2016 Acura TLX: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
110 owner complaints analyzed
3 distinct recall campaigns
37,700 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2016 model year. Data snapshot: . 57 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 27 of 110 complaints (24.5%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 18 | 16.4% |
| Braking behavior | 18 | 16.4% |
| Engine operation | 15 | 13.6% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 14 | 12.7% |
| Steering behavior | 7 | 6.4% |
| Fuel system concerns | 5 | 4.5% |
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 | 27 |
| Electrical System | 23 |
| Power Train | 15 |
| Unknown Or Other | 14 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 13 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 11 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 10 |
| Electronic Stability Control (Esc) | 5 |
Engine: 27; Electrical System: 23; Power Train: 15; Unknown Or Other: 14; Engine And Engine Cooling: 13; Vehicle Speed Control: 11; Fuel/Propulsion System: 10; Electronic Stability Control (Esc): 5
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 23 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 12 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 8 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 6 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 7 |
| 150,000 and above | 1 |
Under 25,000: 23; 25,000 to 49,999: 12; 50,000 to 74,999: 8; 75,000 to 99,999: 6; 100,000 to 149,999: 7; 150,000 and above: 1
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (23). 53 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 |
|---|---|
| 2016 | 11 |
| 2017 | 7 |
| 2018 | 5 |
| 2019 | 12 |
| 2020 | 11 |
| 2021 | 9 |
| 2022 | 8 |
| 2023 | 7 |
| 2024 | 21 |
| 2025 | 12 |
| 2026 | 7 |
2016: 11; 2017: 7; 2018: 5; 2019: 12; 2020: 11; 2021: 9; 2022: 8; 2023: 7; 2024: 21; 2025: 12; 2026: 7
Pattern summary
Engine leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 18 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 18 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 15 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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10824363 · 2016-02-04 (February 4, 2016)
ACCELERATION FROM LOW GEARS REV RPM UP TO 6000 WHEN MOVING OUT OF A PARKING SPOT. WHEN GOING ONTO HIGHWAY SAME THING ANYTHING LOWER THAN 20 MPH HAS A HESITATION. NOT SURE WHAT MY OPTIONS ARE.
Owner-reported narrative. 400 miles reported. Look up ODI 10824363 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10851745 · 2016-03-26 (March 26, 2016)
1. WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A STOP, THE TRANSMISSION OCCASIONALLY FEELS LIKE IT SLIPS INTO NEUTRAL. THE ENGINE RES BUT DOES NOT MOVE FORWARD FOR 1-2 SECONDS. 2. CAR DOWNSHIFTS INTO 1ST GEAR AND LURCHES FORWARD AFTER COMING TO A STOP. 3. TRANSMISSION SHIFTS VERY ABRUPTLY AND ROUGH DURING ALMOST ALL ACCELERATIONS.
Owner-reported narrative. 1,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10851745 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10873806 · 2016-06-13 (June 13, 2016)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 ACURA TLX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT VENTS CAUSED A REFLECTION IN THE SIDE VIEW MIRRORS CAUSING THE CONTACTS VISION TO BE OBSCURED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 78. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
Owner-reported narrative. 78 miles reported. Look up ODI 10873806 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10886004 · 2016-07-19 (July 19, 2016)
SIDE VIEW MIRRORS HAVE A REFLECTION OF INSIDE VENTS. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS, WHEN YOU HAVE AN OBSTRUCTED VIEW. CAN CAUSE SERIOUS ACCIDENT. I COULD NOT SEE SIDE VIEW BECAUSE OF REFLECTION.
Owner-reported narrative. 10 miles reported. Look up ODI 10886004 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10887912 · 2016-07-23 (July 23, 2016)
WHILE DRIVING THE CAR IN BRIGHT SUNLIGHT THERE IS A CLARE REFLECTION FROM THE DRIVERS AND PASSENGER'S DASHBOARD VENTS THAT REFLECTS STRONGLY ON THE INTERIOR SIDE WINDOW RIGHT WHERE THE LEFT AND RIGHT SIDE VIEW MIRRORS ARE LOCATED. THE GLARE CAN BE VERY STRONG ON SUNNY DAYS THAT IT MAKES IT DIFFICULT TO DISCERN IF A VEHICLE REALLY IS IN THE SIDE VIEW MIRRORS. THIS GLARE COMES FROM THE CHROME VENTS OUTLINE. THIS IS A SYSTEMIC PROBLEM AS I'VE DRIVEN THREE DIFFERENT 2016 TLX ALL WITH THE SAME ISSUE. I HAVE REPORTED THIS ISSUE TO THE ACURA DEALE…
Owner-reported narrative. 6,184 miles reported. Look up ODI 10887912 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10893448 · 2016-08-05 (August 5, 2016)
STRONG REFLECTION OF DASHBOARD PARTS ON FRONT WINDSHIELD AND IN LEFT AND RIGHT BACK TRAFFIC VIEW MIRRORS.
Owner-reported narrative. 19 miles reported. Look up ODI 10893448 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10909628 · 2016-09-26 (September 26, 2016)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 ACURA TLX. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO UNLOCK THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE DOOR FROM INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT HAD TO EXIT THE VEHICLE FROM THE OUTSIDE DOOR HANDLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 2,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10909628 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10914525 · 2016-10-07 (October 7, 2016)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 ACURA TLX. WHILE PULLING INTO A PARKING SPOT WITH THE BRAKE PEDAL DEPRESSED, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED AND LUNGED FORWARD WITHOUT WARNING. DUE TO THE FAILURE, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE DROVE OVER A CONCRETE CURB BARRIER AND WAS STOPPED BY BUSHES. THE CRASH DID NOT CAUSE THE AIR BAGS TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A LOWER BACK SPRAIN INJURY ON THE LEFT SIDE. MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS RECEIVED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER, BUT THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE FRONT BUMPER, BUMPER COV…
Owner-reported narrative. 2,400 miles reported. Look up ODI 10914525 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
3 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
19V060000 · Fuel System, Other:Delivery:Fuel Pump
Reported: 2019-01-29 (January 29, 2019)
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.
Consequence: Reduced fuel pump performance can result in an engine stall, increasing the risk of crash.
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.
NHTSA campaign record ↗23V751000 · Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Hard Parts Internal/Mechanical
Reported: 2023-11-13 (November 13, 2023)
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.
Consequence: 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 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.
NHTSA campaign record ↗23V858000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Fuel Pump
Reported: 2023-12-18 (December 18, 2023)
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.
Consequence: 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.
NHTSA campaign record ↗