The 2001 draws 5.02 complaints per run and the 2002 1.64, a 3.1-fold gap within the same model. Half of all complaints arrive by 4 years of age, so 50.5% land after the 4-year basic warranty ends. The system owners report most is Power Train, with 260 complaints, typically at 4.1 years.
Acura CL years to avoid — and the best ones
| Model year | Per run | Complaints | Runs | Enough history? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | 59 | 34 | yes | |
| 2002 | 36 | 22 | yes | |
| 2001 | 226 | 45 | yes | |
| 1999 | 36 | 21 | yes | |
| 1998 | 48 | 25 | yes | |
| 1997 | 63 | 36 | yes |
Among the 6 Acura CL years with enough history, the three to walk away from are 2001, 1998, 1997; the three worth hunting are 2002, 1999, 2003.
When it starts to break
| Age at failure | Complaints | Running total | Warranty |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 years | 13.2% | covered | |
| 1 year | 27.2% | covered | |
| 2 years | 38.7% | covered | |
| 3 years | 49.5% | covered | |
| 4 years | 55.2% | you pay | |
| 5 years | 61.5% | you pay | |
| 6 years | 66.8% | you pay | |
| 7 years | 71.4% | you pay | |
| 8 years | 78.3% | you pay | |
| 9 years | 83.5% | you pay | |
| 10 years | 85.7% | you pay | |
| 11 years | 88.5% | you pay | |
| 12 years | 92% | you pay | |
| 13 years | 95.6% | you pay | |
| 14 years | 98.6% | you pay | |
| 15 years | 100% | you pay |
Basic warranty on this car is 4 years / 50,000 miles. Only 49.5% of reported failures happen inside it — the remaining 50.5% come out of the owner's pocket. Powertrain cover (6 years / 70,000 miles) reaches further, but it only covers the engine and transmission, which account for about 60% of the complaints here.
What actually fails — and at what age
On the Acura CL, the early trouble is Engine And Engine Cooling and Visibility — reported at around 3.7 years, so a car still under warranty is the one to check for it. What waits further out is Power Train at 4.1 years — past every basic warranty, and the bill lands on whoever owns the car then.
| System | Complaints | Typical age | Crash | Fire |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Power Train | 4.1 yrs | 6 | 2 | |
| Air Bags | 6.8 yrs | 13 | — | |
| Electrical System | 6.9 yrs | 1 | — | |
| Suspension | 7.2 yrs | 1 | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 3.7 yrs | 1 | — | |
| Service Brakes | 4.4 yrs | 2 | — | |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 6.9 yrs | 3 | — | |
| Visibility | 3.9 yrs | — | — |
What else in this class
6 models share the CL's vehicle class. Per production run, the Honda Civic draws 2.82 and the Ford Mustang 3.87, against 2.6 for the CL. That is the fewest complaints of the group.
| Same class as the CL | Complaints on record | Recall campaigns | Years built |
|---|---|---|---|
| Honda Civic | 413 | 1981–2026 | |
| Ford Mustang | 315 | 1981–2026 | |
| Nissan GT-R | 9 | 2009–2026 | |
| Chevrolet Camaro | 204 | 1981–2026 | |
| Toyota Supra | 35 | 1981–2026 | |
| Nissan Sentra | 158 | 1982–2026 |
The table shows totals on record; the rates per production run are in the sentence above.
Good year or bad year — the VIN settles it.
- Check any VIN against complaints for its exact build year and plant
- Exact value for that car, adjusted for its mileage
- Full research report as a PDF you can hand to a mechanic
- Alerts if a recall lands on a car in your garage
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- No ads, no tracking — and much more
Frequently asked questions
Is the Acura CL reliable?
By complaints per production run it is better than typical: 2.6 against 3.73 for the average car, and fewer than each of the 2 class rivals we compared.
Which CL years should you avoid?
By complaints per production run, 2001, 1998, 1997. The cleanest years old enough to judge are 2002, 1999, 2003. Years newer than 6 are left out: complaints keep arriving for years after a car is sold.
When do CL problems usually start?
Half of all complaints arrive by 4 years of age. The most reported system is Power Train, typically at 4.1 years, followed by Air Bags.
Will the warranty cover CL problems?
Mostly not: basic cover is 4 years / 50,000 miles, and only 49.5% of reported failures fall inside it. Powertrain cover lasts longer, but engine and transmission make up about 60% of the complaints here.
Is the CL more reliable than the Honda Civic?
Yes: 2.6 complaints per production run for the CL against 2.82 for the Honda Civic.
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