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NHTSA vehicle safety data

2002 Acura CL Recalls & Complaints

The 2002 Acura CL has 2 NHTSA recall campaigns and 44 owner complaints on file as of November 3, 2026. Recall repairs are usually free at an authorized Acura dealer.

NHTSA recall and complaint data for the 2002 Acura CL. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.

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2002 Acura CL owner complaints

Owners have filed 44 complaints with NHTSA about the 2002 Acura CL, describing incidents dated June 14, 2001 to February 28, 2023.

Most-cited components

  • Power Train 33 complaints
  • Air Bags 5 complaints
  • Electrical System 4 complaints
  • Engine 4 complaints
  • Vehicle Speed Control 4 complaints
  • Electronic Stability Control (ESC) 3 complaints

Of the 44 complaints on file, 1 reports a crash; across all 44 complaints, owners report 1 death (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).

Newest complaints

  • ODI #11509494 · Filed

    UNKNOWN

  • ODI #11321734 · Filed

    TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 ACURA CL. THE CONTACT STATED THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THE FRONT DRIVER AIR BAG NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE…

  • ODI #11319134 · Filed

    TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 ACURA CL. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 20V027000 (AIR BAGS) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS NOT YET AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER HAD EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL…

Read all 44 complaints

NHTSA defect investigations

NHTSA's investigations file lists the 2002 Acura CL in 1 investigation. A listed model year means only that an investigation names it; it says nothing about any particular vehicle. An open investigation is not a finding that a safety defect exists, and NHTSA can close one without a recall.

Open and recently closed NHTSA defect investigations

Air Bag Inflators May Rupture or Underinflate Bag

NHTSA #20V027000 · Air Bags — Frontal — Driver Side — Inflator Module · NHTSA notice

Reported January 17, 2020 · Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)

Potentially affected: 875,966 vehicles

Repair completion: 13.98% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated November 3, 2026)

Manufacturer campaign U6R, H6S · Owners notified October 1, 2020 · Recall influenced by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation

Defect description

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.

Safety 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.

Manufacturer 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.

Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

HONDA/AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

NHTSA #04V176000 · Power Train — Automatic Transmission · NHTSA notice

Reported April 15, 2004 · HONDA (AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO.)

Potentially affected: 1,099,796 vehicles

Manufacturer campaign P30/P31 · Owners notified April 27, 2004 · Vehicles built August 7, 2001 – January 8, 2002 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

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.

Safety consequence

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

Manufacturer 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.

Notes

HONDA RECALL NOS. P30 (ODYSSEY AND PILOT),P31 (MDX), P38 (ACCORD) AND P39 (ACURA).CUSTOMERS CAN ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S AUTO SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236).

Other Acura CL model years

Check your 2002 Acura CL VIN

Not every recall applies to every VIN in a given year. Enter the 17-character VIN from your Acura CL at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether your specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.

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