The Verdict
Worst problem area
Transmission & Drivetrain
Transmission & Drivetrain leads by volume: 29 of 73 complaints (40%) mention it. Complaints mentioning Airbags & Restraints include more reported injuries (2) than those mentioning any other identified area.
Complaints filed rose from 63 in 2020 to 73 in 2021.
At a glance
- NHTSA complaints
- 73
- Recall campaigns
- 4
- EPA fuel cost per year
- $3,100–$3,700
- Combined MPG
- 21–25
Complaints by model year
Where owners report problems
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Cost, Fuel Economy & Complaint History
| Category | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | vs. 2021 Compact Cars |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual fuel cost ($) | 2,850–3,350 | 2,850–3,350 | 3,100–3,700 | 3,100–3,700 | 3,100–3,700 | |
| Combined MPG | 23–27 | 23–27 | 21–25 | 21–25 | 21–25 | |
| City / Highway MPG | 20–23 / 29–33 | 20–23 / 29–33 | 19–22 / 24–31 | 19–22 / 24–31 | 19–22 / 24–31 | |
| CO₂ tailpipe (g/mi) | 330–387 | 330–387 | 352–421 | 352–421 | 352–421 | |
| Complaints filed | 93 | 63 | 73 | 25 | 12 | |
| Recalls issued | 6 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 3 | |
| Crash-involved complaints | 7 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | |
| Fire-involved complaints | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Injuries reported | 3 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | |
| Deaths reported | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Configurations compared | 6 | 6 | 6 | 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 2021 Acura TLX have?
4 NHTSA recall campaigns as of Nov 7, 2026. Check your VIN with NHTSA to see whether one applies to your car.
What is the most common complaint about the 2021 Acura TLX?
Transmission & Drivetrain: 29 of 73 NHTSA complaints (40%) mention it.
What gas mileage does the 2021 Acura TLX get?
EPA rates it 21–25 MPG combined across 6 configurations.
How much does it cost to fuel a 2021 Acura TLX?
EPA estimates $3,100–$3,700 a year in fuel costs, using EPA's assumptions.
Similar Vehicles
EPA-Rated Configurations (6)
| Configuration | Transmission | Cylinders | Displacement | Drivetrain | Fuel Type | Vehicle Class | City | Highway | Combined | Annual Fuel Cost | CO₂ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Configuration 1 | Automatic (S10) | 4 | 2.0L | All-Wheel Drive | Premium | Compact Cars | 21 mpg | 29 mpg | 24 mpg | $3,200 | 371 g/mi |
| Configuration 2 | Automatic (S10) | 4 | 2.0L | All-Wheel Drive | Premium | Compact Cars | 21 mpg | 29 mpg | 24 mpg | $3,200 | 369 g/mi |
| Configuration 3 | Automatic (S10) | 4 | 2.0L | Front-Wheel Drive | Premium | Compact Cars | 22 mpg (high) | 30 mpg | 25 mpg (high) | $3,100 (low) | 357 g/mi |
| Configuration 4 | Automatic (S10) | 4 | 2.0L | Front-Wheel Drive | Premium | Compact Cars | 22 mpg (high) | 31 mpg (high) | 25 mpg (high) | $3,100 (low) | 352 g/mi (low) |
| Configuration 5 | Automatic (S10) | 6 | 3.0L | All-Wheel Drive | Premium | Compact Cars | 19 mpg (low) | 25 mpg | 21 mpg (low) | $3,700 (high) | 420 g/mi |
| Configuration 6 | Automatic (S10) | 6 | 3.0L | All-Wheel Drive | Premium | Compact Cars | 19 mpg (low) | 24 mpg (low) | 21 mpg (low) | $3,700 (high) | 421 g/mi (high) |
Complaints by Category
| Category | Complaints | Crash-Involved | Fire-Involved | Injuries | Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Transmission & Drivetrain | 29 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel System | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical | 10 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Brakes | 11 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Steering | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension, Wheels & Tires | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Airbags & Restraints | 8 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Driver Assistance & Speed Control | 10 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Body, Seats & Latches | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Visibility & Lighting | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Other | 11 | 0 | 0 | 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
- 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.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:PEDALS AND LINKAGES
- 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."
- Consequence
- 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.
- Remedy
- 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
- 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.
- Consequence
- A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source increases the risk of a fire.
- Remedy
- 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
- 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.
- Consequence
- An air bag that deploys unintentionally during a crash can increase the risk of injury.
- Remedy
- 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.