2020 Acura TLX Owner Complaints

- The engine system failed and it is available for inspection -While driving on the highway at normal traffic speed, my vehicle suddenly developed a loud knocking noise and the check engine light lit up. Within moments, the engine lost power and became inoperable, leaving me unable to continue driving while being 300 miles away from home. This incident occurred at about 5-6AM, having to maneuver through traffic before the sunrise. This created a serious safety risk because surrounding vehicles were traveling at full speed increasing the risk of collision. There were no warning signs of this failure and I was unfortunately stranded on the highway in an unfamiliar town for hours with minors in the vehicle. -Yes, the vehicle was towed to a local dealeriship, Hahira Automotive Services, where the engine failure occurred and they confirmed that they were unable to start the car and the knocking sound was indicative of engine failure. I towed the car to an Acura dealership local to my home and they confirmed the same vehicle condition and that a takedown is required to fully inspect the engine. -The engine has not been inspected by anyone only the vehicle condition -There were no warning signs of engine failure prior to the incident

NHTSA ID

11754884

Incident

Jul 6, 2026

The cars Emission Systems and Parking Brake lights come on, and the dealer can not diagnose this issue properly. I have taken it in 4 times, and it continues to happen. I fear the parking brake coming on while driving.

NHTSA ID

11735228

Incident

Jul 1, 2025

Airbags (SRS)

NHTSA ID

11733447

Incident

Apr 23, 2026

Transmission harsh and delayed gear engagement, sometimes it won’t shift unless it’s done manually, few times it didn’t shift even though I shifted manually, I had to increase engine speed to about 5000 RPM so it shifts, transmission goes into neutral when trying to to accelerate while it’s in drive and intermittent vibration caused by hydraulic circuit pressure issues, I’ve had the vehicle since it had 7900 miles and all these issues been present in the car since then, the car now have 29000 miles and it’s only getting worse. These issues have been reported by a lot of Honda/Acura vehicles owner with the 9 speed transmission

NHTSA ID

11722849

Incident

Dec 30, 2024

PE 25008 The engine knock started on 12/22/25. Motorcars Acura recommended get a case number & have the 2020 TLX towed in for a diagnostic. Online case # XXX Towed to Motorcars on 12/23/25. Talked to Michelle with customer relations & she was going to call Motorcars for info. Motorcars, without my permission, pulled the oil pan & inspected the bearings. #6 rod bearing failed. On 1/15/26, Michelle with customer relations told me that they will not offer reimbursement to repair. I told Motorcars to do the repair on 1/15/26. Picked up the car on 1/21/26 Info & pictures attached. I told Michelle I hope you reconsider reimbursing me for the repairs. As I told Michelle, I am very loyal to Acura as I own (4) Acura’s. Now two of them have engine issue. The 2020 TLX rod bearing issue that was not included in the recall & my 2012 MDX with the 3.7 oil consumption issues. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11714897

Incident

Dec 22, 2025

The front camera that operates the cruise control, lane assist, automatic braking, automatic high beam has stopped working. After further research it seems to be a popular problem with this car in a short amount of time. This car is a 2020 with 61,000 miles. The camera costs approximately $2000 to fix and should have a longer life span.

NHTSA ID

11714405

Incident

Sep 27, 2025

Recall performed on 2020 Acura TLX 3.5 for rod bearing recall. Crankshaft and bearings were replaced. 24000 miles later, the engine spun a bearing again with all the new internals. All maintenance records were supplied when the car was brought in. Acura is wanting me to pay 40% of the cost for a short block.

NHTSA ID

11710271

Incident

Dec 17, 2025

49,622 mark on my 2020 Acura tlx AWD… auto stop was enabled, car was at stoplight, engine attempted to re-engage but did not and car went into “neutral”… and the lights stayed on. I immediately turned on blinkers to avoid crash and and attempted to re start car, I shifted into Park, shut down car and re-started it successfully. I am seeking repair or disablement of the auto stop system, this is a safety hazard to myself and my family as well as others who had to go around while the issue was being troubleshooted. This appears to be related to Investigation:EA25004

