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2002 Acura Cl

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2002 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

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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

23 reports with mileage · 21 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 33 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Air Bags. Review the 5 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

1 crash reports0 fire reports0 injury reports

Power Train complaints

33 reports
Clear category filter
Mileage unknown · Aug 20, 2002
Power Train

A 2002 ACURA VEHICLE PURCHASED FOR APPROXIMATELY $34,000 WITH A MAJOR FAILURE AFTER <30000 MILES AND <1YEAR ON THE ROAD. COMPLETE DISAPPOINTMENT AT NEWS OF OTHER OWNERS WITH SIMILAR PROBLEM. WITH NO PREVIOUS WARNING, TRANSMISSION SLIPPING OUT OF GEAR JUST RED-LINING WHEN ACCELERATING. ONCE STOPPED, CAR CAN NO LONGER MOVE AND CAR…

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A 2002 ACURA VEHICLE PURCHASED FOR APPROXIMATELY $34,000 WITH A MAJOR FAILURE AFTER <30000 MILES AND <1YEAR ON THE ROAD. COMPLETE DISAPPOINTMENT AT NEWS OF OTHER OWNERS WITH SIMILAR PROBLEM. WITH NO PREVIOUS WARNING, TRANSMISSION SLIPPING OUT OF GEAR JUST RED-LINING WHEN ACCELERATING. ONCE STOPPED, CAR CAN NO LONGER MOVE AND CAR JUST REV'S AS IF IN NEUTRAL.*AK

NHTSA ODI #765943

Mileage unknown · Apr 23, 2002
Power TrainVehicle Speed Control

WHILE DRIVING THERE WILL BE SUDDEN ACCELARATION WITHOUT APPLYING GAS, ALL LIGHTS ON DASH BOARD LIGHT UP AND VEHICLE WILL NOT GO OVER 1000 RPM. WHICH WAS CAUSED BY TRANSMISSION BEING SHOT. *AK

NHTSA ODI #8008385

Mileage unknown · Dec 19, 2001
Power Train

FROM WHAT I HAVE SEEN ON THE INTERNET, THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE HAVING THIS SAME PROBLEM, AND ACURA INSISTS THERE IS NO DEFECT IN THE DESIGN OF THE TRANSMISSION. THERE WAS ONE OTHER CL TYPE S AT MY DEALER WAITING FOR A REPLACEMENT TRANSMISSION AS WELL. I AM VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY IMPLICATIONS THESE FAILURES MAY CAUSE. I AM…

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FROM WHAT I HAVE SEEN ON THE INTERNET, THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE HAVING THIS SAME PROBLEM, AND ACURA INSISTS THERE IS NO DEFECT IN THE DESIGN OF THE TRANSMISSION. THERE WAS ONE OTHER CL TYPE S AT MY DEALER WAITING FOR A REPLACEMENT TRANSMISSION AS WELL. I AM VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY IMPLICATIONS THESE FAILURES MAY CAUSE. I AM ON MY SECOND TRANSMISSION, BUT THERE ARE OTHERS THAT ARE ON THEIR 3RD. PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF YOU NEED ANY MORE INFO. ALOT OF INFO AVAILABLE ON THIS AT WWW.ACURA-CL.COM..JUST DO A SEARCH FOR "TRANSMISSION TRANNY FAILURE". THANKS!*AK

NHTSA ODI #755823

Official recalls

2

20V027000 · Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module

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.

04V176000 · Power Train:automatic Transmission

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 ↗

NHTSA investigations

1

PE02081 · Automatic Transmission Sudden Downshift

Opened Oct 28, 2002 · Closed Mar 5, 2003

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Power Train:automatic Transmission

SEE ATTACHED REPORT.