30 of the
731 complaints filed about the Acura CL
are about the braking system —
4% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 2001.
THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN FATALITY WHICH WAS MY BROTHER, THEY CANNOT EXPLAIN WHY THE VEHICLE ENTERED INTO A SKID ON A PRETTY STRAIGHT PART OF THE HIGHWAY NOT SURE IF IT WAS A POWERTRAIN ISSUE AS I DID SEE A RECALL AFTER I DID SOME RESEARCH FOLLOWING THE ACCIDENT. THE OTHER ISSUE IS THE MECHANISM ON HOW THE DRIVER SAFETY BELT ATTACHES TO THE FRAME AS THAT WAS DAMAGED ON FIRST IMPACT WHICH CAUSED MY BROTHER TO BE EJECTED. SOMETHING AS IMPORTANT AS A SAFETY SHOULD NOT BE COMPROMISED SO EASILY.
NHTSA complaint #11114701 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 ACURA CL. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO BRAKE, THE CONTACT FELT A VIBRATION IN THE STEERING WHEEL AND BRAKE PEDAL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO FOUR DEALERS. ONE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE BRAKES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED; HOWEVER, THE CONTACT STATED THAT NOTHING FAILED AND SHE DID NOT KNOW WHAT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. ANOTHER DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE REAR ROTORS COULD BE WARPED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE OTHER TWO DEALERS ALSO DIAGNOSED THAT THERE WAS AN ISSUE WITH THE BRAKES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND STATED THAT THEY COULD NOT ASSIST. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,000. ..UPDATED 06/21/17 *BF
NHTSA complaint #10980455 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
GOING 5 MPH IN PARKING LOT, COASTING TO A STOP AT END OF AISLE WITH FOOT OFF THROTTLE PEDAL. PUT FOOT ON BRAKE AND THE ENGINE REVVED TO HIGH SPEED. BARELY HELD CAR WITH BRAKE. SHUT OFF IGNITION. CAR RESTARTED FINE. THIS WAS THE SECOND TIME IN A WEEK IT HAD HAPPENED. PREVIOUS INCIDENT WAS ON A RESIDENTIAL STREET COMING TO A STOP AT A STOP SIGN. ACURA DEALER AND ACURA TECHLINE SAY THE PROBLEM CAN'T HAPPEN BECAUSE THE THROTTLE CONTROL IS A HARD CABLE, NO ELECTRONICS INVOLVED.
NHTSA complaint #10861356 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ACURA 2001 WAS PARKED ON THE 3RD FLOOR OF A PARKING STRUCTURE. OWNER(DRIVER) BACKED CAR OUT OF ITS PARKING SPOT AT 5:00 P,M, WHEN THE TEMP. WAS 13 DEGREES ABOVE ZERO. AT FIRST OWNER WAS UNABLE TO GET ANY ACCELERATION WHEN STEPPING ON THE GAS PEDAL TO GO FORWARD IN DRIVE, GEAR 5. TAPPED ON GAS PEDAL FOR ACCELERATING AND THE CAR LURCHED FORWARD WITH ENGINE RACING AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED. DRIVER WAS TRYING TO DECELERATE THE CAR WHILE STEERING CAR THROUGH THE DESCENDING LEVELS OF THE RAMP. SLAMMED ON THE BRAKES AND THEY DID NOT HOLD THE CAR TRIED THROWING IT INTO REVERSE AND NOTHING CHANGED. ON THE FIRST FLOOR DRIVER WITH FOOT ON THE BRAKES SHEARED OFF THE FRONT OF A PICK-UP TRUCK BEFORE SMASHING IN TO THE WALL, WHICH STOPPED THE CAR. DRIVER SUFFERED A BROKEN STERNUM, COLLAR BONE AND L-3 VERTEBRAE FRACTURE IN THE BACK. SPENT TWO DAYS IN THE HOSPITAL AND 4 WEEKS IN BRACE OFF WORK.
