Acura TLX: which model years draw the most owner complaints?
901 complaints filed with NHTSA about the Acura TLX, model years 2012 to 2025. 4 model years stand out for the engine or transmission: 2015 (engine 9.7×, transmission 16×); 2016 (engine 4×); 2018 (engine 4.6×); 2019 (engine 4.5×). Quietest mature years by complaint count: 2017, 2019. Counts of unverified owner reports, compared only with other years of the same model; not failure rates.
Complaints by model year
| MODEL YEAR | COMPLAINTS | VS OTHER YEARS | STANDS OUT | RECALLS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 TLXFEW REPORTS | 1 | — | 0 | |
| 2015 TLX | 344 | engine 9.7×, transmission 16× | 6 | |
| 2016 TLXFEW REPORTS | 111 | engine 4× | 3 | |
| 2017 TLXFEW REPORTS | 71 | quiet: 1 of 5 | 3 | |
| 2018 TLXFEW REPORTS | 99 | engine 4.6× | 4 | |
| 2019 TLXFEW REPORTS | 93 | engine 4.5× | 6 | |
| 2020 TLXFEW REPORTS | 63 | — | 5 | |
| 2021 TLXFEW REPORTS | 73 | — | 4 | |
| 2022 TLXFEW REPORTS | 25 | — | 3 | |
| 2023 TLXFEW REPORTS | 12 | — | 3 | |
| 2024 TLXFEW REPORTS | 5 | — | 1 | |
| 2025 TLXFEW REPORTS | 4 | — | 1 |
"Stands out" = 40 or more complaints naming that system and at least twice the model's quiet (lower-quartile) year, or twice the share seen across every vehicle of that model year. Newer years have had less time on the road. "Quiet" ranks only years with 7+ years on the road and 20+ complaints. NHTSA data through November 2026.
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Other Acura models
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Source: NHTSA public complaints, recalls, service bulletin and investigation databases, data received through November 2026. Complaints are unverified reports from owners, not failure rates: sales volumes are unknown, so a model year is only compared with other years of the same model. Not a diagnosis and not financial advice. PulsCar is not affiliated with NHTSA. Year pages: 2015