The 2003 Acura CL has 3 recalls, all centered on the same critical defect: the driver's frontal airbag inflator can explode during deployment, sending sharp metal fragments into the cabin and striking the driver or passengers with potentially fatal results.
These three recalls all address the same underlying Takata airbag inflator problem. When the driver's airbag deploys in a crash, the inflator can rupture rather than inflate the bag normally, turning the module into a source of high-speed metal shrapnel inside the cabin. The risk is not limited to the person directly in front of the airbag; fragments can reach front seat passengers and others in the vehicle as well. Prior repair attempts did not fully resolve the issue for all affected vehicles, which is why multiple recall campaigns cover the same defect across overlapping populations of Honda and Acura models from this era.
At a glance
What can fail
The driver frontal air bag inflator may explode due to propellant breakdown after prolonged exposure to high humidity, temperature, and temperature changes.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the driver frontal air bag inflator at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
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At a glance
What can fail
Driver air bag inflators installed during previous recalls or as service parts may explode during a crash when the air bag deploys due to a manufacturing defect.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the driver air bag inflator with a different inflator at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The driver air bag inflator may rupture due to moisture and manufacturing variations that develop over time.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the driver air bag inflator at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