NHTSA complaint #10694131 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TRANSMISSION FAILURE: THE PROBLEM STARTS WITH THE FOLLOWING SYMPTOMS : FAILURE TO PLACE THE CAR IN DRIVE OR TO REMOVE THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION WHEN IT IS IN PARK. LOSS OF POWER TO THE ENGINE WHILE DRIVING IN HIGHWAY TRAFFIC(SPEED DROPS FROM 55 MPH TO 0 MPH WHILE ACTIVELY DRIVING ON HIGHWAY). CAR WILL NOT ADVANCE SPEED WHEN MOVING THROUGH AN INTERSECTION. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT REPEATEDLY TURNS ON. WAS ADVISED BY THE DEALER TO REPAIR OR REPLACE THE FOLLOWING: BREAK LAMP, V-TECH FILTERS, MULTIPLE SERVICE CHECKS AT OWNER'S EXPENSE. HAVE HAD FOUR TRANSMISSIONS INSTALLED BY DEALER. DEALER IS NOW REFUSING TO MAKE NECESSARY REPAIRS.
NHTSA complaint #10196532 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:CALIPER
BRAKE CALIPER MOUNT/BRACKET DEVELOPED SUPERFICIAL CORROSION WHICH REDUCED THE TOLERANCE FOR THE BRAKE PAD,S MAKING THEM RESISTANT TO SLIDING--BOUND. BRAKE PADS ADHERED TO CHROME BEARING MATERIAL BETWEEN PAD AND CALIPER BRACKET, AND BEARING MATERIAL, ACTED LIKE A RETURN SPRING INCREASING THE TOLERANCES TO THE ROTOR WHEN BRAKE PRESSURE RELEASED. UPON EMERGENCY BRAKING, BRAKE PEDAL TRAVEL WAS EXCESSIVE, AND AN ACCIDENT WAS NARROWLY AVOIDED. CORROSION WAS MACHINED FROM CALIPER MOUNT/BRACKET AND WEATHER RESISTANT LUBRICANT APPLIED. PADS AND SHIMS WERE ORIGINAL MANUFACTURER PARTS. ACURA CL 2003.
NHTSA complaint #10195353 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
CAR SKIDDED OUT OF CONTROL. NO ONE GOT HURT. ABS INSTRUMENT PANEL WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. LEAKAGE OCCURS ON THE ABS MODULATOR WHICH PROBABLY GOT ON LEFT TIRE TO CAUSE SKID.
NHTSA complaint #10164010 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I PURCHASED A NEW ACURA 3.2CL TYPE S WITH A 6 SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSION ON 5/24/03. IN 6/16/04 WITH 14,396 MILES I HAD TO HAVE THE FRONT ROTORS RESURFACED AND MY BRAKE PADS REPLACED WITH UPDATED PADS PER TSB01-017 BECAUSE OF EXTREME VIBRATION WHILE BRAKING (OUT OF ROUND ROTORS DUE TO OVER HEATING). THIS WAS DONE AT NO CHARGE UNDER WARRANTY. ON 4/26/05 (LESS THAN ONE YEAR LATER) WITH 26,097 MILES, ACURA RESURFACED THE ROTOR AS A "GOOD WILL GESTURE" AT NO CHARGE BECAUSE OF EXTREME VIBRATION WHILE BRAKING AGAIN. I WAS ADVISED THAT THE NEXT TIME I WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THE REPAIRS. NOW 10/25/06 WITH 34,500 MILES I'M REPLACING THE BRAKE ROTORS AND PADS WITH BREMBO ROTORS AND PADS NOT OEM BECAUSE OF THE SAME REASON. IN 2004 ACURA TL'S WITH MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS HAD BIGGER ROTORS AND PADS. PROBABLY TO CORRECT THE DESIGN PROBLEM THAT SURFACED WITH 2003 MANUALS.
NHTSA complaint #10140892 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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 complaint #10120061 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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 complaint #10120061 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR
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.
