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Acura · NHTSA safety record

2015 Acura TLX

Every safety complaint, recall and defect investigation the US government holds on this vehicle.

340

Complaints

12

Crashes

0

Fires

9

Injuries

0

Deaths

Owners of the 2015 Acura TLX have filed 340 safety complaints with NHTSA between September 2014 and July 2026. The most complained-about system is the power train, named in 160 of them (47%). The typical failure was reported at 17,000 miles, the median across the 231 complaints that gave an odometer reading.

NHTSA has issued 6 recalls covering this vehicle. A further 1 defect investigation is open and unresolved.

Recalls (6)

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP

23V858000 · December 18, 2023

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

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) · up to 2,490,460 vehicles across all model years covered

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:HARD PARTS INTERNAL/MECHANICAL

23V751000 · November 13, 2023

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

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) · up to 248,999 vehicles across all model years covered

FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP

19V060000 · January 29, 2019

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

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) · up to 437,032 vehicles across all model years covered

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM)

16V640000 · September 6, 2016

The defect
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain model year 2015 Acura TLX 2WD and 4WD vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the transmission wire harness connections may have insufficient crimps, and, as a result, the transmission may unexpectedly shift to neutral.
The risk
If the vehicle unexpectedly shifts to neutral, there is an increased risk of a crash.
The remedy
Acura has notified owners, and dealers will, based on the automatic transmission serial number, update the transmission software to prevent the transmission from shifting into neutral due to a faulty crimp, free of charge. The recall began January 13, 2017. Owners may contact Acura Client Relations at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for this recall is KC2.

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) · up to 8,354 vehicles across all model years covered

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

14V779000 · December 8, 2014

The defect
American Honda Motor Co. (Honda) is recalling certain model year 2015 Acura TLX V6 2WD vehicles manufactured July 14, 2014, to November 12, 2014, and certain 2015 TLX V6 SH-AWD vehicles manufactured August 26, 2014, to November 10, 2014. The automatic transmission parking pawl may become contaminated or the park rod may become dislodged or broken. This may prevent the transmission from shifting into the Park position.
The risk
If the shift indicator displays "Park" but the park lock does not engage, the vehicle may roll away increasing the risk of a crash.
The remedy
Honda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the transmission if necessary, free of charge. The recall began January 30, 2015. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-310-783-2000. Honda's number for this recall is JM8.

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) · up to 9,392 vehicles across all model years covered

EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS

14V613000 · October 1, 2014

The defect
American Honda Motor Co. (Honda) is recalling certain model year 2015 Acura TLX AWD vehicles manufactured August 26, 2014, to September 20, 2014. The affected vehicles may have incorrect values for the Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) and Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR) front and rear printed on the safety certification label. As such, the vehicles do not conform to Part 567, "Certification."
The risk
If the vehicle is loaded to the specifications listed on the label, tire failure may result, increasing the risk of a crash.
The remedy
Honda will notify owners, and dealers will install a corrected certification label, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin on October 21, 2014. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-800-382-2238. Honda's number for this recall is JK6.

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) · up to 189 vehicles across all model years covered

Defect investigations (2)

An investigation means NHTSA has decided a pattern is worth examining. A preliminary evaluation is often closed with no action; an engineering analysis is the stage that usually precedes a recall.

No Restart After Auto Start/Stop Engages

EA25004

Still open engineering analysis · opened March 26, 2025

the engine and its cooling

On June 3, 2022, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened Preliminary Evaluation PE22005 after the agency received VOQs and several field reports concerning the Auto Idle Stop (AIS) feature on 2016-2019MY Honda Pilot vehicles. The complaints allege that the engine fails to restart on its own from a complete stop at a traffic light or road intersection with the AIS function engaged. The subject vehicles are equipped with a 3.5L engine with a 9-speed automatic transmission. On January 6, 2023, Honda released service bulletins 23-008 and 23-009. These service bulletins address the failure to restart issue in the 2016-2019MY Honda Pilot vehicles, as well as the 2015-2020 Acura TLX, 2016-2020 Acura MDX, 2019-2022 Honda Passport, and 2020-2023 Honda Ridgeline vehicles. The repair outlined in the service bulletins is a two-stage countermeasure to remedy the issue. The first stage is a Programmed Fuel Injection (“PGM-FI”) software update. The second stage is only deployed if the software update fails to remedy the issue. The second stage, depending on the model and model year, consists of replacement of the starter assembly, starter relays, and a valve adjustment. Additionally, Honda extended the warranty coverage to 10 years with unlimited mileage for vehicles requiring the second stage component replacement. ODI continues to receive complaints of the AIS failure to restart, with many complainants alleging the campaign countermeasures had been completed.NHTSA has reviewed Honda's Information Request Letter responses involving warranty claims, lawsuits, and consumer complaints in addition to ODI's own data. This Engineering Analysis is being opened to further consider the potential safety defect, including gathering additional data regarding Honda’s service campaign efficacy. ODI is additionally expanding the scope to encompass all vehicles addressed in Honda’s service bulletins 23-008 and 23-009 as well as newer model year vehicles, which are substantially similar to the vehicles covered by the service campaign. To review the ODI reports cited in the Opening Resume ODI Report Identification Number document, go to NHTSA.gov.

