Acura TLX Reliability by YearBest & worst years, problems & recalls — NHTSA data
Comparing used Acura TLX options? We analyzed 10 model years (2016–2025) using real NHTSA complaint and recall data so you can spot stronger years, avoid riskier ones, and know what to inspect before buying.
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Model-year trends show patterns — they can't tell you whether this car was crashed, flooded, or rolled back. A VIN check can.
- Accident & damage history
- Odometer rollback records
- Open recalls & title brands
Acura TLX (2016–2025) has 532 NHTSA complaints and 33 recalls. Engine issues lead with 137 complaints, followed by powertrain at 97. The 2016 model year is the worst with 110 complaints. Source: NHTSA owner complaints and recall records.
- Make
- Acura
- Model
- TLX
- Model years analyzed
- 2016–2025 (10 years)
- Total NHTSA complaints
- 532
- Safety recall campaigns
- 33
- Crash-related complaints
- 24
- Fire-related complaints
- 4
- Worst model year (by complaints)
- 2018 (93 complaints)
- Best model year (fewest complaints)
- 2025 (4 complaints)
- Top reported issue area
- ENGINE
- Reliability signal
- Average
By model year
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.
Crash test ratings
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.
Source: nhtsa.gov/ratings
What the complaint data suggests
AverageBased on NHTSA complaint data, the Acura TLX from 2016–2025 shows high complaint volume concentrated in the engine (137 complaints) and power train (97 complaints). The 2016 model year leads with 110 complaints, while 2023–2025 have far fewer. Source: NHTSA owner complaints and recall records.
- Engine component has 137 complaints, the highest of any system.
- Power train has 97 complaints, the second most reported.
- 2016 model year accounts for 110 complaints, the most of any year.
- ENGINE
- POWER TRAIN
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
2016 has 110 complaints, driven largely by engine and powertrain issues; 2018 and 2019 also have elevated counts.
2023–2025 model years have fewer than 10 complaints each, suggesting improved reliability.
- Verify all open recalls at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
- Request service records for engine and transmission repairs.
- Have a mechanic inspect engine and powertrain before purchase.
- Test drive to check for transmission smoothness and brake feel.
Problems by model year (best vs. worst)
Source: NHTSA public complaints database. Updated: Jul 2026
Safety recalls
NHTSA safety recalls
33 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.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:PEDALS AND LINKAGES
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:PEDALS AND LINKAGES
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:PEDALS AND LINKAGES
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:PEDALS AND LINKAGES
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:PEDALS AND LINKAGES
AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION:FRONT PASSENGER
AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION:FRONT PASSENGER
TIRES:BEAD
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY
AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION:FRONT PASSENGER
FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:HARD PARTS INTERNAL/MECHANICAL
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY
AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION:FRONT PASSENGER
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:HARD PARTS INTERNAL/MECHANICAL
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION:FRONT PASSENGER
Source: NHTSA Recalls Database. Data covers model years 2016–2025. Always run a VIN-specific check below for the most up-to-date open recall status.
Common problems
What goes wrong most often
The vehicle systems owners complain about most, ranked from all 532 NHTSA complaints — these are the areas to inspect first on a used car.
Owner complaints
NHTSA complaint reports
532 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.
I was driving in heavy traffic when the steering on my 2025 Acura TLX AWD froze up. Several codes were displayed. I managed to direct the vehicle to the right shoulder where I turned the engine off. I restarted the engine but the steering was still inoperable and the codes were still displayed. I turned the engine off again. When I restarted it the second time the codes were gone and I was able to drive the car back home.
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.
Transfer case failure, leakage, discovered after warranty expired. Took vehicle in describing seeming loss of AWD and tech informed me it was “normal” I Later discovered, during an oil change, a leak From the transmission or transfer case that covered the lower skid plate, which looking up, was directly related to a known failure of the Type S’s transfer case/Transmission causing a loss of traction to the rear wheels.