NHTSA ID

11700396

Incident

Nov 16, 2025

On or about October 21–22, 2025, I brought my 2020 Acura TLX (brown, 99,000 miles, VIN [XXX] ) to Goodson Acura of Dallas for a recall repair related to engine concerns. The vehicle was returned to me on October 24, 2025. Shortly afterward, the car began to lag and hesitate while accelerating. On November 3, 2025, while driving to a doctor’s appointment on the Bypass Bridge in morning traffic, the vehicle suddenly stalled and lost power completely. This created a dangerous situation in active traffic. I recently underwent surgery following a serious burn injury, so limited mobility made this stall especially hazardous. After restarting the engine, multiple ADAS and system-fault warnings appeared. I contacted Goodson Acura and was advised to bring the vehicle in. Upon arrival, the service advisor confirmed the warning lights but required a $205 diagnostic fee despite the recall work. Acura Client Relations opened Case No. XXX and advised the charge should not apply if related to the recall. After waiting several hours, I was told the battery had died and that front camera/ADAS systems were returning codes. This stall occurred less than two weeks after recall repair and could easily have caused a serious crash or injury. I am requesting a full investigation into the recall repair, the stalling issue, and any related safety defects. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11697430

Incident

Nov 3, 2025

Was driving on the highway at posted 65 and 70-mph when car suddenly went into 'limp mode' to under 50mph and I was forced to exit the highway after nearly being rear-ended. Dash error indicated 'Precision All wheel steering had malfunctioned'. Took the car to Crown Acura in Cleveland where I was told that it would be $9210 to replace two rear wheel steering actuators or $2800 if they used salvage parts. This was a known issue with the 2015-2020 Acura TLX cars and there are numerous reports online in TLX and Acura forums. Had a semi truck been behind me, there is no question that I would have been in an accident and injured if not killed. Acura needs to address this issue with these cars under a federally mandated recall notice.

NHTSA ID

11696785

Incident

Oct 28, 2025

The contact owns a 2020 Acura TLX. The contact stated that while stopped at a red light and attempting to make a right turn, the vehicle lost power. No warning light was illuminated. A dealer was contacted. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired, but the engine was not replaced. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V751000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING); however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and offered to help with the cost of the repair. The failure mileage was 98,000.

NHTSA ID

11696140

Incident

Jul 23, 2025

Mileage

98,000 mi

Multiple dash lights including "brake system failure, collision mitigation system problem, adaptive cruise control problem, road departure mitigation system problem, etc." RPMs effected, car does not shift into third gear. Safety of myself and others were at risk because the vehicle stalled then would not go over 20mph. Had this been a busy highway, lack of warning could cause a major collision. The vehicle was recently inspected and passed by Criswell Honda, Gaithersburg and purchased by me today. No dash lights were displayed. I drove less than 100 miles before the issue occurred. The vehicle is currently being towed back to Criswell Honda for diagnostics and repair (or I was told that is what they will be doing).

NHTSA ID

11691114

Incident

Oct 2, 2025

The contact owns a 2020 Acura TLX. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, the check engine warning light, the emission system failure, and electronic parking assist messages were displayed. Additionally, the AWD feature had become inoperable, making the vehicle difficult to steer. The contact stated that the failure was intermittent. After disconnecting and reconnecting the negative battery terminal, the system was reset and the failure was corrected, but eventually reoccurred. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The local dealer and manufacturer were notified of the failures, but no assistance was offered. The failure mileage was unknown.

NHTSA ID

11689856

Incident

Jun 1, 2025

Warning lamps appeared for forward collision, lane keep assist, auto high beam, brakes, adaptive cruise control.

NHTSA ID

11689750

Incident

Sep 23, 2025

The contact owns a 2020 Acura TLX. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V751000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) and an unknown recall for the tires, and another for the trim around the doors. The contact stated that the recall repairs were completed. The contact’s son picked up the vehicle from the dealer and noticed that the front windshield was cracked. Additionally, while driving 65 MPH, the vehicle vibrated abnormally, and the driver was unable to control the vehicle. The contact stated that the front passenger’s side tire detached from the vehicle. The driver was able to regain control of the vehicle and pulled over to the side of the road. Several messages were displayed on the instrument panel including messages that the cruise control was inoperable, assist line Collison system inoperable, road mitigation system unavailable, Collison Mitigation system failure were displayed. When the tow truck arrived at the scene, the tow truck driver noticed that bolts connected to the spindle had detached. The vehicle was towed to a tire specialist and the tires were replaced. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 90,000.

NHTSA ID

11685745

Incident

May 30, 2025

Mileage

90,000 mi

Electric parking brake problem , and emissions system problem. Apparently its a common issue many are affected.

