Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2021 Acura TLX, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Power train28
- Electrical system10
- Service brakes10
- Unknown or other10
- Air bags8
- Forward collision avoidance8
- Suspension6
- Fuel/propulsion system6
- Engine5
- Steering3
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 3 injuries and 0 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
Fatal crashes in the US
From 2020 to 2023, 6 2021 TLX vehicles were involved in crashes on US public roads in which someone died; 1 person died inside them. This is a count, not a crash rate: it grows with the number of cars on the road.
NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), crash years 2020–2023 (public domain)
New York safety inspections
At its first New York inspection the 2021 Acura TLX failed the safety check 0.50% of the time — 47% less often than the average 2021 passenger car (0.95%). Median odometer at inspection: 18,884 miles.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections (vezn-fmmk), initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
Crash-test ratings
NHTSA 5-star results for 2 variants; 2 of 2 rated variants score five stars overall. Rollover risk is the estimated chance of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.
| Variant | Overall | Rollover risk |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 Acura TLX 4 DR AWD | ★★★★★ | 9.0 % |
| 2021 Acura TLX 4 DR FWD | ★★★★★ | 9.0 % |
- Electronic stability control
- Standard
- Forward collision warning
- Standard
- Lane departure warning
- Standard
- Best overall rating
- 5 / 5
NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (5-Star Safety Ratings), api.nhtsa.gov · US federal work, public domain
Fuel consumption
Official Canadian test results for 2 variants: combined 9.8 L/100 km (about 24 mpg US), CO₂ 230–231 g/km.
| Variant | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| TLX SH-AWD · Compact · Premium gasoline | 11.2 | 8.0 | 9.8 |
| TLX SH-AWD A-SPEC · Compact · Premium gasoline | 11.3 | 8.1 | 9.8 |
Litres per 100 km. Natural Resources Canada, Fuel consumption ratings (open.canada.ca) · Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls in Canada
4 Transport Canada recalls for the 2021 Acura TLX.
| 2026251 21 May 2026 | Seats And Restraints Issue: On certain vehicles, the weight sensor for the front passenger seat may not have been manufactured properly. As a result, the passenger-front airbag an… |
| 2025318 12 Jun 2025 | Brakes Issue: On certain vehicles, the brake pedal assembly may not have been manufactured properly. As a result, the brake pedal could move and cause you not to be … |
| 2025029 23 Jan 2025 | Fuel System Issue: On certain vehicles, a software problem in the fuel injection electronic control unit could cause the engine to stall while driving. Safety Risk: … |
| 2024059 1 Feb 2024 | Airbag Issue: On certain vehicles, the weight sensor for the front passenger seat may not have been manufactured properly. As a result, the passenger-front airbag an… |
Transport Canada Vehicle Recalls Database · Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls
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.
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2021-2025 Acura TLX, 2023-2025 Acura MDX, and 2023-2025 Honda Pilot vehicles. The brake pedal pivot pin was not secured properly, which can cause the pedal to shift out of position. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard numbers 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment" and 135, "Light Vehicle Brake Systems."
Acura (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2021-2023 TLX vehicles. The fuel filler neck and fuel tank may have been improperly welded, which can result in a fuel leak.
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.
Whether a recall was fixed on a particular car is known only to the manufacturer: check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA recalls · summaries in NHTSA's own words
Service bulletins
What Acura told its dealers about the 2021 Acura TLX: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 11011797 | Dealer Message - American Honda Motor Co., Inc. (AHM) is searching for certain 2021-2023 TLX ADVs and 2021-2025 TLX Type Ss with a client complaint of the Adaptive Damper System Problem (ADS) error message on the MID (Multi Information Display). To better understand the cause of this condition, AHM would like to collect specific parts from the vehicle prior to you attempting a repair of any kind. |
| 11010681 | Dealer Message - American Honda Motor Co., Inc. (AHM) is searching for certain 2021-2023 TLX ADVs and 2021-2025 TLX Type Ss with a client complaint of the Adaptive Damper System Problem (ADS) error message on the MID (Multi Information Display). To better understand the cause of this condition, AHM would like to collect specific parts from the vehicle prior to you attempting a repair of any kind. |
| 11010123 | Dealer Message - American Honda Motor Co., Inc. (AHM) is searching for certain 2021-2023 TLX ADVs and 2021-2025 TLX Type Ss with a client complaint of the Adaptive Damper System Problem (ADS) error message on the MID (Multi Information Display). To better understand the cause of this condition, AHM would like to collect specific parts from the vehicle prior to you attempting a repair of any kind. |
| 11009195 | Dealer Message - American Honda Motor Co., Inc. (AHM) is searching for certain 2021-2023 TLX ADVs and 2021-2025 TLX Type Ss with a client complaint of the Adaptive Damper System Problem (ADS) error message on the MID (Multi Information Display). To better understand the cause of this condition, AHM would like to collect specific parts from the vehicle prior to you attempting a repair of any kind. |
| 11008048 | Owner Notification Letter - A coaxial cable terminal was not manufactured to proper specifications. An improperly manufactured terminal may lead to poor communication in the media-oriented system (MOST) bus network which can potentially affect the audio sound quality. |
