2018 Acura TLX
The Verdict
Worst problem area
Engine
Engine leads by volume: 42 of 94 complaints (45%) mention it.
Complaints filed rose from 71 in 2017 to 94 in 2018.
Data last changed . Sources: NHTSA complaints and recalls, EPA fuel economy data. Methodology
Cost, Fuel Economy & Complaint History
| Category | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | vs. 2018 Compact Cars |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual fuel cost ($) | 2,750–3,100 | 2,750–3,100 | 2,850–3,350 | 2,850–3,350 | 2,850–3,350 | |
| Combined MPG | 25–28 | 25–28 | 23–27 | 23–27 | 23–27 | |
| City / Highway MPG | 21–24 / 31–35 | 21–24 / 31–35 | 20–23 / 29–33 | 20–23 / 29–33 | 20–23 / 29–33 | |
| CO₂ tailpipe (g/mi) | 321–360 | 321–358 | 330–387 | 330–387 | 330–387 | |
| Complaints filed | 110 | 71 | 94 | 92 | 62 | |
| Recalls issued | 3 | 3 | 4 | 6 | 5 | |
| Crash-involved complaints | 5 | 2 | 3 | 7 | 4 | |
| Fire-involved complaints | 0 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | |
| Injuries reported | 6 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 1 | |
| Deaths reported | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Configurations compared | 3 | 3 | 5 | 6 | 6 |
Not compared: this database has no vehicle sales or registration figures, so a raw count mostly reflects how many were sold, not how safe the vehicle is.
Common questions
How many recalls does the 2018 Acura TLX have?
4 NHTSA recall campaigns as of Sep 16, 2026. Check your VIN with NHTSA to see whether one applies to your car.
What is the most common complaint about the 2018 Acura TLX?
Engine: 42 of 94 NHTSA complaints (45%) mention it.
What gas mileage does the 2018 Acura TLX get?
EPA rates it 23–27 MPG combined across 5 configurations.
How much does it cost to fuel a 2018 Acura TLX?
EPA estimates $2,850–$3,350 a year in fuel costs, using EPA's assumptions.
EPA-Rated Configurations (5)
| Configuration | Transmission | Cylinders | Displacement | Drivetrain | Fuel Type | Vehicle Class | City | Highway | Combined | Annual Fuel Cost | CO₂ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Configuration 1 | Automatic (AM-S8) | 4 | 2.4L | Front-Wheel Drive | Premium | Compact Cars | 23 mpg (high) | 33 mpg (high) | 27 mpg (high) | $2,850 (low) | 330 g/mi (low) |
| Configuration 2 | Automatic (S9) | 6 | 3.5L | Front-Wheel Drive | Premium | Compact Cars | 20 mpg (low) | 32 mpg | 24 mpg | $3,250 | 368 g/mi |
| Configuration 3 | Automatic (S9) | 6 | 3.5L | Front-Wheel Drive | Premium | Compact Cars | 20 mpg (low) | 30 mpg | 23 mpg (low) | $3,350 (high) | 382 g/mi |
| Configuration 4 | Automatic (S9) | 6 | 3.5L | All-Wheel Drive | Premium | Compact Cars | 21 mpg | 30 mpg | 24 mpg | $3,250 | 369 g/mi |
| Configuration 5 | Automatic (S9) | 6 | 3.5L | All-Wheel Drive | Premium | Compact Cars | 20 mpg (low) | 29 mpg (low) | 23 mpg (low) | $3,350 (high) | 387 g/mi (high) |
Complaints by Category
| Category | Complaints | Crash-Involved | Fire-Involved | Injuries | Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 42 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Transmission & Drivetrain | 11 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Fuel System | 15 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical | 19 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Brakes | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Steering | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension, Wheels & Tires | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Airbags & Restraints | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Driver Assistance & Speed Control | 14 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Body, Seats & Latches | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Visibility & Lighting | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Other | 14 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
A complaint that names more than one category is counted in each, so the rows can add up to more than the total number of complaints.
Recalls (4)
AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION:FRONT PASSENGER · Campaign 26V332000 · May 22, 2026
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 may crack and short circuit, which can cause the air bags to deploy unintentionally during a crash.
Consequence: Air bags that deploy unintentionally during a crash increase the risk of injury.
Remedy: 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, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP · Campaign 23V858000 · Dec 19, 2023
Defect: 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.
Consequence: Fuel pump failure can cause an engine stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: 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 COOLING:ENGINE:HARD PARTS INTERNAL/MECHANICAL · Campaign 23V751000 · Nov 13, 2023
Defect: 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.
Consequence: A damaged engine may run improperly or stall while driving, increasing the risk of a fire, crash, or injury.
Remedy: 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, OTHER:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP · Campaign 19V060000 · Jan 31, 2019
Defect: 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.
Consequence: Reduced fuel pump performance can result in an engine stall, increasing the risk of crash.
Remedy: 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.