CarComplaints.com Notes: The automatic transmission on the 2nd generation CL (2001-2003) is a downshifting mess. According to reports it slips, flares, and eventually fails --- sometimes around 40,000 miles.

The troubled transmission got an extended warranty for some CL owners that was later extended even further thanks to a class-action lawsuit in the United States. But even with the extended warranty, the transmission in this car is well known for overheating and locking up suddenly and without warning.

10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
2 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
1 / 1
Average Mileage:
149,500 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2001 Acura CL brakes problems

brakes problem

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2001 Acura CL Owner Comments

problem #2

Jul 302016

CL

  • 160,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

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.

- Los Angeles, CA, USA

problem #1

Feb 162015

CL

  • 139,000 miles
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.

- Monroe, MI, USA

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