Acura TLX Complaints

946 consumer complaints on file.

#11758677August 22, 2026
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
As I’m driving my car will shift in neutral which I know this isn’t normal on highway, bridges even low grounds. Don’t see a recall on my car, but after researching I seen In September 2019 tlx was having some of the same problems different year. And this situation happen 3x so far til I afraid to drive it. Just driving smoothly then goes into different gear which can put me, my kids and anyone else in danger.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11758705August 22, 2026
POWER TRAIN
Transmission and transfer case failure. Noticed a very small amount of fluid leaking and took to dealership. Dealer informed me that I was "lucky" to have noticed and that the transfer case spline failure had occurred. Notified that the problem could lead to sudden loss of all wheel drive and loss of vehicle control, vehicle slipping, and oversteer. DP26001 had indicated that these issues are a safety concern and could lead to an accident. I had noticed instability in certain issues where the rear of the car did not feel firmly planted when cornering (oversteer). Dealer indicated that both the transmission and transfer case need to be replaced. I was ~8000 miles within powertrain warranty. Parts are on a national backorder which indicates a widespread issue. No warning lamps or indication of seal failure that leads to stripped splines off the shaft due to the fluid leak. NHTSA does not understand how the Acura SH-AWD system interacts with vehicle dynamics and handling, and loss of the rear wheel drive and its impact on oversteer would be absolutely NO DIFFERENT than a rear sway bar breaking under load while cornering. I experienced this exact symptom on [XXX] where the road goes from 3 lanes to 2 lanes on a sweeping right hand curve. This is where I had felt like I may lose control of the vehicle, the rear of the car started to come around and I had to steer into the slide to regain control of the vehicle. 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
#11757748August 18, 2026
SEATS
Acura Service Bulletin B18-014 (NHTSA TSB #10135108) The repeated failure of the driver’s power seat height-adjustment mechanism due to stripped internal gears in the Vertical Transmission Assembly (VTA), as identified in Acura Service Bulletin B18-014, presents a significant safety concern. A failure of the driver’s seat adjustment mechanism can prevent the driver from maintaining a proper and secure seating position, potentially impairing visibility, access to the pedals and steering wheel, and the ability to safely control the vehicle. Because Honda/Acura has documented this failure and identified a specific repair procedure, I believe the defect warrants investigation by NHTSA and consideration for a safety recall rather than leaving affected owners responsible for repairs. Despite the Acura bulletin and recommended repairs, Marysville Honda in Ohio is recommending a $5700 repair bill inconsistent with the Acura bulletin.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11754884August 5, 2026
ENGINE
- 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 inoperable, leaving me unable to continue driving while being 300 miles away from home. This incident occurred at about 5-6AM, having to maneuver through traffic before the sunrise. This created a serious safety risk because surrounding vehicles were traveling at full speed increasing the risk of collision. There were no warning signs of this failure and I was unfortunately stranded on the highway in an unfamiliar town for hours with minors in the vehicle. -Yes, the vehicle was towed to a local dealeriship, Hahira Automotive Services, where the engine failure occurred and they confirmed that they were unable to start the car and the knocking sound was indicative of engine failure. I towed the car to an Acura dealership local to my home and they confirmed the same vehicle condition and that a takedown is required to fully inspect the engine. -The engine has not been inspected by anyone only the vehicle condition -There were no warning signs of engine failure prior to the incident
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11754848August 4, 2026
POWER TRAIN, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
I'm losing power than normal all of a sudden. When I step on the gas after light hits green in sport and sport plus mode my car losses traction even when traction control is on, and I hear a loud clunck sound. After the the loud clunck sound the car losses RPM while driving I step off the gas and step back on it and the RPM goes back to normal again.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11752741July 24, 2026
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, STEERING
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.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11752202July 22, 2026
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
The contact owns a 2019 Acura TLX. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V751000 (Engine and Engine Cooling). The contact stated that while driving approximately 55 MPH, the vehicle lost power and the steering wheel failed to responded as needed. The vehicle stalled in the middle of the road. The vehicle was restarted but stalled immediately. The contact inspected the vehicle but found no fault. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the rod bearing had failed and the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was then towed to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the rod bearing had failed and that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 120,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11751261July 18, 2026
SUSPENSION, STEERING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
PAWS system component failure causing the steering angle to misalign, throttle response to decrease, and drivability to decrease severely
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11750976July 17, 2026
POWER TRAIN
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.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11750596July 15, 2026
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM, ENGINE
