CarRecordBook

Model year record

2018 Acura TLX recalls & problems

The 2018 Acura TLX has 4 safety recalls and 97 owner complaints on file with NHTSA. The most-reported problem area is engine (31 complaints).

Recalls4safety recalls
Complaints97filed by owners
Crashes · fires3 · 1reported in complaints
NHTSA overall5 ★crash-test stars
2018 Acura TLX in an NHTSA crash test
NHTSA crash test

Safety recalls

Air bagsMay 21, 2026

Sensor › Occupant classification › Front passenger

Recall 26V33200098,892 vehicles

Problem
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2018-2021, 2023 Acura TLX, 2019-2024 RDX, 2017-2020, 2022-2026 MDX, 2017-2021, 2023, 2025 Honda Ridgeline, 2017-2022 Pilot, 2019-2021 Passport, 2018-2026 Odyssey, 2019-2022 Insight, 2019-2021 HR-V, 2018-2020 Fit, 2020-2022 CR-V Hybrid, 2017-2022 CR-V, 2017-2018, 2021 Civic Type R, 2017-2021 Civic hatchback, 2016-2020 Civic coupe, 2016-2022 Civic, 2017-2022 Accord Hybrid, and 2016-2022 Accord vehicles. The front passenger seat weight sensor may crack and short circuit, which can cause the air bags to deploy unintentionally during a crash.
Risk
Air bags that deploy unintentionally during a crash increase the risk of injury.
Fix
Dealers will replace the seat weight sensors, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 7, 2026. Owners may contact Honda's customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are BOL, WO9, OOA, WOM, XOH, NOC, POD, BOE, UOF, POB, EOG, AOI, QO8, TOJ, DO7, and SOK. This recall expands previous NHTSA recall number 24V064. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will be searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning May 29, 2026.
Fuel system, gasolineDec 18, 2023

Delivery › Fuel pump

Recall 23V8580002,490,460 vehicles

Problem
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.
Risk
Fuel pump failure can cause an engine stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix
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.
Engine and engine coolingNov 13, 2023

Engine › Hard parts internal/mechanical

Recall 23V751000248,999 vehicles

Problem
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.
Risk
A damaged engine may run improperly or stall while driving, increasing the risk of a fire, crash, or injury.
Fix
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.
Fuel system, otherJan 29, 2019

Delivery › Fuel pump

Recall 19V060000437,032 vehicles

Problem
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.
Risk
Reduced fuel pump performance can result in an engine stall, increasing the risk of crash.
Fix
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.

Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. A recall listed here may already have been fixed on a particular car: enter its 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls.

Crash test ratings

2018 Acura TLX 4 DR FWD

Overall★★★★★
Frontal crash★★★★★
Side crash★★★★★
Rollover★★★★★
Rollover risk9.8%

Forward collision warning: Standard · Lane departure warning: Standard

2018 Acura TLX 4 DR AWD

Overall★★★★★
Frontal crash★★★★★
Side crash★★★★★
Rollover★★★★★
Rollover risk9.8%

Forward collision warning: Standard · Lane departure warning: Standard

2018 Acura TLX NHTSA side crash test
NHTSA side barrier crash test
2018 Acura TLX NHTSA side pole crash test
NHTSA side pole crash test

NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (New Car Assessment Program). Ratings are comparable only between vehicles of similar size and weight, and ratings from 2011 on use tougher tests than earlier years. Photos: NHTSA.

Fuel economy

TLX FWD

27mpg combined
City / highway23 / 33 mpg
FuelPremium Gasoline

2.4 L · 4 cyl · Automatic (AM-S8) · Front-Wheel Drive · about $3,050/year to fuel

TLX FWD

24mpg combined
City / highway20 / 32 mpg
FuelPremium Gasoline

3.5 L · 6 cyl · Automatic (S9) · Front-Wheel Drive · about $3,400/year to fuel

TLX AWD

24mpg combined
City / highway21 / 30 mpg
FuelPremium Gasoline

3.5 L · 6 cyl · Automatic (S9) · All-Wheel Drive · about $3,400/year to fuel

TLX FWD A-SPEC

23mpg combined
City / highway20 / 30 mpg
FuelPremium Gasoline

3.5 L · 6 cyl · Automatic (S9) · Front-Wheel Drive · about $3,550/year to fuel

TLX AWD A-SPEC

23mpg combined
City / highway20 / 29 mpg
FuelPremium Gasoline

3.5 L · 6 cyl · Automatic (S9) · All-Wheel Drive · about $3,550/year to fuel

EPA estimates from fueleconomy.gov for each engine and transmission sold. Annual cost is the EPA's estimate for 15,000 miles a year at its current fuel and electricity price assumptions. Your results will vary.

What owners report

Problem areaComplaintsCrashesFiresInjuriesTypical mileage*
Engine3100039,390 mi
Electrical system12v/24v/48v battery; Instrument panel › Speedometer/odometer2000021,860 mi
Fuel/propulsion system1400071,000 mi
Unknown or other1300013,100 mi
Engine and engine cooling1300089,000 mi
Power trainAutomatic transmission › Gear position indication (prndl)1110139,540 mi
Lane departureWarning; Assist11000—
Forward collision avoidanceAutomatic emergency braking; Adaptive cruise control9000—
Service brakes700031,081 mi
Steering6000—
Vehicle speed control4101—
Seat belts2000—

*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.

Recent owner complaints

Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.

NHTSA defect investigations