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2015 Acura TLX problems: engine and transmission complaints and recalls

VERY HIGH COMPLAINT SIGNAL
71%
234 of 330 relevant owner complaints are about the engine, transmission or fuel system

71% of relevant owner complaints filed with NHTSA on the 2015 Acura TLX are about the engine, transmission or fuel system. Well over half of everything owners reported is the drivetrain. That is a severe model-level pattern; every model year we track at this level has a documented failure behind it.

Worse than 92% of the 1,790 model years we track (2010–2023).

Excludes 12 airbag, lighting and seat-belt recall complaints that would otherwise mask the signal (unadjusted: 68%).

NHTSA data checked October 3, 2026

The VIN is on the listing, the driver’s door jamb, and the bottom of the windshield on the driver’s side.

Does the 2015 Acura TLX have transmission problems?

Owner complaints say yes, heavily, as a model-year pattern. 234 of 330 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2015 Acura TLX concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (71%), and the largest group is filed under power train (160). For comparison, the 2016 scores 56%. On a test drive, check for shuddering, slipping, delayed or harsh shifts, or a whine at speed. This describes the model year, not any one car: a well-maintained or already-repaired example can be fine, and a clean model year can still have a bad car in it.

Drivetrain complaints
234
engine, transmission, fuel
Total complaints
342
this model year
Fires reported
0
owner-reported
Recall campaigns
6
12 crashes · 9 injuries

Complaints by component

POWER TRAIN160 · 47%
ENGINE82 · 24%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM64 · 19%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER42 · 12%
SERVICE BRAKES24 · 7%
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL23 · 7%

The years either side

2010
no data
2011
no data
2012
too few complaints
2013
no data
2014
no data
2015
71%
234 of 342
2016
56%
60 of 110
2017
72%
51 of 71
2018
63%
57 of 94
2019
63%
57 of 92
2020
55%
33 of 63
2021
70%
66 of 102
2022
59%
20 of 34
2023
too few complaints

Manufacturers fix things mid-generation. A bad year next to a clean one is common; the fix usually arrived in between.

How the 2015 compares with other Acura TLX years

Of the 8 Acura TLX years with enough complaints to score, the 2015 is the 2nd-worst on engine and transmission share (71%). The worst is the 2017 (72%), the best the 2020 (55%). By volume, the 2015 drew 342 complaints (234 drivetrain), against 110 for the 2016.

Acura TLX years to avoid and best years →

In the full report

The rest of the picture on the 2015 Acura TLX

  • The mileage where it happens. When owners of the 2015 Acura TLX said the problem showed up, and the range most of them fell in.
  • What the repair costs. Typical transmission repair ranges, to price into your offer.
  • Cleaner alternatives. Similar cars and nearby years with a better record.
  • Up to 15 owner reports, with the ones about your car's own engine first.
  • What to ask the seller and what to check on the test drive, for this car.
  • Two cars side by side, if you are deciding between them.

What one owner reported

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,POWER TRAIN,ELECTRICAL08/04/20251 INJURED
The contact's client owns a 2015 Acura TLX. The contact stated while the client was driving 65 MPH, the vehicle shut down in the middle of traffic. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact stated that the transmission failed to shift into drive or reverse. Additionally, there was an unknown failure with th…

One of 234 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows up to 15, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.

2015 Acura TLX engine and transmission recalls

Yes. NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns on the 2015 Acura TLX involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 6 in total. A recall is the manufacturer admitting a defect and paying to fix it; whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN, which the full report checks. The owner complaints above are a separate record and often point at problems that never became a recall.

fuel system, gasoline: delivery: fuel pump23V858000 · Dec 2023

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.…

engine and engine cooling: engine: hard parts internal/mechanical23V751000 · Nov 2023

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…

fuel system, other: delivery: fuel pump19V060000 · Jan 2019

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…

power train: automatic transmission: control module (tcm/pcm/tecm)16V640000 · Sep 2016

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain model year 2015 Acura TLX 2WD and 4WD vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the transmission wire harness connections may have insufficient crimps, and, as a result, the transmission may unexpectedly shift to neutral.

Risk: If the vehicle unexpectedly shifts to neutral, there is an increased risk of a crash.

Fix: Acura has notified owners, and dealers will, based on the automatic transmission serial number, update the transmission software to prevent the transmission from shifting into neutral due to a faulty crimp, free of…

power train: automatic transmission14V779000 · Dec 2014

American Honda Motor Co. (Honda) is recalling certain model year 2015 Acura TLX V6 2WD vehicles manufactured July 14, 2014, to November 12, 2014, and certain 2015 TLX V6 SH-AWD vehicles manufactured August 26, 2014, to November 10, 2014. The automatic transmission parking pawl may become contaminated or the park rod may become dislodged or broken. This may prevent the transmission from shifting into the Park…

Risk: If the shift indicator displays "Park" but the park lock does not engage, the vehicle may roll away increasing the risk of a crash.

Fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the transmission if necessary, free of charge. The recall began January 30, 2015. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-310-783-2000. Honda's…

1 other recall on this model year (airbags, lighting, brakes and the rest)
equipment: other: labels14V613000 · Oct 2014
American Honda Motor Co. (Honda) is recalling certain model year 2015 Acura TLX AWD vehicles manufactured August 26, 2014, to September 20, 2014. The affected vehicles may have incorrect values for…

Source: NHTSA recall campaigns filed against this year, make and model. Checked October 3, 2026.

Checking one particular 2015 Acura TLX? This page is about the model year. Accidents, title brands and odometer records belong to the individual car, and that is what a vehicle history report covers.

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Questions people ask about the 2015 Acura TLX

Does the 2015 Acura TLX have transmission problems?

Owner complaints say yes, heavily, as a model-year pattern. 234 of 330 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2015 Acura TLX concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (71%). Before buying one, have an independent mechanic check the transmission and ask the seller whether it has been repaired or replaced.

What is the most common problem with the 2015 Acura TLX?

Going by NHTSA owner complaints, the most common problem filed against the 2015 Acura TLX is power train: 160 of 342 complaints (47%) name it, followed by engine (82) and electrical system (64). A complaint can name more than one component, so these overlap.

Is the 2015 Acura TLX reliable?

On the engine and transmission, owner complaints point to a weak spot: 71% of relevant complaints filed with NHTSA concern the drivetrain (very high signal). That is worse than 92% of the 1,790 model years we track. Among the 8 Acura TLX years we score, it ranks 2nd-worst. Complaint data describes the model year, not one car, and it says nothing about trim, paint or electronics outside the drivetrain; an independent inspection still decides it.

Are there engine or transmission recalls on the 2015 Acura TLX?

Yes. NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns on the 2015 Acura TLX involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 6 in total: 23V858000 (fuel system, gasoline: delivery: fuel pump), 23V751000 (engine and engine cooling: engine: hard parts internal/mechanical), 19V060000 (fuel system, other: delivery: fuel pump), and more. Whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN.

Which Acura TLX years are better?

Among the Acura TLX years we track, the 2020 (55%), the 2016 (56%) and the 2022 (59%) have a lower engine and transmission complaint share than the 2015 (71%). Manufacturers fix things mid-generation, so the year before or after can be a different car. Every year side by side: https://thelanecheck.com/cars/acura-tlx

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Experimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across a model year, not the condition of any individual vehicle.