1997 Acura CL: common problems and reliability
87 owner complaints on record.
Most complaints are about power train. 2 recalls.
Should I buy a 1997 CL?The 1997 Acura CL has 87 owner-filed NHTSA complaints and 2 recalls on record. The most-reported areas are power train and electrical system.
Safety record for the 1997 model year
Source: NHTSA complaints and recalls filed for 1997 Acura CL vehicles (US, public record).
Is 1997 a good year for the CL?
Across the 7 CL model years we track, complaint volume runs from 11 (2000) to 274 (2001). With 87 complaints, the 1997 CL sits above the model's median of 61.
These are raw NHTSA complaint totals, not adjusted for how many cars sold or how long each model year has been on the road. Older and higher-selling years accumulate more complaints.
Where owners report problems
Recalls affecting the 1997 CL
electrical system:ignition:switch
Campaign 02V120000ON CERTAIN SEDANS, COUPES, HATCHBACKS, AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, ELECTRICAL CONTACTS IN THE IGNITION SWITCH CAN DEGRADE DUE TO THE HIGH ELECTRICAL CURRENT PASSING THROUGH THE SWITCH WHEN THE VEHICLE IS STARTED.
suspension:front:control arm:lower ball joint
Campaign 99V069000VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. CERTAIN VEHICLES WERE MANUFACTURED WITH BALL JOINTS THAT CAN PREMATURELY WEAR OUT AND, IN THE WORSE CASE, THE BALL JOINT WOULD SEPARATE CAUSING THE FRONT SUSPENSION TO COLLAPSE.
What owners say across generations
Owners of the Acura CL broadly praise the car's durability and long-term reliability, with many reporting high mileage examples still running well. The manual transmission models, particularly the Type S, are held in high regard as fun and dependable.
Owner insights cover all generations of the CL. See the full CL owner picture and every model year.
Typical used price
Used CL listings typically run $3,899–$10,150 across 1998 to 2003 model years.
Other CL model years
Compare every CL year side by side to see how 1997 ranks against the rest.
Compare the CL against its rivals
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