VehicleVerdict

2016 Acura TLX problems

Verdict · NHTSA data

One of the years to avoid

The 2016 Acura TLX carries two red flags at once: 159 consumer complaints filed with NHTSA — 1.8× the TLX norm — and an open NHTSA defect investigation (subject: No Restart After Auto Start/Stop Engages). It is one of the TLX years to avoid.

Engine leads the complaint categories with 41 reports (26% of the total). In government crash testing it earned 5 of 5 NCAP stars overall.

159

NHTSA complaints

3

Recalls

2

Investigations · 1 open

8

Crash-involved

0

Fires reported

7

Injuries

0

Deaths

5

NCAP overall · of 5 stars

How does 2016 compare to other TLX years?

TLX NHTSA complaints by model year, 2016 highlighted532 complaints2012: 1 complaints2015: 532 complaints2016: 159 complaints2017: 105 complaints2018: 150 complaints2019: 133 complaints2020: 95 complaints2021: 85 complaints2022: 30 complaints2023: 11 complaints2024: 8 complaints2025: 4 complaints
TLX NHTSA complaints by model year, 2016 highlighted. Red bars are years to avoid.

See all TLX years to avoid →

What are the most common 2016 Acura TLX problems?

ComponentComplaintsShare
Engine4126%
Electrical System2818%
Transmission1610%
Other149%
Fuel System138%
Speed Control117%
Driver Assistance74%
Visibility & Wipers64%
Tires & Wheels64%
Brakes53%
Steering32%
Body & Structure32%
Seats32%
Airbags21%
Lighting11%

Does the 2016 Acura TLX have recalls?

3 NHTSA recall campaigns on file. Recall repairs are free at franchised dealers.

23V858000Fuel SystemDecember 18, 2023 · 2,490,460 units

Defect

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.

Consequence

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.

23V751000EngineNovember 13, 2023 · 248,999 units

Defect

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.

Consequence

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.

19V060000Fuel SystemJanuary 29, 2019 · 437,032 units

Defect

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.

Consequence

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.

Open NHTSA investigations

EA25004

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 restart issue in the 2016-2019MY Honda Pilot vehicles, as well as the 2015-2020 Acura TLX, 2016-2020 Acura MDX, 2019-2022 Honda Passport, and 2020-2023 Honda Ridgeline vehicles. The repair outlined in the service bulletins is a two-stage countermeasure to remedy the issue. The first stage is a Programmed Fuel Injection (“PGM-FI”) software update. The second stage is only deployed if the software update fails to remedy the issue. The second stage, depending on the model and model year, consists of replacement of the starter assembly, starter relays, and a valve adjustment. Additionally, Honda extended the warranty coverage to 10 years with unlimited mileage for vehicles requiring the second stage component replacement. ODI continues to receive complaints of the AIS failure to restart, with many complainants alleging the campaign countermeasures had been completed.NHTSA has reviewed Honda's Information Request Letter responses involving warranty claims, lawsuits, and consumer complaints in addition to ODI's own data. This Engineering Analysis is being opened to further consider the potential safety defect, including gathering additional data regarding Honda’s service campaign efficacy. ODI is additionally expanding the scope to encompass all vehicles addressed in Honda’s service bulletins 23-008 and 23-009 as well as newer model year vehicles, which are substantially similar to the vehicles covered by the service campaign. To review the ODI reports cited in the Opening Resume ODI Report Identification Number document, go to NHTSA.gov.

Consumer complaints filed with NHTSA

Representative excerpts, cleaned of personal information. These are consumer statements, not verified defects.

“Engine light would come on if I drove 65 MPH check engine emission system problem I would try drive press on gas peddle & car would slow down I almost got rear ended by 18 wheeler semi truck ”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Engine · February 1, 2022 · crash

“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…”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Electrical System · April 11, 2026

“1. WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A STOP, THE TRANSMISSION OCCASIONALLY FEELS LIKE IT SLIPS INTO NEUTRAL. THE ENGINE RES BUT DOES NOT MOVE FORWARD FOR 1-2 SECONDS. 2. CAR DOWNSHIFTS INTO 1ST GEAR AND LURCHES FORWARD AFTER COMING TO A STOP. 3. TRANSMISSION SHIFTS VERY ABRUPTLY AND ROUGH DURING ALMOST ALL…”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Transmission · February 11, 2016

“SIDE MIRRORS-NOT REAL MIRRORS (FUNHOUSE EFFECT); SOMEWHAT WAVY; PLACEMENT OF MIRRORS CAUSE A/C VENTS TO REFLECT IN THEM (BIG DISTRACTION) TOUCH SCREEN IS IMPOSSIBLE TO READ IN SUNLIGHT; REQUIRES AN OVERHAND (NOT RECESSED INTO THE DASHBOARD AS IS THE OTHER SCREEN IN CAR) TOO MUCH TOUCH SCREEN…”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Other · October 13, 2016

“The contact owns a 2016 Acura TLX. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle would jerk without warning. Upon investigation, the contact discovered NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V060000(Fuel System, Other) which the contact linked to the vehicle failure. The dealer was…”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Fuel System · November 15, 2023 · crash

2016 Acura TLX — common questions

Is the 2016 Acura TLX reliable?

NHTSA data argues against it: 159 complaints put the 2016 model at #2 of 12 TLX years, and a defect investigation remains open. It is one of the TLX years to avoid.

What are the most common 2016 TLX problems?

According to NHTSA complaint data, the leading problem areas are engine (41 complaints), electrical system (28 complaints), transmission (16 complaints).

Does the 2016 Acura TLX have recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns affecting the 2016 Acura TLX. Recall repairs are free at franchised dealers; check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm the work was done.

Is the 2016 Acura TLX under NHTSA investigation?

Yes — an investigation remains open (No Restart After Auto Start/Stop Engages). An open ODI action means NHTSA is actively assessing a possible defect.

Which Acura TLX years should you avoid?

Based on complaint rates and open investigations, the TLX years to avoid are 2015, 2016, 2018, 2019, 2017, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025. The cleanest record among TLX years belongs to 2012.

How safe is the 2016 Acura TLX?

In NHTSA's NCAP crash testing, the 2016 Acura TLX earned an overall rating of 5 out of 5 stars.

Related

Based on NHTSA ODI data through June 2026. Complaints are consumer-reported and unverified. Updated July 5, 2026.

Compiled by Sharon Ben-Moshe, Founder.