Acura TLX Reliability by Year
Best & Worst Years, Problems & Recalls — NHTSA Data
Comparing used Acura TLX options? We analyzed 10 model years (2017–2026) using real NHTSA complaint and recall data so you can spot stronger years, avoid riskier ones, and know what to inspect before buying.
Model-year trends show patterns. Run a VIN check for the exact Acura TLX you plan to buy.
Based on NHTSA complaint data, the Acura TLX has 408 owner complaints and 30 safety recalls across model years 2017–2026. The most reported issue area is ENGINE. 2018 drew the most complaints; 2025 drew the fewest.
- Make
- Acura
- Model
- TLX
- Model years analyzed
- 2017–2026 (10 years)
- Total NHTSA complaints
- 408
- Safety recall campaigns
- 30
- Crash-related complaints
- 19
- Fire-related complaints
- 4
- Worst model year (by complaints)
- 2018 (93 complaints)
- Best model year (fewest complaints)
- 2025 (3 complaints)
- Top reported issue area
- ENGINE
- Reliability signal
- Poor
Acura TLX: Which Years to Avoid & Which to Buy
Based on total NHTSA owner complaints per model year. Higher complaint counts indicate a riskier year to buy used — lower counts suggest a cleaner reliability record.
These years have the most owner complaints. Inspect carefully and always run a VIN check.
These years have the fewest owner complaints on record — lower risk starting points.
⭐ NHTSA NCAP Crash Test Ratings
New Car Assessment ProgramNCAP crash tests measure how well a vehicle protects occupants in controlled frontal crash, side crash, and rollover scenarios. Stars are awarded per category (5 = safest). These laboratory results are independent of owner complaints and are performed by NHTSA engineers on new production vehicles.
What the Complaint Data Suggests
PoorThe ACURA TLX has 408 NHTSA complaints and 30 recalls on record. 19 complaints involve crash-related incidents. This data reflects owner-reported issues submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
- 408 total complaints filed with NHTSA
- 30 federal recall campaigns
- 19 crash-related complaints on record
- Review NHTSA complaint history for the most-reported components
- Check recall completion status at nhtsa.gov/recalls
- Verify service records for frequently complained components
Consult the by-year breakdown to identify model years with elevated complaint rates.
Consult the by-year breakdown to identify model years with fewer reported issues.
- Run a VIN check on the specific vehicle you are considering
- Verify all open recalls are completed at nhtsa.gov/recalls
- Request service records for the most-reported complaint components
- Have a certified mechanic inspect the vehicle before purchase
🔔 NHTSA Safety Recalls
30 recalls foundSafety recalls are mandatory repair campaigns ordered by NHTSA when a vehicle defect poses an unreasonable risk to safety. Manufacturers are required to fix recalled vehicles free of charge. Always verify open recalls before buying a used car.
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Source: NHTSA Recalls Database. Data covers model years 2017–2026. Always run a VIN-specific check below for the most up-to-date open recall status.
🔧 Most-Reported Problem Areas
Based on component keywords extracted from all 408 NHTSA complaints.
📋 NHTSA Complaint Reports
408 totalThese are consumer-submitted safety complaints filed directly with NHTSA. Each complaint describes a real owner's experience. Complaints flagged as crash-related or fire-related are highlighted.
