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2020 Acura Tlx Recalls, Issues & Maintenance

The 2020 Acura Tlx carries 5 open NHTSA recalls — most recently covering fuel pump and hard parts internal/mechanical. Owners report 8 recurring issue clusters, led by “Connecting rod bearing knock and engine failure.” 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.

5 Open Recalls

Source: NHTSA

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP

Campaign #21V215000 · Mar 25, 2021

Issue: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Acura MDX, MDX Sport Hybrid, RDX, TLX, Honda Accord, Civic Hatchback, Insight, 2019 Acura ILX, Honda Accord Hybrid, Civic Coupe, Civic Coupe Si, Civic Sedan, Civic Sedan Si, Civic Type R, Fit, HR-V, Odyssey, Passport, Pilot and Ridgeline, and 2018-2019 CR-V vehicles. The low-pressure 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: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel pump assembly, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed May 18, 2021. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Note: This recall is an expansion of recall 20V-314.

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.

AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION:FRONT PASSENGER

Campaign #24V064000 · Jan 2, 2024

Issue: 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.

Risk: An air bag that deploys unintentionally during a crash can increase the risk of injury.

Fix: 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.

AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION:FRONT PASSENGER

Campaign #26V332000 · May 21, 2026

Issue: 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.

Risk: Air bags that deploy unintentionally during a crash increase the risk of injury.

Fix: 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.

Recall data refreshed Sep 6, 2026.

Known issues for this vehicle

What drivers and federal regulators have officially reported about the 2020 Acura Tlx.

2 active NHTSA investigations

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 →

  • Engine failure

    Action #PE25008 · opened Aug 20, 2025

    The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) has received 414 reports of connecting rod bearing failures in the 3.5L V6 engine used in the following vehicles: Model Years (MY) 2018-2020 Acura TLX, MY2016-2020 Acura MDX, MY2016-2020 Honda Pilot, MY2018-2020 Honda Odyssey, and MY2017-…

    View on NHTSA →

Reported to NHTSA

Connecting rod bearing knock and engine failure

ENGINE

8 NHTSA complaints · 2024-02 → 2026-08

“The engine knock started on 12/22/25. Motorcars Acura recommended get a case number & have the 2020 TLX towed in for a diagnostic. Online case # XXX Towed to Motorcars on 12/23/25. Talked to Michelle with customer relations & she was going to call Motorcars for info. Motorcars”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11714897
“Recall performed on 2020 Acura TLX 3.5 for rod bearing recall. Crankshaft and bearings were replaced. 24000 miles later, the engine spun a bearing again with all the new internals. All maintenance records were supplied when the car was brought in. Acura is wanting me to pay 40%”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11710271
“The contact owns a 2020 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. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11570732

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Electric parking brake warning and unexpected activation

SERVICE BRAKES

3 NHTSA complaints · 2022-09 → 2026-05

“The cars Emission Systems and Parking Brake lights come on, and the dealer can not diagnose this issue properly. I have taken it in 4 times, and it continues to happen. I fear the parking brake coming on while driving”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11735228
“While traveling on highway, parking brake intermittently activated several times and parking brake malfunction alarm flashed on dashboard. This caused the vehicle to brake unexpectedly while driving through a construction zone on highway 45. Fortunately, we were very close to”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11486379

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Wheel detachment while driving

SUSPENSION, WHEELS

2 NHTSA complaints · 2020-08 → 2025-09

“THE CONTACT OWNS A 2020 ACURA TLX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE HER HUSBAND WAS DRIVING IT FELT AS IF THE TIRE WAS ABOUT TO DEFLATE. HE CHECKED THE TIRE AND FOUND NO ISSUES WITH THE VEHICLE. HE CONTINUED TO DRIVE AND THE DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT WHEEL DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11344319
“The contact owns a 2020 Acura TLX. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V751000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) and an unknown recall for the tires, and another for the trim around the doors. The contact stated that the recall repairs were completed. The”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11685745

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Warped front brake rotors at low mileage

SERVICE BRAKES

2 NHTSA complaints · 2021-07 → 2023-06

“Defective warped rotors at low mile approximately 15k miles, brake pads are good but not rotors.Original owner not aggressively driven or braked. Episodes when driving highway at 70mph and traffic suddenly stop's vehicles brakes must be pumped to ensure effective stopping. The”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11528420
“After approx. 15,000 miles on the odometer applying the brakes at highway speed to slow the car down the steering wheel shakes, went to the dealership they said the front brake rotors are warped. Also when traveling at highway speed around 70 mph with strong wind the hood of the”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11425098

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Fuel system and engine cooling recall parts unavailable

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

17 NHTSA complaints · 2024-03 → 2025-02

“The recall impacting my fuel injection has not been fixed since 2023 i have been waiting. I was told parts are available now and would be called by someone but that has been more than a month ago”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11644299
“The contact owns a 2020 Acura TLX. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V858000 (Fuel System, Gasoline); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11591144
“My engine has stopped and stalled in the middle of traffic on multiple occasions. The issue is related to the fuel pump recall. Acura states that the parts for the recalls are available, yet when you contact an Acura dealership, none of them have the parts! I DONT WANT TO DIE IN”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11593828

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Auto idle-stop system fails to restart engine

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE

5 NHTSA complaints · 2021-06 → 2025-11

“49,622 mark on my 2020 Acura tlx AWD… auto stop was enabled, car was at stoplight, engine attempted to re-engage but did not and car went into “neutral”… and the lights stayed on. I immediately turned on blinkers to avoid crash and and attempted to re start car, I shifted into”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11700396
“The idle stop feature on the vehicle will engage at a red light stop. Then, will fail to start the engine when the light turns green. You have to engage the car in park and then hit the engine start button. This is a safety hazard in traffic. It could result in an accident”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11536951
“Two times in three weeks with the auto idle stop active the car failed to restart on a green light. Following all the prompts in the car it takes over a minute to re start the car while blocking traffic”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11420145

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Sudden engine stall or loss of power while driving

ENGINE

9 NHTSA complaints · 2021-06 → 2025-11

“I was driving around 30miles/hr and the engines shut off unexpectedly. I was stuck in the middle of a highway and the engine didn’t turn back on. The dashboard showed total failure. The car was one year old with 11k miles. I just had it serviced by the dealer”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11419841
“The contact owns a 2020 Acura TLX. While the contact’s wife was driving at an undisclosed speed, the contact stated that several unknown warning lights illuminated. In addition, the vehicle shut off in the middle lane of a major highway. The contact's wife received assistance”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11609669
“Car loses power on inclines. Stepping on gas and car decreases speed”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11422977

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Forward collision system warnings and false activation

FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE

4 NHTSA complaints · 2023-05 → 2026-01

“The front camera that operates the cruise control, lane assist, automatic braking, automatic high beam has stopped working. After further research it seems to be a popular problem with this car in a short amount of time. This car is a 2020 with 61,000 miles. The camera costs”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11714405
“The vehicle's dash states the following are malfunctioning: Road Departure Mitigation System, Adaptive Cruise Control, Auto High Beam, Collision Mitigation System, and Lane Keeping Assist. The vehicle is available for inspection upon request. A few days prior to this message”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11632548
“while driving on a 2 lane road that curved to the right, the Collision Mitigation Braking System (CMBS) activated for no apparent reason. The brakes engaged hard for a short period of time. Fortunately there was no vehicle behind me that could have rear ended me. I would say”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11521681

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)

11 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.

4

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 2020 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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