Acura CL Best and Worst Years by Owner Complaints
We rank Acura CL model years by the number of owner complaints filed with NHTSA, from fewest to most. Complaint counts aren't failure rates: years that sold more cars, or that are older, can show more reports. We rank only model years at least five years old, because newer ones are still collecting reports. Among settled years shown, the 2004 drew the fewest (1) and the 2001 the most (271).
Complaints filed by model year
Every year compared
| Most-reported component | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 Among the fewest complaints |
1 | 0 | Air bags | — | — |
| 2000 Among the fewest complaints |
11 | 0 | Power train | — | — |
| 2002 Among the fewest complaints |
44 | 2 | Power train | — | 21 |
| 1999 | 49 | 3 | Power train | — | 20–24 |
| 1998 | 55 | 5 | Electrical system | — | 20–24 |
| 2003 Among the most complaints |
73 | 5 | Power train | — | 20–21 |
| 1997 Among the most complaints |
82 | 2 | Power train | — | 20–24 |
| 2001 Among the most complaints |
271 | 3 | Power train | — | 20 |
Sources: NHTSA ODI complaints, NHTSA recalls, NHTSA NCAP, EPA; retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
What owners reported in the Acura CL years with the most complaints
These settled model years drew the most owner complaints to NHTSA. The share in brackets is the part of that year’s complaints that names each component; one complaint can name several.
2001 Acura CL: 271 complaints
Most-reported: Power train 206 (76%); Air bags 32 (12%); Visibility 12 (4%).
Reports mention 13 crashes, 2 fires, 8 injuries, 1 death. Typical odometer reading when owners filed: 64,000 miles. 3 recall campaigns listed.
1997 Acura CL: 82 complaints
Most-reported: Power train 20 (24%); Electrical system 15 (18%); Air bags 14 (17%).
Reports mention 5 crashes, 5 injuries. Typical odometer reading when owners filed: 112,354 miles. 2 recall campaigns listed.
2003 Acura CL: 73 complaints
Most-reported: Power train 36 (49%); Air bags 9 (12%); Exterior lighting 5 (7%).
Reports mention 5 crashes, 5 injuries, 1 death. Typical odometer reading when owners filed: 75,000 miles. 5 recall campaigns listed.
The Acura CL years with the fewest complaints
2004 Acura CL: 1 complaints
Most-reported: Air bags 1 (100%); Structure 1 (100%).
0 recall campaigns listed.
2000 Acura CL: 11 complaints
Most-reported: Power train 7 (64%); Air bags 2 (18%); Vehicle speed control 1 (9%).
Reports mention 1 crash, 1 injury. 0 recall campaigns listed.
2002 Acura CL: 44 complaints
Most-reported: Power train 33 (75%); Air bags 5 (11%); Electrical system 4 (9%).
Reports mention 1 crash, 1 death. Typical odometer reading when owners filed: 45,000 miles. 2 recall campaigns listed.
Crashes, fires and injuries in Acura CL owner reports
| Model year | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Injuries | Deaths | Typical miles at filing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2003 | 73 | 5 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 75,000 |
| 2002 | 44 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 45,000 |
| 2001 | 271 | 13 | 2 | 8 | 1 | 64,000 |
| 2000 | 11 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — |
| 1999 | 49 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 104,000 |
| 1998 | 55 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 98,223 |
| 1997 | 82 | 5 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 112,354 |
Owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA. “Typical miles” is the median odometer reading in complaints that gave one (shown when at least 10 did). Source: NHTSA ODI complaints, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Largest Acura CL recalls
- Driver's Frontal Air Bag May Rupture (2003 model year; 6,281,043 vehicles across all models; filed May 2015; 15V320000)
- Air Bag Inflators May Rupture or Underinflate Bag (1998–2001 model years; 1,439,841 vehicles across all models; filed Jan 2020; 20V026000)
- Driver Frontal Air Bag Inflator May Explode (2003 model year; 1,101,534 vehicles across all models; filed Mar 2019; 19V182000)
- HONDA/AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION (2001–2003 model years; 1,099,796 vehicles across all models; filed Apr 2004; 04V176000)
- HONDA/IGNITION SWITCH (1997–1999 model years; 1,000,000 vehicles across all models; filed May 2002; 02V120000)
All 11 Acura CL recall campaigns · Acura CL problems, recalls and mpg by year · Used car inspection checklist
What the numbers can't tell you
- Sales volume. NHTSA publishes no sales figures with complaints, so a popular year draws more reports even if each car is no worse.
- Recent years are under-counted. Owners file reports for years after purchase; the newest model years will keep growing.
- The individual car. Maintenance, mileage and repairs matter more for one used car than any model-year average. Get a pre-purchase inspection and check open recalls by VIN.
Acura CL years FAQ
Which Acura CL year has the fewest complaints?
Among the model years shown whose counts have settled, the 2004 has the fewest owner complaints filed with NHTSA (1). That is a count of reports, not a measure of reliability.
Does fewer complaints mean a more reliable car?
Not necessarily. Complaint counts depend on how many cars were sold, how old they are and how many owners file reports. Use them to spot patterns worth asking about, alongside recalls, crash tests and a pre-purchase inspection.
Are there Acura CL years to avoid?
No model year is officially one to avoid. By owner complaints to NHTSA, the settled years with the most reports are the 2001, 1997 and 2003 models, and across all years the most-reported problem area is the power train. Compare those years with the ones that drew the fewest reports, then check any specific car for open recalls by VIN and get a pre-purchase inspection.
What is the most common Acura CL problem?
Across the model years shown, owners most often report problems with the power train (325 of 586 complaints list it). Each model-year report breaks the complaints down by component.
How many recalls does the Acura CL have?
NHTSA lists 11 recall campaigns covering the Acura CL. See every one, with official wording and repair rates, on the Acura CL recall page.
Why are newer years left out of fewest and most?
Owners keep filing complaints for years after a car is sold. We mark the two newest model years as still collecting reports, and we only rank years that are at least five years old.
How this page was madeSources, processing, limits, review and changes
Data sources
- NHTSA recalls by vehicle
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - US DOT recall completion rates (data.transportation.gov)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA ODI owner complaints
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA NCAP 5-Star Safety Ratings
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EPA fuel economy data (licence confirmation pending)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EIA weekly retail gasoline prices
Weekly, all taxes included
Processing
- Complaints are counted per component. One complaint can list several, so component totals add up to more than the total.
- Fuel cost = miles per year ÷ EPA combined mpg × EIA weekly price for your region.
Limitations
- Complaint counts are owner reports, not verified findings or failure rates. There is no sales denominator.
- Recall campaigns are listed for the model year. Only NHTSA and the automaker know whether a specific car was repaired.
- Recent model years are still collecting reports.
Review
Data compiled automatically from the official files listed here.
Changelog
- 2026-10-06 Data refreshed from the official files.