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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

What owners actually said

44 reports
45,500 miles · Mar 16, 2010
Power Train

TRANSMISSION FAILURE CAR HAS ONLY 45K ON IT. MINOR TRANS REPAIR BY PRIOR OWNER UNDER WARRANTY. CLASS ACTION APPLIED BUT PAST TIME LIMIT. ACURA OFFERED 50% OF REPAIR COST NOT 100%. I BELIEVE TIME LIMIT INAPPROPRIATE. TIME DOES NOT DAMAGE TRANS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10320244

103,000 miles · Jan 18, 2008
Power Train

2002 ACURA 3.2CL WITH DEFECTIVE TRANSMISSIONS. CONSUMER STATES THAT HER 1ST TRANSMISSION FAILED WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH. DEALER INFORMED HER THAT THEY KNEW THE TRANSMISSIONS WERE BAD. *KB THE FIRST TIME THE TRANSMISSION FAILED, IT WOULD NOT GO INTO REVERSE. NOW, IT IS 2 YEARS LATER AND THE TRANSMISSION IS SLIPPING. THE DEALER ST…

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2002 ACURA 3.2CL WITH DEFECTIVE TRANSMISSIONS. CONSUMER STATES THAT HER 1ST TRANSMISSION FAILED WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH. DEALER INFORMED HER THAT THEY KNEW THE TRANSMISSIONS WERE BAD. *KB THE FIRST TIME THE TRANSMISSION FAILED, IT WOULD NOT GO INTO REVERSE. NOW, IT IS 2 YEARS LATER AND THE TRANSMISSION IS SLIPPING. THE DEALER STATED THERE WAS AN INTERNAL FAILURE. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10216085

171,000 miles · Dec 27, 2007
EquipmentPower Train

ACURA IS KNOWINGLY PUTTING DEFECTIVE TRANSMISSIONS IN THESE CARS. WHEN MY FIRST TRANS WENT OUT, I WAS DOING 50 MPH ON LAKE SHORE DR. AND IF I WEREN'T WEARING MY SEATBELT, I WOULD'VE GONE THROUGH THE WINDSHIELD. THEY ADMITTED THAT THEY KNEW ALL THESE TRANS WERE BAD AND REPLACED THE 1ST ONE @ 103,000 MILES AND SAID THEY WOULD "GOO…

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ACURA IS KNOWINGLY PUTTING DEFECTIVE TRANSMISSIONS IN THESE CARS. WHEN MY FIRST TRANS WENT OUT, I WAS DOING 50 MPH ON LAKE SHORE DR. AND IF I WEREN'T WEARING MY SEATBELT, I WOULD'VE GONE THROUGH THE WINDSHIELD. THEY ADMITTED THAT THEY KNEW ALL THESE TRANS WERE BAD AND REPLACED THE 1ST ONE @ 103,000 MILES AND SAID THEY WOULD "GOOD WILL" THESE TRANS AS LONG AS IM THE ORIGINAL OWNER. MY HUSBAND WAS A MASTER TECH. MECHANIC AT ACURA FOR 10 YRS. AND SAID THEY NEVER CAME OUT WITH A GOOD TRANS. FOR THESE CARS. THEY JUST KEEP REBUILDING THEM AND REPLACING THEM WHEN THEY GO OUT! NOW MY REPLACEMENT TRANS IS GOING OUT @ 30,000 LESS MILES THAN THE 1ST AND THEY REFUSE TO REPLACE IT WITHOUT ME PAYING FOR IT! PAY FOR ANOTHER BAD TRANSMISSION? THEY WROTE ON MY CAR WORK ORDER "TEST DROVE VEHICLE FOUND TRANS SLIPPING - CUSTOMER ADVISED OF TRANS OPERATION, NOT RECOMMENDED TO DRIVE VEHICLE!" THEY PUT ME BACK ON THE STREET WITH THEIR UNSAFE TRANSMISSION. IT'S NOT RIGHT THAT THEY ARE PUTTING 'ACCIDENTS WAITING TO HAPPEN' ON THE STREETS. IS IT CHEAPER FOR THEM TO PAY FOR PEOPLES DEATHS THAN TO TAKE ALL THESE VEHICLES OFF THE STREET? HONDAS BIGGEST SETTLEMENT CANNOT REPLACE SOMEBODY'S LOVED ONE. THERE HAS TO BE JUSTICE SOMEWHERE. PLEASE HELP SAVE SOMEONE'S LIFE, THANK YOU.. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10212993

Mileage unknown · Sep 16, 2007
Power Train

2002 ACURA CL HAS HAD THE TRANSMISSION CHANGED OUT 4 TIMES; THE CAR IS ENDING IT'S WARRANTY, AND AGAIN THE TRANSMISSION IS ACTING UP. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10203151

