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:
149,629 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 seat belts / air bags problems

seat belts / air bags problem

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2001 Acura CL Owner Comments

problem #4

Jan 262024

CL

  • 262,515 miles

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

The contact owned a 2001 Acura CL. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 45 MPH, there was a vehicle driving toward the contact's driver's side that ran the red light and crashed into the front of the vehicle. The entire front of the vehicle was damaged. The air bags did not deploy and the seat belt restraint system did not operate. The contact was treated for a back muscle injury and it was unknown if the other driver sustained injuries. The vehicle was towed to the contact's residence where the contact was informed the vehicle was a total loss. The vehicle was towed to the junkyard. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 262,515.

- Costa Mesa, CA, USA

problem #3

Jul 302016

CL

  • 160,000 miles
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 #2

Apr 122015

CL

  • 159,000 miles
When the passenger seat belt was fastened, the supplemental restraint system (SRS) warning light lit up. The SRS light remained on until I erased the scs by entering the appropriate memory erase signal. After the passenger seat belt was buckled again, the SRS light came on again requiring another scs erasure to turn it off. After every scs erasure to turn the SRS light off, it turns back on every time the passenger seat buckle is fastened. It is my understanding that in this car (2001 Acura Cl type S), the air bag deployment system is inactivated whenever the SRS light is on.

- Lake Oswego, OR, USA

problem #1

Dec 152001

CL

  • 17,000 miles
The contact owns 2001 Acura Cl. He stated that two of the front seat belts did not retract and became stuck. The contact noticed that the seat belts were not functioning when the vehicle was purchased. The air bag light continued to illuminate. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer ten times but the dealer could find the cause of the failure. The vehicle had not been repaired when the complaint was filed. The failure mileage was approximately 17,000. The current mileage was approximately 164,000.

- Winston Salem , NC, USA

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