Electrical overstress

EA19001

Closed engineering analysis · opened April 19, 2019 · closed September 19, 2024 · led to recall 20V024

the air bags

The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened this investigation to determine if the failure of airbags to deploy during severe crashes, in certain vehicles, was the result of a safety related defect.  During the investigation a complex failure was studied that can result in non-deployment of subject vehicle air bags and other restraint system devices in severe crash events. The subject vehicles may be equipped with an airbag control unit (ACU) for the supplemental restraint system (SRS) Electronic Control Unit (ECU) manufactured by ZF-TRW.  The ECU receives signals from crash sensors mounted in the vehicle and deploys the vehicle air bags and seat belt pretensioners in accordance with manufacturer design specifications.  The ECU in the subject vehicles contains a model DS84 application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) which controls the communication of the crash sensor signal, firing commands (i.e., when to deploy the airbag(s) and/or pretensioners), and fault information (e.g., diagnostic trouble codes). In September 2016, FCA announced recall 16V-668 for certain model year (MY) 2010 to 2014 Chrysler, Dodge and Jeep products manufactured with the subject ZF-TRW ACU.  In this recall, FCA discussed an EOS condition that resulted in a failure of the subject DS84 ASIC, which caused air bag non-deployment.  FCA noted that the defect condition had only been observed in vehicles equipped with sensor harnessing routed across the front of the vehicle.  Other FCA vehicles that also used the subject ACU, but were not equipped with cross-car harnessing, had not experienced EOS failures, despite similar time in service. During the course of this investigation, ODI sent two separate Information Request (IR) letters to six vehicle manufactures (including FCA, Hyundai, Honda, Kia, Mitsubishi, and Toyota) and one IR letter to ZF-TRW.  These IR letters resulted in ODI receiving comprehensive data from these manufacturers and suppliers. Studies of this data found that the DS84 ASIC does not have sufficient protection against negative electrical transients or electrical overstress (“EOS”) that can be generated in certain severe crashes.  An electrical transient occurs when the electrical power supplied to a circuit changes momentarily over a short duration of time.   In these severe crash cases, the crash sensors and other powered wiring can be damaged and short circuited so as to create a negative electrical transient of sufficient intensity and duration (that are outside the vehicle manufacturer's specification) to damage the ASIC before the restraint device deployment signal is received by the SRS ECU.  This damaged signal can lead to incomplete or nondeployment of the air bags and/or pretensioners.  Airbag non-deployment and/or lack of pretensioner operation can increase the risk or severity of injury in a crash.A total of 8 fatalities and 14 injuries were associated with known EOS events. The common element in all investigated manufacturers vehicles is the SRS ECU containing a DS84 ASIC manufactured by ZF-TRW.  The risk associated with the ASIC is equally shared among all OEMS involved in the investigation.  The actual real-world risk can be mitigated by other factors which were assessed by ODI during this investigation. The first mitigating factor involves protections built into the ACU design which protect the DS84 ASIC from damage.  There are multiple strategies and levels of protection employed by different OEMs that provide effective EOS mitigation.  The two most common strategies at the ACU level are circuit protection diodes on the remote senor signal lines, and current limiting resistors that protect critical components. The second mitigating factor is found at the vehicle level and involves the location and routing of the wires leading from the crash sensors to the SRS ECU.  If the wires are well protected in a crash and are not routed with other power wires carrying large currents, the risk for an EOS event is significantly reduced or eliminated. These design specific factors combine to produce a spectrum of risk for the vehicles equipped with ACUs using the DS84 ASIC.  Given the many of years of field exposure, it is possible to divide the subject population into two groups; vehicles which have experienced EOS events, and vehicles which have not experienced EOS field events. Four of the six OEMs involved in this investigation have experienced EOS field events on at least one of their models equipped with a DS84 ASIC.  All vehicle models (including the Toyota models identified in the Failure Report Summary of the opening resume for this investigation) with field events have been recalled.  In an abundance of caution, ODI kept this investigation open five years to monitor field performance and did not identify any field events on vehicles not included in existing safety recalls. Given the spectrum of risk identified in this investigation and that all vehicles with a demonstrated unreasonable risk have been recalled, ODI is closing this investigation. ODI is closing this investigation with the following manufacturer safety recalls: 16V-668, 18E-043, 18V-137, 18V-363, and 20V-024.  With the recall actions taken by the subject vehicle and equipment manufacturers, this investigation is closed. The closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by NHTSA that a safety-related defect does not exists on other model or model year vehicles outside of the recall scopes. The agency reserves the right to take further action if warranted by the circumstances.

