IllustrationAIRBAG RECALL WAS ISSUED IN MARCH 2020. HONDA ADVISES THAT NO REPLACEMENT PARTS ARE AVAILABLE AS OF 8/14/2020.COULD BE UP TO A YEAR (FROM MARCH 2020) BEFORE PARTS ARE AVAILABLE.
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 →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Cl years →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
10–25K
125–50K
350–75K
675–100K
4100–150K
10150K+
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
What owners actually said
82 reportsTL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 ACURA CL. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 20V026000 (AIR BAGS) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT REACHED OUT TO NORRIS ACURA (8559 BALTIMORE NATIONAL PIKE, ELLICOTT CITY, MD 21043; 443-574-1240) WHERE IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT THE PART WAS N…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 ACURA CL. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 20V026000 (AIR BAGS) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT REACHED OUT TO NORRIS ACURA (8559 BALTIMORE NATIONAL PIKE, ELLICOTT CITY, MD 21043; 443-574-1240) WHERE IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE. *JS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 ACURA CL. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 20V026000 (AIR BAGS) HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. PIKES PEAK ACURA (655 AUTOMOTIVE DR, COLORADO SPRINGS, CO 80905) WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE RECALL REMEDY. THE CONTACT…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 ACURA CL. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 20V026000 (AIR BAGS) HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. PIKES PEAK ACURA (655 AUTOMOTIVE DR, COLORADO SPRINGS, CO 80905) WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE RECALL REMEDY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT CALLED ON BEHALF OF HIS MOTHER-IN-LAW THE OWNER AND DRIVER OF A 1997 ACURA CL. CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE HIS MOTHER-IN-LAW WAS STOPPED AND WAITING TO MAKE A LEFT TURN A SEMI- TRUCK TURNED RUNNING OVER HER VEHICLE. THE FRONT PASSENGER TO THE DRIVER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE WAS DAMAGED. NO AIR BAGS DEPLOY…
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TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT CALLED ON BEHALF OF HIS MOTHER-IN-LAW THE OWNER AND DRIVER OF A 1997 ACURA CL. CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE HIS MOTHER-IN-LAW WAS STOPPED AND WAITING TO MAKE A LEFT TURN A SEMI- TRUCK TURNED RUNNING OVER HER VEHICLE. THE FRONT PASSENGER TO THE DRIVER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE WAS DAMAGED. NO AIR BAGS DEPLOYED IN THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED BRUISED RIBS AND SEPARATED COLLAR BONE, AND OTHER INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION AS SHE WAS TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL BY AMBULANCE. A POLICE REPORT WAS MADE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A TOW YARD AND THEN TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE INSURANCE COMPANY DEEMED THE VEHICLE A TOTAL LOSS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED AS THE VEHICLE WAS DEEMED A TOTAL LOSS AND HE WAS AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT STATED RECENTLY RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 20V026000 (AIR BAGS) WHICH COULD POSSIBLE BE THE CAUSE TO THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 176,000.
I NOTICED AN SRS LIGHT ON EVERY TIME AFTER I START THE ENGINE AND THE ENGINE MOUNTING ARE BROKEN AND LOSE..
I AM ON MY 3RD TRANSMISSION SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR IN 2012
SOMETIMES DON'T START
THE 1997 ACURA CL HARMONICA BALENCER BOLT SNAPED OFF HAD TO GET IT REPLACED AND THREE WEEKS LATER HAPPEND AGAIN IN THE MIDDEL OFF THE STREET TRAFIC ALMOST CASING AN ACEDENT
SOMETIMES THE KEY WILL NOT TURN OR IT SEEMS AS IF THE CAR IS LOCKED. THE KEY WILL GET STUCK IN THE IGNITION AND WILL NOT TURN. SOMETIMES THE KEY WILL TURN BUT WILL NOT ALLOW ME TO TAKE IT OUT VERY EASILY. LASTLY THE KEY SOMETIMES WILL NOT ENTER THE HOLE. TRIED SWITCHING THE SIDES OVER AND SOMETIMES IT WORKS AFTER 2 OR 3 TRIES.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 ACURA CL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE IGNITION KEY WAS DIFFICULT TO REMOVE FROM THE VEHICLE WITHOUT WARNING. IN ADDITION, THE KEY FAILED TO START THE VEHICLE INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA C…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 ACURA CL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE IGNITION KEY WAS DIFFICULT TO REMOVE FROM THE VEHICLE WITHOUT WARNING. IN ADDITION, THE KEY FAILED TO START THE VEHICLE INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 02V120000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE FAILURE MILEAGE AND VIN WERE NOT AVAILABLE.
Official recalls
202V120000 · 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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.