2021 Acura Tlx problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Power Train (23) · Service Brakes (7) · Suspension (5)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Acura Tlx model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
Safety recalls (4)
Air Bags:sensor:occupant Classification:front Passenger 2026-05-21 · campaign 26V332000 · 98,892 vehicles
Defect: 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 ma
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.
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:pedals And Linkages 2025-06-12 · campaign 25V391000 · 259,033 vehicles
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."
Risk: 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.
Fix: 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.
Fuel System, Gasoline:storage:tank Assembly 2024-12-19 · campaign 24V950000 · 167 vehicles
Defect: Acura (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2021-2023 TLX vehicles. The fuel filler neck and fuel tank may have been improperly welded, which can result in a fuel leak.
Risk: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source increases the risk of a fire.
Fix: Dealers will replace the fuel tank assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 3, 2025. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Acura's number for this recall is JKX.
Air Bags:sensor:occupant Classification:front Passenger 2024-02-01 · campaign 24V064000 · 750,114 vehicles
Defect: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Pilot, Accord, Civic sedan, HR-V, Odyssey, 2020 Civic coupe, Fit, 2021-2022 Civic hatchback, 2021 Civic Type R, Insight, 2020-2021 CR-V, CR-V Hybrid, Passport, Ridgeline, Accord Hybrid, 2020 Acura MDX, 2022 Acura MDX, 2020-2022 Acura RDX, and 2020-2021 Acura TLX vehicles. The front passenger seat weight sensor may crack and short circuit, failing to suppress the air bag as intended.
Risk: An air bag that deploys unintentionally during a crash can increase the risk of injury.
Fix: Dealers will replace the seat weight sensors, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 28, 2024. This is a phased recall. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for these recalls are XHP and VHQ.
Service bulletins (113)
Technical service bulletins are repair instructions manufacturers send dealers for known issues. Unlike recalls, the fix is not automatically free — but naming the bulletin at the service desk can save diagnosis time and support goodwill repairs.
Electrical System 2026-05-18 · B21674 · Over The Air
over the air update - vehicles equipped with the system updates application are capable of downloading and installing over the air system updates. system updates contain upgrades that fix a variety of operational errors and/or enhancements that add new functionality. information for the various soft
Engine 2025-09-17 · B25-048 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
service bulletin - oil leak at the cam chain tensioner inspection cover due to and insufficient sealant adhesion on the inspection cover.
Visibility/Wiper 2025-04-09 · BTI&04092025901 · Other
dealer message - american honda motor co., inc. (ahm) is searching for certain 2022- 2024 mdxs & 2021-2025 tlxs with a client complaint of a loose or detached rearview mirror bracket. to better understand the cause of this condition, ahm would like to collect specific parts from the vehicle prior to
Suspension 2025-02-12 · BTI&02112025901 · Other
dealer message - american honda motor co., inc. (ahm) is searching for certain 2021-2023 tlx adv’s and 2021-2025 tlx type s’s with a client complaint of the “adaptive damper system problem” (ads) error message on the mid (multi information display). to better understand the cause of this condition,
Suspension 2025-01-24 · BTI&01242025901 · Other
dealer message - american honda motor co., inc. (ahm) is searching for certain 2021-2023 tlx adv’s and 2021-2025 tlx type s’s with a client complaint of the “adaptive damper system problem” (ads) error message on the mid (multi information display). to better understand the cause of this condition,
Suspension 2025-01-18 · BTI&01172025901 · Other
dealer message - american honda motor co., inc. (ahm) is searching for certain 2021-2023 tlx adv’s and 2021-2025 tlx type s’s with a client complaint of the “adaptive damper system problem” (ads) error message on the mid (multi information display). to better understand the cause of this condition,
Showing the 6 most recent of 113 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2026-10-20 · Service Brakes · 💥 crash“on october 4, 2026, at approximately 6:55 pm, the 2021 acura tlx suffered a catastrophic and sequential collapse of its primary safety and electronic control systems while in motion. without warning, the vehicle's dashboard suddenly illuminated with a cascade of severe system malfunctions, beginning with a critical "brake system problem" warning, i…”
2026-10-18 · Power Train“vehicle losing traction while driving. confirmed by [xxx]'s acura in [xxx]. confirmed: transfer case with bad transmission. vehicle now inoperable. information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6)…”
2026-10-01 · Suspension“i am submitting this complaint regarding a major drivetrain failure in my 2021 acura tlx type s sh-awd with approximately 86,643 miles. my vehicle experienced a complete loss of awd. the front two wheels are receiving power, but the rear wheels are no longer receiving power. an independent mechanic initially diagnosed a transfer-case/drivetrain fa…”
2026-09-24 · Fuel/Propulsion System“my 2021 acura tlx has a fuel leak. this is a known issue and manufacture design flaw. the acura dealership has quoted my $4200 - $4500 to replace the fuel tank. i've contacted honda and they've only offer $300 "goodwill" credit towards the repair. this is a know issue, a fire hazard, and other 2021 tlx has been recalled for this fuel tank/fuel …”
2026-09-11 · Engine“i drive a 2021 acura tlx type s around 85k miles. i heard a loud clank when i was driving one day, and i loss traction. when i was accelerating i was losing traction and it seem like i lost power while i was moving as well. it seems like i'm driving front wheel drive. i let me foot of the gas and it seems like it's back to normal sh-awd. i hope thi…”
2026-08-29 · Power Train“the transfer case and transmission splines have been stripped causing the car to be fwd only. the issue was confirmed by the dealer, and both the transfer case and transmission were replaced under warranty. the car shuddered, followed by a drivetrain noise for a few seconds. no warning lights or messages appeared when the incident occurred. the iss…”
2026-08-26 · Unknown Or Other“transfer case leaking fluids at 73,000 miles…”
2026-08-22 · Power Train“transmission and transfer case failure. noticed a very small amount of fluid leaking and took to dealership. dealer informed me that i was "lucky" to have noticed and that the transfer case spline failure had occurred. notified that the problem could lead to sudden loss of all wheel drive and loss of vehicle control, vehicle slipping, and oversteer…”
2026-08-04 · Unknown Or Other“i'm losing power than normal all of a sudden. when i step on the gas after light hits green in sport and sport plus mode my car losses traction even when traction control is on, and i hear a loud clunck sound. after the the loud clunck sound the car losses rpm while driving i step off the gas and step back on it and the rpm goes back to normal agai…”
2026-07-13 · Power Train“i took this vehicle to get serviced in the summer of 2025. i recently joined an acura type s (2021+) group on facebook and learned that the issue is quite prevalent. i had to have the transmission and transfer case replaced due to transmission issues and traction issues…”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.