Acura SLX problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
10 owner complaints analyzed
4 distinct recall campaigns
93,750 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1996 to 2000 model years. Data snapshot: . 4 complaints include usable failure mileage.
This selection has limited data. It remains available for lookup but is excluded from search indexing.
Most common problems
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 3 of 10 complaints (30.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 2 | 20.0% |
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 10.0% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 1 | 10.0% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 3 |
| Tires | 2 |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 1 |
| Exterior Lighting | 1 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings | 1 |
| Tires:Tread/Belt | 1 |
| Vehicle Speed Control:Accelerator Pedal | 1 |
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 3; Tires: 2; Air Bags:Frontal: 1; Exterior Lighting: 1; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings: 1; Tires:Tread/Belt: 1; Vehicle Speed Control:Accelerator Pedal: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 0 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 1 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 1 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 2 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 1; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 1; 100,000 to 149,999: 2; 150,000 and above: 0
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (2). 6 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 3 |
| 2001 | 1 |
| 2002 | 1 |
| 2004 | 2 |
| 2006 | 2 |
| 2008 | 1 |
2000: 3; 2001: 1; 2002: 1; 2004: 2; 2006: 2; 2008: 1
Pattern summary
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 2 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 1 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 1 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10151511 · 2006-03-01 (March 1, 2006)
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THERE IS BRAKE FLUID LEAKAGE AND STOPPING DISTANCES WERE INCREASED AS A RESULT. THERE IS A NHTSA RECALL, # 97V092002, REGARDING THE SERVICE BRAKES HOSES AND LINES. THE VEHICLE HAS THE SAME PROBLEMS AS INDICATED IN THE RECALL; HOWEVER IT IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION OR REPAIR.
Owner-reported narrative. 112,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10151511 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 742841 · 2001-03-21 (March 21, 2001)
THROTTLE SUCKED TO THE GROUND AND WOULD NOT RELEASE WHEN BRAKES APPLIED, WHEN EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS EXTENDED. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 742841 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10156940 · 2006-05-07 (May 7, 2006)
MY 1998 ACURA SLX, WITH 122,000 MILES, REQUIRES A NEW ENGINE. THE CAR DEVELOPED A LOUD SLAPPING NOISE AND WAS DIAGNOSED BY 2 MECHANICS AS A BROKEN PISTON SKIRT. I WAS TOLD THAT THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE WITH THESE CARS - A RESULT OF A MISMATCH BETWEEN THE ISUZU ENGINE AND THE ACURA TRANSMISSION. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. 122,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10156940 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10246866 · 2008-10-27 (October 27, 2008)
I HAVE THE 1997 ACURA SLX. I HAVE BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE HEADLIGHTS COMING ON WHENEVER IT GETS COLD OUTSIDE. WHEN THE TEMP IS 30 DEGREES OR LOWER THE HEADLIGHTS COME ON BY THEMSELVES. I HAVE TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO SEE WHAT CAUSES THIS BUT NO ONE CAN CORRECT THE PROBLEM OR EVEN KNOWS WHAT CAUSES THE LIGHTS TO COME ON. AS A RESULT OF LIGHTS COMING ON IT RUNS DOWN THE BATTERY. I HAVE HAD THE CABLE WIRES REPLACED I HAVE PURCHASED NEW BATTERIES AND THE PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN RESOLVED. DO YOU KNOW WHAT COULD CAUSE THIS PROBLEM? *TR
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10246866 at NHTSA ↗
Recalls by model year
All campaigns in the snapshot affecting each model year, including recalls announced years later.
Recall campaigns
Shared campaigns appear once in each affected model year.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 1996 | 2 |
| 1997 | 2 |
| 1998 | 1 |
| 1999 | 0 |
| 2000 | 0 |
1996: 2; 1997: 2; 1998: 1; 1999: 0; 2000: 0