LEATHER ON THE STEERING WHEEL.*JB
NHTSA ODI #10104947
64,000 miles · Dec 9, 2004
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
2001 ACURA CL TYPE S, FRONT BRAKE ROTORS WARPING: AT 34000 MILES, THE BRAKE DISCS HAD WARPED. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP, AND AFTER I SHOWED THEM THE ACURA TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN 01-017 ABOUT WARPED BRAKES, THEY AGREED TO RESURFACE THE BRAKES UNDER WARRANTY. AT THIS TIME THE TWO SERVICE WRITERS ACKNOWLEGED THAT THE BRA…
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2001 ACURA CL TYPE S, FRONT BRAKE ROTORS WARPING: AT 34000 MILES, THE BRAKE DISCS HAD WARPED. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP, AND AFTER I SHOWED THEM THE ACURA TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN 01-017 ABOUT WARPED BRAKES, THEY AGREED TO RESURFACE THE BRAKES UNDER WARRANTY. AT THIS TIME THE TWO SERVICE WRITERS ACKNOWLEGED THAT THE BRAKE ROTORS WERE A WEAKNESS ON THE ACURA TL AND CL, THAT THEY SERVICED ABOUT TEN CARS PER WEEK FOR THIS, AND THAT THEY HAD PUT NEW BRAKE ROTORS ON THEIR PERSONAL VEHICLES. 14000 MILES LATER, AT 48000 MILES, THE ROTORS WERE WARPED AGAIN, AND I PERSUADED THEM TO REPLACE THE ROTORS WITH NEW ONES UNDER WARRANTY. (I PAID FOR NEW PADS.) NOW, 16000 MILES LATER, AT 64000 MILES, THE NEW ROTORS HAVE WARPED. I AM A MECHANICAL ENGINEER, AND I KNOW HOW TO DRIVE TO CAUSE THE LEAST AMOUNT OF HEAT BUILD UP IN THE ROTORS, SO THIS IS A CASE OF UNDERDESIGNED ROTORS.*AK
NHTSA ODI #10102467
34,410 miles · Nov 15, 2004
Power Train
TRANSMISSION WAS DEFECTIVE. CONSUMER HAD TO HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP AFTER TRANSMISSION WORK WAS DONE. CONSUMER CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER. HOWEVER, THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT WILLING TO ASSIST THE CONSUMER. PRIOR TO TRANSMISSION'S WORK BEING DONE THIS VEHICLE DID NOT HAVE A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM . *AK …
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TRANSMISSION WAS DEFECTIVE. CONSUMER HAD TO HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP AFTER TRANSMISSION WORK WAS DONE. CONSUMER CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER. HOWEVER, THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT WILLING TO ASSIST THE CONSUMER. PRIOR TO TRANSMISSION'S WORK BEING DONE THIS VEHICLE DID NOT HAVE A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM . *AK THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT GO INTO REVERSE. *SC
NHTSA ODI #10097649
76,357 miles · Nov 3, 2004
Power Train
THE VEHICLE'S TRANSMISSION PROBLEM BECAME WORSE AFTER THE RECALL REPAIRS WERE MADE. *NM THE CONSUMERS VEHICLE HAD PROBLEMS CHANGING INTO SECOND GEAR. CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER : 04V176000 *TC *JB
NHTSA ODI #10101137
33,000 miles · Nov 2, 2004
Power Train
MY 2001 ACURA CL S HAD THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, VSA LIGHT, AND ! LIGHT COME ON. THINKING THE PROBLEM WAS RELATED TO THE EMISSIONS, I CONTINUED TO DRIVE CAR. THE NEXT DAY I TOOK CAR TO DEALER, TO HAVE PROBLEM DIAGNOSED. THE SERVICE MANAGER COULDN'T SEE ME TO THE FOLLOWING DAY. THE NEXT DAY HE RAN TEST AND TOLD ME THE TRANSMISS…
