Acura TLX Complaints

946 consumer complaints on file.

#11722731March 7, 2026
POWER TRAIN
The transfer case in my Acura TLX Type S failed due to the internal splines stripping at approximately 57,600 miles. I heard a loud bang while attempting to maneuver out of a parking spot that was covered in snow. When this occurred, the transfer case was no longer able to transfer power to the rear wheels, causing the all-wheel-drive system to stop functioning. As a result, the vehicle effectively operated as front-wheel drive only. The most concerning part of this failure is that the vehicle provided no warning whatsoever to the driver. There were no dashboard alerts, drivetrain warnings, AWD system warnings, or check engine lights indicating that the AWD system had failed. The vehicle continued to operate and display information as if everything was functioning normally. This occurred during the winter in New York while driving in snowy conditions, where the AWD system is critical for traction and safety. Because there was no warning that the AWD system had failed, I continued driving the vehicle assuming it still had AWD capability. On multiple occasions the vehicle became stuck in snow due to the loss of rear-wheel power. A critical drivetrain component such as a transfer case should not fail under normal driving conditions at this mileage. Additionally, a vehicle equipped with AWD should provide a clear warning to the driver if the system is no longer functioning. The absence of any warning combined with a sudden loss of AWD capability creates a serious safety concern, particularly in winter climates where drivers rely on AWD for traction and control. Under the wrong circumstances this type of failure could potentially lead to an accident or serious injury.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11722739March 7, 2026
POWER TRAIN
Complete loss of AWD. Car is now only FWD with NO WARNING. Loud thud (transfer case splines being stripped) and then immediate loss of AWD.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11721414March 2, 2026
STEERING, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: WARNINGS, LANE DEPARTURE: WARNING
The vehicle is throwing a steering code of LSAK. The steering is being compromised as the vehicle cannot determine if it is being steered correctly or not. After researching this code, I have seen hundreds of other people so far complaining about the same code for this year, make and model. One person had stated that his steering stopped mid way on his drive. I looked up the prices of correcting this issue and it ranges anywhere form 1800.00 to 2000 .00. My vehicle only has 65,000 miles on it and this is a potentially very dangerous situation. With the hundreds of customers that I have seen so far that are complaining of the same issue, I do not feel that this should be the customers responsibility to fix but rather a recall or at the very least a class action lawsuit if the dealer will not correct this potentially very dangerous issue.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11721285March 1, 2026
SERVICE BRAKES, ENGINE, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
My 2017 Acura was involved in a low-speed collision where it failed to stop in a timely manner, resulting in a total loss declaration. This vehicle had open safety recalls (including the fuel pump/rod bearing issues) that remained unrepaired for over 1.5 years. Despite multiple inquiries, the manufacturer failed to provide a repair timeline or remedy. I believe these unresolved defects directly contributed to the braking failure and subsequent safety incident.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#11721123February 28, 2026
POWER TRAIN
I am submitting this complaint regarding a sudden and premature transfer case failure on my 2021 Acura TLX Type S equipped with Acura’s Super Handling All-Wheel Drive (SH-AWD) system. The failure occurred during normal driving conditions and without prior warning indicators. Based on my experience and numerous similar reports from other owners of this vehicle, this appears to be an ongoing and systemic issue that warrants formal investigation and recall consideration. While accelerating under normal road conditions, I heard a loud and distinct “pop” noise from underneath the vehicle. The sound was abrupt and mechanical in nature, as if an internal drivetrain component had failed. Immediately following the noise, the vehicle’s driving characteristics changed noticeably. Although the car continued to move forward and there were no immediate warning lights illuminated on the dashboard, the drivetrain behavior was clearly altered. After the incident, the vehicle began operating as though the majority of drivetrain load was being directed to the front wheels. The vehicle now feels significantly front-heavy during acceleration and general driving. There is a distinct change in weight transfer and torque delivery that was not present prior to the failure. The balance that is characteristic of a rear-biased SH-AWD performance system is no longer present. There were no grinding sounds, fluid leaks, or vibration at the time of failure. There were also no warning messages, check engine lights, AWD system warnings, or drivetrain alerts displayed to notify me of any malfunction. The failure occurred suddenly and without notice.I respectfully request that NHTSA open a formal investigation into premature transfer case failures on 2021–2023 Acura TLX Type S vehicles equipped with SH-AWD. This issue should be evaluated for recall eligibility or mandated corrective action to ensure driver safety. Thank you for reviewing this complaint.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11718417February 17, 2026
