2016 Acura TLX
The 2016 Acura TLX is sold in the U.S. as a gas compact car with 3 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the TLX 2WD, is EPA-rated at 28 mpg combined. NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for this model year, 1 rated critical, which gives it a Safety Signal grade of D. Owners have filed 110 complaints, most often about the engine. NHTSA crash-tested it at 5 stars overall.
Specs & fuel economy
Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov| Configuration | Powertrain | Drive | Engine / motor | City | Hwy | Comb | Annual fuel* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TLX 2WD | Gas | FWD | 2.4L 4-cyl | 24 | 35 | 28 | $2,750 |
| TLX 2WD | Gas | FWD | 3.5L 6-cyl | 21 | 34 | 25 | $3,100 |
| TLX 4WD | Gas | AWD | 3.5L 6-cyl | 21 | 31 | 25 | $3,100 |
*EPA estimate at 15,000 miles/year at EPA reference fuel and electricity prices. fueleconomy.gov record ids: 36948, 36949, 36950.
Factory warranty running out?
The 2016 Acura TLX is in the years where transmission, electronics and drivetrain repairs land on the owner. Compare extended-coverage quotes in about two minutes.
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Recalls (3)
Source: NHTSA recall databaseEngine And Engine Cooling
XG1, GG0Fuel System, Other
N3X, P3WNHTSA defect investigations
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine — No Restart After Auto Start/Stop Engages open
On June 3, 2022, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened Preliminary Evaluation PE22005 after the agency received VOQs and several �eld reports concerning the Auto Idle Stop (AIS) feature on 2016-2019MY Honda Pilot vehicles. The complaints allege that the engine fails to restart on its own from a complete stop at a traffic light or road intersection with the AIS function engaged. The subject vehicles are equipped with a 3.5L engine with a 9-speed automatic transmission. On January 6, 2023, Honda released service bulletins 23-008 and 23-009. These service bulletins address the failure to restart issue in the 2016-2019MY Honda Pilot vehicles, as well as the 2015-2020 Acura TLX, 2016
Opened Mar 26, 2025 · action EA25004
Air Bags: Air Bag/Restraint Control Module — Electrical overstress closed
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened this investigation to determine if the failure of airbags to deploy during severe crashes, in certain vehicles, was the result of a safety related defect. During the investigation a complex failure was studied that can result in non-deployment of subject vehicle air bags and other restraint system devices in severe crash events. The subject vehicles may be equipped with an airbag control unit (ACU) for the supplemental restraint system (SRS) Electronic Control Unit (ECU) manufactured by ZF-TRW.  The ECU receives signals from crash sensors mounted in the vehicle and deploys the vehicle air bags and seat belt pretensioners in accordance with
Opened Apr 19, 2019 · closed Sep 19, 2024 · action EA19001
Owner complaints
Source: NHTSA complaint database5 involved a crash · 0 a fire · 6 injuries · 0 deaths reported
Filed per year: 2016: 11 · 2017: 7 · 2018: 5 · 2019: 12 · 2020: 11 · 2021: 9 · 2022: 8 · 2023: 7 · 2024: 21 · 2025: 12 · 2026: 7
Most-cited components
What owners describe
Complaint counts are raw owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects, and scale with how many were sold. Use them to spot patterns, not to rank.
Crash ratings
Source: NHTSA NCAP| Configuration | Overall | Frontal | Side | Rollover | Rollover risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 DR AWD | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | 10% |
| 4 DR FWD | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | 10% |
NHTSA New Car Assessment Program.
Other TLX model years
2025 Acura TLX
2 recalls · 4 complaints
B2024 Acura TLX
2 recalls · 5 complaints
D2023 Acura TLX
4 recalls · 18 complaints
D2022 Acura TLX
4 recalls · 33 complaints
F2021 Acura TLX
5 recalls · 99 complaints
F2020 Acura TLX
5 recalls · 62 complaints
F2019 Acura TLX
6 recalls · 92 complaints
D2018 Acura TLX
4 recalls · 94 complaints
D2017 Acura TLX
3 recalls · 71 complaints
Sources & method
Safety Signal starts every model-year at 100 and subtracts points per open NHTSA recall campaign by severity: critical 15 (fire risk, park-outside or do-not-drive advisories), high 8 (brakes, steering, airbags, loss of drive power, structure, battery), moderate 6, minor 3 (software, labels, lighting fixed by an update). Floor 35. A ≥ 90, B ≥ 80, C ≥ 70, D ≥ 60, otherwise F. Complaint counts and NHTSA crash ratings are shown separately and are not blended into the grade.
EPA figures come from fueleconomy.gov vehicle records. Recalls, complaints, investigations and crash ratings come from NHTSA's public flat files, refreshed weekly.