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2016 Acura Tlx Recalls, Issues & Maintenance

The 2016 Acura Tlx carries 3 open NHTSA recalls — most recently covering fuel pump and hard parts internal/mechanical. Owners report 8 recurring issue clusters, led by “Connecting rod bearing failure and engine seizure.” Acura's Maintenance Minder calculates oil life from real engine conditions and shows service codes instead of fixed mileages — code A or B (oil / oil + inspection) plus sub-codes for items like tire rotation (1), air filters (2), or transmission fluid (3). Follow the codes, not the calendar. One interval you should never stretch: most Acura 3.5L V6 engines (MDX, TL) use a timing belt with a roughly 105,000-mile / 7-year replacement — a snapped belt on this interference engine means bent valves. SH-AWD models add a rear-differential fluid service that's essential for the torque-vectoring unit.

3 Open Recalls

Source: NHTSA

FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP

Campaign #19V060000 · Jan 29, 2019

Issue: 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 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.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:HARD PARTS INTERNAL/MECHANICAL

Campaign #23V751000 · Nov 13, 2023

Issue: 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 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, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP

Campaign #23V858000 · Dec 18, 2023

Issue: 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. This recall is an expansion of NHTSA recall numbers 21V-215 and 20V-314.

Recall data refreshed Sep 6, 2026.

Known issues for this vehicle

What drivers and federal regulators have officially reported about the 2016 Acura Tlx.

1 active NHTSA investigation

Source: NHTSA

  • No Restart After Auto Start/Stop Engages

    Action #EA25004 · opened Mar 26, 2025

    On June 3, 2022, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened Preliminary Evaluation PE22005 after the agency received VOQs and several field reports concerning the Auto Idle Stop (AIS) feature on 2016-2019MY Honda Pilot vehicles. The complaints allege that the engine fails to r…

    View on NHTSA →

Reported to NHTSA

Connecting rod bearing failure and engine seizure

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

21 NHTSA complaints · 2023-11 → 2026-06

“The following complaint is in relation to NHTSA Safety Recall 23V-751 and the Acura Corporation's unwillingness to recompense the registered owner for catastrophic damages that occurred to the engine”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11617364
“The contact owns a 2016 Acura TLX. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V751000 (Engine and Engine Cooling) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11564656
“The contact owns a 2016 Acura TLX. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, an abnormal clicking sound was coming from the vehicle. There was no warning light illuminated”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11561306

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Tire sidewall separation and bulging

TIRES

3 NHTSA complaints · 2023-08 → 2025-04

“The contact owns a 2016 Acura TLX equipped with Cooper Tires, Tires Line: Evolution Tour, Tire Size: 225/50/R18, DOT Number: N/A”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11655183
“Tire size 225/55R17. - Sidewall separation on the inside portion of two tires (unable to identify from looking at tires on vehicle, this could go unnoticed by the driver)”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11550186
“The contact owns a 2016 Acura TLX equipped with Goodyear Tires, Tire Line: Eagle LS2, Tire Size: 225/55/R17, DOT Number: (N/A). The contact stated while driving 50 MPH, the low tire pressure warning light illuminated”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11536324

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Sunroof glass panel shattering while driving

STRUCTURE

3 NHTSA complaints · 2017-02 → 2022-05

“The contact owns a 2016 Acura TLX. The contact stated while driving approximately 75 MPH, the sunroof panel shattered without impact and glass fragments entered the cabin of the vehicle”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11463374
“DRIVING TO WORK 3/19/20 AT 7:15AM. THE SUNROOF SHATTERED. THE SHADE WAS OPEN AND GLASS SHARDS COVERED MY WIFE AND THE INSIDE OF THE CAR”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11318713
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 ACURA TLX. WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, A LOUD NOISE WAS HEARD. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE SUN ROOF EXPLODED WITHOUT WARNING”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10957515

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Rear-view camera image obscured by moisture

BACK OVER PREVENTION

3 NHTSA complaints · 2020-12 → 2026-07

“The contact owns a 2016 Acura TLX. The contact stated that the rear-view camera image was cloudy and was not functioning because there was water inside the camera”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11749995
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 ACURA TLX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER SHIFTING THE VEHICLE INTO REVERSE, THE BACK OVER PREVENTION CAMERA FAILED TO OPERATE AS DESIGNED”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11383406
“The backup camera on the rear simply went blurry one day, it’s now impossible to see out the camera”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11649596

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Dashboard vent reflection obstructing mirror view

