333 of the
731 complaints filed about the Acura CL
are about the transmission —
46% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 2001.
333
Complaints
46%
Share of all complaints
9
Crashes
2
Fires
Transmission & Drivetrain complaints by model year
I purchased this vehicle in March 2021 and noticed the issue with the transmission the first time I operated the vehicle. There is a grinding sound whenever the transmission is placed in third gear. I brought the car to Acura by Executive in Wallingford, CT at some point in 2021 to enquire about the issue. I was informed by the service advisor that the problem is a known issue but because there is no recall on the issue and the vehicle is out of warranty Acura is not required to resolve it. Recently I came across service bulletin 08-018 and noticed where it stated that after warranty expiration a repair may be eligible for goodwill consideration. I called Acura Customer Service, was given case #15843108, and told to acquire a formal diagnosis from an Acura dealership. The diagnosis from Acura of Berlin in Berlin, CT verified that the symptoms were the result of the faulty transmission as described in the TSB. I submitted this information to Acura Customer Service and was informed on September 29, 2025, that due to the age of the vehicle Acura will not compensate me fully or partially for the repair. In my view, although this is an older vehicle, it has low mileage at 102.000 miles and is therefore expected to be on the road for many years. The transmission only grinds at this point, but it may start to pop out of third gear in the future as described in the TSB. I consider this a safety issue in that the transmission popping out of gear unexpectedly would result in some loss of control of the vehicle. I don't expect Acura to fully compensate me for this repair but in light of this problem being a known and documented issue with this vehicle and all the parts for repair are still available I would expect that Acura would stand by its product and offer to contribute to the total cost of this repair.
NHTSA complaint #11690951 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
In and around July 2024 my Acura cl started to have erratic shifting and locking up at highways speeds the vehicle is so unsafe to drive I cannot get the air bags fixed it shifts from 5th gear to 2nd gear in 2004 a remedy was applied to the transmission to aid and fix the downshifting issues and overheating issues the vehicle does have these problems and was not repaired correctly in 2004 by Acura I called Honda/acura and they are not willing to replace or fix the transmission
NHTSA complaint #11614117 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Frank let us Acura would not preform my transmission recall after it locked up “stating the recall has already been done” but they “don’t have any record of it” they claim someone didn’t file the paper work on it but my trans locked up going 70 miles and hour and threw me off of the road
NHTSA complaint #11442489 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG IN MY 2001!ACURA CL WAS RECALLED AND THE COMPANY NEVER CONTACTED ME ABOUT IT! I BOUGHT THE CAR ON 5/28/20 WITH NO TITLE BUT I DO HAVE A BILL OF SALE ON A NOTEBOOK PIECE OF PAPER BUT ANYWAYS I SAW WHERE THERE WAS RECALLS FOR SOME PARTS ON MY VEHICLE AND WAS RESEARCHING UP ON THIS STUFF AND CAME ACROSS THE INFORMATION THAT MY AIRBAGS HAVE BEEN RECALLED...WHAT POSSIBLY IS THERE TO DO ABOUT THIS SITUATION? PLEASE AND THANK YOU HAVE A BLESSED DAY!!! HERE IS MY CAMPAIGN ID '04V176000.
NHTSA complaint #11330745 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 ACURA CL. THE CONTACT STATED WHEN SHIFTING GEARS TO REVERSE IN HIS GARAGE, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED BUT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP AND CRASHED INTO HIS GARAGE WALL. THE CONTACT STATED NO WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO TURN OFF THE VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONTACT DID NOT SUSTAIN ANY INJURIES. NO POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT CALLED LOCAL DEALER ACURA OF HONOLULU (3251 N NIMITZ HWY, HONOLULU, HI 96819, (808) 829-3073) WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED AS OF YET. UPON INVESTIGATION, THE CONTACT ASSOCIATED THE FAILURE WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 04V176000 (POWER TRAIN). THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 102,000. *LN*JB *BF CONSUMER STATED VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED.
NHTSA complaint #11325068 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT 65MPH, MY CAR SUDDENLY SLIPPED OUT OF GEAR, ENGINE REVVING AND SMOKE POURING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. I HAD GOTTEN NO WARNING AT ALL.THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT NEVER CAME ON AND THE CAR HAD NO PRIOR INSTANCES OF GEAR PROBLEMS. HAD TO GET IT TOWED HOME WHERE IT SITS IN MY DRIVEWAY BECAUSE I CAN'T AFFORD A NEW TRANSMISSION.
