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1997 Acura Cl

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 1997 Acura Cl do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 52.

About this comparison →
82Owner complaints

Model-year median: 52

2Recall campaigns

View recall details →

0Investigations

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
82
199755
199849
199911
2000
Compare all Cl years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Power Train
20Electrical System
15Air Bags
14Suspension
9Service Brakes, Hydraulic
7
All reported categories
Engine And Engine Cooling
6Visibility
6Structure
4Unknown Or Other
4Vehicle Speed Control
4Tires
3Engine
2Seat Belts
2Steering
2Equipment
1Exterior Lighting
1Seats
1

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

25 reports with mileage · 57 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Power Train. Review the 20 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 15 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Air Bags. Review the 14 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

5 crash reports0 fire reports4 injury reports

Seat Belts complaints

2 reports
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Mileage unknown · Jun 8, 1999
Seat Belts

FOR NO REASON, THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT SEATBELT LOCKS UP. ONCE LOCKED UP, IT DOES NOT RETRACT, PASSENGER MUST UNBUCKLE SEAT BELT AND RETRACT IT COMPLETELY AND THEN RE-BUCKLE. THIS HAS EVEN HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES WHEN THE CAR WAS AT A SINGLE STAND STILL. DEALER SAYS THIS IS A COMMON COMPLAINT, AND ACURA KNOWS OF IT, BUT DOES…

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FOR NO REASON, THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT SEATBELT LOCKS UP. ONCE LOCKED UP, IT DOES NOT RETRACT, PASSENGER MUST UNBUCKLE SEAT BELT AND RETRACT IT COMPLETELY AND THEN RE-BUCKLE. THIS HAS EVEN HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES WHEN THE CAR WAS AT A SINGLE STAND STILL. DEALER SAYS THIS IS A COMMON COMPLAINT, AND ACURA KNOWS OF IT, BUT DOESN'T HAVE A FIX FOR IT. HAVING TO UNBUCKLE THE SEATBELT WHILE THE CAR IS ON THE ROAD IS VERY DANGEROUS - PLEASE HELP WITH THIS. *AK

NHTSA ODI #707295

Mileage unknown · Oct 7, 1998
Seat Belts

FRONT PASSENGER'S SEAT BELT WHEN SECURED AROUND PASSENGER WILL LOCK UP FROM TIME TO TIME, EVEN WHEN VEHICLE IS STANDING STILL.

NHTSA ODI #780982

Official recalls

2

02V120000 · Electrical System:ignition:switch

May 16, 2002

ON CERTAIN SEDANS, COUPES, HATCHBACKS, AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, ELECTRICAL CONTACTS IN THE IGNITION SWITCH CAN DEGRADE DUE TO THE HIGH ELECTRICAL CURRENT PASSING THROUGH THE SWITCH WHEN THE VEHICLE IS STARTED.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: WORN CONTACTS COULD CAUSE THE ENGINE TO STALL WITHOUT WARNING, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE IGNITION SWITCH. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JUNE 14, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT HONDA AT 1-800-999-1009 OR ACURA AT 1-800-382-2238.

99V069000 · Suspension:front:control Arm:lower Ball Joint

May 10, 1999

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. CERTAIN VEHICLES WERE MANUFACTURED WITH BALL JOINTS THAT CAN PREMATURELY WEAR OUT AND, IN THE WORSE CASE, THE BALL JOINT WOULD SEPARATE CAUSING THE FRONT SUSPENSION TO COLLAPSE.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS CONDITION WOULD RESULT IN VEHICLE DECELERATION AND A SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER. ALSO STEERING CONTROLLABILITY WOULD BE REDUCED.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FRONT SUSPENSION LOWER BALL JOINTS.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.