The transfer case splines sheared off in the transmission. The car is safe to drive but went from AWD to FWD as there is now no power being transmitted through the transfer case to the rear wheels. The dealership confirmed the issue was the transfer case by lifting the car and seeing if the rear wheels were getting power. They then tore down the transmission and found the splines were all gone from the transfer case. The component was not inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance, or anyone else. There were no warnings or symptoms to the problem before the failure.
Read 14 more owner reports
We have a 2022 Acura TLX Type S and it has started to show an errors - Adaptive Damper System Problem. From what I can gather from reviewing articles on the Internet is that this problem is caused because of poor wiring design by Honda / Acura, which is causing speed sensors electronics to erode. There are also articles that Honda /Acura is aware of this problem and is currently gathering data. Our concern is that in Michigan, if you have these problems, specially during winter when the roads are icy - if your drive type is stuck in the wrong mode - That can be a safety hazard. Example -The adaptive damper system can cause the automobile to be stuck in sports mode on an icy road, making it dangerous to drive............ Further, consumers are aware that this is a fault of the manufacturer, in the way the wiring harness is routed within the automobiles chassis. This poor design exposes the electronics to unwanted elements from road, snow, salt, dirt etc. It is also reported that this wiring harness is an expensive item to fix, hence Acura is reluctant in taking the necessary effort in resolving this very known issue. Consumers pay a lot for these vehicles for their quality - If this is a known issue , Acura should take care of it and not force the consumers to drive acuras with potential safety issues.
Went to the Acura dealer for an oil change. Was told I have a leak in the transmission and transfer case and that both will need to be replaced.
The transfer case spines have stripped and I no longer have all wheel drive only front wheel drive. This is a huge safety hazard for me .
Accelerated and heard a loud noise and felt like I had driven through wood and one got stocked to the whelle. There was a lot of traffic so I was driving slow. The noice I heard was like something was stuck inside the wheel, like it was grinding. Dealer diagnosed a bad transfer case and transmission and they replaced both under warranty.
Was changing the oil on my car and noticed grease running out from between the transfer case and transmission and also fluid build up on the transfer case higher up a little below the driveshaft. The car has 41k miles on it, there should be no leaks. My concern is the transfer case/transmission spline failure issue.
The contact owns a 2022 Acura TLX. The contact stated that there was an abnormal sound coming from the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed, and determined that the lower control arms needed to be replaced. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact was concerned that the control arms might fracture. The contact stated that the part to repair the vehicle was on back order. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and opened a case, but no additional assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 72,845.
Subject: Vehicle Data Submission for Investigation DP26001 To the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI), I am submitting maintenance data for my Acura TLX Type S (VIN: [ВСТАВ ТУТ VIN]) to assist with the ongoing DP26001 investigation regarding the AWD Transfer Case (PTO) splines. The vehicle is a US-specification model currently operated in [XXX] . Maintenance Facts: At 29,000 km (18,000 miles): PTO fluid was changed. Metallic debris was observed in the fluid. At 43,000 km (26,700 miles): PTO fluid was changed again. Silver metallic shavings and "glitter" were clearly present. A magnetic drain plug was installed during this service to capture further debris. Symptoms: The vehicle experiences harsh downshifts and mechanical clunking at low speeds in traffic. I am providing this to ensure the failure rate is accurately tracked globally. Please add this VIN and data to the DP26001 file. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
My vehicle has less then 35000 miles, I was doing a oil change when I noticed that my transfer cases has a slight oil residue from the bottom, which I suppose it’s just gonna get worse overtime, at this mileage I don’t think this is right that’s why I’m submitting this complaint.
While accelerating from 0 to 40 miles per hour, I experienced a loud bang come from the car. Turns out the splines were stripped between my transmission and transfer case. This was due to the drive shaft spinning while in park mode, as well as an opening between the transmission and transfer case that was spooling. My powertrain system was severely compromised; who knows what could've happened if I had kept driving the car in this condition? Something was waiting to inevitably fail beyond what had happened. Thankfully, this happened on an empty road close to home, but it could have happened anywhere. There were no warnings, lights, or anything, which was the strangest part. Thankfully, this $10k+ bill was covered under the manufacturer's powertrain warranty, but it seems to be a common issue with many newer Acuras. Acura is well aware of the issue (spline failure) and should issue a recall to correct this design flaw within the powertrain.