What owners report

Complaints naming each system. One complaint can name several, so these add up to more than 340.

POWER TRAIN 160 47%
ENGINE 82 24%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 64 19%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 40 12%
SERVICE BRAKES 24 7%
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 23 7%
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 18 5%
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) 14 4%
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING 14 4%
STEERING 14 4%
STRUCTURE 13 4%
AIR BAGS 9 3%

When the complaints arrived

By the year NHTSA received them, which is not the year the failures happened. They peaked in 2015 at 77.

2014 2015 2026
2014 to 2026, the last of them a part year

In owners' own words

Quoted from NHTSA's complaint file. These are unverified accounts by the people who filed them, not findings of fault.

SERVICE BRAKES

3 injured · crash · towed · 16,000 miles

MY WIFE WAS INVOLVED IN A CAR ACCIDENT IN WHICH OUR CAR GOT T-BONED ON THE DRIVER SIDE. MY WIFE WAS COMPLETELY BLINDSIDED AND ALL THE AIRBAGS ON THE DRIVER SIDE DEPLOYED AND WHEN SHE SAW THE SMOKE SHE THOUGHT THERE WAS A FIRE SO SHE TOLD MY MOTHER IN LAW TO QUICKLY GET MY 2 YR. OLD CHILD OUT OF HER CAR SEAT. AS MY WIFE AND HER SISTER WHO WAS ALSO SITTING IN THE FRONT STARTED WALKING TOWARDS THE BACK OF THE CAR TO GET ME DAUGHTER OUT OF THE CAR OUR CAR STARTED ROLLING BACK EVEN THOUGH IT WAS SMASHED TO THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE RODE AND WAS AT A COMPLETE STOP. MEANWHILE HER MOM WAS IN THE BACK TRYING TO GET OUT OF A MOVING CAR WHICH SHE THOUGHT WAS ON FIRE. SINCE THE CAR STARTED ROLLING BACK

NHTSA complaint 11011205, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

SERVICE BRAKES

2 injured · crash · towed · 1,625 miles

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2015 ACURA TLX. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND THE VEHICLE BECAME DIFFICULT TO STOP. THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF ANOTHER VEHICLE, FLIPPED OVER, AND ROLLED UNTIL IT STOPPED. THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED INJURIES AND WAS TRANSPORTED TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE BACK, FACE, AND BOTH KNEES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,625. UPDATED 05/17/16*LJ UPDATED 12/13/2017*JS

NHTSA complaint 10852551. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

AIR BAGS

2 injured · crash · towed · 50,000 miles

IN AN IMPACT WITH A PARKED CAR THAT TOTALED THE TLX , THE AIRBAGS NEVER DEPLOYED WHICH LED TO INJURY TO THE DRIVERS CHEST AND THE HIP OF THE PASSENGER IN THE FRONT OF THE CAR. THE ATTACHED PICTURE SHOW THAT THE FRONT IN IS CRUSHED WHILE THE INSIDE PICTURES SHOW THAT THE AIRBAGS NEVER DEPLOYED. AFTER THE IMPACT THE CAR COULD NOT BE CONTROLLED. PER DRIVER, SHE TRIED TO BREAK, BUT CAR DID NOT STOP. SHE TRIED TO TURN POWER OFF AT IGNITION BUT THAT DID NOT STOP. PUT CAR IN PARK BUT IT CONTINUED ROLLING BACKWARDS UNTIL THE CAR IMPACTED A RETAINING WALL DAMAGING THE BACKEND OF THE CAR. STILL, ACURA SAFETY SYSTEM NEVER DEPLOYS AIRBAGS. ACCORDING TO THE DRIVER, AFTER THE COLLISION ALL SYSTEMS