NHTSA complaint #11309666 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 ACURA CL. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD AN ABNORMAL GRINDING NOISE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. ALSO, WHILE THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER, TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF AND ON, AND IT RESUMED NORMAL OPERATION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THE VEHICLE AND DETERMINED THAT THE SENSOR FOR THE DRIVESHAFT THREE AND FOUR GEAR CABLE FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 04V176000 (POWER TRAIN). THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER PROVIDED CASE NUMBER: 10011555. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 1,054.
NHTSA complaint #11278019 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 ACURA CL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 04V176000 (POWER TRAIN) BY LEHIGH VALLEY ACURA (333 STATE AVE, EMMAUS, PA 18049, (610) 967-6500), BUT THE REMEDY FAILED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WARNING INDICATOR REMAINED ILLUMINATED AFTER THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 99,000.
NHTSA complaint #11203357 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I BOUGHT A USED ACURA AND ON THE WAY HOME ON THE HIGHWAY THE CAR SUDDENLY DOWN SHIFTED VIOLENTLY SEVERAL TIMES CAUSING THE CAR TO SKID SIDEWAYS .I PULLED OVER AND THE CAR WOULD NOT SHIFT OUT OF 3RD GEAR.EVENTULLY I GOT IT TO RESET AND IT DROVE FINE FOR 35 MINUTES UNTIL ONCE AGAIN IT LOCKED UP DOING 65MPH.
NHTSA complaint #11193565 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 ACURA CL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION SLIPPED INTO SECOND GEAR WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED BY AN UNKNOWN DEALER FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 04V176000 (POWER TRAIN); HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 04V176000 (POWER TRAIN). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
NHTSA complaint #11193047 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 ACURA CL. WHEN STARTING THE VEHICLE, IT STALLED IN SECOND GEAR. THE CONTACT HAD TO DOWNSHIFT INTO D4 TO CORRECT THE FAILURE. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 157,000. THE VIN WAS INVALID.
NHTSA complaint #11181914 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
I WAS RIDING ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN THE ENGINE WENT INTO HIGH RPM'S AND THE CAR WAS SLOWING DOWN. THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WENT OUT. I BARELY GOT TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WITHOUT POWER. THE CAR ONLY HAS 77,248 MILES ON IT. THERE WAS ACURA SERVICE BULLETIN 02-027 FEB 5, 2008, ABOUT TRANMISSION PROBLEMS. VERY SCAREY!
NHTSA complaint #11046666 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
MY CAR IS HAVING THE TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS ITS CONSENT WANT TO SHIFT IN 3RD GEAR,AND THE FRONT SUSPENSION IS MAKING A LOT OF CRADLING AND CLSNKING WHILE DRIVING OVER TINY BUMPSS
NHTSA complaint #11001197 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TRANSMISSION SLIPS THROUGH GEARS, SHIFTS HARD INTO PARK, AND D5 WILL BLINK AND EVERYTHING GOES BLACK. CAR HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP NUMEROUS TIMES AND ONLY WORKS PROPERLY WHEN IT WANTS TO. WHEN IT BEGINS TO SLIP THE CAR IS UNCONTROLLABLE AND DANGEROUS.
NHTSA complaint #10994206 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 ACURA CL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE INTERMITTENTLY WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO SECOND OR THIRD GEAR. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 04V176000 (POWER TRAIN), BUT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 136,000. UPDATED 01/05/2017
NHTSA complaint #10928497 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ELIMINATED, VSA LIGHT COMES ON AND D5 LIGHT FLASHES WHILE DRIVING AFTER TRANSMISSION WARMS UP., CAR WONT SHIFT INTO 4TH OR 5TH GEAR RPMS WIND UP REAL HIGH HAVE TO PULL OVER TURN OFF ENGINE THEN RESTART TO DRIVE ONLY SHORT DISTANCE BEFORE IT STARTS DOING THE SAME THING. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AT APPROX. 65 MPH WHEN CAR SUDDENLY STARTED DOWNSHIFTING ON ITS OWN CAUSING ME TO ALMOST CRASHED WHEN I WAS JERKED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD.
NHTSA complaint #10918814 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.