My 2017 Acura TLX stalled dangerously on the highway due to an unexpected fuel delivery failure, creating an immediate traffic hazard. Hiley Acura of Fort Worth diagnosed the vehicle with code P0087 (Low Fuel Rail Pressure) and confirmed it needs a new low-pressure fuel pump assembly for $1,540.62. They also pulled code P0430 (Catalyst System Efficiency) showing my front catalytic converter has failed, costing $2,461.77.The low-pressure fuel pump failure starved the engine of fuel, causing the highway stall. This fueling issue directly overheated and destroyed the catalytic converter substrate.This pump failure is the core subject of the Oliver v. Honda class action lawsuit. Honda previously issued a temporary corporate software update on my vehicle that deliberately altered how the computer reads errors, masking the physical fuel pump defect. This software update is the exact reason my car currently shows no open recalls on standard databases, despite still containing the defective, unreplaced factory hardware. This temporary software fix has now failed, resulting in a dangerous highway stall, and Honda is using the software-cleared VIN status to deny safety coverage.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11750498July 15, 2026
POWER TRAIN
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.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11749995July 13, 2026
BACK OVER PREVENTION
The contact owns a 2016 Acura TLX. The contact stated that the rear-view camera image was cloudy and was not functioning because there was water inside the camera. While reversing, the driver was unable to see an image behind the vehicle. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact stated that the failure was associated with NHTSA Campaign Number: 26V423000 (Back Over Prevention); however, the VIN was not included. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 61,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11750163July 13, 2026
POWER TRAIN
I took this vehicle to get serviced in the summer of 2025. I recently joined an Acura Type S (2021+) group on Facebook and learned that the issue is quite prevalent. I had to have the transmission and transfer case replaced due to transmission issues and traction issues
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11749669July 10, 2026
UNKNOWN OR OTHER, STRUCTURE:BODY
The vehicle is experiencing extensive factory paint failure and clear-coat delamination on the roof, around the rear windshield, C-pillars, and upper door frames. The condition began approximately 12 months ago around the rear windshield and has progressively spread to multiple upper body panels despite normal ownership and maintenance. The paint is peeling in large sections, exposing the underlying paint layers. Research indicates Acura previously acknowledged a similar paint adhesion defect affecting certain 2015 Acura TLX vehicles around the rear windshield and issued a warranty extension for some vehicles. Although my vehicle may not have been included in that program, the failure pattern appears substantially similar. The vehicle has not been involved in any collision affecting these areas, and the paint appears to be the original factory finish. The condition continues to worsen over time. The vehicle is available for inspection upon request. Acura Client Relations has been contacted, and a case has been opened requesting inspection and review.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11748982July 8, 2026
POWER TRAIN
Transmission and transfer case failure. Causing the loss of power to the rear wheels. Reducing the traction and stability of the vehicle.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11749059July 8, 2026
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, SUSPENSION
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.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11748958July 8, 2026
POWER TRAIN
On July 7th 2026 I was driving home, came to a stop light at normal speed, when the light turned green I took off at normal speed and I heard a huge cluck / bang from underneath the car and it bogged and didn’t want to move. I then stepped on the gas because of the Car behind me getting to close and my traction control light started to flash and the car started to shake and feel very uncomfortable to drive . After that I realize only the two front wheels of the car were working and even at low cruising speeds the car feels very unsafe and shakes and hear noises I never heard before the part that is causing this is the transfer case and transmission thus there are many other people who have had this same issues ranging from 21 to 23 tlx type s with 15k miles to 100k miles
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11748927July 7, 2026
POWER TRAIN
Transmission splines went out and transfer case has also failed which is only sending power to front wheels
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11748393July 5, 2026
POWER TRAIN
While making a right turn from a stop the car made a bang sound followed by grinding upon acceleration. I took my 23 TLX type S to a local Dunn Tire and asked them to put it on the lift. They raised all tires off the ground, started the car, and accelerated. Only the front wheels spun. This is the exact scenario lots of consumers have reported with this model when the transfer case splines break off the shaft. The car is driving without error lights but feels different while corning. It's very concerning that the car has 41k miles on it and is well taken care of. I drive it in winter so AWD is a huge reason I choose it. I have an appointment with my local Acura dealership but its over a week away. I asked to have a tech contact me back to ensure driving it more won't case future issues but they never followed up.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11747673July 1, 2026
POWER TRAIN, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM, ENGINE
On 07/01/2026, at approximately 8:00 AM, during steady acceleration, flashing of MIL with loss of power presented northbound after merging from 235 west bound to I-135 north bound near Park City, KS. Particularly dangerous resulting in near rear end collision. Upon taking nearest exit ramp, attached BlueDriver .OBD II reader, and fault code P0303 - Cylinder 3 Misfire and U0401-68 PGM-Fi/ECM/PCM system event code was logged, with multiple warning indicators that safety system, AWD, brake, and other systems were disabled. Note, vehicle has had TSB 20-053 update w/ flash of PGM-Fi which did not resolve the fault, fault associated with hot and humid climates or period of rain fall, apparent water vapor, condensate build up in intercooler. For Honda Accord and Acura RDX w/ 4 cylinder 2.0 TDGI engine TSB includes redesigned intercooler replacement, that is not available for TLX 21-25 which is currently out of production. This has occurred previously during humid and hot weather, but no intermittent flashing MIL does not store code. Thankful in this instance P0303 and U0401-68 code is stored, and scheduling service at dealership to diagnose misfire.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

← Back to Acura TLX