VISIBILITY/WIPER

4 NHTSA complaints · 2016-06 → 2016-08

“WHILE DRIVING THE CAR IN BRIGHT SUNLIGHT THERE IS A CLARE REFLECTION FROM THE DRIVERS AND PASSENGER'S DASHBOARD VENTS THAT REFLECTS STRONGLY ON THE INTERIOR SIDE WINDOW RIGHT WHERE THE LEFT AND RIGHT SIDE VIEW MIRRORS ARE LOCATED”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10887912
“SIDE VIEW MIRRORS HAVE A REFLECTION OF INSIDE VENTS. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS, WHEN YOU HAVE AN OBSTRUCTED VIEW”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10886004
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 ACURA TLX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT VENTS CAUSED A REFLECTION IN THE SIDE VIEW MIRRORS CAUSING THE CONTACTS VISION TO BE OBSCURED”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10873806

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

High-pressure fuel pump failure and stalling

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

9 NHTSA complaints · 2019-08 → 2025-04

“For just shy of a year, We've been experiencing problems with our 2016 TLX misfiring and stalling. Fuel pressure has been tested and it's shown to dramatically drop while under load”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11419246
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 ACURA TLX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED AND VARIOUS UNKNOWN INDICATORS ILLUMINATED”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11242131
“The contact owns a 2016 Acura TLX. The contact stated while driving 25 MPH, several unknown warning lights illuminated, and the vehicle stalled”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11608232

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Unexpected shift to neutral during acceleration

POWER TRAIN

15 NHTSA complaints · 2016-02 → 2024-03

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 ACURA TLX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THERE WAS A LOSS OF POWER. THE VEHICLE SHIFTED INDEPENDENTLY INTO NEUTRAL WHILE ON AN INCLINE AND ROLLED IN REVERSE TOWARDS ONCOMING TRAFFIC”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11096519
“TRANSMISSION FUNCTION SENSOR FAILURE WARNING AND BLIND SPOT SENSOR FAILURE WARNING APPEARED ON DASH WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON A CITY STREET. CAR WENT IMMEDIATELY INTO NEUTRAL WHILE I WAS DRIVING”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11080229
“1. WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A STOP, THE TRANSMISSION OCCASIONALLY FEELS LIKE IT SLIPS INTO NEUTRAL. THE ENGINE RES BUT DOES NOT MOVE FORWARD FOR 1-2 SECONDS”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10851745

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Sudden loss of power with multiple warning lights

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE

24 NHTSA complaints · 2017-11 → 2026-02

“Engine light would come on if I drove 65 MPH check engine emission system problem I would try drive press on gas peddle & car would slow down I almost got rear ended by 18 wheeler semi truck”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11450365
“I TRIED TO START MY CAR AND IT MADE A WEIRD TICKING NOISE AS IF THE BATTERY WAS DEAD. ALL THE LIGHTS ON THE DASHBOARD TURNED ON AND THE CAR KEPT TELLING ME I NEEDED TO TURN OFF SOME SORT OF BRAKE SYSTEM IN ORDER FOR THE CAR TO WORK”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11373940
“Unknown: EBS comes on as well as the break system problem lights and many more. Vehicle loses power and goes into limp mode. As of now it wont shift from PArking”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11701778

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Note: NHTSA also opened 1 defect investigation(s) on this vehicle that closed without action.

Issues on other model years

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI). Complaint data refreshed Sep 11, 2026. Investigation data refreshed Sep 11, 2026.

We display NHTSA's record with attribution; we don't editorialize on what these complaints mean for any specific vehicle.

Essential maintenance

Critical for safety and preventing major damage

Oil & Filter (Maintenance Minder A/B)

Every 8,000 mi

Change when the Maintenance Minder reaches 15% oil life or shows code A/B — typically every 7,500-10,000 miles with 0W-20 synthetic. Short-trip city driving triggers the code sooner; that's the algorithm doing its job.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$120–$160

Shop

~$85–$115

DIY

~$25–$55

Full synthetic costs more than conventional. 5-quart 0W-20 + filter is the typical bill.

Timing Belt (3.5L V6 — MDX, TL)

Every 105,000 mi

J-series V6: replace the timing belt around 105,000 miles or 7 years (Maintenance Minder sub-code 4). It's an interference engine — a failed belt destroys valves. Replace the water pump and tensioner in the same job. (2022+ MDX 3.5L remains belt-driven; the Integra's turbo four is chain-driven.)