| 11008046 | Dealer Message - American Honda Motor Co., Inc. (AHM) is searching for certain 2022-2025 MDX Type S's & 2021-2025 TLX ADV's or Type S's with a client complaint of the Adaptive Damper System Problem (ADS) error message on the MID (Multi Information Display). To better understand the cause of this condition, AHM would like to collect specific parts from the vehicle prior to you attempting a repair of any kind. |
| 11007893 | Dealer Message - American Honda Motor Co., Inc. (AHM) is searching for certain 2022-2025 MDX Type S's & 2021-2025 TLX ADV's or Type S's with a client complaint of the Adaptive Damper System Problem (ADS) error message on the MID (Multi Information Display). To better understand the cause of this condition, AHM would like to collect specific parts from the vehicle prior to you attempting a repair of any kind. |
| 11007651 | Dealer Message - American Honda Motor Co., Inc. (AHM) is searching for certain 2022-2025 MDX Type S's & 2021-2025 TLX ADV's or Type S's with a client complaint of the Adaptive Damper System Problem (ADS) error message on the MID (Multi Information Display). To better understand the cause of this condition, AHM would like to collect specific parts from the vehicle prior to you attempting a repair of any kind. |
| 11006809 | Dealer Message - American Honda Motor Co., Inc. (AHM) is searching for certain 2021-2023 TLX ADVs and 2021-2025 TLX Type Ss with a client complaint of the Adaptive Damper System Problem (ADS) error message on the MID (Multi Information Display). To better understand the cause of this condition, AHM would like to collect specific parts from the vehicle prior to you attempting a repair of any kind. |
| 11005524 | Service Bulletin - A coaxial cable terminal was not manufactured to proper specifications. An improperly manufactured terminal may lead to poor communication in the media-oriented system transport (MOST) bus network which can potentially affect the audio sound quality. |
| 11005521 | Dealer Message - A coaxial cable terminal was not manufactured to proper specifications. An improperly manufactured terminal may lead to poor communication in the Media Oriented System Transport (MOST) bus network which can potentially affect the audio sound quality. |
| 10252481 | Service Bulletin - During engine start in cold conditions, a miscalculation in the PCM causes the air-fuel ratio to exceed DTC rich criteria. |
| 10251896 | Service Bulletin - The MIL is flashing with a loss of power. This is most common in hot, humid regions, or after a period of rainfall. Humid air within the intake passage may condense and accumulate moisture during steady driving which enters the engine and may cause a misfire and a flashing MIL. |
| 10244255 | Service Bulletin - The vehicle's brakes may exhibit a groan, squeal, or squeak noise, most commonly after the vehicle sits for a prolonged period and the brakes are cold. This noise will typically disappear after the first few brake applications. |
| 10242214 | Service Bulletin - The client may experience a popping or crackling noise from the speakers, a blank display, or no sound from the audio system. They may also see a Network Loss message. |
| 10235553 | Owner Notification Letter - An owner's notification that the owner has not completed the emissions recall for an improperly functioning on-board emission-related diagnostic system. |
| 10233293 | Dealer Message - American Honda Motor Co., Inc. (AHM) is searching for any & all 2022 MDX Type Ss & 2021-2022 TLXs that match the criteria listed below. Qualifiers AHM is interested ONLY if the vehicle meets the following requirements: 1. Manufactured date on the Drivers door jamb must be between 1/2019 & 9/2021. 2. No DTC stored. 3. Electric Servo Brake (ESB) system has not been replaced previously. |
| 10233209 | Service Bulletin - Under certain circumstances, the vehicle may experience driveability concerns. This may result in the following DTCs to set: P0300 (Random Misfire Detected), P0301 (No. 1 Cylinder Misfire Detected), P0302 (No. 2 Cylinder Misfire Detected), P0303 (No. 3 Cylinder Misfire Detected), P0304 (No. 4 Cylinder Misfire Detected), P0172 (Fuel System Too Rich) |
| 10232971 | Dealer Message - American Honda Motor Co., Inc. (AHM) is searching for any & all 2022 MDX Type Ss & 2021-2022 TLXs that match the criteria listed below. Qualifiers AHM is interested ONLY if the vehicle meets the following requirements: 1. Manufactured date on the Drivers door jamb must be between 1/2019 & 9/2021. 2. No DTC stored. 3. Electric Servo Brake (ESB) system has not been replaced previously. |
| 10232251 | Dealer Message - American Honda Motor Co., Inc. (AHM) is searching for any & all 2022 MDX Type Ss & 2021-2022 TLXs that match the criteria listed below. Qualifiers AHM is interested ONLY if the vehicle meets the following requirements: 1. Manufactured date on the Drivers door jamb must be between 1/2019 & 9/2021. 2. No DTC stored. 3. Electric Servo Brake (ESB) system has not been replaced previously. |
| 10231831 | Dealer Message- American Honda Motor Co., Inc. (AHM) is searching for any & all 2022 MDX Type Ss & 2021-2022 TLXs that match the criteria listed below. AHM is interested ONLY if the vehicle meets the following requirements: 1. Manufactured date on the Drivers door jamb must be between 1/2019 & 9/2021. 2. No DTC stored. 3. Electric Servo Brake (ESB) system has not been replaced previously. |
| 10230599 | Dealer Message - American Honda Motor Co., Inc. (AHM) is searching for any & all 2022 MDX Type Ss & 2021-2022 TLXs that match the criteria listed below. |
| 10229693 | Dealer Message - American Honda Motor Co., Inc. (AHM) is searching for any & all 2022 MDX Type Ss & 2021-2022 TLXs that match the criteria listed below. |
| 10229692 | Dealer Message - American Honda Motor Co., Inc. (AHM) is searching for any & all 2022 MDX Type Ss & 2021-2022 TLXs that match the criteria listed below. |
| 10228203 | Dealer Message - American Honda Motor Co., Inc. (AHM) is investigating certain 2020-2021 RDXs & TLX L4s with a client complaint of an oil leak or a dealer technician noticing an oil leak from the head cover gasket during a routine maintenance. To fully understand the cause of this condition, AHM would like to inspect the vehicle prior to you attempting a repair of any kind. |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)
NHTSA investigations
All wheel drive allegation
No Restart After Auto Start/Stop Engages
NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation