Acura TLX Best and Worst Years by Owner Complaints
We rank Acura TLX model years by the number of owner complaints filed with NHTSA, from fewest to most. Complaint counts aren't failure rates: years that sold more cars, or that are older, can show more reports. We rank only model years at least five years old, because newer ones are still collecting reports. Among settled years shown, the 2012 drew the fewest (1) and the 2015 the most (342).
Complaints filed by model year
Every year compared
| Most-reported component | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 Among the fewest complaints |
1 | 0 | Air bags | — | — |
| 2025 Still collecting reports |
4 | 1 | Electrical system | 5★ | 21–25 |
| 2024 Still collecting reports |
5 | 1 | Electrical system | 5★ | 21–25 |
| 2023 | 11 | 3 | Unknown or other | 5★ | 21–25 |
| 2022 | 25 | 3 | Power train | 5★ | 21–25 |
| 2020 Among the fewest complaints |
63 | 5 | Engine | 5★ | 23–27 |
| 2021 Among the fewest complaints |
70 | 4 | Power train | 5★ | 21–25 |
| 2017 | 71 | 3 | Engine | 5★ | 25–28 |
| 2019 | 92 | 6 | Engine | 5★ | 23–27 |
| 2018 Among the most complaints |
95 | 4 | Engine | 5★ | 23–27 |
| 2016 Among the most complaints |
111 | 3 | Engine | 5★ | 25–28 |
| 2015 Among the most complaints |
342 | 6 | Power train | 5★ | 25–28 |
Sources: NHTSA ODI complaints, NHTSA recalls, NHTSA NCAP, EPA; retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
What owners reported in the Acura TLX years with the most complaints
These settled model years drew the most owner complaints to NHTSA. The share in brackets is the part of that year’s complaints that names each component; one complaint can name several.
2015 Acura TLX: 342 complaints
Most-reported: Power train 160 (47%); Engine 82 (24%); Electrical system 64 (19%).
Reports mention 12 crashes, 9 injuries. Typical odometer reading when owners filed: 17,000 miles. 6 recall campaigns listed.
2016 Acura TLX: 111 complaints
Most-reported: Engine 27 (24%); Electrical system 24 (22%); Power train 15 (14%).
Reports mention 5 crashes, 6 injuries. Typical odometer reading when owners filed: 37,700 miles. 3 recall campaigns listed.
2018 Acura TLX: 95 complaints
Most-reported: Engine 31 (33%); Electrical system 20 (21%); Fuel/propulsion system 14 (15%).
Reports mention 3 crashes, 1 fire, 2 injuries. Typical odometer reading when owners filed: 42,000 miles. 4 recall campaigns listed.
The Acura TLX years with the fewest complaints
2020 Acura TLX: 63 complaints
Most-reported: Engine 19 (30%); Fuel system 12 (19%); Electrical system 10 (16%).
Reports mention 4 crashes, 1 injury. Typical odometer reading when owners filed: 70,990 miles. 5 recall campaigns listed.
2021 Acura TLX: 70 complaints
Most-reported: Power train 27 (39%); Service brakes 10 (14%); Electrical system 9 (13%).
Reports mention 3 crashes, 3 injuries. 4 recall campaigns listed.
Crashes, fires and injuries in Acura TLX owner reports
| Model year | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Injuries | Deaths | Typical miles at filing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2024 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2023 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2022 | 25 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2021 | 70 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | — |
| 2020 | 63 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 70,990 |
| 2019 | 92 | 7 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 9,288 |
| 2018 | 95 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 42,000 |
| 2017 | 71 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 22,343 |
| 2016 | 111 | 5 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 37,700 |
| 2015 | 342 | 12 | 0 | 9 | 0 | 17,000 |
| 2012 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
Owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA. “Typical miles” is the median odometer reading in complaints that gave one (shown when at least 10 did). Source: NHTSA ODI complaints, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Largest Acura TLX recalls
- Fuel Pump May Fail (2015–2020 model years; 2,490,460 vehicles across all models; filed Dec 2023; 23V858000)
- Air Bag May Deploy Unintentionally During a Crash (2020–2021 model years; 750,114 vehicles across all models; filed Feb 2024; 24V064000)
- Fuel Pump May Fail (2019–2020 model years; 624,552 vehicles across all models; filed Mar 2021; 21V215000)
- Reduced Fuel Pump Performance May Cause Stall (2015–2019 model years; 437,032 vehicles across all models; filed Jan 2019; 19V060000)
- Brake Pedal May Shift Out of Position/FMVSS 108 & 135 (2021–2025 model years; 259,033 vehicles across all models; filed Jun 2025; 25V391000)
All 13 Acura TLX recall campaigns · Acura TLX problems, recalls and mpg by year · Used car inspection checklist
What the numbers can't tell you
- Sales volume. NHTSA publishes no sales figures with complaints, so a popular year draws more reports even if each car is no worse.
- Recent years are under-counted. Owners file reports for years after purchase; the newest model years will keep growing.
- The individual car. Maintenance, mileage and repairs matter more for one used car than any model-year average. Get a pre-purchase inspection and check open recalls by VIN.
Acura TLX years FAQ
Which Acura TLX year has the fewest complaints?
Among the model years shown whose counts have settled, the 2012 has the fewest owner complaints filed with NHTSA (1). That is a count of reports, not a measure of reliability.
Does fewer complaints mean a more reliable car?
Not necessarily. Complaint counts depend on how many cars were sold, how old they are and how many owners file reports. Use them to spot patterns worth asking about, alongside recalls, crash tests and a pre-purchase inspection.
Are there Acura TLX years to avoid?
No model year is officially one to avoid. By owner complaints to NHTSA, the settled years with the most reports are the 2015, 2016 and 2018 models, and across all years the most-reported problem area is the power train. Compare those years with the ones that drew the fewest reports, then check any specific car for open recalls by VIN and get a pre-purchase inspection.
What is the most common Acura TLX problem?
Across the model years shown, owners most often report problems with the power train (263 of 890 complaints list it). Each model-year report breaks the complaints down by component.
How many recalls does the Acura TLX have?
NHTSA lists 13 recall campaigns covering the Acura TLX. See every one, with official wording and repair rates, on the Acura TLX recall page.
Why are newer years left out of fewest and most?
Owners keep filing complaints for years after a car is sold. We mark the two newest model years as still collecting reports, and we only rank years that are at least five years old.
How this page was madeSources, processing, limits, review and changes
Data sources
- NHTSA recalls by vehicle
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - US DOT recall completion rates (data.transportation.gov)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA ODI owner complaints
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA NCAP 5-Star Safety Ratings
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EPA fuel economy data (licence confirmation pending)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EIA weekly retail gasoline prices
Weekly, all taxes included
Processing
- Complaints are counted per component. One complaint can list several, so component totals add up to more than the total.
- Fuel cost = miles per year ÷ EPA combined mpg × EIA weekly price for your region.
Limitations
- Complaint counts are owner reports, not verified findings or failure rates. There is no sales denominator.
- Recall campaigns are listed for the model year. Only NHTSA and the automaker know whether a specific car was repaired.
- Recent model years are still collecting reports.
Review
Data compiled automatically from the official files listed here.
Changelog
- 2026-10-06 Data refreshed from the official files.