NHTSA ID

11684907

Incident

Aug 5, 2025

2 1/2 years before the current connecting rod bearing recall, my engine failed due to the connecting rod bearing at 53,000 miles. After fighting with Acura for almost a year, they agreed to replace the motor. However, when I picked it up, they had only rebuilt the motor. Now that motor's rod has failed at 68,000 miles and they refuse to replace the motor. They say it doesn't have anything to do with the connecting rod bearing but it is knocking with a thrown rod.

NHTSA ID

11683861

Incident

Dec 25, 2024

Car shuts down randomly when accelerating from a stop or red light . All the mechanical lights come up on the dash.

NHTSA ID

11671455

Incident

Jul 6, 2025

Recall Still Listed as Unrepaired After Completion Dear NHTSA, I am reaching out regarding an outstanding recall listed for my vehicle, even though the repair has already been completed. I took my car to an authorized dealership to have the recall service performed, and the repair was completed. However, the recall still appears as *unrepaired* in the NHTSA system. Because of this, I am currently unable to obtain a Vehicle Safety Systems Check Certificate, which is required for \[registration/inspection/other—insert if applicable]. Could you please assist me in updating the recall status or advise me on how to resolve this issue? I can provide documentation from the dealership confirming the recall service was completed, if needed. the vin# for my car is: [XXX] Thank you for your assistance. Sincerely, Vtek Motorsports [XXX] [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11664342

Incident

Jun 2, 2025

The recall impacting my fuel injection has not been fixed since 2023 i have been waiting. I was told parts are available now and would be called by someone but that has been more than a month ago.

NHTSA ID

11644299

Incident

Dec 2, 2024

The contact owns a 2020 Acura TLX. The contact stated that while his wife was driving at an undisclosed speed, the "Pull Over Immediately" message was displayed. The contact's wife pulled over, and the "Hill Start Assist Problem", "Collision Mitigation System Problem", "Road Departure Mitigation Problem", and "Blind Spot Info System Problem" messages were displayed. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, who determined that there was oil leaking from the crankshaft seal into an unknown sensor. The dealer repaired the recall under NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V751000 (Engine and Engine Cooling); however, the failure persisted. The vehicle was idling rough and failed to accelerate while driving. Several unknown messages were displayed. The vehicle was towed back to the dealer, who test-drove the vehicle for 30 miles and performed an unknown repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 70,990.

NHTSA ID

11643913

Incident

Feb 15, 2025

Mileage

70,990 mi

The contact owns a 2020 Acura TLX. The contact received notifications of NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 23V858000 (Fuel System, Gasoline) and 23V751000 (Engine and Engine Cooling); however, the parts to do the recall repairs were unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact stated that an appointment was scheduled with the local dealer for the recall repairs; however, the contact was informed by the dealer while in the repair bay, that parts were still unavailable. The recall repairs were not performed. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.

NHTSA ID

11639635

Incident

Nov 8, 2023

The vehicle's dash states the following are malfunctioning: Road Departure Mitigation System, Adaptive Cruise Control, Auto High Beam, Collision Mitigation System, and Lane Keeping Assist. The vehicle is available for inspection upon request. A few days prior to this message appearing on the dash, the car flashed and beeped that I needed to BRAKE when there wasn't anything in front of me while driving. The car automatically braked without me doing anything. There weren't any vehicles behind me in that specific moment. With how sudden the car braked, this could have caused a collision. This vehicle has been repaired by the dealership where it was purchased, for this exact issue. The first sign of sensors malfunctioning was in January 2022 (I purchased the vehicle in June 2021). I have taken the vehicle to the dealership for repairs 3 times in relation to sensor malfunction and for replacement of rear actuators, which is stated in the Service Repair Summaries. Since the last repair in 2023, the same problem has occurred once again. This latest incident has included the automatic braking without any objects in front of the vehicle. I have not driven the vehicle in two days due to this safety concern.

NHTSA ID

11632548

Incident

Dec 24, 2024

The contact owns a 2020 Acura TLX. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V858000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.

NHTSA ID

11630604

Incident

Jan 5, 2024

The contact owns a 2020 Acura TLX. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle hesitated while depressing the accelerator pedal. The contact stated that several unknown warning lights were illuminated. The contact released the accelerator pedal for several seconds, and the vehicle resumed normal operation. The contact attempted to repair the issue by adding fuel cleaner and other products to the engine, but the failure persisted. Upon investigation, the contact discovered and linked the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V858000 (Fuel System, Gasoline). The dealer and the manufacturer were notified of the failure and informed the contact that the VIN was not included in the recall. The contact was referred to the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 149,000.

NHTSA ID

11628235

Incident

Nov 1, 2024

Mileage

149,000 mi