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MY 2001 ACURA CL S HAD THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, VSA LIGHT, AND ! LIGHT COME ON. THINKING THE PROBLEM WAS RELATED TO THE EMISSIONS, I CONTINUED TO DRIVE CAR. THE NEXT DAY I TOOK CAR TO DEALER, TO HAVE PROBLEM DIAGNOSED. THE SERVICE MANAGER COULDN'T SEE ME TO THE FOLLOWING DAY. THE NEXT DAY HE RAN TEST AND TOLD ME THE TRANSMISSION WAS BAD (GRINDING IN TORQUE CONVERTER), AND TO TAKE IT TO HIS OTHER DEALER. THE DEALER CONFIRMED THE PREVIOUS DIAGNOSIS.10-26-04. HOWEVER, HE WASN'T SURE ABOUT WARRANTY BECAUSE CAR WAS BROUGHT OVER FROM CANADA. I WAS TOLD TO CONTACT ACURA CUSTOMER RELATIONS, AND I TOOK CAR HOME. THE NEXT DAY I WENT ON THE WEB AND FOUND NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ABOUT EXACT PROBLEMS I ENCOUNTERED. THE DIFFERENCES WERE THAT THE TRANSMISSIONS WERE DOWNSHIFTING FROM 3RD TO 1ST WHILE PEOPLE WERE DRIVING ON EXPRESSWAYS, ALMOST CAUSING SERIOUS ACCIDENTS. THE PROBLEM WITH THE WARRANTY WAS IRONED OUT WITHIN 2 DAYS, AND ACURA IS REPLACING MY TRANSMISSION ON THE 3RD OF NOVEMBER. HOWEVER, THE DEALER'S SERVICE MANANGER NEVER WARNED ME OF THE DANGER OF DRIVING THE VEHICLE. THE CAR HAS 53200 KILOMETERS (33000 MI). THE TRANSMISSION FLUID WAS CHANGED BY DEALER ABOUT 2 YEARS AGO, WHEN I COMPLAINED OF BURNT SMELL. THE OIL JET RECALL FOR THE 2ND GEAR WAS DONE IN AUGUST 2004. THE OBVIOUS PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSION ACCORDING TO OTHER OWNERS HASN'T BEEN ADDRESSED. NOW I'M GOING TO REVCEIVE A REBUILT TRANSMISSION, THAT MAY BE A TIME BOMB WAITING TO HAPPEN.*AK
NHTSA ODI #10098150
Mileage unknown · Nov 1, 2004
Power Train
CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE FOR TRANSMISSION SECOND GEAR. CONSUMER INFORMED THE MECHANIC THAT THE PROBLEM RECURRED, AND HAD NOT BEEN RESOLVED. *AK AFTER RECALL VEHICLE NOT RESTORED TO ORIGINAL CONDITION. SLUGGISH IN SHIFTING GEARS AND PERFORMANCE NOT THE SAME. *TC
NHTSA ODI #10094903
Official recalls
3Jan 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.
Jan 17, 2020
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, the replacement NADI inflator may absorb moisture, causing the inflator 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 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 may contact American Honda's Customer Support & Campaign Center at 1-888-234-2138.
Apr 15, 2004
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 & remedy
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 INSPECT THE TRANSMISSION TO IDENTIFY GEARS THAT HAVE ALREADY EXPERIENCED DISCOLORATION DUE TO OVERHEATING. IF DISCOLORATION EXISTS, THE TRANSMISSION WILL BE REPLACED IF DISCOLORATION IS NOT PRESENT, THE DEALER WILL PERFORM THE REVISION TO THE OIL COOLER RETURN LINE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 21, 2004, FOR PILOT, ODYSSEY, AND MDX OWNERS. OWNERS OF THE ACCORD VEHICLES WILL START RECEIVING LETTERS ON JUNE 28, 2004, AND ON JUNE 29, 2004, FOR OWNERS OF THE TL AND CL VEHICLES. OWNERS 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 ↗