AcuraCL19993.0L/acura/cl/1999/3-0l/

1999 Acura CL — 3.0L

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1999 CL 3.0L.

Engine 3.0L

Within a model history covered from 1997 to 2004, the 1999 Acura CL 3.0L utilizes a 3.0L engine requiring 4.6 qt of 5W-30 API oil. With 49 total owner complaints primarily centered on the Power Train and two recalls, the 1999 model year sits between the model history's 2001 peak of 274 complaints and the 2004 low of one. This placement indicates a moderate reliability standing within the vehicle's history, avoiding the extreme complaint volumes seen in other years.

Model year199919981997

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

Engine oil capacity4.6 qtOEM · verified
Engine oil type5W-30 APIOEM · verified
Lug nut torque80 ft-lbsOEM · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI 24 · 550 CCA battery. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.

Battery groupBCI 24 · 550 CCAOEM · verified
Tire size205-55VR16OEM · verified
Wheel / rim6-JJ inOEM · verified

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length190.2 in
Overall width70.1 in
Overall height54.7 in
Wheelbase107.1 in
Curb weight3003 lb
Track (front / rear)59.8 / 59.1 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)62/38

Performance & power Independent road tests

0–60 mph, quarter-mile, horsepower and torque from independent road tests.

Independent published road-test results.

7.3 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 7.30 sec — 1999 3.0CL Coupe
200 hpHorsepower (as tested)
192 lb-ftTorque (as tested)
YearTrim / engine0–60¼ mileHPDrivetrain
19993.0CL Coupe 3.0L V67.30 sec15.70 sec200 hpFWD

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine holds 4.6 qt of 5W-30 API engine oil, DOT 3 brake fluid. Torque lug nuts to 80 ft-lbs, the oil drain plug to 29.0 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-4-2-5-3-6.

Lubricants & capacities

Brake FluidDOT 3
Engine Oil5W-30 · API
Engine Oil Capacity4.6 qt

Engine torques

Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts181 ft-lbs
Engine Flywheel Bolts54 ft-lbs
Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts16 ft-lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts23 ft-lbs
Main BearingsBed Bolts: 56 ft-lbs, Side Bolts: 36 ft-lbs
Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug18.0-22.0 ft-lbs
Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug29.0 ft-lbs
Oil Pump to Cylinder BLock Bolts/Studs9 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts80 ft-lbs
Front Wheel Hub181 ft-lbs
Rear Wheel Hub134 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order1-3-4-2
Cylinder Firing Order1-4-2-5-3-6
Curb Idle Speed (No Load)AT: 780, MT: 800 rpm
Curb Idle Speed Variance (No Load)50 rpm
Curb Idle Speed (Secondary Under Load)AT: 780, MT: 800 rpm
Curb Idle Speed Variance (Secondary Under Load)50 rpm
Ignition Coil Primary Resistance.34-.42 ohms
Ignition Coil Secondary Resistance17,100-20,900 ohms

Battery & A/C

RefrigerantR134a
Refrigerant Capacity1.40-1.62 lbs
Oil GroupPAG
Oil Type46
Oil Capacity5.33 oz
RefrigerantR134a
Refrigerant Capacity1.40-1.62 lbs
Oil TypeND 8 oil

Service checks

Pressure Test14-18 psi
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief14-18 psi
Thermostat Opening Temperature169-176 °F
Regulated Fuel System Pressure (Without Vacuum)47.0-54.0 psi
Regulated Fuel System Pressure (With Vacuum)38.0-46.0 psi
Regulated Fuel System Pressure (Without Vacuum)41.0-48.0 psi
Regulated Fuel System Pressure (With Vacuum)37.0-44.0 psi
Engine Compression135

Brakes

Torque Caliper to Bracket80 ft-lbs
Torque to Knuckle80 ft-lbs
Torque Caliper to Bracket18 ft-lbs
Torque to Knuckle28 ft-lbs
Minimum Pad Thickness0.060 in
Vented Rotor Minimum Thickness for ReplacementFront: .906; Rear: .315
Variation from Parallelism Thickness Variation.0006
Maximum Rotor Runout.004

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Connecting Rod (Large End) Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages
114 ft. lbs., Step 2: 9014 ft. lbs
Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 3 stages
129.0 ft. lbs.29 ft. lbs
251.0 ft. lbs.51 ft. lbs
372.3 ft. lbs.72.3 ft. lbs

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter every 7,500 mi; spark plugs at 105,000 mi; coolant every 30,000 mi. The big-interval services (every 30,000 mi for coolant, and the transmission fluid) are the ones owners most often skip — on a lower-mileage example, assume the original fluids are still in it and check them first.

Every 7,500 miAxle Shaft Oil Seal (inspect) · Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Power Steering System (inspect) · Steering System (inspect) · Suspension System (inspect) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 15,000 miBody Latches, Locks & Hinges (inspect) · Brake Linings (inspect) · Brake System (inspect) · CV Joint Boot (inspect) · Engine Air Filter Element (inspect) · Engine Coolant System Hoses (inspect)
Every 30,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill) · Transmission Assembly (drain & refill)
At 45,000 miEngine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)
Every 45,000 miBrake Hydraulic System (drain, refill & bleed)
At 105,000 miSpark Plugs (replace) · Universal Vehicle Operation (inspect idle speed) · Water Pump (inspect)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

The 1999 Acura CL represents a mid-cycle refinement within its generation, showing a notable decline in complaints (49) compared to 1997 (87) and 1998 (57), while recalls remained stable at 2—identical to 1997 and half of 1998’s peak. This year sits just before a sharp uptick in complaints in 2001 (274) and a surge in investigations (1) and recalls (3), suggesting 1999 avoided the more systemic issues that emerged later in the generation. The top complaint areas—power train (10), electrical system (7), and air bags (6)—align with broader trends but do not indicate a disproportionate concentration of failures relative to adjacent years. With no fire-related complaints and only 4 crash-related reports, the 1999 model year appears to be a relatively stable point in the CL’s lifecycle. The data implies that 1999 is one of the more reliable years to buy within this generation, offering a balance of lower complaints and recalls without the later-model volatility.

2
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
45
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
0
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
49
Owner complaints
4 involved a crash · 0 a fire
Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 49 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Power Train10
Electrical System7
Air Bags6
Tires5
Electrical System,Engine2
Steering,Electrical System,Engine2
Visibility2
Steering,Vehicle Speed Control1

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 3 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

20V026000Air Bags:Frontal:Driver Side:Inflator ModuleReported 17/01/2020

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 1998 Acura 2.2CL, 1998-1999 Acura 2.3CL, 1998-1999 Acura 3.0CL, 2001 Acura 3.2CL and Acura MDX, 1998-2000 Honda Accord Coupe, Accord Sedan, Civic Sedan, Odyssey and… Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the driver frontal air bag inflator, and replace it if necessary, with an inflator of a different design, free of charge. The…

02V120000Electrical System:Ignition:SwitchReported 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. Remedy: 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…

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 45 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
RFI20210312_BB642021-03-12EquipmentThis SKU is a bushing kit. The customer communication requested return of unsold…
B980152016-03-18EquipmentSpecial Tool Loan Program: Under TOOLS AVAILABLE FOR LOAN, the list has been updated.
B99-0402015-12-08Fuel System, Gasoline"SERVICE BULLETIN - THIS BULLETIN UPDATES THE TROUBLESHOOTING PROCEDURES FOR DTC P1456…
SB-07082010-11-01TiresACURA: THERE ARE GUIDELINES FOR VARIOUS SITUATIONS AND PROCEDURES INCLUDING: TIRE…
0901052005-09-16EquipmentHOMELINK WON'T PROGRAM WITH AFTERMARKET REMOTES. *JB

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420
Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1
P0300
Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected
P0171
System too lean — Bank 1
P0455
Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak
P0128
Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature
P0442
Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

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Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 1999 CL 3.0L take?

4.6 qt of 5W-30 API, per the factory manual.

Does the 1999 CL have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 2 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.