Head-to-head reliability
Acura CL vs Honda Accord
How the Acura CL and Honda Accord compare on NHTSA complaints, recalls and crash reports — and which is the lower-risk used buy.
Based on NHTSA owner-complaint & recall records
Acura CL vs Honda Accord: the CL averages about 138 complaints per year with 10 recalls, while the Accord averages about 452 per year with 38 recalls over ten years. The CL's complaints center on transmission shifting, and the Accord's on engine and electrical faults. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Acura CL or Honda Accord more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Acura CL
The Acura CL is a two-door luxury coupe from the early 2000s, and its complaint pattern is dominated by transmission problems. Owners describe erratic shifting, hard downshifts, and even sudden jumps from fifth gear into second at highway speed, sometimes after recall work. Air bag inflator recalls and brake rotor issues also appear, so living with one means budgeting for drivetrain repairs and checking recall history carefully.
Honda Accord
The Honda Accord is a mainstream sedan with a much larger and more recent complaint set, spread across engine, electrical, and driver-assist systems. Owners report stalling or power loss, electronic steering and braking failures, and forward collision avoidance that activates unexpectedly. The volume is higher partly because the data covers ten years and many more vehicles, so the pattern is broad rather than concentrated in one part.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Acura CL | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 414 Better | 4,524 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 10 Better | 38 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 21 Better | 162 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 138.0 Better | 452.4 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 17 Better | 146 |
| Reported deathsTied to owner complaints | 3 | 3 |
Source: NHTSA owner complaints & recall records.
What actually goes wrong
The problems owners report
The most-complained-about systems on each vehicle — what fails, and what owners say in their own words.
Acura CL
- 01POWER TRAIN287
- 02AIR BAGS48
- 03SERVICE BRAKES19
- 04ELECTRICAL SYSTEM16
- 05VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL14
Owners repeatedly describe the automatic transmission shifting erratically, downshifting hard, and in one case jumping from fifth gear into second at high speed. This is the dominant complaint area, and some report failures even after a recall service, so a buyer should treat transmission behavior as a major risk.
Complaints reference Takata recalls for the front driver air bag inflator, including warning lights and parts not being available for the recall repair. A buyer needs to confirm the inflator recall was actually completed, because an open recall on a 20-year-old car can be hard to resolve.
Owners report premature rotor warping that produces a grinding noise when braking, with dealers unable to find a lasting fix. This matters because it points to repeated brake work rather than a one-time repair.
One owner describes the car being plagued with repeating problems over three years, and another links electrical complaints to transmission failures while driving. Electrical gremlins on an older coupe can be time-consuming and expensive to trace.
“TRANSMISSION PROBLEM: ERRATIC SHIFTING, HARD DOWNSHIFTS, SHIFTS FROM 5TH GEAR INTO 2ND GEAR AT HIGH SPEED: CLOSE-TO-DEATH EXPERIENCE ON THE HIGHWAY!! THIS HAS HAPPENED 3 MONTHS AFTER THE RECALL SERVICE WAS DONE CONCLUDING NOTHING WRONG. FROM MY RESEARCH I HAV…”
“I WAS ON MY WAY HOME FROM AN OUT OF TOWN TRIP WHEN THE CAR STARTED SHIFTING EXTREMELY HARD AS I WAS DRIVING. I CALLED A LOCAL ACURA DEALERSHIP, IN AUGUSTA GA, AND TOLD THEM WHAT WAS HAPPENING. THEY COULD NOT SEE ME UNTIL THE NEXT DAY, WHICH WAS 9/6/2002. I HA…”
Honda Accord
- 01ENGINE1,006
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM895
- 03FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE837
- 04UNKNOWN OR OTHER746
- 05FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM602
Owners report alarms for brake, hill descent, ABS, and critical failure followed by loss of speed, plus rattling noises and rough transitions between EV and gas mode on hybrids. These are power-loss and drivability complaints, which matter because they can leave a driver without full power.
Complaints include electronic power steering and braking systems failing and locking up at highway speed, and a tire failure shortly after a TPMS repair. Electrical faults that affect steering and braking are the most serious kind for a buyer to watch for.
Owners describe the system activating or failing to resolve a threat under repeatable driving conditions, including with adaptive cruise control set. This matters because unexpected braking or missed detection affects everyday highway driving.
The fuel pump delivery recall and propulsion-system complaints appear in the data, and owners also report persistent sulfur-like odors. A buyer should check whether the fuel pump recall was performed and whether any odor or fuel-delivery symptoms remain.
“Vehicle drove normally in the morning commute. In the afternoon commute it started normally and as i approached highway speeds the alarms started showing up. the Brake, hill descent system, abs, critical failure. the vehicle started losing speed and could not…”
“Vehicle makes rattling noises while accelerating similar to a diesel engine also rough transitions between EV mode and Gas mode also when you press the charge button the engine makes a very noticeable jerk once it’s on ,Honda does not want to fix my issue and…”
Official recalls
Safety recalls on record
Federal recall campaigns — the defect, the risk, and the fix. Confirm any open recall was completed before you buy.
Acura CL — 10 recalls
The defect: 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 dri…
The 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 inc…
The fix: 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 m…
The defect: 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.
The risk: GEAR FAILURE COULD RESULT IN TRANSMISSION LOCKUP, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.
The fix: 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 INSPEC…
The defect: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling specific 2003 Acura 3.2CL, 2013-2016 ILX, 2013-2014 ILX Hybrid, 2003-2006 MDX, 2007-2016 RDX, 2002-2003 3.2TL, 2004-2006, and 2009-2014 TL, 2010-2013 ZDX and 2001-2007 and 2009 Honda Accord, 2001-2005 Civic, 2003-2005 Civic Hybrid, 2001-2005 Civic GX NG…
The risk: An explosion of an inflator within the driver frontal air bag module may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver, front seat passenger or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
The fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's air bag inflator with an alternate inflator, free of charge. The recall began April 10, 2019. Honda owners may contact customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for t…
The defect: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2003 Acura 3.2CL, 2002-2003 3.2TL, 2003-2006 MDX, 2001-2007 Honda Accord, 2001-2005 Civic, 2003-2005 Civic Hybrid, 2001-2005 Civic GX NGV, 2002-2006 CR-V, 2003-2011 Element, 2002-2004 Odyssey, 2003-2008 Pilot and 2006 Ridgeline vehicles. These v…
The risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
The fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began August 12, 2019. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are Q5A…
Honda Accord — 38 recalls
The defect: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2023-2025 Honda Accord Hybrid vehicles. Due to a software error, the integrated control module (ICM) central processing unit (CPU) may reset while driving, causing a loss of drive power.
The risk: A loss of drive power increases the risk of a crash or injury.
The fix: Dealers will reprogram the ICM CPU software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 6, 2026. Owners may contact Honda's customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for this recall is TN2. Vehicle Identificati…
The defect: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2023-2026 CR-V Hybrid, Accord Hybrid, and 2025-2026 CR-V Fuel Cell EV vehicles. When using the tire repair kit, pressure may build within the sealant bottle, causing the bottle cap to detach.
The risk: A detached bottle cap can become a projectile and strike the user or others nearby, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix: Dealers will replace the tire repair kit nozzle or sealant bottle, free of charge. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed July 27, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the final remedy is available, anticipat…
The defect: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2021 Accord Sedan, Accord Hybrid, CR-V, Ridgeline, 2022 Insight and CR-V Hybrid vehicles. The automatic locking retractor on the second-row center seat belt assembly may deactivate improperly, which can result in an unsecured child restraint sys…
The risk: An unsecured child restraint system can increase the risk of injury during a crash.
The fix: Dealers will replace the second-row center seat belt assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 14, 2022. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138.
The defect: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Pilot, Accord, Civic sedan, HR-V, Odyssey, 2020 Civic coupe, Fit, 2021-2022 Civic hatchback, 2021 Civic Type R, Insight, 2020-2021 CR-V, CR-V Hybrid, Passport, Ridgeline, Accord Hybrid, 2020 Acura MDX, 2022 Acura MDX, 2020-2022 Acura R…
The risk: An air bag that deploys unintentionally during a crash can increase the risk of injury.
The fix: Dealers will replace the seat weight sensors, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 28, 2024. This is a phased recall. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for these recalls ar…
Buyer analysis
Acura CL or Honda Accord: which should you buy?
The Acura CL averages about 138 complaints per year versus about 452 per year for the Honda Accord, so the CL has fewer complaints per year in this data. But the CL's complaints are heavily concentrated in the transmission, while the Accord's are spread across engine, electrical, and driver-assist systems. In practice, the CL is a narrower but deeper risk, and the Accord is a broader set of risks across many more vehicles.
Key differences
- The Acura CL's complaints are dominated by power train issues, especially erratic and hard shifting, while the Honda Accord's top area is engine complaints including power loss and rough hybrid transitions.
- The Acura CL has air bag inflator recall complaints, including parts unavailable for the recall repair, while the Honda Accord has recalls for hybrid power control software, seat belt retractors, and fuel pumps.
- The Honda Accord has forward collision avoidance complaints that the Acura CL data does not show, reflecting newer driver-assist technology.
- The Acura CL averages far fewer complaints per year, but its transmission complaints include sudden high-speed gear changes, a severe failure pattern.
- Test-drive the automatic transmission through all gears, including highway speeds, and watch for hard downshifts or erratic shifting; ask for proof the transmission recall service was done and whether any replacement occurred.
- Check the air bag warning light and confirm the Takata driver-side inflator recall was completed, since owners report the part was not always available.
- During the test drive, watch for warning lights for brake, ABS, or hill descent, and any loss of speed or power; these match owner reports of critical failure alarms.
- Test the forward collision avoidance and adaptive cruise control if equipped, and ask whether the fuel pump and hybrid power control software recalls were performed.
Before you buy
- Run the VIN through NHTSA recall lookup and confirm every open recall on the specific car was repaired, especially the Acura CL air bag inflator and the Honda Accord fuel pump and hybrid software recalls.
- For the Acura CL, get a transmission specialist inspection and a written history of any transmission repairs or replacements.
- For the Honda Accord, scan for stored engine and electrical codes and test the electronic power steering, braking, and driver-assist features on a highway drive.
- Ask for maintenance records showing brake rotor work on the Acura CL and TPMS or tire repairs on the Honda Accord.
- Have a independent mechanic inspect the car before purchase, focusing on the complaint areas named in this comparison.
Check the actual car
Comparing models is smart. Checking the VIN is essential.
Brand averages tell you the trend. A VIN check tells you what's wrong with the specific Acura CL or Honda Accord in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Acura CL vs Honda Accord
- Acura CL total complaints
- 414
- Honda Accord total complaints
- 4,524
- Acura CL total recalls
- 10
- Honda Accord total recalls
- 38
- Acura CL avg complaints/year
- 138.0
- Honda Accord avg complaints/year
- 452.4
- More reliable overall
- Acura CL
- Acura CL top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN
- Honda Accord top complaint area
- ENGINE