Reliability & 5-year cost of ownership — 2002 Acura CL
NHTSA data on file today
The 2002 Acura CL has 2 NHTSA recall campaigns and 44 owner complaints on file as of . Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.
Recall campaigns on file
- NHTSA #20V027000 Air Bag Inflators May Rupture or Underinflate Bag NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #04V176000 HONDA/AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION NHTSA notice
Most-cited components in owner complaints
- Power Train 33 complaints
- Air Bags 5 complaints
- Electrical System 4 complaints
- Engine and Engine Cooling 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).
Below average
Estimated 5-year repair + maintenance cost: $4,500–$8,000AI estimate — not from NHTSA data
The 2002 Acura CL has a notably high number of transmission complaints and a significant airbag recall. Transmission issues and airbag recalls impact the overall confidence in reliability, resulting in a below-average rating. However, it maintains a generally stable performance in other areas, such as brakes and suspension.
Most-common failures
| Part | Typical mileage (AI estimate) | Cost range (AI estimate) | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Automatic transmission | 60,000–100,000 miles | $2,500–$3,500 | very common |
| Driver airbag inflator | N/A | No reliable estimate | common |
| Electrical system | 50,000–90,000 miles | $300–$700 | 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 and filter change every 5,000 miles
- Brake pads inspection/replacement every 25,000 miles
- Transmission fluid change every 30,000 miles
- Coolant flush every 60,000 miles
- Spark plug replacement every 100,000 miles
Warning signs to watch for
Symptoms that signal a major upcoming repair.
- Transmission slipping or harsh shifts
- Airbag warning light
- Intermittent electrical issues
- Unusual engine noise
- Unexpected brake pedal feel
Generated by gpt-4o on from the NHTSA recall campaigns and owner-complaint counts on file for the 2002 Acura CL at the time. The rating is an AI assessment; cost and mileage figures are AI estimates, not NHTSA data.