Reliability & 5-year cost of ownership — 1997 Acura CL
NHTSA data on file today
The 1997 Acura CL has 2 NHTSA recall campaigns and 82 owner complaints on file as of . Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.
Recall campaigns on file
- NHTSA #02V120000 HONDA/IGNITION SWITCH NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #99V069000 HONDA/BALL JOINTS NHTSA notice
Most-cited components in owner complaints
- Power Train 20 complaints
- Air Bags 14 complaints
- Electrical System 14 complaints
- Suspension 9 complaints
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic 7 complaints
- Engine and Engine Cooling 6 complaints
Of the 82 complaints on file, 5 report a crash; across all 82 complaints, owners report 5 injuries (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).
Average
Estimated 5-year repair + maintenance cost: $4,000–$7,000AI estimate — not from NHTSA data
The 1997 Acura CL has received 82 complaints and 2 recalls, indicating some reliability concerns, but not an alarming amount for its age. Recalls focused on ignition switch and control arm ball joints. The data is limited, suggesting an average overall reliability, with some known issues.
Most-common failures
| Part | Typical mileage (AI estimate) | Cost range (AI estimate) | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ignition switch | Unknown | $150–$300 | common |
| Control arm ball joint | Unknown | $200–$400 | common |
| Transmission | Unknown | $1,200–$3,000 | occasional |
| Airbags | Unknown | $600–$1,200 | occasional |
AI estimate — not from NHTSA data: the mileage bands and repair-cost ranges above. Get a written repair quote before you budget.
Scheduled maintenance to budget
Routine items every owner should plan for.
- Oil change every 5,000 miles
- Brake pad replacement as needed
- Transmission fluid inspection
- Coolant flush every 30,000 miles
- Tire rotation every 10,000 miles
Warning signs to watch for
Symptoms that signal a major upcoming repair.
- Rough shifting transmission
- Warning lights staying on
- Unresponsive ignition switch
- Unusual suspension noises
Generated by gpt-4o on from the NHTSA recall campaigns and owner-complaint counts on file for the 1997 Acura CL at the time. The rating is an AI assessment; cost and mileage figures are AI estimates, not NHTSA data.