Owners have filed 13 complaints with NHTSA about this car, most about the transmission, electrical, and brakes. The 9 checks below target those problems, in the order you would do them at the car.
2023Tick items off on your phone at the car, or print it. Ticks stay on this device.
0/9 checked
2023 Acura TLX: inspection sheet
Before you go, or before you touch the car0/2
Engine off, key in hand0/3
Ask the seller not to warm the car up first0/1
At least 20 minutes, with some highway0/3
These checks are specific to this model year. For tires, body panels, fluids, and the other basics every used car needs, use the general inspection guide.
These years share the 2023's design and most of its parts, so their problems are the ones to look for on this car too.
Worth adding to your 2023 checks
Worth adding to your 2023 checks
EPA figures for each version of the 2023 Acura TLX. Use them to confirm you are looking at the version that was advertised, and as a yardstick on the test drive.
| Version | Drive | EPA rating |
|---|---|---|
| 2.0L 4-cyl | AWD, FWD | 24–25 mpg |
| 3.0L 6-cyl | AWD | 21 mpg |
NHTSA complaints for the 2023 Acura TLX, grouped by the part owners named. Open a row to read what goes wrong.
The SH-AWD transfer case fails and the car drops to front-wheel drive only. Reports describe fluid seeping from a transfer case seal or gasket and pooling on the underbody panels, with no warning light. Drivers notice weaker grip in turns and in winter, and some feel jerking in low gear. Dealers confirm the fault by spinning the wheels on a lift and replace the transfer case, though at least one dealer found nothing wrong. A leak appears by about 35,846 miles. Losing rear drive raises loss-of-control concerns on slippery roads.
The car can lose all power with no warning. In the reported case, the car pulls away after an idle-stop, shifts itself from Drive into Park, the controls blink, and the car shuts down. The hazard lights stop working and the car cannot be shifted to neutral, which leaves it stranded in traffic. Other reports say the anti-theft and tracking features fail, and that thieves can clone the car's computer and drive off without keys in under 3 minutes.
Brake rotors warp, with all four reported bent at 30K miles. A separate report describes a loud noise along with a sticky, inconsistent brake pedal that makes braking feel uncertain. In that case, dealers and the automaker inspected the car and called the brakes normal, so no repair was done. With only 2 complaints on file, no clear mileage pattern shows up. Even so, an unpredictable pedal is a real safety concern.
Excerpts from complaints TLX owners filed with NHTSA, as written. Listen for the same symptoms on your test drive.
Lost power to rear wheels. AWD system failure. I was denied repair at my local dealership as they insisted the car was fine. I told them I had no awd they didn’t believe me. I was then forced to trade my car into them for a massive loss becuase i feared for my safety driving a fwd car in the winter. I don’t know who owns the car now. I actually have a video of it happening. I can send you it if you work with me. Thanks.
Filed with NHTSA, March 2026
Car’s advertised anti-theft features are faulty. They have two tracking features with also both failed. When I contacted Acura they said this was a known issue and highly prevalent in NY, DC, FL, MD. Cars computer is cloneable and it takes less than 3 minutes to enter and steal without keys or breaking windows or enabling alarms.
Filed with NHTSA, November 2025
Complaints for this year next to the average for the other model years, area by area.
The 2023 ranks sixth for owner complaints among 8 TLX years, well under the average of the others. Newer years have had less time to collect complaints, so compare like with like.
Redesigns and mid-cycle updates change what can go wrong.
The 2023 is the third model year of the TLX's second generation (2021 on).
Acura updated the TLX for 2024, so a 2023 does not have those changes.
What changed for 2024 (not on a 2023)
Recall repairs are free at any Acura dealer, but the seller may never have had them done. Check each campaign number against the VIN.
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.".
Risk: 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.
Fix: 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.
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.
Risk: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source increases the risk of a fire.
Fix: 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.
Cars shoppers compare with the Acura TLX, with their own 2023 checklists.
2023 owner complaints, side by side