ENGINE
My engine has been replaced under warranty for connecting rod bearings failing before the recall 23V-751 existed. 40,000 miles later it failed again. I have paper work and other information available upon request. The vehicle is currently on it's third short block replaced by Acura. No CEL or anything prior to when the knocking started.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11718081February 15, 2026
POWER TRAIN
My car has suffered a well known issue in the 21-25 Acura TLX community. At 71,000 miles my transfer case splines stripped also with the transmission splines. Resulting in me having to pay out of pocket to replace both the transmission and transfer case. I’m really hoping Acura does a recall for this issue. I really like this car and don’t want to have to replace them again. Like I mentioned before. I’m in a Facebook tlx group and people are constantly posting about theirs blowing.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11717853February 13, 2026
SUSPENSION, SERVICE BRAKES
Adaptive Damper System error on dashboard. Took the car to the dealer and they confirmed two issues. Codes C1646-14 and C1647-14 indicating the stroke sensor has lower limit abnormality. Dealer recommended replacing both rear shocks due to over extension. Once shocks were replaced, codes returned. During further investigation, corrosion was found in the stroke sensor wiring harness. Harness is the root cause of the issue. Car is available at the dealer for inspection if necessary. From a safety perspective, if I continued to drive the car I could have experienced a malfunction in the braking system which could have led to brake failure, failure of safety features, or a car stall.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11717423February 11, 2026
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING
I was rolling up to a stop light at approximately 20 mph when the frontal crash mitigation feature suddenly slammed the brakes on fully to a complete stop. I searched the web and found that there are other owners of this model that have had similar occurrences. I could easily have been rear-ended if someone had been following. I was lucky that didn’t happen. Since that day, I have been afraid to drive the car until I have disabled the feature.So every time I start my car I have to disable this mode. There is no known fix. No technical service bulletins etc. regarding this problem. Honda Acura needs to find a solution to this. I should not have to disable a safety feature that is actually making my car unsafe!
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11716957February 10, 2026
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, SERVICE BRAKES, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Warning lights for Electric Parking Brake Problem and Emissions System Problem simultaneously occurring with no definitive solution. Codes can be cleared by disconnecting battery and reconnecting but warning lights eventually come back on sometimes in a matter or days, weeks or month. There are no other issues that coincide with these warning lights coming on.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11716343February 6, 2026
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
My gas tank is failing from the fuel seal, my safety is in danger since it throws a lot of gasoline, take the car to the dealer but they say it's not a factory problem
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11714897February 2, 2026
ENGINE
PE 25008 The engine knock started on 12/22/25. Motorcars Acura recommended get a case number & have the 2020 TLX towed in for a diagnostic. Online case # XXX Towed to Motorcars on 12/23/25. Talked to Michelle with customer relations & she was going to call Motorcars for info. Motorcars, without my permission, pulled the oil pan & inspected the bearings. #6 rod bearing failed. On 1/15/26, Michelle with customer relations told me that they will not offer reimbursement to repair. I told Motorcars to do the repair on 1/15/26. Picked up the car on 1/21/26 Info & pictures attached. I told Michelle I hope you reconsider reimbursing me for the repairs. As I told Michelle, I am very loyal to Acura as I own (4) Acura’s. Now two of them have engine issue. The 2020 TLX rod bearing issue that was not included in the recall & my 2012 MDX with the 3.7 oil consumption issues. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11714721January 31, 2026
POWER TRAIN
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.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11714405January 30, 2026
