Acura CL Years to Avoid — Worst & Best Years to Buy
Every Acura CL model year (1997–2003) ranked by recall count, complaint volume, deaths, and injuries. Data sourced directly from NHTSA.
Acura CL Years to Avoid
1 recall · 140 complaints
6 reported injuries
Top issue: POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
Problem score: 155
3 recalls · 43 complaints
2 reported injuries
1 reported death
Top issue: POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
Problem score: 61
3 recalls · 40 complaints
3 reported injuries
Top issue: AIR BAGS
Problem score: 55
Best Acura CL Years to Buy
0 recalls · 7 complaints
Main area: POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
Problem score: 9
2 recalls · 23 complaints
Main area: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Problem score: 29
1 recall · 28 complaints
Main area: POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
Problem score: 31
Found the right year? Verify that specific CL with a free VIN report.
Acura CL — Year-by-Year Problem Report
| Year | Recalls | Complaints | Injuries | Deaths | Problem Score | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | 3 | 43 | 2 | 1 | 61 | Caution |
| 2002 | 1 | 28 | — | — | 31 | Good |
| 2001 | 1 | 140 | 6 | — | 155 | Avoid |
| 2000 | 0 | 7 | 1 | — | 9 | Excellent |
| 1999 | 2 | 23 | — | — | 29 | Good |
| 1998 | 3 | 40 | 3 | — | 55 | Caution |
| 1997 | 1 | 45 | 1 | — | 50 | Good |
All 7 model years shown. Deaths and injuries from NHTSA complaint filings. Higher problem scores indicate more reported safety issues.
Acura CL Shopping Guide by Era
Pre-2013
Proceed with CautionOlder CL models have more accumulated wear and a larger recall history. These are higher-risk purchases without documented maintenance records and a clean VIN history report.
Frequently Asked Questions
What year CL should I avoid?+
Avoid the 2001 Acura CL if possible. It has 1 recall, 140 owner complaints. The overall problem score is 155 — the highest in our dataset.
What is the best year CL to buy?+
The 2000 Acura CL is the lowest-risk year in our analysis, with a problem score of 9. It has only 0 recalls and 7 complaints on record with NHTSA.
Which CL has the fewest problems?+
The 2000, 1999, 2002 model years have the fewest documented problems. Even for low-problem years, verifying a specific vehicle's history via its VIN is always recommended before purchase.
More Acura CL Research
Check a Specific Acura CL VIN
Model-year rankings show statistical risk. A VIN-specific report reveals the individual vehicle's full history — accidents, odometer rollbacks, auction records, and open recall status.
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