Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2003 Acura CL, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Power train36
- Air bags9
- Exterior lighting5
- Electrical system4
- Wheels3
- Engine3
- Steering3
- Service brakes, hydraulic3
- Suspension3
- Tires3
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 5 injuries and 1 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
Fatal crashes in the US
From 2020 to 2023, 10 2003 CL vehicles were involved in crashes on US public roads in which someone died; 8 people died inside them, and 5 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 2003 Acura CL failed the safety check 1.94% of the time — 8% less often than the average 2003 passenger car (2.11%). Median odometer at inspection: 130,260 miles.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections (vezn-fmmk), initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
Recalls in Canada
4 Transport Canada recalls for the 2003 Acura CL.
| 2019117 7 Mar 2019 | Airbag Issue: On certain vehicles, there could be a problem with the driver-front airbag inflator. This could cause the airbag to deploy with more force than normal.… |
| 2015225 27 May 2015 | Airbag On certain vehicles, the driver frontal airbag inflator could produce excessive internal pressure during airbag deployment. Increased pressure may cause the inf… |
| 2014567 15 Dec 2014 | Airbag Honda Canada is conducting a voluntary Safety Improvement Campaign concerning the driver's airbag inflator on certain vehicles equipped with Takata airbags. Hon… |
| 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 2003 Acura 3.2CL, 2002-2003 3.2TL, 2003-2006 MDX, 2001-2007 Honda Accord, 2001-2005 Civic, 2003-2005 Civic Hybrid, 2001-2005 Civic GX NGV, 2002-2006 CR-V, 2003-2011 Element, 2002-2004 Odyssey, 2003-2008 Pilot and 2006 Ridgeline vehicles. These vehicles are equipped with driver frontal air bag inflators assembled as a recall remedy part or replacement service part, that may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling specific 2003 Acura 3.2CL, 2013-2016 ILX, 2013-2014 ILX Hybrid, 2003-2006 MDX, 2007-2016 RDX, 2002-2003 3.2TL, 2004-2006, and 2009-2014 TL, 2010-2013 ZDX and 2001-2007 and 2009 Honda Accord, 2001-2005 Civic, 2003-2005 Civic Hybrid, 2001-2005 Civic GX NGV, 2002-2007 and 2010-2011 CR-V, 2003-2011 Element, 2007 Fit, 2002-2004 Odyssey, 2003-2008 Pilot, and 2006-2014 Ridgeline vehicles. The affected vehicles received a replacement driver air bag inflator as part of a previous Takata inflator recall remedy or a replacement driver air bag module containing the same inflator type as a service part. Due to a manufacturing error, in the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver frontal air bag, these inflators may explode.
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain model year 2001-2007 Accord, 2001-2005 Civic, 2001-2004 Honda Civic GX, 2003-2005 Honda Civic Hybrid, 2002-2006 CR-V, 2003-2011 Element, 2002-2004 Odyssey, 2003-2008 Pilot, 2006 Ridgeline, 2003 Acura 3.2CL, 2003-2006 Acura MDX, and 2002-2003 Acura 3.2TL vehicles. The affected vehicles are equipped with a dual-stage driver frontal air bag that may be susceptible to moisture intrusion and other factors, including manufacturing variability that, over time, could cause the inflator to rupture.
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.
ON CERTAIN MINIVANS, SEDANS, COUPES, AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH V6 ENGINES, A TIMING BELT TENSIONER PULLEY ON THE WATER PUMP IS MISALIGNED AND COULD CAUSE THE TIMING BELT TO CONTACT A BOLT ON THE CYLINDER HEAD. EVENTUALLY THE BELT COULD BE DAMAGED AND FAIL.
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 2003 Acura CL: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 637938 | INFORMATION ON SERVICING THE ODOMETER, SPORT SHIFT INDICATOR ILLUMINATION INOPERATIVE. *TT |
| 637936 | SUBJECT REGARDING ONSTAR COMPONENT SYNCHRONIZATION AND REGISTRATION. *TT |
| 637647 | SUBJECT REGARDING SYNCHRONIZING CUP HOLDER COVERS. *TT |
| 637642 | INFORMATION ON SERVICING INOPERATIVE CONSOLE LID. *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 |
| 637406 | SUBJECT REGARDING FAULTY BEVERAGE HOLDER COVERS. *TT |
| 637402 | INFORMATION ON DIAGNOSING CONSOLE LIDS THAT WON'T LATCH OR POPS OPEN. *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 |
| 626267 | V6 ENGINE OIL LEAKS. *JB THIS BULLETIN SUPERSEDES 01-041, DATED 10/29/2001. *TT |
| 10211608 | Special Tool Loan Program: Under TOOLS AVAILABLE FOR LOAN, the list has been updated. |
| 10195036 | Service Bulletin - Case v. American Honda Motor Co., Inc., Case No. BC 424169 (Third Clutch Transmission Settlement - $25 Credit Vouchers). |
| 10172575 | Service Bulletin - This bulletin is a notification of a class action settlement relating to airbag inflators. American Honda is offering a Customer Support Program (Warranty Extension) to cover any manufacturing defects in the replacement driver's airbag inflator only. |
| 10144045 | Dealer message - Today, Acura is notifying dealers of a voluntary noncompliance recall for a small number of Acura vehicles due to an error on the replacement (service part) underhood emissions labels. American Honda previously notified CARB and the EPA for this action. |
| 10144042 | Service bulletin - Emission certification labels that were replaced on a small number of vehicles may have been replaced with a label listing incorrect information. The affected emission labels are replacement service parts, and were not installed at the factory; they were installed during postmanufacturing repairs that required replacement of the underlying part. This will cause the vehicle to be non-compliant with emissions regulations. |
| 10139573 | Service bulletin - This bulletin is a notification of a class action settlement relating to airbag inflators. American Honda is offering a Customer Support Program (Warranty Extension) to cover any manufacturing defects to the replacement driver's airbag inflator only. |
| 10130044 | Servicenews article - Is the navigation screen clock reading 00:00? We?re aware of this issue and have it under investigation. |
| 10128876 | Dealer message - Certain vehicles within the above model/model years are subject to one or more of three recalls that were announced today. Do not sell any of these vehicles until Acura has provided you with an appropriate disclosure and acknowledgment form, which we anticipate will be provided by close of business on Wednesday, June 25, 2014 |
| 10128875 | Dealer message - Certain vehicles within the above model/model years are subject to one or more of three recalls that were announced today. Do not sell any of these vehicles until Acura has provided you with an appropriate disclosure and acknowledgment form, which we anticipate will be provided by close of business on Wednesday, June 25, 2014 |
| 10128874 | Dealer message - Certain vehicles within the above model/model years are subject to one or more of three recalls that were announced today. Do not sell any of these vehicles until Acura has provided you with an appropriate disclosure and acknowledgment form, which we anticipate will be provided by close of business on Wednesday, June 25, 2014 |
| 10128576 | Dealer message - On Monday, June 23, 2014, Acura announced three recalls for various 2002-06 Acura models. At this time, affected VINs have not been determined. |
| 10128575 | Dealer message - On Monday, June 23, 2014, Acura announced three recalls for various 2002-06 Acura models. At this time, affected VINs have not been determined. |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)
NHTSA investigations
Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture
Air Bag Inflator Rupture
Air Bag Inflator Rupture
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SUDDEN DOWNSHIFT
NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation