AcuraCL2001Overview/acura/cl/2001/base/

2001 Acura CL

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2001 CL.

The 2001 Acura CL warrants close attention from any researcher mapping this model's lifecycle, with straightforward maintenance specs — a 4.6-quart engine oil capacity and 5W-20 API viscosity — anchoring the baseline engineering picture. This model year dominates the 1997–2004 complaint history with 274 owner complaints, the highest of any year covered, with the Power Train area leading the trouble count and three recalls further marking it as a problem year. That positions the 2001 CL as the peak-risk year in the model's reliability arc — a stark contrast to 2004, which logged just a single complaint, suggesting the platform's issues were largely resolved by the end of its run.

Model year200320022001

Quick specs

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

Engine oil capacity4.6 qtOEM · verified
Engine oil type5W-20 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 sizeP205-60VR16OEM · verified
Wheel / rim6-JJ inOEM · verified

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length192.1 in
Overall width70.5 in
Overall height55.5 in
Wheelbase107.1 in
Curb weight3470 lb
Track (front / rear)61 / 60.2 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 road tests for the CL of this era, listed by trim and engine — this page spans more than one engine, so no single horsepower figure is shown.

6.4–6.8 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 6.40 sec — 2001 3.2CL Type-S Coupe
YearTrim / engine0–60¼ mileHPDrivetrain
20013.2CL Type-S Coupe 3.2L V66.40 sec14.80 sec260 hpFWD
20013.2CL Type-S Coupe 3.2L V66.80 sec15.20 sec260 hpFWD
20033.2CL Type-S Coupe 3.2L V65.90 sec14.60 sec260 hpFWD
20033.2CL Type-S w/Nav Coupe 3.2L V65.90 sec14.50 sec260 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-20 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-20 · API
Engine Oil Capacity4.6 qt
Engine Oil5W-20 · API
Engine Oil Capacity4.6 qt

Engine torques

Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts181 ft-lbs
Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts16 ft-lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts23 ft-lbs
Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts16 ft-lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts23 ft-lbs
Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug29.0 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

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

Ignition

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
Spark Plug ManufacturerNGK

Battery & A/C

RefrigerantR134a
Refrigerant Capacity1.30-1.40 lbs
Oil TypePAG 46
Oil Capacity5.33 oz
Standard BCI Group Number24
Standard BCI Cranking Performance550 cca

Service checks

Pressure Test14-18 psi
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief14-18 psi
Thermostat Opening Temperature169-176 °F
Regulated Fuel System Pressure (Without Vacuum)41.0-48.0 psi
Regulated Fuel System Pressure (With Vacuum)32.0-40.0 psi
Engine Compression142
Engine Oil Pressure10 psi @ idle, 50 psi @ 3000 rpm psi
Intake Valve Lash0.006-0.007 in

Brakes

Torque Caliper to Bracket80 ft-lbs / 17 ft-lbs
Torque to Knuckle80 ft-lbs / 41 ft-lbs
Minimum Pad Thickness0.060 in
Rotor Max Parallel Variation0.0006 in
Rotor Runout Limit0.004 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness From1.098 in / 0.35 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness To1.106 in / 0.358 in
Rotor Discard at or Under1.024 in / 0.295 in

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 at 120,000 mi. The big-interval services (at 120,000 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 miBrake Linings (inspect) · Brake Rotor (inspect) · Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Steering System (inspect) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 15,000 miAxle Shaft Oil Seal (inspect) · Brake Hydraulic System (inspect fluid level) · Brake System (inspect) · CV Joint Boot (inspect) · Door Stop (lubricate) · Engine Coolant System Hoses (inspect)
Every 30,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Cabin Air Filter (replace) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Final Drive (drain & refill) · Transmission Assembly (drain & refill)
At 60,000 miFinal Drive (drain & refill) · Transmission Assembly (drain & refill)
At 105,000 miEngine Valves (inspect valve lash) · Spark Plugs (replace) · Timing Belt (replace) · Universal Vehicle Operation (inspect idle speed) · Water Pump (inspect)
At 120,000 miEngine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)
At 180,000 miEngine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)

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 2001 Acura CL represents a dramatic spike in the generation's federal records, abruptly ending a downward trend in complaints that saw figures drop from 87 in 1997 to a low of just 11 in 2000. With 274 complaints, 3 recalls, 1 investigation, and 165 technical service bulletins, the 2001 model year dwarfs the figures of both its immediate predecessor and its successor, which dropped back down to 61 complaints in 2002. This surge is overwhelmingly concentrated in the Power Train category, which accounts for 191 of the total complaints, alongside 13 crash and 2 fire complaints, though the data does not specify the exact mechanical root cause. As the undisputed peak of the generation's regulatory scrutiny, the 2001 model year's placement at the apex of this arc implies severe, model-specific defects that required extensive manufacturer attention. Given the extreme statistical anomaly of this year's power train issues, you should strongly avoid the 2001 CL and instead consider the much cleaner 2000 model year.

3
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
165
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
1
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
274
Owner complaints
13 involved a crash · 2 a fire
Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 274 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Power Train191
Air Bags21
Visibility10
Service Brakes, Hydraulic7
Electrical System6
Power Train,Air Bags4
Power Train,Vehicle Speed Control4
Air Bags,Seat Belts3

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 3 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

20V027000Air Bags:Frontal:Driver Side:Inflator ModuleReported 17/01/2020

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… Remedy: 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…

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…

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 165 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
-2024-02-23Equipment Adaptive/MobilityTest
B18010I2018-01-10Electrical SystemServicenews article - Is the navigation screen clock reading 00:00? We?re aware of this…
B18010I2018-01-10EquipmentServicenews article - Is the navigation screen clock reading 00:00? We?re aware of this…
BTS1708012017-09-26EquipmentTech line summary article - Is the navigation screen clock reading 00:00? We?re aware of…
BTS1708012017-08-31Electrical SystemTech line summary article - Is the navigation screen clock reading 00:00? We?re aware of…

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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VIN
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Build data
Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.
Recalls
Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

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 2001 CL take?

4.6 qt of 5W-20 API, per the factory manual.

Does the 2001 CL have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 3 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.