VehicleVerdict

2025 Acura TLX problems

Verdict · NHTSA data

One of the years to avoid

The 2025 Acura TLX carries two red flags at once: 4 consumer complaints filed with NHTSA and an open NHTSA defect investigation (subject: No Restart After Auto Start/Stop Engages). It is one of the TLX years to avoid.

In government crash testing it earned 5 of 5 NCAP stars overall.

4

NHTSA complaints

1

Recalls

1

Investigations · 1 open

0

Crash-involved

0

Fires reported

0

Injuries

0

Deaths

5

NCAP overall · of 5 stars

How does 2025 compare to other TLX years?

TLX NHTSA complaints by model year, 2025 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, 2025 highlighted. Red bars are years to avoid.

See all TLX years to avoid →

What are the most common 2025 Acura TLX problems?

ComponentComplaintsShare
Electrical System250%
Engine125%
Steering125%

Does the 2025 Acura TLX have recalls?

1 NHTSA recall campaign on file. Recall repairs are free at franchised dealers.

25V391000BrakesJune 12, 2025 · 259,033 units

Defect

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2021-2025 Acura TLX, 2023-2025 Acura MDX, and 2023-2025 Honda Pilot vehicles. The brake pedal pivot pin was not secured properly, which can cause the pedal to shift out of position. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard numbers 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment" and 135, "Light Vehicle Brake Systems."

Consequence

A brake pedal that shifts out of position can prevent the driver from applying the brakes as intended, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.

Remedy

Dealers will inspect and replace the brake pedal assembly as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 29, 2025. Owners may contact Honda's customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are FLX and XLY.

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.

“We have three Acura vehicles at home and this is the newest one - 2025 TLX A-Spec. The vehicle is only a few months old and already suffered two INFORTAINMENT Screen failures. This is the primary screen on the dash that shows navigation and other information. The screen goes dark completely due to…”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Electrical System · July 28, 2025

“Description of Safety Defect: While starting car up, the digital instrument cluster (speedometer and all primary driver instrumentation) goes completely black with no warning. The infotainment system continues to operate normally. After driving a short distance (sometimes only a few miles), the…”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Steering · January 22, 2026

“While driving in humid, rainy conditions for over five hours, I experienced a sudden and dangerous loss of acceleration. Moisture appears to have built up, resulting in a misfire and a flashing MIL/Check Engine light. This occurred while I was overtaking another vehicle just before entering a…”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Engine · May 24, 2025

2025 Acura TLX — common questions

Is the 2025 Acura TLX reliable?

NHTSA data argues against it: 4 complaints put the 2025 model at #11 of 12 TLX years, and a defect investigation remains open. It is one of the TLX years to avoid.

Does the 2025 Acura TLX have recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign affecting the 2025 Acura TLX. Recall repairs are free at franchised dealers; check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm the work was done.

Is the 2025 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 2025 Acura TLX?

In NHTSA's NCAP crash testing, the 2025 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.