The electromagnetic clutch for automotive water pumps serves as a critical component in engine cooling systems, whose reliability directly impacts the engine's thermal management performance and overall vehicle operational safety. In recent years, intelligent diagnostic technologies based on deep learning, multi-sensor data fusion, and signal processing have provided innovative solutions for condition monitoring and fault early-warning of electromagnetic clutches, enabling high-precision and efficient fault identification and prediction. This paper systematically summarizes common failure modes of automotive water pump electromagnetic clutches, analyzes the architecture and working principles of intelligent diagnostic technologies, and outlines future research directions, aiming to provide both theoretical references and practical guidance for enhancing the reliability and intelligent capabilities of electromagnetic clutches.