NHTSA complaint #10102467 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR
BRAKE ROTORS WERE SEVERLY WARPED. THIS IS NORMALLY A WEAR AND TEAR ITEM AND IS EXPECTED TO REQUIRE REPLACEMENT; HOWEVER, ACURA KNOWS OF A MANUFACTURING DEFECT WITH THE BRAKES ON AT LEAST THE 2001 3.2 CL AND 1999-2001 TL VEHICLES AS EVIDENCED BY TSB 01-017. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME I'VE REQUIRED THE ROTORS TO BE REPLACED (NOT JUST RESURFACED) IN 45,000 MILES. FIRST TIME AT AROUND 25,000, SECOND NOW AT 45,000. THERE IS NO REASON THE ROTORS SHOULD HAVE WARPED A SECOND TIME SINCE THE TSB WAS ADDRESSED AND THE NEW PADS AND ROTORS SHOULD HAVE PREVENTED THE HEAT ISSUE THAT LEADS TO WARPING. THIS WAS OBVIOUSLY NOT THE CASE. THE TSB DOES NOT FULLY CORRECT THE ISSUE AND CAN LEAD TO A DANGEROUS SITUATION AS THE BRAKES ARE NOT TAKEN IN FOR SERVICE.
NHTSA complaint #10090949 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I PURCHASED MY 2001 ACURA NEW IN JULY OF 2000. OVER ITS LIFE TIME OF THREE YEARS & 37K MILES ITS HAD THE BRAKES WORKED ON FOUR TIMES. *BREAK PADS REPLACE FOUR TIMES *ROTORS MACHINED DOWN TWICE *ROTORS REPLACED TWICE BASICALLY DURING NORMAL RAPID BRAKING THE CL'S STEERING WHEEL SHAKES RAPIDLY. ACURA HAD STOOD BEHIND THERE PRODUCT AND REPLACED THE ROTORS AND PADS AT NO CHARGE. ONE MAJOR SAFETY PROBLEM EARLY ON, IS THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKES. THE BRAKES JUST DIDN'T FEEL LIKE THEY COULD STOP THE CAR. I KNOW UNTIL THE BRAKES WERE REPLACED I WAS DRIVING A TOTALLY UNSAFE CAR THAT COULD NOT STOP AS IT SHOULD. EVEN NOW AFTER REPLACING THE BRAKES SO MANY TIMES IF DO RAPID BRAKING THE WHEEL WILL SHAKE. I FEEL THE CL'S BRAKES ARE INADEQUATE FOR THE SIZE, WEIGHT AND HORSEPOWER OF THE AUTOMOBILE. IF THE BRAKES WERE ENGINEERED CORRECTLY, THE FIRST REPLACEMENT PADS AND ROTORS WOULD HAVE SOLVED THE PROBLEM. I HAVE OWNED MANY CARS OVER THE YEARS, I OWN A 95 ACURA INTEGRA & A 94 NISSAN PATHFINDER. NO MATTER HOW I DRIVE THESE CARS OR ANY OTHER CAR, THE WHEEL NEVER SHAKES DURING ANY BRAKING. MY 95 ACURA INTEGRA HAS 110K MILES AND THE BRAKE PADS HAVE BEEN REPLACED TWICE DUE TO THE FACT THEY WERE WORN OUT. THE ROTORS HAVE NEVER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONCERN WITH MY PROBLEMS WITH MY ACURA CL. IF I CAN BE OF FURTHER ASSISTANCE PLEASE CONTACT ME VIA EMAIL OR TELEPHONE. ERIC CORREA
NHTSA complaint #10070688 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR
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
NHTSA complaint #10038209 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THERE WAS A PULSATION IN THE STEERING WHEEL, WHEN THE BRAKES WERE DEPRESSED, DUE TO A FAULTY BRAKE/ROTOR SYSTEM. THE PARTS HAD BEEN CUT AND REPLACED SEVERAL TIMES, HOWEVER THE PROBLEM CONTINUED. *JB
NHTSA complaint #10019535 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.