55,000 miles · Oct 7, 2006
Power Train

MANUAL TRANS/CLUTCH - LOOSES HYDRAULIC PRESSURE IN LOW AIR TEMPS AND WHEN CAR IS SITTING ON A HILL. HARD TO SHIFT ONLY IN 1ST INTO 2ND GEAR. THERE WERE VERY FEW ACURA 2002/2003 CL 3.2 TYPE SS MADE, SO EVEN A COUPLE COMPLAINTS SHOULD WARRANT A REVIEW. I FOUND NUMEROUS FORUMS WITH OWNERS COMPLAINING AND ASKING FOR HELP FROM OTHERS…

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MANUAL TRANS/CLUTCH - LOOSES HYDRAULIC PRESSURE IN LOW AIR TEMPS AND WHEN CAR IS SITTING ON A HILL. HARD TO SHIFT ONLY IN 1ST INTO 2ND GEAR. THERE WERE VERY FEW ACURA 2002/2003 CL 3.2 TYPE SS MADE, SO EVEN A COUPLE COMPLAINTS SHOULD WARRANT A REVIEW. I FOUND NUMEROUS FORUMS WITH OWNERS COMPLAINING AND ASKING FOR HELP FROM OTHERS ON THIS PROBLEM. IVE DRIVEN MANUAL TRANS CARS AND TRUCKS FOR 22 YRS TO INCLUDE ONE HONDA THAT STIL HAD THE ORIGINAL CLUTCH AT 225K MILES, SO IT IS NOT A DRIVER RELATED PROBLEM. ALL THE FOCUS HAS BEEN ON THE AUTO TRANSMISSIONS FOR THIS CAR...THAT FAILED. ACURA HAS A PROBLEM THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED BEFORE SOMEONE GET SERIOUSLY HURT, WHEN THEY TRY TO SHIFT INTO SECOND WHEN CROSSING A BUSY STREET AND CANT. IT HAS HAPPENED TO ME AND I JUST GOT LUCKY. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10170205

42,900 miles · Jun 14, 2005
Power Train

TRANSMISSION PROBLEM: ERRATIC SHIFTING, HARD DOWNSHIFTS, SHIFTS FROM 5TH GEAR INTO 2ND GEAR AT HIGH SPEED: CLOSE-TO-DEATH EXPERIENCE ON THE HIGHWAY!! THIS HAS HAPPENED 3 MONTHS AFTER THE RECALL SERVICE WAS DONE CONCLUDING NOTHING WRONG. FROM MY RESEARCH I HAVE FOUND THAT THE RECALL - "BAND-AID FIX" DOES NOT FIX WHATS ACTUALLY WR…

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TRANSMISSION PROBLEM: ERRATIC SHIFTING, HARD DOWNSHIFTS, SHIFTS FROM 5TH GEAR INTO 2ND GEAR AT HIGH SPEED: CLOSE-TO-DEATH EXPERIENCE ON THE HIGHWAY!! THIS HAS HAPPENED 3 MONTHS AFTER THE RECALL SERVICE WAS DONE CONCLUDING NOTHING WRONG. FROM MY RESEARCH I HAVE FOUND THAT THE RECALL - "BAND-AID FIX" DOES NOT FIX WHATS ACTUALLY WRONG WITH THE TRANSMISSION BECAUSE IT IS A TRICK TO MAKE CONSUMERS THINK THAT THE CAR IS FINE. THE RECALL WAS PUT OUT BUT DOES NOT WORK!! THIS MATTER SHOULD BE LOOKED INTO PROPERLY AND THUROUGHLY AGAIN. I DO NOT WISH TO INJURE OR KILL MYSELF OR OTHERS BECAUSE MY CAR IS POORLY DESIGNED. MY CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY AND WILL NOT BE COVERED UNDER RECALL SINCE IT WAS ALREADY PROVIDED. FURTHERMORE, THE SYMPTOMS OF MY PROBLEM ARE DIFFERENT THAN THE RECALL SYMPTOMS. THE HONDA MOTOR CO. KNOWS VERY WELL THAT ALL THESE SYMPTOMS ARE COMBINED BUT DOES NOT WANT TO RECALL THE CORRECT PARTS BECAUSE IT WOULD COST TOO MUCH AND COVER TOO MANY VEHICLES. RIGHT NOW MY CHOICES ARE VERY LIMITED BUT EXPENSIVE: REPLACE WHOLE TRANSMISSION WITH FEW OTHER PARTS. MANY CONSUMERS' TRANSMISSIONS FAIL MULTIPLE TIMES SO THERE IS NO PERMANENT FIX AS THE COMPANY CLAIMS WITH THE RECALL SERVICE AND I'M SURE THIS IS NOT THE FIRST COMPLAIN. PLEASE LOOK INTO THE PROBLEM AGAIN AND MAKE THEM ISSUE A REAL SOLUTION TO THIS PROBLEM OR REFER ME SOMEWHERE THAT I COULD GET HELP RESOLVING THIS MATTER.

