Power Train. Review the 206 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Air Bags. Review the 32 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Visibility. Review the 12 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

13 crash reports2 fire reports8 injury reports

Power Train complaints

206 reports

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64,023 miles · Jan 8, 2003

Power Train

2001 ACURA CL TYPE S AUTOMANUAL TRANSMISSION WENT FROM 5TH GEAR TO I BELIEVE 2ND WITH NO WARNING OR INPUT BY ME AS DRIVER. THANKFULLY ROADS WERE ONLY WET AND NOT SLIPPERY AS THEY USUALLY ARE IN BUFFALO THIS TIME OF YEAR. THERE WERE VEHICLES BEHIND ME THAT WERE NOT PLEASED WITH MY "DRIVING." INCIDENT DATE: 1/8/03

NHTSA ODI #10000805

21,400 miles · Jan 7, 2003

Power Train

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I HAVE A 2001 ACURA CL TYPE S. WHILE DRIVING ON FRIDAY AFTERNOON, JAN 3, 2003 MY TRANSMISSION STARTED TO FALTER. I WAS JUST A FEW MINUTES FROM MY HOME SO I DECIDED TO KEEP DRIVING THE CAR TILL I GOT THERE. THE TRANNY WOULD JERK THE CAR INTO SECOND GEAR AND THEN SLIP INTO THIRD. AT ONE POINT I WAS GOING ABOUT 50 MPH AND THE CAR SHIFTED UNEXPECTEDLY INTO SECOND GEAR. I FELT A BIG JOLT BUT WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL. THE SHIFT LASTED ABOUT 4 SECONDS WHEN SUDDENLY THE TRANNY UPSHIFTED TO THIRD GEAR. THIS MADE ME THINK WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPEN IF THIS HAD OCCUR IN THE HIGHWAY WHEN THE AVERAGE SPEED IS ABOUT 65MPH. THE CAR DID GIVE ME ADVANCE WARNING THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS FAILING BUT I NEVER THOUGHT THAT IT WOULD DOWNSHIFT LIKE THAT. I REALLY BELIEVE THAT THE TRANNY MAY SOMEDAY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT THAT RESULTS IN INJURY OR DEATH. MY ACURA CL HAS ONLY 21,400 MILES. NEEDLESS TO SAY, I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP.

NHTSA ODI #10000751

39,785 miles · Dec 27, 2002

Power Train

TRANSMISSION SHIFTED DOWN AUTOMATICALLY AT FREEWAY SPEED

NHTSA ODI #10000616

7,000 miles · Dec 13, 2002

Power Train

TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS

NHTSA ODI #10000027

Mileage unknown · Dec 6, 2002

Power Train

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TRANSMISSION HAS SHOWN NOT TO ENGAGE IN THIRD GEAR (WHEN IN SPORT SHIFT CONTROL) CAUSING STRAIN ON THE ENGINE ALSO IT MAY NOT SHIFT DOWN FROM 3RD GEAR TO SECOND ON "SPORT SHIFT". THIS HAS HAPPENED CONTINOUSLY SERVICER SINCE 10000 MILES AND I LEARNED TO LIVE WITH IT (NOT USING THE SPORT SHIFT). FURTHER MORE IN AUGUST/SEPTEMBER OF 2002 I HAVE STARTED HEARING A SOUND WHICH HAS BEN DIAGNOSED BY A THIRD PARTY GARAGE AS INDICATIVE OF SERIOUS TRANSMISSION "PROBLEMS". OL (DT)

NHTSA ODI #770562

Mileage unknown · Dec 6, 2002

Power Train

TRANSMISSION WAS USED IN A NORMAL FASHION. THIS VEHICLE WAS NEVER USED ANY HARSH CONDITIONS. FOR SUCH A WELL MADE VEHICLE IT'S ASHAME FOR SUCH AN EXPENSIVE PIECE OF EQUIPMENT TO FAIL. DT

NHTSA ODI #770554

Mileage unknown · Dec 6, 2002

Power Train

THE ORIGINAL TRANSMISSION FAILED AND DOWNSHIFTED INTO 1ST GEAR WHEN I WAS TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY AT 60 MPH RPM'S WENT WELL PAST THE RED LINE AND SPEED REDUCED TO 35MPH. I NEARLY WENT THROUGH THE WINDSHIELD BUT I WAS BUCKLED. THEN I HAD THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED AND THE SAME THING HAPPENED ABOUT 15-20,000 MILES LATER. I AM ON…

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NHTSA ODI #770534

Mileage unknown · Dec 5, 2002

Power Train

2ND FAILED TRANSMISSION ON 11/21/02 AT 30000 MILES. DT

NHTSA ODI #770481

Mileage unknown · Dec 4, 2002

Power Train

COMPLETE TRANSMISSION FAILURE WHILE DRIVING. VEHICLE SUDDENLY THROWS YOU IN SECOND GEAR AND STARTS TO JERK AND SWERVE. TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED, AND NOW 10K MILES LATER THE REPLACEMENT TRANNY IS LEAKING ATF FLUID AGAIN AND SLIPPING WHICH ARE EARLY SIGNS OF ANOTHER FAILURE. DT

NHTSA ODI #770443

Mileage unknown · Dec 3, 2002

Power Train

TRANSMISSION FAILURE NEARLY RESULTED IN LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL AND POSSIBLE COLLISION. DT

NHTSA ODI #770393

Official recalls

20V026000 · Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module

Jan 17, 2020

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 1998 Acura 2.2CL, 1998-1999 Acura 2.3CL, 1998-1999 Acura 3.0CL, 2001 Acura 3.2CL and Acura MDX, 1998-2000 Honda Accord Coupe, Accord Sedan, Civic Sedan, Odyssey and Acura 3.5RL, 1999-2000 Acura 3.2TL, 1996-2000 Civic Coupe, 1997-2000 CR-V, 1997-1998 EV Plus, and 1998-1999 Isuzu Oasis vehicles. These vehicles were equipped with Non-Azide Driver air bag Inflators (NADI) and do not contain phase stabilized ammonium nitrate (PSAN) propellant. Due to a manufacturing issue, the NADI inflators may absorb moisture, causing the inflators to rupture or the air bag cushion to underinflate.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: In the event of a crash necessitating air bag deployment, an inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants. An underinflated air bag cushion may not properly protect the occupant. These scenarios increase the risk of serious injury or death.

Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the driver frontal air bag inflator, and replace it if necessary, with an inflator of a different design, free of charge. The recall began October 1, 2020. Owners may contact American Honda's Customer Support & Campaign Center at 1-888-234-2138 or Isuzu customer service at 1-800-255-6727.

20V027000 · Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module

Jan 17, 2020

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2001-2002 Acura 3.2CL, 2000-2003 Acura 3.5RL, 2000-2001 Acura 3.2TL, Honda CR-V and Honda Odyssey, 2001-2002 Acura MDX and 2000 Accord Coupe, Accord Sedan, Civic Coupe, and Civic Sedan vehicles. These vehicles may have received a replacement driver frontal air bag module as part of a vehicle repair. Due to a manufacturing issue, the replacement NADI inflator may absorb moisture, causing the inflator to rupture or the air bag cushion to underinflate.

Consequence & remedy

Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the air bags in the vehicles, replacing the driver frontal air bag inflator with an inflator of a different design, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began October 1, 2020. Owners may contact American Honda's Customer Support & Campaign Center at 1-888-234-2138.

04V176000 · Power Train:automatic Transmission

Apr 15, 2004

ON SOME MINI VANS, SPORT UTILITY AND PASSENGER VEHICLES, CERTAIN OPERATING CONDITIONS CAN RESULT IN HEAT BUILD-UP BETWEEN THE COUNTERSHAFT AND SECONDARY SHAFT SECOND GEARS IN THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, EVENTUALLY LEADING TO GEAR TOOTH CHIPPING OR GEAR BREAKAGE.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: GEAR FAILURE COULD RESULT IN TRANSMISSION LOCKUP, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.

Remedy: ON VEHICLES WITH 15,000 MILES OR LESS, THE DEALER WILL UPDATE THE TRANSMISSION WITH A SIMPLE REVISION TO THE OIL COOLER RETURN LINE TO INCREASE LUBRICATION TO THE SECOND GEAR. ON VEHICLES WITH MORE THAN 15,000 MILES, THE DEALER WILL INSPECT THE TRANSMISSION TO IDENTIFY GEARS THAT HAVE ALREADY EXPERIENCED DISCOLORATION DUE TO OVERHEATING. IF DISCOLORATION EXISTS, THE TRANSMISSION WILL BE REPLACED IF DISCOLORATION IS NOT PRESENT, THE DEALER WILL PERFORM THE REVISION TO THE OIL COOLER RETURN LINE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 21, 2004, FOR PILOT, ODYSSEY, AND MDX OWNERS. OWNERS OF THE ACCORD VEHICLES WILL START RECEIVING LETTERS ON JUNE 28, 2004, AND ON JUNE 29, 2004, FOR OWNERS OF THE TL AND CL VEHICLES. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT HONDA AT 1-800-999-1009 OR ACURA AT 1-800-382-2238.

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

PE02081 · Automatic Transmission Sudden Downshift

Opened Oct 28, 2002 · Closed Mar 5, 2003

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Power Train:automatic Transmission

SEE ATTACHED REPORT.