2020 Acura TLX Problems, Recalls & Reliability
Verdict
CautionComplaint Index
55/100
#6 most-complained of 12 TLX years
The 2020 Acura TLX has 62 NHTSA complaints, 5 recalls, and a Complaint Index of 55, ranking 6th worst of 12 model years with a 'Caution' verdict. Engine problems dominate at 42% of complaints, with a median failure mileage of 60,000 for that area.
- Complaints
- 62
- Recalls
- 5
- Crashes / fires
- 4 / 0
- Injuries / deaths
- 1 / 0
- NHTSA overall rating
- 5 / 5 ★
- EPA combined MPG
- 23.5
- 20 city / 30.5 hwy
Top 2020 Acura TLX problems
NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Engine26 (42%)
- Fuel System17 (27%)
- Electrical System9 (15%)
- Transmission & Powertrain7 (11%)
- Collision Avoidance & Cameras6 (10%)
- Other6 (10%)
- Brakes4 (6%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires4 (6%)
- Airbags3 (5%)
- Lane Departure3 (5%)
What owners report
- Engine shuts down unexpectedly while coming to a stop or at low speed, sometimes taking several seconds to restart and leading to being rear-ended.
- Auto idle-stop system fails to restart the engine at a green light, blocking traffic for over a minute.
- Airbags reportedly failed to deploy during a rear-end collision that pushed the vehicle into another car.
- Front driver's side wheel detached while driving, with no prior warning other than a feeling the tire might deflate.
- Vehicle unexpectedly shifts into neutral while driving and won't shift back into drive without restarting.
- Front brake rotors reported as warped, causing steering wheel shake when braking at highway speed.
2020 Acura TLX recalls
5 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 24V064000Feb 1, 2024Airbags750,114 vehicles
Air bags:sensor:occupant classification:front passenger
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Pilot, Accord, Civic sedan, HR-V, Odyssey, 2020 Civic coupe, Fit, 2021-2022 Civic hatchback, 2021 Civic Type R, Insight, 2020-2021 CR-V, CR-V Hybrid, Passport, Ridgeline, Accord Hybrid, 2020 Acura MDX, 2022 Acura MDX, 2020-2022 Acura RDX, and 2020-2021 Acura TLX vehicles. The front passenger seat weight sensor may crack and short circuit, failing to suppress the air bag as intended.
Risk: An air bag that deploys unintentionally during a crash can increase the risk of injury.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the seat weight sensors, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 28, 2024. This is a phased recall. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for these recalls are XHP and VHQ.
- 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.
2020 Acura TLX fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 20 MPG
- Highway
- 30.5 MPG
- Combined
- 23.5 MPG
- Annual fuel cost (EPA)
- $3,375
- 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.
2020 compared with other TLX years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2020 Acura TLX reliable?
- Compared to other TLX years, 2020 carries a 'Caution' verdict based on NHTSA data, with 62 complaints and a Complaint Index of 55, ranking 6th worst among 12 model years.
- What are the main problems with the 2020 Acura TLX?
- NHTSA complaints point to the engine as the top problem area, making up 42% of complaints, followed by the fuel system at 27% and electrical system at 15%.
- Does the 2020 Acura TLX have any recalls?
- Yes, NHTSA lists 5 recalls for the 2020 Acura TLX, covering airbags, fuel system, and engine components, including a fuel pump module replacement and an engine connecting rod inspection/repair.
- At what mileage do 2020 Acura TLX problems typically appear?
- For engine complaints, the median mileage at failure is 60,000 miles; for fuel system complaints it's 67,500 miles.
- How does the 2020 TLX compare to other model years?
- The 2020 TLX's Complaint Index of 55 is lower than 2015 (100, Avoid) and 2019 (91, Avoid), but higher than 2017 (45, Good) and 2024 (9, Best).