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

What owners actually said

271 reports

25,000 miles · Jan 9, 2003

Service Brakes, Hydraulic

THERE WAS A PULSATION IN THE STEERING WHEEL, WHEN THE BRAKES WERE DEPRESSED, DUE TO A FAULTY BRAKE/ROTOR SYSTEM. THE PARTS HAD BEEN CUT AND REPLACED SEVERAL TIMES, HOWEVER THE PROBLEM CONTINUED. *JB *TT

NHTSA ODI #10019535

35,000 miles · Jan 8, 2003

Power Train

DRIVING HOME DOING ABOUT 65 IN A LINE OF TRAFFIC WHEN MY CAR DECIDES TO GO FROM 5TH GEAR TO 2ND W/ NO INPUT BY ME! EVEN THOUGH I WAS BELTED I THOUGHT I WAS GOING THRU THE WINDSHIELD SINCE THE NOSE OF THE CAR WENT STRAIGHT DOWN.

NHTSA ODI #10000832

17,000 miles · Jan 8, 2003

Power Train

Read full complaint

MY 2001 ACURA 3.2 CL TYPE-S WITH 5-SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SHIFTED FROM 5TH GEAR TO 1ST GEAR ON HER OWN WHILE MY CAR WAS GOING 40MPH ON THE HIGHWAY, WHICH CAUSED A SUDDEN PAUSE. LUCKILY THE CARS BEHIND ME WERE ABLE TO VEER AWAY, OTHERWISE IT WOULD'VE BEEN DISASTROUS. FEW MINUTES AFTER THAT MY CAR LOST 5TH, 4TH AND 3RD GEAR, I HAD TO DRIVE HOME USING 2ND GEAR... WHEN I GOT HOME, I REALIZED THE CAR ALSO LOST REVERSE GEAR. NOW I AM ON MY 2ND TRANSMISSION, AND SOMTIMES IT WOULD ALSO START SURGING A BIT DURING SHIFTING WHICH IS EARLY SIGN FOR ANOTHER TRANSMISSION FAILURE. I AM JUST NERVOUS EVERYTIME I SIT IN THAT CAR. ESPECIALLY AFTER I LEARNED THAT SO MANY PEOPLE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM.

NHTSA ODI #10000830

39,105 miles · Jan 8, 2003

Power Train

2001 ACURA CL TYPE S TRANSMISSION FAILURE.THIS IS THE 2ND TIME I HAVE BEEN THROUGH THIS.TODAY THE TRANS SHIFTED FROM 5TH GEAR DOWN TO 2ND.IF I DID NOT HAVE MY SEAT BELT ON,I WOULD HAVE BEEN PUT INTO THE STEERING WHEEL.THIS HAPPENED ON ROUTE 1 GOING NORTH IN EDISON.

NHTSA ODI #10000828

38,140 miles · Jan 8, 2003

Power Train

TRANSMISSION NOT ENGAGING FOURTH GEAR AND REVVING-OUT ON THIRD GEAR. CHECK ENGINE DASH INDICATOR STAYED ON AND TRACTION CONTROL INDICATORS COME ON INTERMITTENTLY. SECOND TRANSMISSION REPLACEMENT WITH LESS THAN 40 K MILES ON THE CAR. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10000819

19,500 miles · Jan 8, 2003

Power Train

TRANSMISSION FAILURE 2ND. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10000810

18,500 miles · Jan 8, 2003

Power Train

TRANSMISSION FAILURES(2). *JB

NHTSA ODI #10000809

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

Read full complaint

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

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.