Description of Safety Defect: While starting car up, the digital instrument cluster (speedometer and all primary driver instrumentation) goes completely black with no warning. The infotainment system continues to operate normally. After driving a short distance (sometimes only a few miles), the vehicle then experiences a complete loss of power steering, making the car extremely difficult or impossible to control. This creates an immediate risk of a crash, especially at speed or during turning. In multiple instances, after this failure occurs, the vehicle also becomes difficult to shut off, remaining in accessory or powered states despite attempts to turn the vehicle off. This defect involves simultaneous failure of: •Driver instrumentation display •Electric power steering assistance •Normal ignition shutdown behavior The loss of steering assist results in a sudden and unexpected loss of vehicle control. This appears to be an electronic or control-module failure affecting multiple safety-critical systems. Safety Impact: This defect poses a serious risk of crash, injury, or death due to sudden loss of steering assistance and lack of speed/vehicle status information while driving. Frequency: Has occurred twice - each time requiring roadside assistance to get the car to the dealer Warning Lights or Messages: None - just complete loss of instrumentation cluster Dealer Response (if applicable): Dealer initially claimed it had fixed, but it occurred again within 24 hours of retrieving from dealer. Dealer has now had car go over a week claiming that it needs to generate the fault state more than once before it will make any warranty repairs
We have three Acura vehicles at home and this is the newest one - 2025 TLX A-Spec. The vehicle is only a few months old and already suffered two INFORTAINMENT Screen failures. This is the primary screen on the dash that shows navigation and other information. The screen goes dark completely due to either an electronics/hardware issue or a software issue. This could be a safety issue if the driver is driving using the map app at a busy intersection, and the screen stops working. Once it is out of order, the only way to fix it is taking it back to dealer and do a battery level re-set. Not acceptable! Please investigate and start a recall if needed. Thanks so much for your time.
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 another vehicle just before entering a restricted-width construction zone, making the situation extremely hazardous. The complete loss of acceleration lasted for about a minute. Afterward, I was only able to maintain minimal speed by flooring the accelerator. I continued in this limited-power mode until I could safely exit the highway. After shutting off the vehicle for 10 minutes, I restarted it, and it operated normally. After researching this issue, I found active recalls and service bulletins describing this exact behavior, including: NHTSA Recall Number: 25V-031 Acura Campaign Number: EL1 Service Bulletin Number: 25-010 Additionally, an earlier bulletin describes identical symptoms: Service Bulletin Number: 20-053 (Version 4, dated March 12, 2024) Despite these matches, my VIN does not show any active recalls or bulletins. When I brought the car into the dealership to address this issue under the bulletin, they informed me they could not perform any service since my VIN was not listed. Given the severity of what occurred, I am requesting urgent assistance in updating or reviewing the recall eligibility for my vehicle. I would like to prevent this issue from recurring, especially in dangerous conditions. Thank you for your attention, and I look forward to your prompt response.
Infotainment system shuts down while driving and ultimately causes the power to drain from the vehicle leaving the vehicle inoperative. This is the second time this has happened. Acura has already repaired once with less than 1000 miles on the car. Now it’s happening again.
Was driving in the car for a while and the dashboard just turned off. Could not see speed or any other safety controls.
I understand Honda isn't doing soo well so I hope this is added to the list of the feds research we just bought this tlx aspec don't understand how these cars need to be 4000lbs but anyway the gas mileage advertised is not what you get I've seen on multiple forms people are saying they experience 13 mpg and on a cylinder engine that is just not acceptable 2 hear grinding noises in our drive train that the dealership doesn't hear unless it shows up in a scan tool 3 the engine has very loud valve tapping sound the tail tips have alot of black soot on them also evident of too lean gas mixture 200 dollars in gas in 8 days of owning this NEW car the transmission also has a mind of its own in sport mode reving the motor to 2 and 3k rpm all by itself and staying there till I tap on the gas pedal a few times and no the rug is not interference with the pedal it's all these companies going to electrical sensors instead of a cable that goes from the pedal to the throttle body like it should have always stayed. Getting rid of this thing as soon as possible soo the fed should also look at the newer ones ....
Ok I purchased this vehicle in march of 2024 by May I started getting a vibration at highway speeds in front of vehicle...I brought to dealer and they told me there is a plastic peice broken on both front wheels it's inside you can not see it when tire is on ...the dealer told me they were using my rim and tire coverage I purchased extra when I bought the car ...I told them that's road hazzard I didn't hit anything they used it anyway ...I get the car back 3 weeks later vibration again this time in the back I bring it back in they tell me same issue as the front the sound deadner broke in bother wheels again no damage on outside of rim and I never hit anything I told them go through warranty they told me there rep said use the road hazzard ....I argued and called corporate....honda Corp made a claim number said they would call my dealership but instead just called the rep and of course he said use road hazzard ....so they did now I have 4 brand new wheels same ones ....not sure if this will happen again with new 1s but I have met few other people on the internet with same exact prob ...my opinion is its a manufacturer defect in the wheels or some of the wheels and acura/honda is trying to bury it to avoid a safety recall ....the more people they get to use rim and tire the more this goes away and this is a serious safety issue as the rims when they break destroy the inside of the tire and if causes a blowout on the highway could end up in severe injury or death....someone needs to go after them ....
