2016 Acura TLX problems, complaints & recalls
Updated from NHTSA data · How we count
Owners have filed 76 complaints with NHTSA about the 2016 Acura TLX, most often about engine. There are 3 recalls for this model year.
- Complaints
- 76
- Recalls
- 3
- Crashes
- 4
- Fires
- 0
- Injuries
- 3
- Median mileage
- 61,000 mi at time of problem
Key facts
- Engine is the most-reported problem area, named in 38 of 76 complaints (50%).
- Electrical System (15) and fuel, hybrid & EV propulsion (9) follow.
- Half of the complaints that list mileage happened before 61,000 mi.
- Owners reported 4 crashes, 0 fires and 3 injuries.
- The 2016 Acura TLX has 3 recalls on file.
- NHTSA has opened 2 defect investigations covering this vehicle.
- It ranks 4th of 11 Acura TLX model years by our severity-weighted complaint score (1st = worst).
- That is 52% fewer complaints than the 2015 model year (158).
2016 Acura TLX problems by category
- Engine · 2 crashes38 complaints
- Electrical System15 complaints
- Fuel, Hybrid & EV Propulsion · 1 crash9 complaints
- Driver Assistance & Safety Tech · 1 crash9 complaints
- Other / Unknown8 complaints
- Transmission & Drivetrain7 complaints
- Acceleration & Cruise Control · 1 crash5 complaints
- Brakes · 1 crash4 complaints
- Wheels & Tires3 complaints
- Steering2 complaints
- Body & Structure2 complaints
- Visibility & Wipers2 complaints
- Seats & Seat Belts1 complaints
- Suspension1 complaints
- Airbags · 1 crash1 complaints
A complaint can mention more than one problem area, so categories add up to more than the total.
Most-reported components
| Component (as filed with NHTSA) | Complaints |
|---|---|
| Engine | 24 |
| Electrical system | 14 |
| Engine and engine cooling | 13 |
| Unknown or other | 8 |
| Power train | 7 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 6 |
| Vehicle speed control | 5 |
| Service brakes | 4 |
When problems happen (mileage)
2016 Acura TLX recalls (3)
- FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
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.
- ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:HARD PARTS INTERNAL/MECHANICAL
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 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.
- FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
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.
Risk: 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 defect investigations
- EA25004Opened Mar 26, 2025Open
No Restart After Auto Start/Stop Engages
On June 3, 2022, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened Preliminary Evaluation PE22005 after the agency received VOQs and several field reports concerning the Auto Idle Stop (AIS) feature on 2016-2019MY Honda Pilot vehicles. The complaints allege that the engine fails to restart on its own from a complete stop at a traffic light or road intersection with the AIS function engaged. The subject vehicles are equipped with a 3.5L engine with a 9-speed automatic transmission. On January 6, 2023, Honda released service bulletins 23-008 and 23-009. These service bulletins address the failure to r…
Electrical overstress
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened this investigation to determine if the failure of airbags to deploy during severe crashes, in certain vehicles, was the result of a safety related defect. During the investigation a complex failure was studied that can result in non-deployment of subject vehicle air bags and other restraint system devices in severe crash events. The subject vehicles may be equipped with an airbag control unit (ACU) for the supplemental restraint system (SRS) Electronic Control Unit (ECU) manufactured by ZF-TRW. The ECU receives signals from crash sensors mount…
Recent 2016 Acura TLX complaints
Excerpts of the newest owner complaints, lightly cleaned of personal details. Complaints are unverified owner reports.
- Filed Jul 18, 2026SCElectrical SystemSteeringSuspension
PAWS system component failure causing the steering angle to misalign, throttle response to decrease, and drivability to decrease severely
NHTSA complaint #11751261 · source - Filed Jul 13, 202661,000 miINDriver Assistance & Safety Tech
The contact owns a 2016 Acura TLX. The contact stated that the rear-view camera image was cloudy and was not functioning because there was water inside the camera. While reversing, the driver was unable to see an image behind the vehicle. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact stated that the failure was associated with NHTSA Campaign Number: 26V423000 (Back Over Prevention); however, the VIN was not included. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle…
NHTSA complaint #11749995 · source - Filed Jun 19, 2026COEngine
This vehicle was sold to me on July 18, 2025 with Campaign CH7 open and unperformed. The dealer's disclosure form falsely stated that I had been informed of all recalls with the vehicle. No specific mention of Campaign CH7 was ever made. Separately, Acura manufacturer records (eVRM/Techline) confirm that this vehicle's original engine was previously replaced under warranty following a seizure (Defect Code: SEIZED) — directly related to the defect type covered by the CH7…
NHTSA complaint #11745218 · source - Filed May 31, 2026CAElectrical System
The alarm on my car would intermittently and randomly go off at any time while car was parked and locked. After much research I deduced that it is the Smart Power Control Unit located behind the glove box. The epoxy clear covering on the circuit board is not fully covering the entire board allowing for dendritic growth and random surges. These surges can cause the alarm to go on and off, the head lights to turn on and off, and instrument panels to go haywire. I haven't…
NHTSA complaint #11741149 · source - Filed Apr 15, 2026259,000 miILElectrical System
Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2016 Acura TLX. The contact stated that while attempting to register the vehicle, it was discovered that there was a mileage discrepancy. The vehicle was a private sale. At the time of the purchase the mileage was 86,000. At the time of the registration, it was discovered that the mileage was 259,000.
NHTSA complaint #11731304 · source - Filed Mar 24, 2026PAEngine
I have a 2016 Acura TLX 3.5L j35Y6 AWD that initially Had the safety recall XG1 and the engine was replaced at roughly 140k miles, 40k miles later the replacement engine suffered the same problem, and I am aware that I am not the only person this has happened to as there is currently a NHTSA investigation PE25008 that is related to these replacement engines failing. I have pushed the dealership for full replacement as this is not right and they have not budged as to the…
NHTSA complaint #11726785 · source - Filed Feb 10, 2026KSBrakesElectrical SystemOther / Unknown
Warning lights for Electric Parking Brake Problem and Emissions System Problem simultaneously occurring with no definitive solution. Codes can be cleared by disconnecting battery and reconnecting but warning lights eventually come back on sometimes in a matter or days, weeks or month. There are no other issues that coincide with these warning lights coming on.
NHTSA complaint #11716957 · source - Filed Dec 26, 2025NCCrash1 injuredTowedBrakesEngine
While braking and attempting a left turn at an intersection, my vehicle completely shut down with no braking or steering control. Fortunately there were no damages and the vehicle started up again and I was able to clear the intersection. I took the vehicle to an authorized dealer for repair. They indicated that this was a known issue and they were familiar with it. They installed a battery sensor and did brake work as they said there was air in the system. I paid for the…
NHTSA complaint #11707054 · source
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Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Office of Defects Investigation public data, as of Oct 10, 2026. Complaints are submitted by owners and are not verified by NHTSA or by us; a complaint does not prove a defect exists. View this vehicle on NHTSA.gov Methodology