Acura TLX Problems by Year
NHTSA has 894 owner complaints and 13 safety recalls on file for the Acura TLX, across 12 model years (2012–2025). The 2015 model year has the most complaints (344). The most reported problem area overall is power train.
Acura TLX years to avoid? What the complaint data shows
These model years drew at least twice as many complaints as a typical TLX year: 2015. Look at what owners reported before buying one, and check the VIN for open recalls.
Model years with the most complaints
- 2015 TLX: 344 complaints, 6 recalls
- 2016 TLX: 111 complaints, 3 recalls
- 2018 TLX: 96 complaints, 4 recalls
Model years with the fewest complaints
Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold or how long each year has been on the road, so newer and less popular years naturally have fewer complaints. Use them to spot problem patterns, not as a safety ranking.
Most common Acura TLX problems (all years)
| Problem area | Complaints | Model years | Crashes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Power Train problems | 264 | 10 | 7 |
| Engine problems | 225 | 10 | 6 |
| Electrical System problems | 158 | 11 | 2 |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 78 | 8 | 1 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 71 | 6 | 1 |
| Service Brakes | 70 | 9 | 14 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 49 | 6 | 6 |
| Forward Collision Avoidance | 38 | 8 | 2 |
| Steering | 37 | 9 | 1 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 28 | 4 | 0 |
| Lane Departure | 27 | 7 | 2 |
| Suspension | 27 | 9 | 1 |
| Air Bags | 23 | 6 | 7 |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) | 23 | 4 | 1 |
| Structure | 23 | 7 | 1 |
| Visibility/wiper | 15 | 4 | 0 |
| Wheels | 10 | 5 | 0 |
| Seats | 9 | 5 | 0 |
| Back Over Prevention | 8 | 5 | 0 |
| Exterior Lighting | 7 | 5 | 0 |
| Tires | 7 | 5 | 0 |
| Seat Belts | 6 | 4 | 1 |
| Visibility | 6 | 2 | 0 |
| Fuel System, Other | 4 | 2 | 1 |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 3 | 3 | 1 |
| Equipment | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Equipment Adaptive/mobility | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Firerelated | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 1 | 1 | 0 |
Acura TLX problems by model year
Problem areas with enough reports for their own page.
- 2015: power train (161) · engine (83) · electrical system (64)
All Acura TLX model years
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Crash rating | Top problem | Compared with other years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 TLX | 4 | 1 | 5★ | Electrical System | |
| 2024 TLX | 5 | 1 | 5★ | Electrical System | |
| 2023 TLX | 11 | 3 | 5★ | Unknown or Other | Far fewer complaints than other years |
| 2022 TLX | 25 | 3 | 5★ | Power Train | Far fewer complaints than other years |
| 2021 TLX | 70 | 4 | 5★ | Power Train | About as many complaints as other years |
| 2020 TLX | 63 | 5 | 5★ | Engine | About as many complaints as other years |
| 2019 TLX | 93 | 6 | 5★ | Engine | More complaints than other years |
| 2018 TLX | 96 | 4 | 5★ | Engine | More complaints than other years |
| 2017 TLX | 71 | 3 | 5★ | Engine | About as many complaints as other years |
| 2016 TLX | 111 | 3 | 5★ | Engine | More complaints than other years |
| 2015 TLX | 344 | 6 | 5★ | Power Train | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2012 TLX | 1 | 0 | — | Air Bags |
More from Acura: all Acura models · Acura VIN decoder
Frequently asked questions
Which Acura TLX years should you stay away from?
By NHTSA complaints, 2015 (344) drew at least twice as many complaints as a typical TLX year. Counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, and newer years have had less time to collect complaints.
What is the biggest problem with the Acura TLX?
Power Train, with 264 complaints across 10 model years.
How many recalls does the Acura TLX have?
13 safety recalls across all model years. Each model year page lists its recalls and fixes.