NHTSA — Electrical System Problems

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:
1 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
69,388 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 electrical problems

electrical problem

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2001 Acura CL Owner Comments

problem #7

Dec 072019

CL

  • miles

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

The left window goes down but not in going up =stop in the lower part

- Hayward, CA, USA

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problem #6

Apr 052018

CL

  • 128,938 miles
The ignition switch interlock is not working the way it is supposed to and I am able to turn the ignition to the "off" position and remove the key without the transmission in park.

- Morrisville, VT, USA

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problem #5

Feb 222018

CL

  • 126,000 miles
The ignition switch can turn completely off while the car is not in park. When I went to shut car off while I was stationary, I forgot I had it in D5 which is drive. I shut the ignition all the way off and I was able to pull the key out. Got out of car an started to move.

- Morrisville, VT, USA

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problem #4

Sep 232015

CL

  • 118,000 miles

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

My SRS light is on, and always on, driving, in park, etc. However, my car has not been recalled. I read that if the SRS light is on the system will not work, however the seat belt restraint in both front seats and side air bag indicator both work. Dealer should examine, determine problem and fix at no cost. My navi dvr system also works only intermittently. I have the most recent disc. Mostly it is a bunch of lines across the screen, black and white, sometime blue and white. I would say one in 20 starts the navi system works.

- Madison, WI, USA

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problem #3

Jan 052009

CL

  • 62,000 miles
The key for my 2001 Acura Cl can be removed regardless the position of the car's automatic transmission shift lever. In other words, the lock-out that should prevent this from happening in any position other than "park" is not functioning. This has occurred all the time over a period of several months and I understand this is a problem on other Honda manufactured vehicles. As a result of this issue, my car rolled into my garage door after I had shut it off and gotten out of the vehicle, having mistakenly left in "drive". damage minor. I have an appointment with the dealer for repairs (he doesn't believe me). Since this is a potentially dangerous situation, a recall, or at least an owner alert, should be considered.

- Mt. Pleasant, SC, USA

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problem #2

May 072008

CL

  • miles
The ignition lock-out system has permanently failed on my 2001 Acura Cl so that the key may be removed when shifter is "drive" position. This creates a dangerous situation where the car can roll away after the driver has exited. This has happened to me on several occasions, including once when the car damaged my garage door. I understand this is also a problem on Honda badge vehicles. A recall is needed.

- Mt. Pleasant, SC, USA

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problem #1

May 162005

CL 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 50,781 miles
SRS indicator light is on and according to the dealer it was an error cod15-3. they told the consumer that it was caused by cell phone or electrical interference. There was a tsb which applied to error code 15-3. the consumer took the vehicle to the dealer and they reset the sensor switch, this happened again the next morning. Do not know status of the airbag systems is not. The consumer did not feel that a cell phone could cause this type of interference.

- Orchard Park, NY, USA

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