The AWD components fail and turns the car into front wheel drive only. Yes it’s available. This puts mine and others after at risk due to expecting the car to accelerate at a full stop instead, it causes me to slowly accelerate <5 mph until the system recognizes it’s in FWD only. I fear that someone will rear end me expecting the car to go faster than it can in that moment. Yes, this has been reported to a reputable dealer and was told they could not create the issue once clears after turning car off and back on again. This car has not been inspected by anyone other than the local Acura dealership. There were no prior warnings other than when it was cuts out. This pops up on the dash and is effective immediately putting the car into a limp state. This is happening one a week and has been occurring for once the car hit ~40k miles.
Purchased a 2023 TLX Aspec with Telecommunication package from Carvana. When I as unable to connect my device to the vehicle, I took it to my local Acura dealer per the limited warranty instructions. It was there after they removed the dash, we discovered the control device was missing and the bracket was missing and the coaxial connector that attaches it to the dashboard is broken. The cellular device was removed as well to avoid tracking. With the harness damage, the correct repair to the car with the low miles it has is to replace the harness and then replace the missing part and the bracket. None of this was disclosed at the time of purchase. I have tried reaching out to Carvana and the only answer I receive is to email their fraud department, which I have twice.
Car’s advertised anti-theft features are faulty. They have two tracking features with also both failed. When I contacted Acura they said this was a known issue and highly prevalent in NY, DC, FL, MD. Cars computer is cloneable and it takes less than 3 minutes to enter and steal without keys or breaking windows or enabling alarms.
If you don't turn the car off and you drop a passenger off from the front seat the seatbelt not fastened alarm will go off until you fasten it or turn the car off then restart the car to clear the alarm taking it to the dealership.
Car was stolen unreasonably easily. Car alarm did not sound, Acuralink tracking was immediately disabled. Car started and drove away despite keys being secured in a faraday box. Acura has a fatal design flaw in their hardware/software that makes theft of the TLX extremely easy. Evidenced by numerous online complaints from owners like myself, as well as by IIHS study on most stolen cars. TLX appears as both the second and fifth most stolen car relative to average:[XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
ALL FOUR BRAKE ROTORS ARE BENT ON 30K MILES
I had an awful noise that accompanied a sticky/ inconsistent brake pedal feel and braking concerns. Upon contacting multiple dealerships and honda corporate is was told everything is working as designed. I filed a claim with NCDS and was awarded a repair. When contacting the dealership and manufacturer they did another inspection and said it's working as designed and there was nothing to repair. Now in the news they are recalling approximately 250,000 Hondas/Acura vehicles for a safety issue with the brake pedal. There is no information on what the recall is supposed to entail. My vin is still not associated with the recall. This is a safety issue that the manufacturer has been ignoring for a long time now.
My TLX Tech 2023 lost complete power while I pulled up to a busy intersection on a dark and rainy day. As a puled to stop and my idle stop enabled the car was fine. Once I tried to accelerate the car immediately went into Park from Drive. All of the controls started to blink and the car powered down like a computer system who was on 0%. I completely lost power, so that I could not even put my hazard lights on to indicate to the busy oncoming traffic that I was in danger. When the police arrived, he even tried to shift to neutral to help me roll out of the street, but the car was inoperable. I had to remain in the car due to the freezing rain and sleet. The emergency services called an emergency tow to get me out of the street and I was then towed to the nearest Acura dealership to get it reviewed. The service department indicated that they had known about the idle start/stop issue, but not on my specific model. I had my car inspected just the day before at the same dealership and there were no issues that had come up. I am concerned that this is very dangerous and leaves me in a vulnerable state.
