AI Damage2017 Acura TLX: common problems
Owners of the 2017 Acura TLX filed 71 complaints with NHTSA, most often about engine and powertrain. The maker issued 87 service bulletins for this year. We found 1 repair videos on YouTube. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 71
- involving a crash
- 2
- Technical service bulletins (TSB)
- 87
- YouTube repair videos
- 1
What fails most often
- 1 Engine 34% of all complaints
- 2 Powertrain 25% of all complaints
- 3 Engine and cooling 14% of all complaints
- 4 Fuel/propulsion system 14% of all complaints
- 5 Service brakes 13% of all complaints
- 6 Electrical system 11% of all complaints
- 7 Vehicle speed control 6% of all complaints
- 8 Electronic stability control 4% of all complaints
- Engine: 24 complaints (34% of all), 2 of them with a crash reported by the owner; manufacturer bulletins for this component: 10.
- Powertrain: 18 complaints (25% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner; manufacturer bulletins for this component: 16.
- Engine and cooling: 10 complaints (14% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 20.
- Fuel/propulsion system: 10 complaints (14% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 3.
- Service brakes: 9 complaints (13% of all), 2 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
Engines and transmissions
US-market versions per EPA. On the right: how many NHTSA complaints name this engine or transmission type.
- 2.4 L · petrol · 4 cyl
- 3.5 L · petrol · 6 cyl
- automatic, 9-speed
- dual-clutch (DCT), 8-speed
Drive: FWD, AWD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 71 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 24 | 2 | 10 |
| Powertrain | 18 | 1 | 16 |
| Engine and cooling | 10 | 0 | 20 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 10 | 0 | 3 |
| Service brakes | 9 | 2 | 0 |
| Electrical system | 8 | 0 | 26 |
| Vehicle speed control | 4 | 0 | 1 |
| Electronic stability control | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| Forward collision avoidance | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Seats | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Latches, locks, linkages | 1 | 0 | 4 |
| Structure | 1 | 0 | 4 |
| Steering | 1 | 0 | 1 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
This vehicle had open safety recalls (including the fuel pump/rod bearing issues) that remained unrepaired for over 1.5 years. Despite multiple inquiries, the manufacturer failed to provide a repair timeline or remedy.
Vehicle was in motion on a highway in very heavy traffic when brakes were employed and vehicle did not stop but grinder forward, hitting the car in front.
On [XXX], while the consumer was driving, the vehicle caught on fire. The consumer saw what appeared to be smoke coming from under the hood. The consumer stopped the vehicle immediately at a 4-way intersection, put it in park, and turned it off. The hood latch was open.
Acura Service Bulletin B18-014 (NHTSA TSB #10135108) The repeated failure of the driver’s power seat height-adjustment mechanism due to stripped internal gears in the Vertical Transmission Assembly (VTA), as identified in Acura Service Bulletin B18-014, presents a significant safety concern.
Vehicle consistently pulls to right and on grooved concrete acts in abnormal way, weaving withing the lane. I have taken to Acura to try to diagnose - they tell me there is no adjustment they can make. I have tried with Honda corporate, but they want me to go back for another diagnosis on the car at Acura.
If car was locked, alarm goes off nonstop (during these episodes, which are intermittent) and all dash lights and head lights blink on and off over and over in quick succession. If car was not locked, only the lights had a seizure, there would be no audible alarm.
Electronic parking brake and check emissions system lights going on simultaneously. Car stalled on freeway and check transmission light also went on simultaneously. Very dangerous. Multiple reports submitted for similar issue by many people. Please look into this. Acura needs a recall on these TLX models
The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the engine started knocking. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who performed a valve adjustment, but the failure persisted. The manufacturer had an engineer inspect the vehicle at the dealer and discovered there was wrist pin play on piston #2.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 726 of 2,102 model years in the NHTSA data (top 35% most complained about).
On average one model year of the TLX has 55 complaints (10 years in the data). This year has 71, above average.
What to check before buying
- Engine. Cold start, unusual noises, oil leaks and engine codes.
