The Lemon Index
201720191st generation
Better than average · most complaints: electrical
Fewest complaints of its generation (1st generation).
19 owner complaints, first 3 years 23–27 mpg combined, EPA
Similar cars, same year
2018 BMW 3 Series 262018 Mercedes-Benz C-Class 542018 Audi A4 45
Lemon Index: 100 = the average car, lower is better.
Engines & versions
What breaks most on the 2018 Acura TLX
- Engine stalling14 complaints
- Engine failure10 complaints
Specific parts named in the 99 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2018 Acura TLX (all dates). Miles = the odometer owners typed in (middle half); cost = the repair bills owners wrote in those same complaints, in U.S. dollars. Owners' reports, not confirmed defects.
When problems show up
Only 14 complaints listed a mileage: too few to say when problems show up.
Questions to ask the seller
- Were recalls 26V332000 (airbags), 23V858000 (fuel system, gasoline) and 23V751000 (engine) done? It has 4 recalls in all. Ask for the dealer printout, or check the VIN.
- NHTSA has an open investigation into no restart after auto start/stop engages. Has this car had that problem?
- Do all the lights, screens and power features work? Has the battery, alternator or any wiring been replaced?
- Any oil burning, leaks or check-engine lights? Ask for oil-change records.
- Do the brakes feel even, with no ABS or brake warning light? When were the pads and brake fluid last done?
- Acura sent dealers 92 repair notes for this car. Was this one done: “The high pressure fuel pump area chirps after the engine is warm”?
From this year's own recalls, top problems, top repair bills and Acura's repair notes. Recall repairs are free at any dealer.
How serious. Out of all 19 owner complaints filed so far (every year since it was sold, not just the first 3), owners reported:
“Average car” = what the same number of complaints would include at the rate across every model year we track. Owners report these themselves; NHTSA doesn't confirm the cause.
What owners complain about most. From owner complaints to the government.
Share of this year's owner complaints filed with NHTSA, not the share of cars that break. One complaint can name more than one area.
Check engine light on? Look up any code →
When owners reported problems. From owner complaints to the government.
Most owners who filed a complaint with NHTSA had 4K to 27K miles (7K to 43K km) on the car (14 of all 19 complaints filed so far listed the miles). This shows when people who had a problem reported it, not the odds that your car will have it.
In owners' words
I went to the grocery store and parked my car on the stores surface lot. When I returned to my car and turned my car on all error messages appeared - emission lights on and the car would not shift into drive.
2018 Acura TLX owner · NHTSA complaint 11180273
More owner reports
When driving as gear changes while hitting the gas ,my car jults as if gas I ran out of gas and hard enough to make me feel like im getting wiplash and dose it around 25mph and 55-60 mph and rpm wil jump and go back to normal
NHTSA complaint 11398274
Fixes owners look up most.
From 199 YouTube videos · 18.0M views · 2015–2020 Acura TLX
- Gauges, lights & wiring234K views
How to reset maintenance required light, oil life reset on a 2015-2020 Acura TLXGeorge Melnik · 126K views · 4 videos - Oil changes & service187K views
Acura TLX Oil Life Reset 2015 2016 2017Oil Light Reset · 68K views · 4 videos - Infotainment, battery & electrical93K views
Acura TLX 2015 electrical issue, not battery, car won't start/wont crankFlyingDoctorC · 93K views - No-start: theft light, key & ignition75K views
Acura No Start 2016 TLX Won't Crank...Clicks...Solved...Peter L · 31K views · 3 videos
Show 2 more
- Transmission & shifter55K views
2016 Acura MDX dangerous issue for 9 speed auto transmission ...TLX and Honda Pilots too!!!Rob Daman · 55K views - Death wobble & steering17K views
2015 Acura TLX - Rear Steering Problem! Diag & Fix!Advanced Level Diagnostics · 17K views
Before you buy, watch
2016 Acura TLX PROBLEMSMike Chandler · 80K views
2015-2020 Acura TLX Buyer’s Guide - Reliability & Common ProblemsDiscerning Cars · 73K views
2015 Acura TLX V6 Review - Should You Buy One?Masry Motors · 37K viewsViews show how many people looked up each fix, not how often it breaks. Videos belong to their creators; we link to them. The 2018 is the same generation.
