Filed Feb 28, 2023 · Airbags, Seat belts · TX
Unknown
The worst 2002 Acura CL problems
Ranked by number of owner complaints. Mileage and cost come from what owners wrote.
Problems by type
Tap a problem to see which part fails, at what mileage and in which other years.
- Transmission33
- Airbags5
- Acceleration4
- Electrical4
- Engine4
- Brakes3
- Driver assistance3
- Seat belts2
- Suspension2
- Body1
- Fuel system1
- Seats1
- Steering1
- Visibility1
Specific symptoms reported on the 2002 Acura CL
Recalls 2
Air bags: frontal: driver side: inflator module
- What is wrong
- 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.
- Risk
- 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.
- 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.
Recall number 20V027000 · Recall details
Power train: automatic transmission
- What is wrong
- 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.
- Risk
- Gear failure could result in transmission lockup, which could result in a crash.
- 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.
Recall number 04V176000 · Recall details
See all 2 recalls for the 2002 Acura CL
Defect investigations
Automatic transmission sudden downshift
See attached report.
PE02081
Technical service bulletins for the 2002 Acura CL 143
Bulletins tell dealers how to fix known problems. A warranty extension means the manufacturer pays for that repair for longer.
2002 Acura CL fuel economy
Official EPA estimates in miles per gallon (MPGe for electric). Ranges cover trims that share the same engine.
| Engine | Drive | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.2L 6‑cyl | FWD | 17 | 27 | 21 |
What 2002 Acura CL owners say
Most recent owner complaints, unedited.
Unknown
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 contact received notification of the federal safety agency campaign number: 20v027000 (air bags). The contact stated that keyes woodland hills honda (6111 topanga canyon blvd, woodland hills, ca 91367), exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The part was not available for the repair. Parts distribution disconnect. The failure mileage was 260,878.
Tl* takata recall. The contact owns a 2002 acura cl. The contact received notification of the federal safety agency 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 repair. Acura of escondido located at (1502 auto park way, escondido ca) was contacted and confirmed that part was not available. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. Vin tool confirms parts not available.
Tl* the contact owns a 2002 acura cl. When the vehicle was started, the "SRS" warning indicator illuminated and remained lit all day. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer for diagnostic testing, but an appointment was scheduled with goodson acura of dallas (4801 lemmon ave, dallas, tx 75219) for september 11, 2019. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 140,000.
I bought a used car from chicago suburb individual owner about 15 days ago. Clean title with no accident history. The gas tank during last 15 days was never little above half tank. Today I filled gas full tank and drove about 8 miles and parked in home garage. Liquid fuel leak from rear side of the tank was observed forming a puddle in garage giving strong gas smell in few minutes. When I looked under the car, I could continuous drop by drop liquid fuel leak. I confirm that I did not observe any leak in last two weeks when gas tank was less than 3/4 or less full.in last 15 days I consider lucky that the leak did not take place over exhaust gas pipe while I was driving. I have towed my car to a repair center and will advise him to save evidence.
The car goes into neutral while driving almost been in a accident several times over this issue .I don't even drive it anymore
My son hit a pole and the air bag crushed him. He died! It ripped his aorta, his liver, crushed his lungs, head injury, metal in chest.
For a couple days my car would begin stalling while I was driving on the highway. I felt like it slowed down to shift out of gear but never completely shifted. Then, one day when I was driving, on my way home my car slipped out of gear completely and I couldn't drive forward. My car only allowed me to go in reverse. 2after allowing it to sit for a while it would drive but while trying to drive home it constantly slipped out of gear which was very dangerous especially when it happened at an intersection.
Tl* the contact owns a 2001 acura 3.2 cl. The contact stated that after having the transmission replaced, the transmission malfunctioned and exhibited a hard jerk when shifting gears. In addition, the contact could smell transmission fluid burning. The contact did not take the vehicle to a dealer or mechanic for repairs. The failure mileage was 173,000.
Automatic transmission fails abruptly. Vehicle accelerates abruptly when gears shift. Potential safety hazard if failure occurs in highway.
Compare the 2002 Acura CL
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Questions about the 2002 Acura CL
Is the 2002 Acura CL reliable?
Owners have filed 44 complaints about the 2002 Acura CL, fewer than a typical CL model year.
What is the 2002 Acura CL year score?
The 2002 Acura CL scores 84 out of 100 (good). The score compares it with the other model years of the Acura CL: 75 is a typical year, 50 means twice the usual complaints, and serious complaints and recalls lower it.
What is the most common problem with the 2002 Acura CL?
Transmission and drivetrain, with 33 complaints, typically around 41,000 miles. Next is airbags (5).
How many recalls does the 2002 Acura CL have?
2 recalls, covering air bags and power train.
Was there a recall on the 2002 Acura CL transmission?
Yes, 1 recall: 04V176000. Check your VIN to see if your car still needs the free repair.
What year does the Acura CL have bad transmission?
The Acura CL model years with the most transmission complaints are 2001 (206 complaints), 2003 (36 complaints) and 2002 (33 complaints).
What gas mileage does the 2002 Acura CL get?
Official estimates for the 2002 Acura CL range from 21 mpg combined. The most efficient version (3.2L 6-cyl, FWD) gets 17 city and 27 highway.
VIN decoder
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