- Powertrain. Shift quality under load, harsh shifts, transmission codes, CV joints.
- Engine and cooling. Radiator and fan after a frontal hit, coolant level and condition, overheating.
- Fuel/propulsion system. Fuel smell, leaks, rough running, fuel-system codes.
Manufacturer service bulletins
Bulletin titles as filed with NHTSA.
- Service Bulletin - The factory fuel fill pipe assembly may not have been manufactured to specification
As a result, small contamination particles inside the fuel fill neck may prevent the primary shut-off valve flap seal from sealing properly. This may result in a fuel smell from the fuel fill neck area and may cause…
- Dealer Message - The fuel fill pipe assembly may not have been manufactured to specification
As a result, small contamination particles inside the fuel fill neck may prevent the primary shut-off valve flap seal from sealing, resulting in fuel smell from the fuel fill neck area and may cause DTC P0455 or P0456…
- Service Bulletin - Under certain circumstances, after coming to a stop and engaging idle stop the vehicle…
Service Bulletin - Under certain circumstances, after coming to a stop and engaging idle stop the vehicle may not restart automatically due to excessive cylinder pressure and/or low cranking torque. Typically, the…
- Service Bulletin - The AWD warning light is on with one or more AWD DTCs having been set due to water…
Service Bulletin - The AWD warning light is on with one or more AWD DTCs having been set due to water intrusion into the electric oil pump motor connector area corrodes the terminals.
- Service Bulletin - The AWD warning light is on potentially due to water intrusion into the rear…
Service Bulletin - The AWD warning light is on potentially due to water intrusion into the rear differential pump motor connector area that corrodes the terminals.
- Service Bulletin - Drivers may experience a chirping sound coming from the engine area with the engine…
Service Bulletin - Drivers may experience a chirping sound coming from the engine area with the engine warmed up due to the high pressure fuel pump is making a chirp.
- Owner Notification Letter - Under certain circumstances, after coming to a stop and the idle stop feature…
Owner Notification Letter - Under certain circumstances, after coming to a stop and the idle stop feature engages, the vehicle may not automatically restart. Acura is providing a product update with new PGM-FI software…
- Service Bulletin - The engine will not crank on the initial startup attempt after the vehicle has been…
Service Bulletin - The engine will not crank on the initial startup attempt after the vehicle has been exposed to precipitation and then freezing temperatures. Water can enter the starter motor. In cold temperatures…
- "Customer letter - Under certain circumstances, after coming to a stop and the idle stop feature engages,…
"Customer letter - Under certain circumstances, after coming to a stop and the idle stop feature engages, the vehicle may not automatically restart. To ensure your confidence in your vehicle. Acura is extending the…
- "Customer letter - Under certain circumstances, after coming to a stop and the idle stop feature engages,…
"Customer letter - Under certain circumstances, after coming to a stop and the idle stop feature engages, the vehicle may not automatically restart. Acura is providing a product update with new PGM-FI software update…
- American Honda Motor Co., Inc
(AHM) is searching for certain 2016-2020 MDXs, RLXs & TLXs with a client complaint of the Malfunction Indicator Light (MIL) on with the DTC P030X (Cylinder Misfire Detected), P0171 & P0174 (Rear/Front Bank Fuel System…
- Dealer message - American Honda Motor Co., Inc
(AHM) is searching for certain 2016-2020 MDXs, RDXs & TLXs with a client complaint of the Malfunction Indicator Light (MIL) on with the DTC P030X (Cylinder Misfire Detected), P0171 & P0174 (Rear/Front Bank Fuel System…
NHTSA lists 87 bulletins for this year; the 12 newest are shown here.
Repair videos
We do not copy videos: these are YouTube links credited to their authors. Amounts are as stated by the author and not verified by us.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 2017 Acura TLX?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: engine, powertrain, engine and cooling. Total complaints: 71. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: warning lights, check engine (17%), stalls while driving (14%), fuel system, fuel smell (11%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2017 Acura TLX?
NHTSA lists 87 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.
Should I buy a 2017 Acura TLX from a US auction?
Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.
Other 2017 models
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-04.