Problems Acura told dealers about
Acura sent dealers 92 repair notes for this car. The ones about its biggest problems:
- The high pressure fuel pump area chirps after the engine is warm
- Tech line summary article - Have a vehicle in your shop with low mileage (less than 1,500 miles)
- Servicenews Article - Have a vehicle in your shop with low mileage (less than 1,500 miles)
Ask a seller or mechanic if these were done. Some are free under warranty or a special program.
Recalls 4
- Airbags · recall issued 2026 New: most likely still open
The front passenger seat weight sensor may crack and short circuit, which can cause the air bags to deploy unintentionally during a crash.
- Fuel system, gasoline · recall issued 2023
The fuel pump inside the fuel tank may fail.
- Engine · recall issued 2023
Due to a manufacturing error, the connecting rod bearing in the engine may wear and seize, damaging the engine.
Show all 4 recalls
- Fuel system, other · recall issued 2019 3.5L engines only
Particulates in fuel may adhere to the internal components of the fuel pump, reducing its performance.
Recall repairs are free at any dealer. A recall only matters if it's still open on that exact car, so check its VIN.
Canada? See recalls at Transport Canada
Government investigations
- OpenNo restart after auto start/stop engages2025
- OpenEngine failure2025
- ClosedEngine failure2024–2025
NHTSA looks into a problem when enough owners report it. Many end in a recall.
Safety
Crash test details
| Version | Overall | Front | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Acura TLX 4 DR FWD | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ |
| Acura TLX 4 DR AWD | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ |
Fuel cost and engines
About $2,800–$3,250 (USD) a year in fuel (EPA estimate at U.S. prices, 15,000 miles or 24,000 km a year). Engines: 2.4L 4-cyl, 3.5L 6-cyl.
Every Acura TLX year. 2018 is highlighted. Lower is better.
Newest year first. Red = worse than average, gray = about average, too new (2023+: a partial score, marked “partial”) or too few complaints to score. #1, #2… = that year's YouTube rank among the 7 Acura TLX years with enough videos (#1 = the year owners and reviewers talk about most positively). It is not a reliability rank.
Embed this chart
Put this chart on your site, blog or forum. Free, with the credit line built in; the 2018 bar is highlighted.
<iframe src="https://lemonindex.com/embed/cars/acura-tlx/?y=2018" title="Acura TLX reliability by model year (The Lemon Index)" width="100%" height="376" style="border:0;max-width:720px" loading="lazy"></iframe><p style="font-size:13px;margin:4px 0 0">Data: <a href="https://lemonindex.com/cars/acura-tlx/2018/">Lemon Index</a> (2018 Acura TLX reliability)</p>Quick answers
Is the 2018 Acura TLX reliable?
Yes, better than average by government complaints. It drew a bit over half as many complaints as the average car filed with NHTSA in its first 3 years, per car sold (Lemon Index 59; 100 is average, lower is better).
What are the most common 2018 Acura TLX problems?
In owner complaints to the government, the parts named most are electrical (32%), engine (16%) and brakes (16%). That is the share of complaints, not the share of cars that break.
How many recalls does the 2018 Acura TLX have?
4 safety recalls (latest: airbags). Recall repairs are free at any dealer; check a specific car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 2018 Acura TLX get?
23 to 27 mpg combined, depending on the engine (EPA estimate).
Is the 2018 Acura TLX safe?
NHTSA gave it 5 out of 5 stars overall in its best tested version. Ratings differ by body style, and the full table is on the advanced page.
Does the 2018 Acura TLX have transmission problems?
Transmission and drivetrain issues aren't among its top 5 complaint areas.
How much does the 2018 Acura TLX cost in fuel a year?
About $2,800 to $3,250 a year, by the EPA's current estimate.
What engines does the 2018 Acura TLX have?
2.4L 4-cyl, 3.5L 6-cyl.
Is there a better Acura TLX year than the 2018?
Not nearby: the 2018 drew the fewest complaints per car sold of the Acura TLX years within 3 model years of it.
The Lemon Index counts owner complaints filed with the U.S. government (NHTSA) in a car's first 3 years, per car sold, against the average car of the same model years (100 = average, lower is better). It measures complaints, not crash safety. A complaint is an owner's report, not a confirmed defect. How it works