Acura Tlx Years to Avoid
Based on federal records, the Acura Tlx years to avoid are 2015, 2016, 2018: the 2015 alone has 340 NHTSA owner complaints and 427 manufacturer service bulletins on file, led by power train issues. The cleanest recent records so far belong to the 2014 and 2025 model years.
Sources: NHTSA complaints, manufacturer service bulletins, recall campaigns, CarWhere verified buyer prices · Updated 2026-08-09 · By CarWhere Research
| Model year | NHTSA complaints | Service bulletins | Recall campaigns | Avg. price buyers paid |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014BEST | 0 | 9 | 0 | — |
| 2015AVOID | 340 | 427 | 6 | — |
| 2016AVOID | 110 | 248 | 3 | — |
| 2017 | 69 | 143 | 3 | — |
| 2018AVOID | 93 | 90 | 4 | — |
| 2019 | 91 | 66 | 6 | — |
| 2020 | 62 | 48 | 5 | — |
| 2021 | 65 | 113 | 4 | — |
| 2022 | 25 | 79 | 3 | — |
| 2023 | 10 | 39 | 3 | — |
| 2024 | 5 | 12 | 1 | — |
| 2025BEST | 4 | 6 | 1 | — |
Methodology: complaint counts are owner reports filed with NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation; service bulletins are manufacturer communications filed with NHTSA; counts are raw federal filings, not adjusted for sales volume. Prices are averages of CarWhere verified buyer transactions (shown when 3+ deals exist for the year).
Common Acura Tlx problems by year
Across NHTSA owner complaints, the most-reported problem areas on the Acura Tlx are power train, engine, electrical system, fuel/propulsion system. The years below carry the highest combined complaint and service-bulletin counts on federal record.
2015 Acura Tlx: 340 owner complaints, 427 service bulletins, 6 recall campaigns — most-reported areas: power train, engine, electrical system.
2016 Acura Tlx: 110 owner complaints, 248 service bulletins, 3 recall campaigns — most-reported areas: engine, electrical system, power train.
2018 Acura Tlx: 93 owner complaints, 90 service bulletins, 4 recall campaigns — most-reported areas: engine, electrical system, fuel/propulsion system.
2014 Acura Tlx: cleanest recent federal record (0 complaints, 9 bulletins).
2025 Acura Tlx: cleanest recent federal record (4 complaints, 6 bulletins).
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FAQ
What are the worst years for the Acura Tlx?
Based on federal records, the Acura Tlx years to avoid are 2015, 2016, 2018: the 2015 alone has 340 NHTSA owner complaints and 427 manufacturer service bulletins on file, led by power train issues. The cleanest recent records so far belong to the 2014 and 2025 model years. Counts are raw federal filings (NHTSA complaints, manufacturer communications, open recall campaigns) and are not adjusted for sales volume.
What are the best years for the Acura Tlx?
Among recent model years, the 2014 and 2025 Acura Tlx show the lowest combined complaint and service-bulletin counts on federal record.
Is the Acura Tlx reliable?
The Acura Tlx's reliability varies by model year. Across 874 NHTSA owner complaints on federal record, 2015, 2016, 2018 stand out as the years to avoid, while the 2014 and 2025 model years show the cleanest records — see the year-by-year table above. Counts are raw federal filings, not adjusted for sales volume.
What are the most common problems with the Acura Tlx?
The most-reported problem areas for the Acura Tlx are power train, engine, electrical system, based on NHTSA owner complaints. See the year-by-year table above for how these cluster by model year.
How do I check a specific Acura Tlx before buying?
Decode the VIN free at carwhere.com/tools/vin-decoder to confirm the exact year and build, then run the $9.99 CarWhere Full VIN Report for that VIN — it includes the recall, complaint, and service-bulletin record for the exact model year, the original window sticker where the manufacturer publishes one, and a market price check from verified buyers. One-time purchase, no subscription.
Where does this data come from?
Three federal sources — NHTSA owner complaints (ODI), manufacturer service bulletins filed with NHTSA, and open recall campaigns — plus CarWhere's verified buyer-paid transaction prices. Counts are presented raw and refreshed regularly.