NHTSA complaint 11231579, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

AIR BAGS

1 injured · crash · towed · 13,000 miles

TL* THE CONTACT WAS LOANED A 2015 ACURA TLX. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE LOANER VEHICLE. ALL THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A NECK, LOWER BACK, AND HEAD INJURY THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE LOANER VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE LOANER VEHICLE WAS THEN TOWED TO THE DEALER (MILE HIGH ACURA, 2799 S HAVANA ST, DENVER, CO 80014) AND THE CONTACT WAS PROVIDED WITH ANOTHER LOANER VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WAS NOT SURE IF THE LOANER VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 13,000.

NHTSA complaint 11054710. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER
The vehicle is experiencing extensive factory paint failure and clear-coat delamination on the roof, around the rear windshield, C-pillars, and upper door frames. The condition began approximately 12 months ago around the rear windshield and has progressively spread to multiple upper body panels despite normal ownership and maintenance. The paint is peeling in large sections, exposing the underlying paint layers. Research indicates Acura previously acknowledged a similar paint adhesion defect affecting certain 2015 Acura TLX vehicles around the rear windshield and issued a warranty extension for some vehicles. Although my vehicle may not have been included in that program, the failure

NHTSA complaint 11749669, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

POWER TRAIN
Car randomly goes into neutral and stays in neutral not allowing gear change

NHTSA complaint 11744119. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

89,000 miles

The contact owns a 2015 Acura TLX. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds the vehicle had suddenly began to shake and rattle and eventually stalled. The contact able to restart the vehicle and continued to drive. Over time the failure continued to occur more frequently. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who diagnosed the fuel pump needed to be replaced. The vehicle was later repair by a local mechanic. The manufacturer was contact regarding the failure and informed that the VIN was not included in the NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V858000(FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE). The contact indicated that the vehicle had experienced that same failure listed in the recall. The failure

NHTSA complaint 11737765, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
The emergency brake system continues to come on and read all the type of stuff on the screen, as well as the LKAS keeps coming on the screen showing problems and when it does, the transmission or engines stalls a little and slows up and speed down on its on

NHTSA complaint 11733172. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

BACK OVER PREVENTION

50,000 miles

The contact owns a 2015 Acura TLX. The contact stated that the rear-view camera displayed a distorted image while the vehicle was in reverse(R). The failure obstructed the driver's visibility, which prevented the driver from safely operating the vehicle. The contact stated that the image was being blocked. Additionally, the rear-view mirror had dark sunspots that obstructed the driver's visibility. Most recently, the contact became aware that the driver’s seat was fractured where the seat adjust buttons were located. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or an independent mechanic. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and referred the contact to the

NHTSA complaint 11728647, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Vehicle displays two warnings under normal usage. First warning is Emissions system issue and second is Brake System Failure. The Vehicle runs completely normal and operational, however these two warnings flash on the vehicle. The parking brake indicator also flashes. Vehicle has been to dealership/shop for multiple repairs; around 3-4 repairs within two months with no resolve for the same warning/issue.

NHTSA complaint 11724835. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

Compare

Other years of the Acura TLX

Model year Complaints Recalls Deaths
2023 10 3
2022 24 3
2021 64 4
2020 62 5
2019 91 6
2018 94 4
2017 69 3
2016 110 3

Other 2015 Acura models

Every Acura on this site — 71 vehicles, 113 recall campaigns and 3 open investigation s.

If this is your car and a dealer keeps failing to fix it, your state's lemon law may require the manufacturer to replace it or buy it back. What each state asks for , read from the statutes.

Where these numbers come from

A complaint is one owner's account and has not been verified by NHTSA or by us. A vehicle with more complaints is not necessarily worse: models that sold in larger numbers collect more of them. How this is counted.

Compiled and maintained by
Independent developer and analyst