2002 Acura CL: common problems and reliability
An average CL year.
61 owner complaints, most about power train. 2 recalls.
Should I buy a 2002 CL?The 2002 Acura CL has 61 owner-filed NHTSA complaints and 2 recalls on record. The most-reported areas are power train and engine and engine cooling.
Safety record for the 2002 model year
Source: NHTSA complaints and recalls filed for 2002 Acura CL vehicles (US, public record).
The Year Score compares this year with other CL years only. How we score it
Is 2002 a good year for the CL?
Across the 7 CL model years we track, complaint volume runs from 11 (2000) to 274 (2001). With 61 complaints, the 2002 CL sits about the same as 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 2002 CL
air bags:frontal:driver side:inflator module
Campaign 20V027000Honda (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.
power train:automatic transmission
Campaign 04V176000ON 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.
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 2002 ranks against the rest.
Compare the CL against its rivals
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