Head-to-head reliability
Acura TLX vs Honda Accord
How the Acura TLX and Honda Accord compare on NHTSA complaints, recalls and crash reports — and which is the lower-risk used buy.
Based on NHTSA owner-complaint & recall records
Acura TLX vs Honda Accord: The TLX averages 54.6 complaints per year with 33 recalls, while the Accord averages 452.4 complaints per year with 38 recalls. The Accord also has 162 crash-related reports and 3 deaths, compared to 24 and 0 for the TLX. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Acura TLX or Honda Accord more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Acura TLX
The Acura TLX is a luxury sedan that averages about 55 complaints per year over the last decade, with 33 recalls and 24 crash-related reports. Owner complaints often describe sudden engine misfires or power loss, transmission fluid leaks, and electrical glitches like a blank instrument cluster. These issues can be alarming, but the lower complaint volume suggests problems may be less frequent than in some rivals.
Honda Accord
The Honda Accord is a mainstream sedan with a much higher complaint rate—about 452 per year—and 38 recalls, including 162 crash-related reports and 3 deaths. Owners frequently report engine stalling or power loss, electronic power steering and braking failures, and forward collision avoidance system malfunctions. The sheer number of complaints means a buyer should be extra diligent about checking for these patterns.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Acura TLX | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 546 Better | 4,524 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 33 Better | 38 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 24 Better | 162 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 54.6 Better | 452.4 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 16 Better | 146 |
| Reported deathsTied to owner complaints | 0 Better | 3 |
Source: NHTSA owner complaints & recall records.
What actually goes wrong
The problems owners report
The most-complained-about systems on each vehicle — what fails, and what owners say in their own words.
Acura TLX
- 01ENGINE140
- 02POWER TRAIN103
- 03ELECTRICAL SYSTEM94
- 04UNKNOWN OR OTHER75
- 05FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM61
Owners report sudden loss of acceleration in humid or rainy conditions, often with a flashing check engine light and misfire. Others describe loud knocking noises followed by power loss, which can be dangerous during highway driving.
Complaints include transmission or transfer case fluid leaks, sometimes visible as fluid running down the drivetrain. Some owners also experience multiple dashboard warnings and loss of drive modes shortly after purchase.
A common issue is the digital instrument cluster going completely black while driving, leaving the driver without speed or warning information. Another reported problem is adaptive damper system errors due to wiring design.
While fewer complaints are detailed, this area appears in the top five components. Buyers should be aware that fuel system issues can cause stalling or poor performance, though specific patterns are not highlighted in the sample.
“While driving in humid, rainy conditions for over five hours, I experienced a sudden and dangerous loss of acceleration. Moisture appears to have built up, resulting in a misfire and a flashing MIL/Check Engine light. This occurred while I was overtaking anot…”
“- The engine system failed and it is available for inspection -While driving on the highway at normal traffic speed, my vehicle suddenly developed a loud knocking noise and the check engine light lit up. Within moments, the engine lost power and became inoper…”
Honda Accord
- 01ENGINE1,006
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM895
- 03FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE837
- 04UNKNOWN OR OTHER746
- 05FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM602
Owners describe the vehicle losing speed with multiple alarms (brake, hill descent, ABS) and a critical failure message. Others report rattling noises during acceleration and rough transitions between EV and gas modes, which can indicate internal engine problems.
There are reports of electronic power steering and braking systems failing simultaneously at highway speeds, causing a near-collision. Another complaint involves a TPMS warning followed by a tire failure, suggesting possible sensor or system integration issues.
Owners report the system failing to prevent collisions, with incidents occurring under similar driving conditions. Some describe the vehicle not braking or alerting as expected, which undermines a key safety feature.
Complaints include a persistent rotten-egg or sulfur odor, which may indicate fuel system or catalytic converter problems. This can be a sign of incomplete combustion or other issues that affect performance and emissions.
“Vehicle drove normally in the morning commute. In the afternoon commute it started normally and as i approached highway speeds the alarms started showing up. the Brake, hill descent system, abs, critical failure. the vehicle started losing speed and could not…”
“Vehicle makes rattling noises while accelerating similar to a diesel engine also rough transitions between EV mode and Gas mode also when you press the charge button the engine makes a very noticeable jerk once it’s on ,Honda does not want to fix my issue and…”
Official recalls
Safety recalls on record
Federal recall campaigns — the defect, the risk, and the fix. Confirm any open recall was completed before you buy.
Acura TLX — 33 recalls
The defect: Acura (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2021-2023 TLX vehicles. The fuel filler neck and fuel tank may have been improperly welded, which can result in a fuel leak.
The risk: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source increases the risk of a fire.
The fix: Dealers will replace the fuel tank assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 3, 2025. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Acura's number for this recall is JKX.
The defect: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2021-2025 Acura TLX, 2023-2025 Acura MDX, and 2023-2025 Honda Pilot vehicles. The brake pedal pivot pin was not secured properly, which can cause the pedal to shift out of position. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with Federal Motor Vehic…
The risk: A brake pedal that shifts out of position can prevent the driver from applying the brakes as intended, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.
The fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the brake pedal assembly as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 29, 2025. Owners may contact Honda's customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall ar…
The defect: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2018-2021, 2023 Acura TLX, 2019-2024 RDX, 2017-2020, 2022-2026 MDX, 2017-2021, 2023, 2025 Honda Ridgeline, 2017-2022 Pilot, 2019-2021 Passport, 2018-2026 Odyssey, 2019-2022 Insight, 2019-2021 HR-V, 2018-2020 Fit, 2020-2022 CR-V Hybrid, 2017-2022…
The risk: Air bags that deploy unintentionally during a crash increase the risk of injury.
