The Lemon Index

All cars · Acura TLX · 2020

2020 Acura TLX. Advanced data.

The raw numbers: engines, recall campaign numbers, failure mileage and manufacturer communications.

Lemon Index71100 = average car
Complaints15NHTSA, first 3 years
Sold21,785U.S. model year
Per 100K sold69complaints
Complaint rank#3 of 7among the 7 scored Acura TLX model years (2015–2021); #1 = fewest complaints per car sold, not the YouTube rank

Complaints by system

SystemShare of complaints
Engine40%
Brakes20%
Electrical13%
Automatic emergency braking13%
Wheels7%

One complaint can name more than one system, so shares can add to more than 100%.

Severity, all complaints

TotalCrashesFiresInjuriesDeathsTows
1510001

As reported by owners to NHTSA. Not verified.

Recall campaigns 5

  • 26V332000 May 2026 Air Bags / Sensor / Occupant Classification / Front Passenger

    Defect. 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) involve

  • 24V064000 Feb 2024 Air Bags / Sensor / Occupant Classification / Front Passenger

    Defect. 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.

  • 23V858000 Dec 2023 Fuel System, Gasoline / Delivery / Fuel Pump

    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.

    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.

  • 23V751000 Nov 2023 Engine And Engine Cooling / Engine / Hard Parts Internal/Mechanical

    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.

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

    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

  • 21V215000 Mar 2021 Fuel System, Gasoline / Delivery / Fuel Pump

    Defect. Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Acura MDX, MDX Sport Hybrid, RDX, TLX, Honda Accord, Civic Hatchback, Insight, 2019 Acura ILX, Honda Accord Hybrid, Civic Coupe, Civic Coupe Si, Civic Sedan, Civic Sedan Si, Civic Type R, Fit, HR-V, Odyssey, Passport, Pilot and Ridgeline, and 2018-2019 CR-V vehicles. The low-pressure 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. Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel pump assembly, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed May 18, 2021. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Note: This recall is an expansion of recall 20V-314.

NHTSA investigations

StatusSubjectOpenedClosed
OpenNo restart after auto start/stop engages2025–
OpenEngine failure2025–
ClosedEngine failure20242025

Manufacturer communications 50

Acura filed 50 service communications for this car with NHTSA.

  • The AWD warning light is on with one or more AWD DTCs having been set due to water

Crash ratings by version

VersionOverallFrontSideRollover
Acura TLX 4 DR AWD★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★
Acura TLX 4 DR FWD★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★

Safety equipment

Electronic stabilityForward collision warningLane departure warning
StandardStandardStandard

Engines and drivetrains 3

EngineTransmissionDriveCity / hwy / combinedFuelFuel cost/yr
2.4L 4-cylAuto (AM-S8)FWD23 / 33 / 27Premium$2,850
3.5L 6-cylAuto (S9)FWD20 / 31 / 24Premium$3,200
3.5L 6-cylAuto (S9)AWD20 / 29 / 23Premium$3,350

EPA test versions for this model year. Fuel cost is the EPA's current estimate, not the price in that year.

YouTube repair topics

199 videos about the 2015–2020 Acura TLX, 18.0M views.

TopicVideosViews
Gauges, lights & wiring4234K
Oil changes & service4187K
Infotainment, battery & electrical193K
No-start: theft light, key & ignition375K
Transmission & shifter155K
Death wobble & steering117K

Nearby model years

YearLemon IndexComplaintsSoldTop system
2017592234,846Transmission & drivetrain
2018591930,468Electrical
2019892526,548Engine
2020711521,785Engine
20211193026,100Electrical
2022–19–Transmission & drivetrain
2023–19–Transmission & drivetrain

Sources: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer communications; EPA fuel economy data; YouTube video titles. Complaints are owner reports, not proof of a defect.

Updated · Free to use with credit: Source: The Lemon Index (lemonindex.com). Get the data

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