YearToAvoid

2017 Acura TLX Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Good

Complaint Index

45/100

#7 most-complained of 12 TLX years

Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology

The 2017 Acura TLX has a complaint index of 45, ranking 7th worst out of 12 model years and earning a "Good" verdict relative to other TLX years. NHTSA lists 71 complaints, 3 recalls, and 3 fires, with Engine problems the top area at 49% of complaints.

Complaints
71
Recalls
3
Crashes / fires
2 / 3
Injuries / deaths
1 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
5 / 5 ★
EPA combined MPG
25
21 city / 34 hwy

Top 2017 Acura TLX problems

NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Engine35 (49%)
  2. Transmission & Powertrain18 (25%)
  3. Other13 (18%)
  4. Fuel System10 (14%)
  5. Brakes9 (13%)
  6. Electrical System8 (11%)
  7. Structure & Body3 (4%)
  8. Suspension, Wheels & Tires3 (4%)
  9. Collision Avoidance & Cameras2 (3%)
  10. Lane Departure1 (1%)

What owners report

  • Owners report the engine catching fire under the hood, sometimes with smoke visible before flames appear.
  • Drivers describe the transmission lunging or jerking hard during gear changes at low speeds, feeling like a rear-end collision.
  • Some report the vehicle abruptly slowing itself on the highway as fault lights appear on the dash.
  • Owners describe the transmission getting stuck in neutral with multiple warning lights illuminated while driving.
  • Fuel pump leaks were reported while fueling, in some cases paired with hesitation or stalling while driving.
  • Brakes reportedly failed to stop the vehicle in time during low-speed situations, leading to collisions.
2017 Acura TLX complaints: complaints filed per month10May 2017Apr 2019Jul 2020Oct 2021Jun 2023Jun 2024Jan 2025Apr 2026
103 complaints filed with NHTSA from May 2017 to Sep 2026; peak Jun 2026 (10).

2017 Acura TLX recalls

3 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 23V858000Dec 18, 2023Fuel System2,490,460 vehicles

    Fuel system, gasoline:delivery:fuel pump

    Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2013-2023 Honda Accord, Civic Coupe, Civic Sedan, Civic Hatchback, Civic Type R, CR-V, HR-V, Ridgeline, Odyssey, Acura ILX, MDX, MDX Hybrid, RDX, RLX, TLX, 2019-2022 Honda Insight, Passport, 2020 Honda CR-V Hybrid, 2018-2019 Honda Clarity PHEV, Fit, and 2015-2020 Honda Accord Hybrid, Pilot, Acura NSX vehicles. The fuel pump inside the fuel tank may fail.

    Risk: Fuel pump failure can cause an engine stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: Dealers will replace the fuel pump module, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed September 6, 2024. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are KGC and KGD. This recall is an expansion of NHTSA recall numbers 21V-215 and 20V-314.

  2. NHTSA 23V751000Nov 13, 2023Engine248,999 vehicles

    Engine and engine cooling:engine:hard parts internal/mechanical

    Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2015-2020 Acura TLX, 2016-2020 Acura MDX, 2016 and 2018-2019 Pilot, 2017 and 2019 Ridgeline, and 2018-2019 Odyssey vehicles. Due to a manufacturing error, the connecting rod bearing in the engine may wear and seize, damaging the engine.

    Risk: A damaged engine may run improperly or stall while driving, increasing the risk of a fire, crash, or injury.

    Remedy: Dealers will inspect and repair, or replace the engine as necessary, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed March 28, 2024. 2016-2017 Acura MDX owner letters were mailed November 1, 2024. 2016-2020 Acura MDX owner letters are expected to be mailed in mid-December 2024. Honda began mailing owner notification letters as of March 18, 2024. 2015-2016 Acura owner letters are expected to be mailed mid-December 2024, 2018 Acura TLX owner letters are expected to be mailed the end of March/early April 2024, 2019 Acura TLX owner letters are expected to be mailed mid-May 2024, 2020 Acura TLX owner letters are expected to be mailed mid-June 2024, and 2016-2020 Acura MDX owner letters are expected to be mailed January 27, 2025. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for these recalls are XG1 and GG0.

  3. NHTSA 19V060000Jan 29, 2019Fuel System437,032 vehicles

    Fuel system, other:delivery:fuel pump

    Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2016-2018 Acura MDX, 2015-2019 Acura TLX and 2015-2017 Honda Accord vehicles, equipped with a 3.5L V6 engine. Particulates in fuel may adhere to the internal components of the fuel pump, reducing its performance.

    Risk: Reduced fuel pump performance can result in an engine stall, increasing the risk of crash.

    Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will update the fuel injection engine control unit (FI-ECU) software and, if necessary, replace the fuel pump, free of charge. The recall began March 25, 2019. Owners may contact customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Acura's recall number for this recall is P3W. Honda's recall number for this recall is N3X.

2017 Acura TLX fuel economy and fuel cost

City
21 MPG
Highway
34 MPG
Combined
25 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$3,200
15,000 mi/yr
Fuel
Premium
Current regular gas
$4.32/gal
national avg.

EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.

2017 compared with other TLX years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100201220152016201720182019202020212022202320242025
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2015Avoid100342625
2016Caution73110325
2017Good4571325
2018Caution6495424
2019Avoid9192623.5

All Acura TLX years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2017 Acura TLX reliable?
NHTSA data gives the 2017 TLX a complaint index of 45 and a rank of 7th worst out of 12 TLX model years, with a "Good" verdict relative to other years of the same model.
What problems does the 2017 Acura TLX have?
NHTSA lists 71 complaints for the 2017 TLX, with Engine issues making up 49% of them, followed by Transmission & Powertrain at 25% and Fuel System at 14%. There were 3 reported fires and 2 crashes.
Does the 2017 Acura TLX have any recalls?
Yes, NHTSA lists 3 recalls for the 2017 TLX covering the fuel system, engine connecting rod bearings, and a fuel injection control unit software update. None are do-not-drive recalls.
What is the median mileage for engine failures in the 2017 TLX?
NHTSA complaint data shows a median mileage of 31,000 miles for Engine-related complaints on the 2017 TLX, compared to 16,000 miles for Transmission & Powertrain complaints.
How does the 2017 TLX compare to other TLX years?
The 2017 TLX's complaint index of 45 is lower than 2015 (100), 2019 (91), 2021 (82), and 2016 (73), making it one of the better years, though not as low as 2024's index of 9.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.