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$935–$1175

Shop

~$655–$825

DIY

Pro only

On interference engines, a snapped belt destroys valves. Worth doing on schedule. Bundle water pump + tensioner — labor is already there.

Tire Rotation (Sub-code 1)

Every 7,500 mi

Rotate when sub-code 1 appears — roughly every 7,500 miles. SH-AWD models: keep tread depths matched across all four corners.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$85

Shop

~$60

DIY

Free

Often free at the shop where you bought the tires — worth asking before paying.

Brake Inspection

Every 10,000 mi

Inspect pads, rotors, and fluid level with every A/B service. Type S models with Brembo front calipers: pads wear faster and cost more — budget ahead.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$85

Shop

~$60

DIY

Free

Most shops do this free as a courtesy with any service. Don't pay separately if you can avoid it.

Brake Fluid

Every 30,000 mi

Replace every 3 years regardless of mileage — Honda/Acura schedules this on time because the fluid absorbs moisture.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$180–$200

Shop

~$125–$140

DIY

~$10–$25

DOT 3 or 4 — match the cap. Vacuum bleeders make this a one-person DIY.

Important maintenance

Keeps your vehicle running smoothly and efficiently

Transmission Fluid (Sub-code 3)

Every 30,000 mi

Replace ATF when sub-code 3 appears — commonly every 30,000-60,000 miles depending on duty. Use Honda/Acura ATF only (DW-1, or the 10-speed's specified fluid); aftermarket 'universal' ATF causes shudder in these gearboxes.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$330–$500

Shop

~$235–$355

DIY

~$60–$180

Some sealed transmissions have no dipstick — fill is precise and best left to a shop. Many drivers can still DIY drain-and-fill.

SH-AWD Rear Differential Fluid

Every 30,000 mi

SH-AWD (MDX, TLX, RDX): replace the rear differential fluid roughly every 30,000 miles (sub-code 6) — the torque-vectoring clutch packs run in this fluid, and whining or binding in tight turns is the classic overdue symptom.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$150–$195

Shop

~$105–$135

DIY

~$20–$50

Spark Plugs (Sub-code 4)

Every 100,000 mi

Iridium plugs around 100,000 miles on most models. Turbocharged Integra/ADX engines: check the manual — forced induction typically shortens the interval.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$285–$390

Shop

~$200–$275

DIY

~$25–$100

Iridium plugs cost more but last 100k+ miles. V6/V8 access varies wildly — some are tough.

Engine Air Filter (Sub-code 2)

Every 30,000 mi

Replace with sub-code 2, roughly every 30,000 miles — sooner in dusty conditions.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$60–$95

Shop

~$45–$70

DIY

~$15–$40

5-minute job on most cars; the airbox lid usually has clips, no tools needed.

Recommended maintenance

Extends the life of your vehicle and improves comfort

Cabin Air Filter (Sub-code 2)

Every 30,000 mi

Replace with sub-code 2 alongside the engine air filter. Behind the glovebox — an easy DIY on most Acuras.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$60–$95

Shop

~$45–$70

DIY

~$15–$40

Usually behind the glovebox. Shops charge labor for a 10-minute job — easy DIY win.

Coolant Replacement (Sub-code 5)

Every 100,000 mi

Honda/Acura Type 2 coolant: first change around 10 years / 100,000 miles, then every 5 years / 50,000. Use the blue Type 2 coolant only.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$285–$330

Shop

~$200–$235

DIY

~$25–$60

Use the manufacturer-specified coolant — wrong color/chemistry can damage the cooling system.

Fatal crash history & reported problems

Occupant deaths in fatal crashes (FARS)

6 crashes 2010–2024

FARS counts every occupant death in a fatal crash, whatever the cause — it does not mean the vehicle was at fault or defective. Counts are not adjusted for how many of each vehicle are on the road. How to read this number

Owner-reported problem signals

Separate from the federal fatality data above: complaints owners filed with NHTSA about this year and model. These are reports of problems, unverified, and are counted here only as signals.

5

complaints mentioning a crash

0

complaints mentioning a fire

Reviewed known issues for this vehicle·Open recalls for this vehicle

Typical U.S. ranges. Actual quotes vary by shop, parts choice, and vehicle condition.

How we estimate: Dealer = OEM parts × 1.4 + labor × $165/hr. Shop = parts + labor × $115/hr. DIY = parts only.

This maintenance schedule for the 2016 Acura Tlx reflects Acura's published service intervals and the Maintenance Minder system. Your actual service needs may vary based on driving conditions, climate, and vehicle usage. Always consult your owner's manual for model-specific recommendations.

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