Model year guide

1997 Acura CL

Recalls, most-reported problems, crash-test ratings, fuel economy and what a 1997 Acura CL is worth — from official NHTSA and EPA data. 21 on record.

1997 Acura CL — representative photo
Representative photo · via Wikimedia Commons

1997 Acura CL at a glance

Safety recalls2
Owner complaints87
Typical price$1,200

Included: that car's specs and build sheet, model-year recall campaigns and a fair price.

1997 Acura CL recalls 2

Electrical System:ignition:switch NHTSA Campaign #02V120000 · 16/05/2002

ON 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.

Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE IGNITION SWITCH. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JUNE 14, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT HONDA AT 1-800-999-1009 OR ACURA AT 1-800-382-2238.

Suspension:front:control Arm:lower Ball Joint NHTSA Campaign #99V069000 · 10/05/1999

VEHICLE 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.

Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FRONT SUSPENSION LOWER BALL JOINTS.

Source: U.S. NHTSA, checked 4 Nov 2026. A campaign covers the model year; to see whether a particular car still needs the repair, check its VIN on NHTSA.gov or ask a franchised dealer.

1997 Acura CL common problems

The most-reported problem areas across all 87 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — and what to check before you buy.

Power Train
Drive through every gear: watch for slipping, hard or delayed shifts, and shudder. Check for transmission/driveline leaks and noises.
Electrical System
Test every electrical feature: windows, locks, infotainment, charging and all lights. Watch for flickering, dead accessories or warning lights.
Air Bags
Confirm the airbag light turns on then off at startup — if it stays lit there's a fault (costly, and a safety risk). Check for signs of prior deployment.
Suspension
Listen for clunks over bumps, check the car sits level, and look for uneven tire wear and worn shocks or struts.
Hydraulic
Have a trusted mechanic inspect this system as part of a pre-purchase inspection.
Engine And Engine Cooling
Check coolant level and color, look for leaks, and confirm the engine reaches normal temperature without overheating.

What's a 1997 Acura CL worth?

Low
$600
Typical price
$1,200
High
$1,800

From 11 comparable 1997 Acura CL listings.

Investigations & service bulletins

Manufacturer service bulletins 57

Technical notes the manufacturer sent to dealers about known issues and fixes. Useful to mention to a mechanic — they are not recalls and repairs may not be covered. Showing the 10 most recent of 57.

This SKU is a bushing kit. The customer communication requested return of unsold inventory to inspect the retail package label for accuracy. If the label is incorrect, the customer may have difficulty locating the desired product. If the labels are left incorr…

Bulletin RFI20210312_BB64 · Equipment, Suspension · Mar 2021

Special Tool Loan Program: Under TOOLS AVAILABLE FOR LOAN, the list has been updated.

Bulletin B98015 · Equipment · Mar 2016

"SERVICE BULLETIN - THIS BULLETIN UPDATES THE TROUBLESHOOTING PROCEDURES FOR DTC P1456 (EVAP CONTROL SYSTEM LEAKAGE [FUEL TANK SYSTEM]) AND DTC P1457 (EVAP CONTROL SYSTEM LEAKAGE[EVAP CANISTER SYSTEM]). DEPENDING ON THE MODEL, THERE ARE TWO INDIVIDUAL PROCEDUR…

Bulletin B99-040 · Fuel System, Gasoline, Fuel System, Other · Dec 2015

ACURA: SEE DOCUMENT SEARCH BUTTON FOR OWNER LETTER. INFORMATION REGARDING PRODUCT UPDATE ON BATTERY SENSOR SYSTEM MAY NOT BEEN COMPLETED ON VEHICLE. NO MODEL YEARS PROVIDED. *PE

Bulletin SB-90509 · Electrical System · Feb 2013

ACURA: THERE ARE GUIDELINES FOR VARIOUS SITUATIONS AND PROCEDURES INCLUDING: TIRE PRESSURE VALVE STEM INSTALLATION, TRAILER STABILITY MALFUNCTION LIGHT IS ON, ENGINE OIL APPLICATION GUIDE, NEW SOFTWARE, NEW TRANSMISSION FLUID, NOTCHY STEERING FEELING. *RM

