2018 Acura TLX Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls
Caution The 2018 Acura TLX has a Complaint Index of 55, ranking 6th worst among 12 model years, and carries a Caution verdict. NHTSA lists 95 complaints, 4 recalls, and engine problems as the top issue, affecting 46% of complaints.
Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology
YearToAvoid Scorecard
- Complaint Index
- 55/100
- #6 of 12 TLX years
- Verdict
- Caution
- vs. other years of this model
- Complaints
- 95
- unique NHTSA reports
- Recalls
- 4
- distinct NHTSA campaigns
- Crashes
- 3
- reported in complaints
- Fires
- 1
- Injuries
- 2
- Top issue
- Engine
- NHTSA overall rating
- 5 / 5 ★
- EPA combined MPG
- 24
- 20 city / 30 hwy
- Injuries / deaths
- 2 / 0
Top 2018 Acura TLX problems
Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Engine44 (46%)
- Electrical System20 (21%)
- Fuel System15 (16%)
- Other14 (15%)
- Transmission & Powertrain11 (12%)
- Brakes8 (8%)
- Collision Avoidance & Cameras8 (8%)
- Lane Departure7 (7%)
- Steering6 (6%)
- Structure & Body4 (4%)
A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.
What owners report
- Steering wheel seized during turns while brakes felt stiff and the vehicle failed to respond or move.
- Electrical system faults triggered emission and transmission warning lights, sometimes preventing the car from shifting into drive.
- Collision mitigation braking activated with no vehicle ahead, causing sudden hard stops.
- Stability system failure warnings appeared along with a total system lockout affecting transmission, neutral gear, and antilock brakes.
- Transmission experienced sudden unintended acceleration while parking, leading to a collision.
- Rear seat anchors for child safety seats were reported as unreachable, making child seat installation difficult.
2018 Acura TLX recalls
4 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.
- NHTSA 26V332000May 21, 2026Airbags98,892 vehicles
Air bags:sensor:occupant classification:front passenger
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2018-2021, 2023 Acura TLX, 2019-2024 RDX, 2017-2020, 2022-2026 MDX, 2017-2021, 2023, 2025 Honda Ridgeline, 2017-2022 Pilot, 2019-2021 Passport, 2018-2026 Odyssey, 2019-2022 Insight, 2019-2021 HR-V, 2018-2020 Fit, 2020-2022 CR-V Hybrid, 2017-2022 CR-V, 2017-2018, 2021 Civic Type R, 2017-2021 Civic hatchback, 2016-2020 Civic coupe, 2016-2022 Civic, 2017-2022 Accord Hybrid, and 2016-2022 Accord vehicles. The front passenger seat weight sensor may crack and short circuit, which can cause the air bags to deploy unintentionally during a crash.
Risk: Air bags that deploy unintentionally during a crash increase the risk of injury.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the seat weight sensors, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 7, 2026. Owners may contact Honda's customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are BOL, WO9, OOA, WOM, XOH, NOC, POD, BOE, UOF, POB, EOG, AOI, QO8, TOJ, DO7, and SOK. This recall expands previous NHTSA recall number 24V064. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will be searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning May 29, 2026.
- 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.
- 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.
2018 Acura TLX fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 20 MPG
- Highway
- 30 MPG
- Combined
- 24 MPG
- Annual fuel cost (EPA)
- $3,300
- 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.
2018 compared with other TLX years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2018 Acura TLX reliable?
- NHTSA data gives the 2018 TLX a Complaint Index of 55, placing it 6th worst out of 12 model years, with a Caution verdict relative to other TLX years. It has 95 complaints and 4 recalls.
- What is the biggest problem with the 2018 Acura TLX?
- Engine issues are the top problem area, making up 46% of complaints, with a median failure mileage of 42,000 miles for the model year overall and 50,000 miles for engine-related complaints specifically.
- Does the 2018 Acura TLX have recalls?
- NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns for the 2018 TLX covering airbags, fuel system, and engine components, none of which are do-not-drive recalls.
- How does the 2018 TLX compare to other TLX years?
- The 2018 TLX (Complaint Index 55) ranks better than 2015 (100, Avoid), 2019 (91, Avoid), and 2021 (82, Avoid), but worse than 2017 (45, Good) and 2024 (9, Best).