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL, LANE DEPARTURE: WARNING, LANE DEPARTURE: ASSIST
The front camera that operates the cruise control, lane assist, automatic braking, automatic high beam has stopped working. After further research it seems to be a popular problem with this car in a short amount of time. This car is a 2020 with 61,000 miles. The camera costs approximately $2000 to fix and should have a longer life span.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11714464January 30, 2026
STEERING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11712885January 23, 2026
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:INTERNAL:SHAFT:OUTPUT
See Attached Letter for potential Defect Petition DP26001
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11712500January 21, 2026
POWER TRAIN
This 2021 Acura TLX Type-S has experienced a complete failure of the transfer case after approximately 40,000 miles of use. This unfortunately is a known issue on the online forums for this vehicle in model years 2021-2023. I have a video inspection performed by the local dealership proving this. The only warning is a one-time loud boom when accelerating and a leaking from the transfer case of fluid thereafter. There is no safety issue best I can tell, however the car only performs in front drive mode once the transfer case quits working. The issue is due to weak splines within the transfer case that shear off and thus damage the 10-speed automatic transmission in the process. Acura has a 6 year 70,000 mile warranty, so a complete replacement is covered, however my concern is for whether the new transfer case part # 29000-5YK-060 which replaces the old 29000-5YK-050 part will do the same. This is a very expensive fix into the 5 figures (over $10,000) and really needs to have a recall as there are dozens and dozens of owners online who have experienced this failure.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11712325January 21, 2026
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
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.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11710731January 13, 2026
ENGINE, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
The vehicle experienced vibration symptoms and stalled on the road. The day before it stalled, there were rattling noises which prompted me to take the car to the dealership the next day. I had just received the letter about the recall so I knew it was likely related. The car was towed to the Acura dealership but the dealership denied recall coverage, stating the engine number did not match the recall list. During the discovery process, it was later discovered that the engine had been swapped by the dealership in 2018 — a fact that was not disclosed to me at the time of my purchase. The installed engine still falls within the recall defect interval of 2015-2020 but they are resistant to repair. Upon initial inspection of the vehicle, the dealership found metal shavings in the oil indicating internal engine damage. The manufacture requested my oil change records suggesting that this was my fault. I presented the oil change receipts but they still refused recall coverage and the dealership requested approximately $5,000 for diagnostics, if determined my fault. If it is determined that the defect damaged the engine, they will cover the 5k. After several weeks of inspection and going through the manufacture recall process, the dealership determined the recall issue applies my car. However, due to the engine number not on the “list” they are denying my recall coverage. They are seeking $25k for service repairs. After almost 2 months of back and forth, I have been misled and misinformed. I am struggling to get my car repaired under recall.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11710418January 12, 2026
SUSPENSION, STEERING
While performing routine maintenance on my 2018 Acura TLX, I discovered a critical structural failure in the front right (passenger side) lower control arm. The factory weld connecting the stamped steel control arm to the compliance bushing housing has failed and separated. Visual inspection reveals a clear manufacturing defect: there is a significant crater and void in the weld bead, indicative of incomplete fusion or a "start/stop" error during the manufacturing process. This is a latent structural defect, not a stress fracture from mileage or impact. The weld has begun to separate from the housing, leaving a visible gap. Safety Risk: This failure compromises the suspension geometry and structural integrity of the vehicle. If the weld completes its separation while driving, it would result in the control arm detaching from the subframe, leading to immediate loss of steering control, wheel collapse, and a high probability of a collision. Status: No warning lights were illuminated prior to discovery. The vehicle has not been involved in any collisions that would affect this component. The defective part is currently on the vehicle but is available for inspection by NHTSA or manufacturer representatives upon request.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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