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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.

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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

What owners reported most

All reported categories

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

Suspension complaints

9 reports
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190,000 miles · Apr 28, 2014
Power TrainSuspension

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 ACURA CL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 3 MPH AND MAKING A HARD RIGHT TURN, THERE WAS A LOUD POP SOUND HEARD AS THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S HOUSE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE LOWER BALL JOINT WAS FRACTURED AND BECAME DETACHED. THE MANUFACTURER W…

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

NHTSA ODI #10585337

122,000 miles · Aug 14, 2008
Power TrainSteeringSuspension

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 ACURA 3.0CL. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD NOISE AND FELT EXCESSIVE VIBRATION FROM THE VEHICLE. SHE EXPERIENCED DIFFICULTY CONTROLLING THE STEERING WHEEL. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. PRIOR TO THE FAILURES, THE POWER STEERING WAS N…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 ACURA 3.0CL. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD NOISE AND FELT EXCESSIVE VIBRATION FROM THE VEHICLE. SHE EXPERIENCED DIFFICULTY CONTROLLING THE STEERING WHEEL. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. PRIOR TO THE FAILURES, THE POWER STEERING WAS NOT WORKING PROPERLY. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO PULL TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE FAILURES CAUSED DAMAGES TO THE TIRE AND BUMPER. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE LOWER BALL JOINTS AND DRIVE SHAFT CAUSED THE FAILURES. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 122,000.

NHTSA ODI #10238151

77,000 miles · May 6, 2008
Suspension

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 ACURA 3.0CL. IN 2004, FOUR NEW TIRES WERE PLACED ON THE VEHICLE. IN 2005, THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL MECHANIC DUE TO BRAKE FAILURE. THE CONTACT HEARS A SQUEAKING NOISE COMING FROM THE WHEEL WELL IN THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE. IT FELT AS IF THE WHEELS WERE GOING TO FALL OFF, SO SHE TO…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 ACURA 3.0CL. IN 2004, FOUR NEW TIRES WERE PLACED ON THE VEHICLE. IN 2005, THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL MECHANIC DUE TO BRAKE FAILURE. THE CONTACT HEARS A SQUEAKING NOISE COMING FROM THE WHEEL WELL IN THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE. IT FELT AS IF THE WHEELS WERE GOING TO FALL OFF, SO SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO HER LOCAL MECHANIC AGAIN. THE BALL JOINTS WERE IDENTIFIED AS THE CAUSE FOR THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT RESEARCHED COMPLAINTS THAT OTHER ACURA OWNERS HAD WITH THERE 3.0 CL AND LOCATED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 99V069000 (SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT). THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT HER VIN DOES NOT APPLY TO THE RECALL. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 79,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 77,000.

NHTSA ODI #10226828

Mileage unknown · Oct 31, 2006
Suspension

FRONT SUSPENSION HAD TO BE REPLACED AS THE ARM ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE HAD BROKEN. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10172312

Mileage unknown · Feb 18, 2004
Suspension

THERE WERE A RECALL 99V069000. AND, MY VECHILE FITS THE QUAIFICATIONS: ACURA 1997 3.0CL. HOWEVER, WHEN I CALLED THE DEALER THEY TOLD ME THAT MY VIN NUMBER DOESN'T QUALIFIY. BUT, THE PROBLEM THAT IS LISTED ON THE RECALL IS THE SAME EXACT PROBLEM THAT I HAVE. SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM: LOWER BALL JOINT IS NOT WORKING CORRECTL…

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THERE WERE A RECALL 99V069000. AND, MY VECHILE FITS THE QUAIFICATIONS: ACURA 1997 3.0CL. HOWEVER, WHEN I CALLED THE DEALER THEY TOLD ME THAT MY VIN NUMBER DOESN'T QUALIFIY. BUT, THE PROBLEM THAT IS LISTED ON THE RECALL IS THE SAME EXACT PROBLEM THAT I HAVE. SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM: LOWER BALL JOINT IS NOT WORKING CORRECTLY. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10058395

Mileage unknown · Dec 12, 2000
Service Brakes, HydraulicSuspension

CONSUMER HAS NOTICED ABS LIGHT ILLUMINATING ON DASHBOARD. CONTACTED DEALER. UPON RECALL 99V069/ LOWER BALL JOINT REPAIRS, MECHANIC NOTICED ABS BRAKE MODULE AND ACTUATOR HAVE MALFUNCTIONED AND CAUSED A SLIGHT CHANGE IN BRAKING ABILITY. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

NHTSA ODI #876362

Mileage unknown · Oct 31, 2000
Suspension

ON YOUR WEB PAGE FOR RECALLS, CAMPAIGN #K59, IT SAYS THAT MY VEHICLE IS AFFECTED FOR RECALL OF BALL JOINTS. BOTH LOCAL DEALER AND ACURA CLAIM THAT THIS RECALL ONLY AFFECTS THE MODEL RL, AND NOT MY CL, AS YOUR RECALL STATES. IS THERE AN ERROR ON YOUR WEB PAGE?*AK

NHTSA ODI #735505

Mileage unknown · Sep 5, 2000
Suspension

CAR PULLS LEFT. ALIGNMENT DONE, TIRES CHANGED. STILL PULLS.

NHTSA ODI #730319

Mileage unknown · Apr 30, 1999
Suspension

ENGINE IS OUT OF BALANCE. VEHICLE VIBRATES WHEN FOOT IS ON ACCELERATION PEDAL & NANDS ON THE STEERING WHEEL. HAD ALL 4 TIRES CHANGED. THERE IS A RATTLING NOISE IN VEHICLE. MANUFACTURER SAYS NO DISTRICT MANAGER IN AREA. *AK

NHTSA ODI #837312

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.