Year-by-Year

Acura TLX — the 11 years we've written up

2015–2024, side by side: what goes wrong on each, what the fix costs, and what they typically ask. 10 of the 11 carry a high-severity issue.

What this page is

These are the 11 Acura TLX model years Kestrel has done the homework on — not every year Acura built one. A year that isn't listed here isn't a year we're warning you off; it's one we haven't written up yet. Ranking a whole model run would mean telling you about years we've never looked at.

Acura TLX by year

3411710

2015–2024

Bar — complaints on file. Colour —3 or more high-severity1–2none foundnot written up yet

How many owner complaints NHTSA holds. A big number usually means a lot were sold; the shape matters more than the total.

Year by year

Looking for a particular engine or trim?

2024Typically $32,000–$48,000

Brake pedal pivot pin not secured — the pedal can shift out of position (recall) — $0 with the recall — verify it was performed

4 known issues, 1 high-severityRead the 2024 →
2023Typically $28,000–$44,000

Fuel tank and filler neck may be badly welded and leak fuel (recall) — $0 with the recall — verify it was performed

6 known issues, 2 high-severityRead the 2023 →
2022Typically $25,000–$41,000

Transfer-case splines shear on SH-AWD cars — a leak at the seam, then front-wheel drive only, with no warning light — $0 under the powertrain warranty; $4,000–$8,000 for a transfer case and transmission outside it

6 known issues, 4 high-severityRead the 2022 →
2021Typically $23,000–$38,000

Transfer-case splines strip on SH-AWD cars — the car silently becomes front-wheel drive, then leaks — $0 under the powertrain warranty; $4,000–$8,000 for a transfer case and transmission outside it

7 known issues, 3 high-severityRead the 2021 →
2020Typically $18,000–$27,000

Rod-bearing recall on the V6 — a highway knock, a dead engine, and a car that came back from the repair hesitating — $0 with the recall — verify it was performed

6 known issues, 2 high-severityRead the 2020 →
2019Typically $16,000–$25,000

Connecting-rod bearing recall — stalls at 55 mph with the steering gone heavy, one engine dead at 95,000 miles — $0 with the recall — verify it was performed

7 known issues, 3 high-severityRead the 2019 →
2018Typically $14,000–$22,000

Connecting-rod bearing recall on the V6 — stalls at 10 mph, knocks at start, parts on backorder — $0 with the recall — verify it was performed

7 known issues, 3 high-severityRead the 2018 →
2017Typically $12,000–$19,000

Connecting-rod bearing recall on the V6 — parts backlog, and one repair that left a fuel smell — $0 with the recall — verify it was performed

5 known issues, 3 high-severityRead the 2017 →
2016Typically $11,000–$17,000

V6 connecting-rod bearing can wear and seize the engine (recall — owners call it campaign CH7) — $0 with the recall — verify it was performed

6 known issues, 3 high-severityRead the 2016 →
2015Typically $12,000–$18,000

9-speed ZF transmission harsh shifts and rollaway risk — $0 software to $4,000 mechanical

4 known issues, 1 high-severityRead the 2015 →
2015V6Typically $13,000–$19,000

9-speed automatic shift quality (V6) — $0-$300 (software)

3 known issuesRead the 2015 V6 →

1 of these 11 have no high-severity issue in our write-up. That means we didn't find an expensive recurring fault — not that one cannot exist on the specific vehicle you're looking at.

Looking at one in particular?

This page covers the Acura TLX in general. The Kestrel report covers the one you're looking at — the asking price against the market, the photos, the seller's description, and a BUY / NEGOTIATE / WALK AWAY verdict with a negotiation script.

Get My Verdict — $7.99

Not ready to pay for one? The free read is instant and needs no card — it checks the asking price against the market and names the top issues for that year.

Known issues are based on documented owner reports, NHTSA complaints, class-action records, and manufacturer technical service bulletins. Individual vehicles vary. A pre-purchase inspection by a trusted mechanic is always worth doing.

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