Well, since i purchased the 2023 Acura Tlx TECH PCKG, "It's a nightmare" everytime i drive it , i'm not enjoying it at all! I can't keep the car to go between the 2 lines! It just keeps going zigzag, i keep telling myself that maybe because "it's a brand new car" give it more time for adjustment...! But it's getting worse and worse to the point that when it's raining, i have to pray to get home safely!
Please see attached document, as my whole description would not fit in the box.
The cars Emission Systems and Parking Brake lights come on, and the dealer can not diagnose this issue properly. I have taken it in 4 times, and it continues to happen. I fear the parking brake coming on while driving.
Airbags (SRS)
Transmission harsh and delayed gear engagement, sometimes it won’t shift unless it’s done manually, few times it didn’t shift even though I shifted manually, I had to increase engine speed to about 5000 RPM so it shifts, transmission goes into neutral when trying to to accelerate while it’s in drive and intermittent vibration caused by hydraulic circuit pressure issues, I’ve had the vehicle since it had 7900 miles and all these issues been present in the car since then, the car now have 29000 miles and it’s only getting worse. These issues have been reported by a lot of Honda/Acura vehicles owner with the 9 speed transmission
Showing 20 of 408 total NHTSA complaints. Source: NHTSA Complaints Database
Before You Buy, Check the Exact Acura TLX
These pages show model-year patterns across 10years. Enter a VIN to verify the exact vehicle's accident history, title brands, odometer records, and open recall status before purchase.
📖 Understanding This Data
What is an NHTSA Complaint?
An NHTSA safety complaint is a report filed directly by a vehicle owner or driver describing a safety-related issue. Anyone can submit a complaint at NHTSA.gov. The number of complaints is a signal of how common a problem is — but complaints per model-year matter more than raw totals, since popular vehicles naturally receive more reports. The Acura TLX has 408 complaints on record across 10 model years.
What is a Safety Recall?
A safety recall is a mandatory campaign issued by NHTSA when a vehicle component poses an unreasonable risk to safety or does not comply with federal motor vehicle safety standards. Unlike complaints (which are owner-reported), recalls are formally investigated and confirmed by regulators. Manufacturers must fix recalled vehicles free of charge. The Acura TLX has 30 recall campaigns in the NHTSA database.
What Are Crash Complaints?
Crash complaints are NHTSA filings where the owner indicates a crash occurred as part of the incident. 19 of the Acura TLX's 408 complaints involved a crash. This metric is particularly important because it indicates how often defects resulted in actual collisions — a key safety signal beyond general reliability.
How Is the Reliability Verdict Calculated?
The reliability verdict (Poor) is generated by analyzing the vehicle's total complaints, recall history, crash complaint ratio, fire complaint ratio, and top component failures relative to class averages. This verdict gives buyers a quick interpretation before they review year-level details and VIN-level history. It should be treated as one decision input, not a substitute for a VIN-specific report.
Why Do Newer Years Have Fewer Complaints?
Newer model years appear to have fewer complaints because there has been less time for owners to file them. Complaints accumulate over years of ownership. A 2020 model year vehicle will typically show fewer complaints than a 2015 model year even if it is less reliable — simply because fewer owners have had time to report issues. Focus on complaints per year of market presence when comparing across model years.
Fleet Data vs. Individual VIN
Everything on this page reflects aggregated data across all Acura TLX vehicles on the road — not any specific car. Two Acura TLX vehicles of the same year can have very different histories: one may have been in three accidents and have an open recall; another may be clean. A VIN check gives you the individual car's history: accidents, title brands, odometer records, service history, and real-time recall status.
What Are NHTSA Investigations?
When NHTSA receives a pattern of related safety complaints, it opens a formal investigation. A Preliminary Evaluation (PE) is the first stage — NHTSA determines if a safety defect may exist. If evidence is strong, it escalates to an Engineering Analysis (EA), which can result in a mandatory recall. The Acura TLX has 0 investigations on record (0 active). Investigations listed above may have already led to the recalls shown on this page.
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📍 Check a Acura TLX by State
Title-branding rules, flood-damage exposure, and salvage laws vary by state. Run a free VIN check or explore state-specific vehicle history guidance before buying a used Acura TLX.