Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2001 Acura CL, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Power train206
- Air bags32
- Visibility12
- Electrical system9
- Service brakes, hydraulic8
- Vehicle speed control8
- Suspension5
- Seat belts4
- Engine and engine cooling4
- Equipment3
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 8 injuries and 1 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
Fatal crashes in the US
From 2020 to 2023, 13 2001 CL vehicles were involved in crashes on US public roads in which someone died; 14 people died inside them, and 3 of the vehicles rolled over. This is a count, not a crash rate: it grows with the number of cars on the road.
NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), crash years 2020–2023 (public domain)
New York safety inspections
At its first New York inspection the 2001 Acura CL failed the safety check 1.79% of the time — 11% less often than the average 2001 passenger car (2.00%). Median odometer at inspection: 151,991 miles.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections (vezn-fmmk), initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
Recalls in Canada
3 Transport Canada recalls for the 2001 Acura CL.
| 2020015 17 Jan 2020 | Airbag Issue: On certain vehicles, exposure to moisture over time could cause the driver-front airbag not to inflate properly in a crash. In some cases, this could c… |
| 2020014 17 Jan 2020 | Airbag Issue: On certain vehicles, exposure to moisture over time could cause the driver-front airbag not to inflate properly in a crash. In some cases, this could c… |
| 2004143 23 Apr 2004 | Powertrain Certain operating conditions can result in heat build-up between the countershaft and secondary shaft second gears in the automatic transmission, eventually lea… |
Transport Canada Vehicle Recalls Database · Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 1998 Acura 2.2CL, 1998-1999 Acura 2.3CL, 1998-1999 Acura 3.0CL, 2001 Acura 3.2CL and Acura MDX, 1998-2000 Honda Accord Coupe, Accord Sedan, Civic Sedan, Odyssey and Acura 3.5RL, 1999-2000 Acura 3.2TL, 1996-2000 Civic Coupe, 1997-2000 CR-V, 1997-1998 EV Plus, and 1998-1999 Isuzu Oasis vehicles. These vehicles were equipped with Non-Azide Driver air bag Inflators (NADI) and do not contain phase stabilized ammonium nitrate (PSAN) propellant. Due to a manufacturing issue, the NADI inflators may absorb moisture, causing the inflators to rupture or the air bag cushion to underinflate.
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.
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.
Whether a recall was fixed on a particular car is known only to the manufacturer: check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA recalls · summaries in NHTSA's own words
Service bulletins
What Acura told its dealers about the 2001 Acura CL: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 638045 | CONCERNS WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FLUID LEAK AT AXLE SEALS, ROARING NOISE, ERRATIC SHIFTING. *TT |
| 638024 | INFORMATION ON SERVICING ERRATIC SHIFTING, SLIPPING, AND FLARE AT UPSHIFTS. *TT |
| 637938 | INFORMATION ON SERVICING THE ODOMETER, SPORT SHIFT INDICATOR ILLUMINATION INOPERATIVE. *TT |
| 637647 | SUBJECT REGARDING SYNCHRONIZING CUP HOLDER COVERS. *TT |
| 637638 | INFORMATION ON DIAGNOSING SRS DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE 6-7 AND / OR 7-2 INTERNAL FAILURE OF SRS UNIT. *TT |
| 637623 | SUBJECT REGARDING TIMING BELT TENSIONER BOLT TORQUE SPECIFICATION. *TT |
| 637621 | SUBJECT REGARDING PGM TESTER MISFIRE COUNTER. *TT |
| 637406 | SUBJECT REGARDING FAULTY BEVERAGE HOLDER COVERS. *TT |
| 636799 | SUBJECT REGARDING TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS MISSING FOR TIMING BELT TENSIONER. *TT |
| 636764 | INFORMATION ON TROUBLE SHOOTING MULTIPLE MISFIRE DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES P0301 THRU P0306. *TT |
| 633359 | INFORMATION REGARDING SQUEAKS HEARD FROM THE MOONROOF SEAL WHILE DRIVING WITH THE GLASS CLOSED AND THE SUNSHADE OPEN. *TT |
| 633350 | SUBJECT REGARDING SRS INDICATOR ON WITH SRS DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES 15-1, 15-2, AND 15-3. REPLACES 01-013 AS WELL. *TT |
| 631968 | VEHICLES MAY EXPERIENCE SEAT BACK PANEL BECOMING LOOSE OR DETACHED. *SLC |
| 631772 | INFORMATION REGARDING SEAT BACK PANEL REPAIR KIT. *SLC |
| 631035 | SOME 2000 MDX MODELS AS WELL AS OTHER MODELS MAY EXHIBIT BRIEF HESITATION WHEN ACCELERATING AT HIGH ENGINE SPEED. *TT |
| 629322 | INFORMATION ON TROUBLESHOOTING DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES P1705, P1768, P0753, P0758. *TT |
| 627275 | INFORMATION REGARDING NAVIGATION DISPLAY NOT CENTERED. *YH |
| 627072 | INFORMATION REGARDING THE HEATER VALVE CABLE SOMETIMES DISCONNECTS AT THE AIR MIX CONTROL LINKAGE. *YH |
| 626635 | SUBJECT REGARDING CRANKS, WON'T START WITH TYPE II IMMOBILIZER SYSTEM. *YD |
| 626607 | SUBJECT REGARDING SAFETY RESTRAINT SYSTEM DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE 5-1 THROUGH 8-3, INTERNAL SAFETY RESTRAINT SYSTEM UNIT FAILURE. *YD |
| 626590 | SUBJECT REGARDING SPEED SENSOR PLUG MISSING. *YD |
| 626550 | SUBJECT REGARDING WITH NAVIGATION SKYSTEM - REAR WINDOW TINT APPLICATION TIPS. *YD |
| 626530 | SUBJECT REGARDING SRS LIGHT ON AFTER OPDS CONTROL UNIT REPLACEMENT. *YD |
| 626524 | SUBJECT REGARDING DRIVER'S POWER WINDOW AUTO-DOWN INOPERATIVE. *YD |
| 626267 | V6 ENGINE OIL LEAKS. *JB THIS BULLETIN SUPERSEDES 01-041, DATED 10/29/2001. *TT |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)
NHTSA investigations
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SUDDEN DOWNSHIFT
NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation