Reliability & 5-year cost of ownership — 2003 Acura CL
NHTSA data on file today
The 2003 Acura CL has 5 NHTSA recall campaigns and 74 owner complaints on file as of . Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.
Recall campaigns on file
- NHTSA #19V499000 Driver Frontal Air Bag Inflator May Explode NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #19V182000 Driver Frontal Air Bag Inflator May Explode NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #15V320000 Driver's Frontal Air Bag May Rupture NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #04V176000 HONDA/AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #02V226000 HONDA/TIMING BELT/WATER PUMP NHTSA notice
Most-cited components in owner complaints
- Power Train 36 complaints
- Air Bags 9 complaints
- Tires 6 complaints
- Exterior Lighting 5 complaints
- Electrical System 4 complaints
- Engine 3 complaints
Of the 74 complaints on file, 5 report a crash; across all 74 complaints, owners report 5 injuries and 1 death (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).
Average
Estimated 5-year repair + maintenance cost: $6,000–$10,000AI estimate — not from NHTSA data
The 2003 Acura CL has an average reliability outlook. With 74 owner complaints and 5 recalls, the evidence is somewhat limited, focusing mainly on the power train and airbags, implying some known issues but no widespread systemic failures.
Most-common failures
| Part | Typical mileage (AI estimate) | Cost range (AI estimate) | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Power train | 80,000–120,000 miles | $1,500–$3,000 | common |
| Airbags | Unknown | $500–$1,500 | 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
- Brake fluid flush
- Transmission fluid change
- Coolant replacement
- Timing belt replacement
- Spark plug replacement
- Brake pad and rotor
Warning signs to watch for
Symptoms that signal a major upcoming repair.
- Transmission slipping
- Airbag warning light
- Unusual engine noises
- Oil leaks
- Worn brake pads
Generated by gpt-4o on from the NHTSA recall campaigns and owner-complaint counts on file for the 2003 Acura CL at the time. The rating is an AI assessment; cost and mileage figures are AI estimates, not NHTSA data.