The fix: Dealers will replace the seat weight sensors, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 7, 2026. Owners may contact Honda's customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are BOL, WO9, OOA, WOM, XOH,…
The defect: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2021-2025 Acura TLX, 2023-2025 Acura MDX, and 2023-2025 Honda Pilot vehicles. The brake pedal pivot pin was not secured properly, which can cause the pedal to shift out of position. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with Federal Motor Vehic…
The risk: A brake pedal that shifts out of position can prevent the driver from applying the brakes as intended, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.
The fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the brake pedal assembly as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 29, 2025. Owners may contact Honda's customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall ar…
Honda Accord — 38 recalls
The defect: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2023-2025 Honda Accord Hybrid vehicles. Due to a software error, the integrated control module (ICM) central processing unit (CPU) may reset while driving, causing a loss of drive power.
The risk: A loss of drive power increases the risk of a crash or injury.
The fix: Dealers will reprogram the ICM CPU software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 6, 2026. Owners may contact Honda's customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for this recall is TN2. Vehicle Identificati…
The defect: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2023-2026 CR-V Hybrid, Accord Hybrid, and 2025-2026 CR-V Fuel Cell EV vehicles. When using the tire repair kit, pressure may build within the sealant bottle, causing the bottle cap to detach.
The risk: A detached bottle cap can become a projectile and strike the user or others nearby, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix: Dealers will replace the tire repair kit nozzle or sealant bottle, free of charge. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed July 27, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the final remedy is available, anticipat…
The defect: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2021 Accord Sedan, Accord Hybrid, CR-V, Ridgeline, 2022 Insight and CR-V Hybrid vehicles. The automatic locking retractor on the second-row center seat belt assembly may deactivate improperly, which can result in an unsecured child restraint sys…
The risk: An unsecured child restraint system can increase the risk of injury during a crash.
The fix: Dealers will replace the second-row center seat belt assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 14, 2022. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138.
The defect: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Pilot, Accord, Civic sedan, HR-V, Odyssey, 2020 Civic coupe, Fit, 2021-2022 Civic hatchback, 2021 Civic Type R, Insight, 2020-2021 CR-V, CR-V Hybrid, Passport, Ridgeline, Accord Hybrid, 2020 Acura MDX, 2022 Acura MDX, 2020-2022 Acura R…
The risk: An air bag that deploys unintentionally during a crash can increase the risk of injury.
The fix: Dealers will replace the seat weight sensors, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 28, 2024. This is a phased recall. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for these recalls ar…
Buyer analysis
Acura TLX or Honda Accord: which should you buy?
The Acura TLX has far fewer complaints per year (about 55) compared to the Honda Accord (about 452), meaning you are statistically less likely to encounter a reported problem with the TLX. However, the Accord's higher volume also reflects its much larger sales, so the rate per vehicle may be closer. In practice, the TLX may offer a quieter ownership experience, but both require careful inspection.
Key differences
- The Acura TLX averages about 55 complaints per year, while the Honda Accord averages about 452 per year—an eightfold difference in reported issues.
- Honda Accord complaints include 162 crash-related reports and 3 deaths, whereas the Acura TLX has 24 crash-related reports and 0 deaths.
- Acura TLX owners frequently report engine misfires and transmission fluid leaks, while Honda Accord owners report electronic power steering/braking failures and forward collision avoidance malfunctions.
- Both vehicles have recalls for fuel system and air bag sensor issues, but the Accord also has recalls for hybrid power control software and seat belt retractors.
- Check for any signs of transmission or transfer case fluid leaks, especially around the mating area between the transmission and transfer case.
- Test the digital instrument cluster thoroughly—start the car and ensure it does not go black or flicker, as this is a reported electrical defect.
- Test the electronic power steering and braking systems at highway speeds if possible; any warning lights or loss of assist should be a deal-breaker.
- Listen for rattling noises during acceleration and feel for rough transitions between EV and gas modes, which could indicate engine or hybrid system problems.
Before you buy
- Obtain a full vehicle history report and check for any open recalls on the NHTSA website using the VIN.
- Have a certified mechanic perform a pre-purchase inspection, focusing on engine, transmission, and electrical systems.
- During a test drive, pay attention to any warning lights, unusual noises, or loss of power, especially under humid or rainy conditions.
- For the Honda Accord, specifically test the forward collision avoidance system and adaptive cruise control if equipped.
- Ask the seller for maintenance records and confirm that all recall repairs have been completed.
Year by year
Which model years to avoid
Complaints per model year for both vehicles — lower is better. The spikes are the years to scrutinize.
| Year | Acura TLX | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 4 | 109 |
| 2024 | 5 | 219 |
| 2023 | 11 | 226 |
| 2022 | 26 | 252 |
| 2021 | 70 | 234 |
| 2020 | 63 | 362 |
| 2019 | 92 | 691 |
| 2018 | 94 | 1884 |
| 2017 | 71 | 537 |
Check the actual car
Comparing models is smart. Checking the VIN is essential.
Brand averages tell you the trend. A VIN check tells you what's wrong with the specific Acura TLX or Honda Accord in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Acura TLX vs Honda Accord
- Acura TLX total complaints
- 546
- Honda Accord total complaints
- 4,524
- Acura TLX total recalls
- 33
- Honda Accord total recalls
- 38
- Acura TLX avg complaints/year
- 54.6
- Honda Accord avg complaints/year
- 452.4
- More reliable overall
- Acura TLX
- Acura TLX top complaint area
- ENGINE
- Honda Accord top complaint area
- ENGINE