Loss of brake power with “brake” light and “brake service” light on. I was backing out of my driveway and lost almost all braking power almost pushing the pedal to the floor. Once I came to a stop, I turned the car off and turned it back on, brake pedal felt fine and lights went away at that point.
Last week, the right lower ball joint began producing a noticeable squeaking noise. I brought the vehicle to Irvine Acura in Irvine, California, where two technicians confirmed that the right lower ball joint boot is intact with no grease leakage; however, the ball-and-socket joint displays excessive play. The dealership recommended replacing both lower control arms, despite the left side currently being in acceptable condition. If the right lower ball joint were to fail, it could result in a loss of vehicle control.
I got new tires and an alignment performed and ever since the car has pulled to the right. The car has been to the dealer for 6 alignments due to the car veering to the right. They swapped the wheels from another car to ensure it wasn’t the new tires and the problem still occurred. As soon as I let go of the wheel it pulls to the right no matter if it’s a crowned road or not. Each time the alignment is completely off from the last time it had it performed. I took it to 3 different dealers and they all suggested throwing parts at it (replacing the rear subframe for $3000 or a front driver strut for $1400) telling me that they don’t know if it’d fix it or not.
My husband and I have a 2022 Acura TLX (purchased new) that was issued a safety recall. We brought the car into the dealership in April to fix the problem. Two weeks later, the car completely malfunctioned- every warning light went off at the same time, and the car completely lost control. Steering, brakes, power/gas, everything went out. During this second visit, the dealership replaced the PCM. Last night, the exact same issue happened. My husband was thankfully near home, but if he was on a highway, he could've easily been killed. Again, everything in the car went out- steering, brakes, power- and he had zero control of the car. The car was towed a couple hours ago to the dealership (third time since initial visit in April), and the service manager said, "This has never happened before..." and had no answers. This is an extremely high risk situation, and we do not feel safe getting into this car when the dealership/manufacturer is clearly not able to fix their own safety recall.
When I was driving as low speed, all the dashboard lights began blinking on the dashboard while I was driving. The steering wheel began to get stiff and I had a hard time turning it. I pulled into a parking lot, with much difficulty trying to steer into it and the steering wheel locked completely. I turned the car off and back on and all the lights went off and the dashboard looked normal. I then drove home without any other incident. I wish I had taken a picture of the dashboard to show the dealer. Hopefully it won't happen again.
Showing 20 of 532 total NHTSA complaints. Source: NHTSA Complaints Database
Check the exact car
Before you buy, check the exact Acura TLX
These pages show model-year patterns across 10 years. Enter a VIN to verify the exact vehicle's accident history, title brands, odometer records, and open recall status before purchase.
The basics
How to read this data
Complaints, recalls, investigations — here’s what each number actually tells you about a used Acura TLX, in plain English.
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 532 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 33 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. 24 of the Acura TLX's 532 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 (Average) 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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By state
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Acura TLX reliability — frequently asked questions
Is the Acura TLX reliable?
Average. The Acura TLX has 532 NHTSA owner complaints and 33 recall campaigns across model years. A commonly reported issue area is ENGINE. Use year-level data as a pattern guide, then verify the exact car with a VIN check before purchase.
Which Acura TLX years to avoid?
Years with the most NHTSA complaints: 2018 (93 complaints), 2019 (91 complaints), 2017 (69 complaints). Use these years as a shortlist for deeper inspection, and always run a VIN check on the exact vehicle before purchase.
What are the most common Acura TLX problems?
Top reported issues: ENGINE (137 complaints); POWER TRAIN (97 complaints); ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (92 complaints).
Does the Acura TLX have recalls?
Yes — 33 NHTSA recall campaigns have been issued for the Acura TLX. Check nhtsa.gov/recalls or run a VIN check to see if your specific vehicle has open recalls.