Built as part of Phase IA of the MRT system, the EWL station opened on 12 March 1988.

[14][15] Two new link bridges, along with new fare gates and escalators,[16][17] opened in 2015 to improve connectivity to new flats near the station.

The trains were taken out of service while engineers conducted checks on signalling equipment at the Clementi, Buona Vista, and Commonwealth stations.

[27] An independent inquiry panel concluded that a damaged maintenance locomotive spilled oil on the tracks the morning of the crash.

The inquiry recommended increased inspections of locomotives and for the station master to look out for oil spills on tracks.

[28] On 25 September 2024, a KHI C151 train derailed while being withdrawn from service into Ulu Pandan Depot after a defective train axle box dislodged and caused the wheels of a bogie to come off the running rail and hit track equipment, including the third rail and point machines, significantly damaging them and causing a power fault.

Recovery lasted 6 days, with train services expected to resume on 1st October, making this incident the longest breakdown in Singapore history.

The station was first announced to interchange with the Cross Island line (CRL) on 20 September 2022 by Transport Minister S Iswaran.

[31] The contract for the construction of Clementi CRL station was awarded to a joint venture between China Communications Construction Company Limited (Singapore Branch) and Sinohydro Corporation Limited (Singapore Branch) for S$514 million (US$383.58 million) in October 2023.