2018 Acura TLX problems
Owners have filed 150 complaints about the 2018 Acura TLX with NHTSA. Engine accounts for 20.7% of them — the clear leader, ahead of electrical system at 12.7%.
Complaints150
Crashes4
Fires1
Injuries3
Deaths0
What owners report breaking
Engine 20.7% · 31
Electrical system 12.7% · 19
Fuel/propulsion system 9.3% · 14
Unknown or other 8.7% · 13
Engine and engine cooling 7.3% · 11
Lane departure 7.3% · 11
Power train 7.3% · 11
Service brakes 4.7% · 7
Severity
Of those complaints, 4 describe a crash, 1 describe a fire and 3 report an injury.
Reading the numbers
Across the 5 model years of the Acura TLX in this data, 2018 ranks 3rd by complaint volume — 2015 draws the most.
Filings are rising — 87 in the last three years against 40 in the three before. For a vehicle this age that usually points to a wear-related failure owners are hitting now.
The median odometer reading at the time of complaint was 35,540 miles.
In owners' own words
The engine has been making rattling noises when you start the vehicle from a long rest, mostly over night, since it has about 24k miles on it, when I purchased it used. I noticed it some time after I purchased it. Took it to Honda dealer in Hickory, NC, but they couldn't hear it. Later also took it to Acura dealer in Charlotte, NC. They couldn't hear it either. I recorded the sound and played it back to them. Engine
My car broke down on me in August of 2023 with a rod that connects to the engine being the issue. Now here we are 7 months later and I still am paying for a car that does not run. They won't inspect it to figure out if it's covered under the recall because there is no remedy for the recall. At this point, I have had to buy other cars while still paying on this one with no timeline of when to expect a fix. Engine
While on the interstate, the Vehicles check engine light began blinking and the car lost power. Trying to accelerate the vehicle wouldnât speed up and began sputtering. I had to maneuver to the shoulder without causing an accident. The car was making a knock/rattle while trying to accelerate. Acura dealership service department quoted me $20k repair for the engine. Engine
Verbatim from NHTSA filings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.
Safety recalls
Checking NHTSA for open recalls…