Acura TLX Best and Worst Years (2012–2025)
Avoid 2015, 2019, and 2021 Acura TLX years, which carry Complaint Index scores of 100, 91, and 82 with 6, 6, and 4 recalls each. The 2024 TLX is the Best year with a Complaint Index of just 9 and only 1 recall.
- Model years
- 12
- 2012–2025
- NHTSA complaints
- 886
- Recall campaigns
- 13
- Crashes reported
- 36
- Fires reported
- 5
- Top problem area
- Engine
TLX Complaint Index by year
Higher = more complaints, crashes, fires, injuries, deaths and Do-Not-Drive recalls per year on the road, relative to other years of this model.
Acura TLX problems and recalls by year
| Year | Verdict | Index | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Recalls | Top issue | MPG | NCAP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | No verdict | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Airbags | — | — |
| 2015 | Avoid | 100 | 342 | 12 | 0 | 6 | Transmission & Powertrain | 25 | 5★ |
| 2016 | Caution | 73 | 110 | 5 | 0 | 3 | Engine | 25 | 5★ |
| 2017 | Good | 45 | 71 | 2 | 3 | 3 | Engine | 25 | 5★ |
| 2018 | Caution | 64 | 95 | 3 | 1 | 4 | Engine | 24 | 5★ |
| 2019 | Avoid | 91 | 92 | 7 | 1 | 6 | Engine | 23.5 | 5★ |
| 2020 | Caution | 55 | 62 | 4 | 0 | 5 | Engine | 23.5 | 5★ |
| 2021 | Avoid | 82 | 69 | 3 | 0 | 4 | Transmission & Powertrain | 24 | 5★ |
| 2022 | Good | 36 | 25 | 0 | 0 | 3 | Transmission & Powertrain | 24 | 5★ |
| 2023 | Good | 27 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 3 | Brakes | 24 | 5★ |
| 2024 | Best | 9 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 1 | Electrical System | 24 | 5★ |
| 2025 | No verdict | 18 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 1 | Electrical System | 24 | 5★ |
TLX years to avoid: what went wrong
2015 Acura TLX Index 100 · 342 complaints · 6 recalls
The 2015 TLX has the highest Complaint Index of any year, 100, with 342 complaints and 6 recalls. Transmission & Powertrain problems dominate, at 47% of complaints and a median failure mileage of just 8,150 miles, with owners describing E-shift gear selector failures that fail to engage park or drive. Engine complaints follow at 33% (median mileage 23,015.5), and Electrical System issues make up 19% (median 42,750 miles). NHTSA also lists 12 crashes and 9 injuries tied to this year. Recalls cover fuel pump modules, engine connecting rod bearings, and fuel injection ECU software.
2015 transmission & powertrain problems →2015 engine problems →2015 electrical system problems →
2019 Acura TLX Index 91 · 92 complaints · 6 recalls
The 2019 TLX has a Complaint Index of 91, driven mainly by Engine problems, which account for 53% of its 92 complaints at a median mileage of 14,880. Fuel System issues make up 29% of complaints (median 9,250 miles) and Electrical System problems 14% (median 6,092 miles). NHTSA records 7 crashes and 3 injuries for this year, along with 6 recall campaigns covering airbag seat weight sensors, fuel pump modules, and engine rod bearing repairs.
2021 Acura TLX Index 82 · 69 complaints · 4 recalls
The 2021 TLX carries a Complaint Index of 82. Transmission & Powertrain complaints lead at 38% of its 69 complaints, with a median failure mileage of 93,039. Brakes and Electrical System issues each account for 13-14% of complaints, both with a low median mileage of 270. NHTSA lists 3 crashes, 3 injuries, and 4 recalls for this year, including a brake pedal pivot pin recall and a fuel tank welding recall affecting the fuel filler neck.
Most common Acura TLX problems (all years)
Share of NHTSA complaints by component group. A complaint naming two components counts once in each.
- Engine326 (37%)
- Transmission & Powertrain261 (29%)
- Electrical System161 (18%)
- Other120 (14%)
- Fuel System110 (12%)
- Brakes87 (10%)
- Collision Avoidance & Cameras45 (5%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires40 (5%)
- Steering37 (4%)
- Structure & Body33 (4%)
Frequently asked questions
- What year Acura TLX should I avoid?
- Based on NHTSA complaints and recalls, avoid the 2015, 2019, and 2021 Acura TLX. These years have Complaint Index scores of 100, 91, and 82, the three highest among all TLX model years.
- What is the best year for the Acura TLX?
- The 2024 Acura TLX is rated Best, with a Complaint Index of just 9, only 5 complaints, and 1 recall campaign, the lowest complaint volume of any TLX model year.
- Is the 2015 Acura TLX reliable?
- The 2015 TLX has the highest Complaint Index (100) of any TLX year, with 342 complaints, 6 recalls, 12 crashes, and 9 injuries reported to NHTSA. Transmission & Powertrain problems, especially the E-shift gear selector, are the top issue, with a median failure mileage of 8,150 miles.
- Does the Acura TLX have transmission problems?
- Yes. Transmission & Powertrain is the second most common complaint area across all TLX years, with 261 complaints (29% share). It is the top problem area for the 2015 model year (47% of that year's complaints) and the 2021 model year (38%).
- What are the most common Acura TLX problems overall?
- Across all 886 complaints on record, Engine issues are most common at 37% (326 complaints), followed by Transmission & Powertrain at 29% (261 complaints) and Electrical System at 18% (161 complaints).