The Lemon Index
2019
20211st generation
Better than average · most complaints: engine
15 owner complaints, first 3 years 23–27 mpg combined, EPA
Similar cars, same year
2020 BMW 3 Series 422020 Audi A42020 Lexus IS
Lemon Index: 100 = the average car, lower is better.
Engines & versions
What breaks most on the 2020 Acura TLX
- Engine stalling10 complaints
Specific parts named in the 63 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2020 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
No complaints for this year listed a mileage, so we can't say when problems show up.
Questions to ask the seller
- Were recalls 26V332000 (airbags), 24V064000 (airbags) and 23V858000 (fuel system, gasoline) done? It has 5 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?
- 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?
- Do all the lights, screens and power features work? Has the battery, alternator or any wiring been replaced?
- Acura sent dealers 50 repair notes for this car. Was this one done: “The AWD warning light is on with one or more AWD DTCs having been set due to water”?
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 15 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 →
In owners' words
Software update completed June 2022 When coming to a stop light, my car shutdown. Went into neutral and took about five seconds to restart. It happened the following day and I was rear ended. No injuries occurred.
2020 Acura TLX owner · NHTSA complaint 11534584
More owner reports
Car loses power on inclines. Stepping on gas and car decreases speed.
NHTSA complaint 11422977
Two times in three weeks with the auto idle stop active the car failed to restart on a green light. Following all the prompts in the car it takes over a minute to re start the car while blocking traffic.
NHTSA complaint 11420145
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 2020 is the same generation.
Problems Acura told dealers about
Acura sent dealers 50 repair notes for this car. The ones about its biggest problems:
- The AWD warning light is on with one or more AWD DTCs having been set due to water
Ask a seller or mechanic if these were done. Some are free under warranty or a special program.
Recalls 5
- 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.
- Airbags · recall issued 2024
The front passenger seat weight sensor may crack and short circuit, failing to suppress the air bag as intended.
- Fuel system, gasoline · recall issued 2023
The fuel pump inside the fuel tank may fail.
Show all 5 recalls
- Engine · recall issued 2023
Due to a manufacturing error, the connecting rod bearing in the engine may wear and seize, damaging the engine.
- Fuel system, gasoline · recall issued 2021
The low-pressure fuel pump inside the fuel tank may fail.
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 AWD | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ |
| Acura TLX 4 DR FWD | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ |
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. 2020 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 2020 bar is highlighted.
<iframe src="https://lemonindex.com/embed/cars/acura-tlx/?y=2020" 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/2020/">Lemon Index</a> (2020 Acura TLX reliability)</p>Quick answers
Is the 2020 Acura TLX reliable?
Yes, better than average by government complaints. It drew about three-quarters as many complaints as the average car filed with NHTSA in its first 3 years, per car sold (Lemon Index 71; 100 is average, lower is better). The Acura TLX year with the fewest complaints per car sold is 2018.
What are the most common 2020 Acura TLX problems?
In owner complaints to the government, the parts named most are engine (40%), brakes (20%) and electrical (13%). That is the share of complaints, not the share of cars that break.
How many recalls does the 2020 Acura TLX have?
5 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 2020 Acura TLX get?
23 to 27 mpg combined, depending on the engine (EPA estimate).
Is the 2020 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 2020 Acura TLX have transmission problems?
Transmission and drivetrain issues aren't among its top 5 complaint areas.
How much does the 2020 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 2020 Acura TLX have?
2.4L 4-cyl, 3.5L 6-cyl.
What Acura TLX year is better than the 2020?
Nearby, the 2018 drew fewer owner complaints per car sold (a bit over half as many complaints as the average car).
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