Bulletin SB-0708 · Tires · Nov 2010

HOMELINK WON'T PROGRAM WITH AFTERMARKET REMOTES. *JB

Bulletin 090105 · Equipment · Sep 2005

P1706 A/T SWITCH SHORT OR OPEN. *EH

Bulletin 01162005 · Power Train · Jan 2005

DON'T TEST-DRIVE WITH THE MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP OR D INDICATOR ON. ACURA. SERVICENEWS. APRIL 2004. *TT

Bulletin 04012004 · Power Train · Apr 2004

V6 ENGINE OIL LEAKS. *JB THIS BULLETIN SUPERSEDES 01-041, DATED 10/29/2001. *TT

Bulletin 01041 · Engine And Engine Cooling · Feb 2004

SAFETY RECALL: IGNITION SWITCH KEY INTERLOCK. *TT THIS BULLETIN SUPERSEDES 03/034, DATED 01/15/2004. *TT

Bulletin 03034 · Electrical System · Jan 2004

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation, listed for the CL. Model-year data, not specific to one car.

Canadian recalls 1

Transport Canada recall campaigns for the 1997 Acura CL. Relevant if the car was first sold in, or imported from, Canada.

Electrical

On certain vehicles electrical contacts in the ignition switch can degrade due to the high electrical current passing through the switch when the vehicle is started. Worn contacts could cause the engine to stall without warning, increasing the risk of a crash. Correction: Dealers will replace the ignition switch.

Transport Canada #2002096 · May 2002

Source: Transport Canada Motor Vehicle Safety Recalls Database.

About the Acura CL

The Acura CL is a midsize four passenger coupe manufactured and marketed by Honda's Acura brand across two generations from 1997–2003 model years.

From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Describes the model line in general, not this model year specifically.

1997 Acura CL trims & engines on record

Trims
3.0 Premium · 2.2 Premium · 2.2 · 3
Engines
3.0L 6-cyl 200 hp · 2.2L 4-cyl 145 hp

1997 Acura CL vehicles on record

1997 Acura CL 1997 Acura CL 2.219UYA1247VL006813 1997 Acura CL 1997 Acura CL 3.0 Premium19UYA2257VL017017 1997 Acura CL 1997 Acura CL 319UYA224XVL011025 1997 Acura CL 1997 Acura CL 2.2 Premium19UYA1150VL018229 1997 Acura CL 1997 Acura CL 2.2 Premium19UYA1152VL011623 1997 Acura CL 1997 Acura CL 2.2 Premium19UYA1259VL008474 1997 Acura CL 1997 Acura CL 2.219UYA1249VL015397 1997 Acura CL 1997 Acura CL 2.2 Premium19UYA1258VL009485 1997 Acura CL 1997 Acura CL 3.0 Premium19UYA2259VL003409 1997 Acura CL 1997 Acura CL 3.0 Premium19UYA225XVL003306 1997 Acura CL 1997 Acura CL 2.2 Premium19UYA1159VL021033 1997 Acura CL 1997 Acura CL 3.0 Premium19UYA2259VL005256 1997 Acura CL 1997 Acura CL 3.0 Premium19UYA2251VL008569 1997 Acura CL 1997 Acura CL 3.0 Premium19UYA225XVL014659 1997 Acura CL 1997 Acura CL 2.2 Premium19UYA1250VL013529 1997 Acura CL 1997 Acura CL 3.0 Premium19UYA2256VL014125 1997 Acura CL 1997 Acura CL 3.0 Premium19UYA2257VL800631 1997 Acura CL 1997 Acura CL 2.2 Premium19UYA1256VL001157 1997 Acura CL 1997 Acura CL 3.0 Premium19UYA225XVL017206 1997 Acura CL 1997 Acura CL19UYA2256VL013301 1997 Acura CL 1997 Acura CL19UYA225XVL800736

Other Acura CL model years

2008 2003 2002 2001 1999 1998

1997 Acura CL — frequently asked questions

Does the 1997 Acura CL have any safety recalls?

NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for the 1997 Acura CL. Whether an individual car still needs a recall repair depends on its VIN — check it on NHTSA.gov or ask a franchised dealer. Recall repairs are done at no charge.

What are the most common problems with the 1997 Acura CL?

Across all 87 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the most-reported problem areas are power train, electrical system, air bags.

How much is a 1997 Acura CL worth?

Comparable 1997 Acura CL listings run roughly $600–$1,800, typically around $1,200 (from 11 vehicles).

Sources: NHTSA (recalls, complaints, crash tests), U.S. EPA (fuel economy). Vehicle data only — CarLogs never shows owner information.