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

Mileage unknown · Dec 30, 2003

Power Train

WHILE DRIVING THE TRANSMISSION LIGHT FLASHED ON THE DASHBOARD THEN THE DRIVER HEARD A LOUD POPPING NOISE FROM BENEATH THE VEHICLE. THE TRANSMISSION DOWN SHIFTED ON IT'S OWN. THE DRIVER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR ANALYSIS. THE TECHNICIAN DETERMINED THAT THE PINION SHAFT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10052146

45,000 miles · Nov 4, 2003

Service Brakes, Hydraulic

ROTORS ARE WARPING PREMATURELY. AS A RESULT, WHEN APPLYING BRAKES A GRINDING NOISE IS PRODUCED. THE DEALER CAN'T FIND THE SOLUTION. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10046295

12,000 miles · May 12, 2003

Power Train

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I OWN A 2002 ACURA CL TYPE S. SINCE PURCHASING THE CAR I HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT TROUBLE WITH THE TRANSMISSION. AFTER ONLY 12,000 MILES, MY TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED. AFTER THE REPLACEMENT, THE TRANSMISSION STILL HAD PROBLEMS AND WAS SLIPPING BUT MY DEALERSHIP TOLD ME THAT THERE WERE NO ISSUES WITH IT WHEN I KNEW THAT THERE DEFINITELY WAS. AFTER GOING THE WINTER WITH A SLIPPING TRANSMISSION, IT'S NOW SUMMER AND IT IS GETTING WORST EVERY DAY. I TOOK THE CAR TO MY DEALERSHIP TODAY AND ONCE AGAIN I'M FACED WITH FIRST A TRANSMISSION FLUSH THEN ANOTHER REPLACEMENT TRANSMISSION. I FEEL ACURA, NOT THE DEALERSHIP, HAS SHOWN THAT A GREAT REPUTATION CAN BE DISSOLVED QUICKLY BY POOR CUSTOMER SERVICE, SLOW REACTION TO PROBLEMS, AND NOT FIXING A CLEAR PROBLEM. ACURA HAS EXTENDED THE WARRANTIES TO 100K ON THEIR TRANSMISSIONS BUT THIS DOES ME NO GOOD. THIS IS A BUSINESS CAR AND I DO NOT HAVE TIME FOR THE HEADACHE OF TAKING MY CAR IN CONSTANTLY FOR SERVICE. I BOUGHT MY ACURA BECAUSE OF THEIR REPUTATION AND BECAUSE OF OWNING A GREAT HONDA AUTOMOBILE IN THE PAST. I WILL NOW NEVER BUY ANOTHER HONDA/ACURA PRODUCT AND THEY HAVE LOST A GOOD CUSTOMER. *NLM

NHTSA ODI #10018581

15,804 miles · Mar 25, 2003

Service Brakes, Air

FRONT END (BRAKES) VIBRATION TO STEERING WHEEL AND ENTIRE VEHICLE WHEN BRAKING @ 60MPH WHEN DECENDING A RELATIVELY STEEP GRADE

NHTSA ODI #10010995

24,000 miles · Feb 18, 2003

Power Train

2002 ACURA CL 3.2 TYPE S TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. I HAVE ABOUT 24K MILES AND RECENTLY MY TRANSMISSION SLIPPED. WHILE GOING 30MPH WITH THE 3RD GEAR, IF YOU ACCELERATE SO THAT THE SECOND GEAR KICKS IN, IN KICKS IN VERY SHARPLY, CREATING AN UNBEARING JERK THAT IS VERY OBSTRUSIVE INSIDE THE CABIN. HONDA SHOULD PLACE A RECALL ON THIS…

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NHTSA ODI #10007768

Mileage unknown · Feb 13, 2003

Power Train

THE VEHICLE DOWN SHIFTED, WHICH CAUSED THE TRANSMISSION TO SLIP.*JB

NHTSA ODI #10007318

Mileage unknown · Feb 3, 2003

Power Train

I HAVE HAD TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS WITH MY 02 CL FOR ABOUT 4 MONTHS NOW. I HAVE GONE TO MY DEALER, METRO ACURA, SEVERAL TIMES AND THEY HAVE DONE NOTHING. I HAVE EVEN BEEN PULLED OVER BY THE POLICE DUE TO THE FACT THAT THE CAR DOWNSHIFTS AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS CAUSING THE CAR TO IMMEDIATELY SLOW DOWN. FINALLY MY DEALER HAS AGREED TO …

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NHTSA ODI #10005159

Mileage unknown · Jan 31, 2003

Engine And Engine CoolingPower Train

THE MOTOR MOUNTS HAD BECOME LOOSE AND TRANSMISSION HAD BLOWN UP. TS SCC

NHTSA ODI #10006096

Mileage unknown · Jan 31, 2003

Engine And Engine Cooling

THE VEHICLE STALLED INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE OR DETERMINE THE CAUSE. (CL TYPE-S) TS SCC

NHTSA ODI #10006094

Mileage unknown · Jan 30, 2003

Power Train

CAR SPONTANEOUSLY DOWNSHIFTS WHEN NOT NEEDED TO AND DOESN'T RESPOND TO THE UPSHIFT.

NHTSA ODI #10004943

Official recalls

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

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.