NHTSA ODI #10125309

41,000 miles · May 6, 2005
Electrical SystemEquipmentPower Train

SINCE THE SECOND DAY OF HAVING MY CAR, MY CAR HAS BEEN CONTINUOUSLY PLAGUED WITH PROBLEMS. I HAVE TAKEN MY CAR IN FOR REPAIR OVER 10 TIMES FOR VARIOUS AND SOMETIMES REPEATING PROBLEMS. THIS ALL HAS OCCURRED WITHIN A THREE YEAR PERIOD. I HAVE NEVER HAD A VEHICLE THAT HAS HAD SO MANY PROBLEMS. SOME OF THE PROBLEMS HAVE BEEN SO…

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SINCE THE SECOND DAY OF HAVING MY CAR, MY CAR HAS BEEN CONTINUOUSLY PLAGUED WITH PROBLEMS. I HAVE TAKEN MY CAR IN FOR REPAIR OVER 10 TIMES FOR VARIOUS AND SOMETIMES REPEATING PROBLEMS. THIS ALL HAS OCCURRED WITHIN A THREE YEAR PERIOD. I HAVE NEVER HAD A VEHICLE THAT HAS HAD SO MANY PROBLEMS. SOME OF THE PROBLEMS HAVE BEEN SO SEVERE THAT I NO LONGER FEEL SAFE DRIVING MY CAR. ONE OF THESE PROBLEMS WAS MY TRANSMISSION SPONTANEOUSLY DOWNSHIFTING FROM 5TH GEAR TO 2ND GEAR AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. THIS CAUSED A TREMENDOUS DECREASE OF SPEED. HAD SOMEONE BEEN IN BACK OF ME, I WOULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY INJURED. THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED, BUT IT CONTINUES TO ACT SPONTANEOUSLY. AFTER MAKING COMPLAINTS DIRECTLY TO ACURA OF AMERICA, I FEEL SNUBBED BY THEM IN THAT THEY HAVE NOT SOUGHT TO ASSIST ME OTHER THAN WARRANTY REPAIRS.

NHTSA ODI #10120061

Mileage unknown · Mar 23, 2005
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingPower Train

2002 ACURA CL 3.2 EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, SEAT BELTS, TIMING BELT, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, AND THE ENGINE.***NO ANSWER REQUIRED***. *MR THE CONSUMER HAS EXPERIENCE NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, SEAT BELTS, SUSPENSION AND ENGINE. THE CONSUMER DID STATED THERE WAS A …

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2002 ACURA CL 3.2 EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, SEAT BELTS, TIMING BELT, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, AND THE ENGINE.***NO ANSWER REQUIRED***. *MR THE CONSUMER HAS EXPERIENCE NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, SEAT BELTS, SUSPENSION AND ENGINE. THE CONSUMER DID STATED THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE TRANSMISSION AND BELT TENSIONER. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10119198

33,000 miles · Aug 30, 2004
Power Train

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED TRANSMISSION SLIPPED. THE PART WAS REPLACED THREE TIMES, HOWEVER THE PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10090023

38,000 miles · May 5, 2004
Power Train

THE TRANSMISSION IN MY ACURA CL-S LOCKED UP FOR APPROXIMATELY 2 SECONDS WHILE TRAVELING ON THE FREEWAY. IT LOCKED UP AGAIN WHILE TRYING TO MOVE TO THE SHOULDER. THE TRANSMISSION WAS SUBSEQUENTLY REPLACED. THE REPLACEMENT TRANSMISSION FAILED APPROXIMATELY 800 MILES LATER. I AM NOW ON MY THIRD, WHICH IS BEGINNING TO SHOW SIGNS…

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THE TRANSMISSION IN MY ACURA CL-S LOCKED UP FOR APPROXIMATELY 2 SECONDS WHILE TRAVELING ON THE FREEWAY. IT LOCKED UP AGAIN WHILE TRYING TO MOVE TO THE SHOULDER. THE TRANSMISSION WAS SUBSEQUENTLY REPLACED. THE REPLACEMENT TRANSMISSION FAILED APPROXIMATELY 800 MILES LATER. I AM NOW ON MY THIRD, WHICH IS BEGINNING TO SHOW SIGNS OF INEVITABLE FAILURE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10068317

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.