Acura TLX: Years to Avoid and Best Years (Engine & Transmission)
Acura TLX problems by model year, from 928 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. For each year: the share of complaints about the engine, transmission or fuel system, how many there were, and the recalls.
Worst years to avoid: 2017 (72%, 51 drivetrain complaints), 2015 (71%, 234 drivetrain complaints) and 2021 (70%, 66 drivetrain complaints). 8 of the 8 Acura TLX years we score have an elevated engine, transmission or fuel-system complaint share; 5 of them are at the very high level (60% or more), where every model year we track has a documented failure behind it.
No Acura TLX year we score is clear of an elevated signal. The lowest is the 2020 (55%).
By raw volume, the 2015 drew the most drivetrain complaints (234 of 578 across the scored years). Volume also tracks how many were sold and how long they have been on the road, which is why the share, not the count, sets the verdict.
2023 has fewer than 25 complaints on record so far, too few to score. Newer cars have had less time to collect complaints.
Engine and transmission complaint share, 2010–2023
Share of relevant owner complaints about the engine, transmission or fuel system. 33% is elevated, 40% high, 60% very high. A dash means too few complaints to score.
Every Acura TLX year
| Model year | Signal | Drivetrain share | Drivetrain complaints | All complaints | Rank (1 = worst) | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 TLX | too few to score | – | 0 | 1 | – | 0 |
| 2015 TLX | very high | 71% | 234 | 342 | 2/8 | 6 |
| 2016 TLX | high | 56% | 60 | 110 | 7/8 | 3 |
| 2017 TLX | very high | 72% | 51 | 71 | 1/8 | 3 |
| 2018 TLX | very high | 63% | 57 | 94 | 4/8 | 4 |
| 2019 TLX | very high | 63% | 57 | 92 | 5/8 | 6 |
| 2020 TLX | high | 55% | 33 | 63 | 8/8 | 5 |
| 2021 TLX | very high | 70% | 66 | 102 | 3/8 | 5 |
| 2022 TLX | high | 59% | 20 | 34 | 6/8 | 4 |
| 2023 TLX | too few to score | – | 9 | 19 | – | 4 |
What owners complain about most, all years
Categories as NHTSA files them, summed across the Acura TLX years with data. A complaint can name more than one component, so the shares overlap. Red is engine, transmission or fuel.
Acura TLX engine and transmission recalls: timeline
NHTSA lists 9 recall campaigns on the Acura TLX involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 14 across the years we track. Each model-year page has the details. Whether a particular car still has a recall open depends on its VIN.
| Date | Campaign | Component | Model years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 2014 | 14V779000 | power train: automatic transmission | 2015 |
| Sep 2016 | 16V640000 | power train: automatic transmission: control module (tcm/pcm/tecm) | 2015 |
| Jan 2019 | 19V060000 | fuel system, other: delivery: fuel pump | 2015–2019 |
| Apr 2019 | 19V298000 | engine and engine cooling: engine: gasoline: belts and associated pulleys | 2019 |
| Mar 2021 | 21V215000 | fuel system, gasoline: delivery: fuel pump | 2019–2020 |
| Nov 2023 | 23V751000 | engine and engine cooling: engine: hard parts internal/mechanical | 2015–2020 |
| Dec 2023 | 23V858000 | fuel system, gasoline: delivery: fuel pump | 2015–2020 |
| Dec 2024 | 24V950000 | fuel system, gasoline: storage: tank assembly | 2021–2022 |
| Jan 2025 | 25V031000 | fuel system, gasoline: fuel injection system | 2021–2022 |
5 other recalls (airbags, lighting, brakes and the rest)
| Date | Campaign | Component | Model years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2014 | 14V613000 | equipment: other: labels | 2015 |
| Dec 2022 | 22V950000 | tires: bead | 2022 |
| Feb 2024 | 24V064000 | air bags: sensor: occupant classification: front passenger | 2020–2021 |
| Jun 2025 | 25V391000 | service brakes, hydraulic: pedals and linkages | 2021–2022 |
| May 2026 | 26V332000 | air bags: sensor: occupant classification: front passenger | 2018–2021 |
What the free pages leave out on the Acura TLX
- The mileage where it happens, for the model year you are looking at.
- What the repair costs, to price into your offer.
- Cleaner alternatives: similar cars with a better record.
- Up to 15 owner reports, with the ones about your car's own engine first.
- What to ask the seller and what to check on the test drive.
- Open recalls on the actual car, by VIN.
Questions people ask about the Acura TLX
What are the worst years for the Acura TLX?
On engine and transmission complaints, the worst Acura TLX years are the 2017 (72% of relevant complaints, very high), the 2015 (71% of relevant complaints, very high) and the 2021 (70% of relevant complaints, very high). 8 of 8 scored years are elevated in all.
What are the best years for the Acura TLX?
No Acura TLX year we score is below the 33% line. The lowest share is the 2020 (55%).
Does the Acura TLX have transmission problems?
In some years. Across the 8 scored years, 578 of 881 relevant NHTSA complaints (66%) concern the engine, transmission or fuel system; the largest drivetrain category is power train. The years with an elevated share are 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022.
Is the Acura TLX reliable?
On the engine and transmission it depends on the year: 8 of 8 Acura TLX years we score have an elevated complaint share and 0 do not. Pooled across those years, 66% of relevant complaints are about the drivetrain, against a 33% line for an elevated signal. Complaint data does not measure overall reliability, so pick the year first, then inspect the car.
Are there transmission or engine recalls on the Acura TLX?
Yes. NHTSA lists 9 recall campaigns involving the engine, transmission or fuel system across the Acura TLX years we track, out of 14 in total: 23V858000 (Dec 2023, 2015–2020), 24V950000 (Dec 2024, 2021–2022), 25V031000 (Jan 2025, 2021–2022), and earlier ones. Whether a car still has one open depends on its VIN.
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Check a VINExperimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across model years, not the condition of any individual vehicle. Model years with fewer than 25 complaints are not scored.