2019 Acura TLX: True Cost, Problems & Verdict

91 NHTSA owner complaints · 6 recalls · data-computed verdict. No opinions — public data only.

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Editor's note

Avoid the 2015 TLX, the nameplate's first year, which scores 38 on 341 complaints with Power Train at 160 and Engine at 82. Buy a 2016 or 2017, which score 78 and 84 on 110 and 70 complaints, or a 2022 to 2025, which score 85, 84, 89 and 87 on 25, 10, 5 and 4 complaints, evidence low. Read the full note on the model page. 2019 specifically: 91 complaints on record, score 67/100 — read the year table on the model page to see where it sits among its siblings.

Read the guide

Used Acura MDX, RDX and TLX: the years to avoid, including 2019 — written and signed by Adir Trabelsi, 2026-09-16.

Owner complaints: 91 filed with NHTSA

Complaints per year on the road: 13.0

Engine31Fuel/Propulsion System14Engine And Engine Cooling13Fuel System13Gasoline13Electrical System12

What owners say

Verbatim reports filed with the United States safety regulator (NHTSA) by owners of this exact model year. Public record.

The contact owns a 2019 Acura TLX. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V751000 (Engine and Engine Cooling). The contact stated that while driving approximately 55 MPH, the vehicle lost power and the steering wheel failed to responded as needed. The vehicle stalled in the middle of the road. The vehicle was restarted but stalled immediately. The contact inspected the vehicle but found no faul…
Both headlight lenses on my 2019 Acura TLX developed severe internal stress cracking (crazing) with no external damage of any kind. The cracking appears to originate from inside the housing, consistent with heat stress or a manufacturing defect. Both headlights cracked identically and simultaneously, which rules out accidental damage. Acura corporate has denied a goodwill repair, classifying this as normal wear and t…
The contact owns a 2019 Acura TLX. The contact stated that while driving on the highway, the vehicle intermittently started to accelerate slowly and then it unexpectedly surges forward. The dealer was contacted regarding the issue but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was unavailable.

Recalls: 6 campaigns (4 severe)

2019202120232026
CampaignComponentSummary
19V298000Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline:Belts And Associated PulleysHonda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Acura MDX and Honda Pilot vehicles and 2019 Acura RLX, RLX Sport Hybrid, TLX and Honda Odyssey and Ridgeline vehicles. The timing belt teeth may separate from the belt.
23V751000Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Hard Parts Internal/MechanicalHonda (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.
23V858000Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Fuel PumpHonda (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…
26V332000Air Bags:Sensor:Occupant Classification:Front PassengerHonda (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…
21V215000Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Fuel PumpHonda (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…
19V060000Fuel System, Other:Delivery:Fuel PumpHonda (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.

What it costs to buy — and what owning it really takes

Class-level estimates, priced as a mid-size premium car of its model year, re-priced to your country. Not a quote, not a valuation of one specific car — condition, mileage and options move it. How these are computed.

Typical price today $26,800–$38,600 used market, 2026
You lose to depreciation $2,400/year $12,000 over five years
Price when new (2019)$52,200
Worth in five years$20,700
Depreciation, five years$12,000
Insurance, five years$9,650–$14,050
Fuel and maintenance, five years$25,985
Five-year cost of owning it$49,835
Per mile driven, at 12,000 miles a year$0.83

What it costs to run

EPA combined 23 MPG · estimated annual fuel cost $3,300

Fuel (your region)$3,300
Maintenance band (your region) $1,081–$2,153
Estimated running cost this year (age 7) $4,917
Range across the maintenance band $4,381–$5,453
Next five years, running cost $25,985

Re-priced automatically from your country's retail fuel, electricity and parts indices — change country in the bar at the top. Estimates; see methodology.

02468101214$6,933vehicle age (years)
fuel/energy + maintenance band, annual — US dollars, estimate

Run your own numbers in the true-cost calculator →

What this car's problems cost to fix

Ranked by the components owners of this exact model year actually complain about. Each figure is flat-rate labour hours x the local shop rate plus a parts band — an estimate of what this kind of failure costs, not a quote, and not a prediction that this car will need it. Formula.

  • Engine31 complaints · typical job: Cooling-system or timing-drive repair (6.0 h labour + parts)$1,040–$2,220
  • Fuel/Propulsion System14 complaints · typical job: Fuel pump or injector replacement (3.5 h labour + parts)$680–$1,620
  • Engine And Engine Cooling13 complaints · typical job: Water pump, thermostat and coolant service (3.5 h labour + parts)$600–$1,040
  • Fuel System13 complaints · typical job: Fuel pump or injector replacement (3.5 h labour + parts)$680–$1,620
  • Gasoline13 complaints · typical job: Fuel delivery and emissions repair (3.0 h labour + parts)$580–$1,360
  • Electrical System12 complaints · typical job: Alternator, battery-drain or body-module diagnosis and replacement (3.0 h labour + parts)$540–$1,310

FAQ

What is the most common problem with the 2019 Acura TLX?

The most-reported issue in NHTSA complaint data is Engine (31 complaints in our indexed sample).

Is the 2019 Acura TLX a good used car to buy?

Our data verdict is CAUTION with a reliability score of 67/100, computed from 91 NHTSA complaints and 6 recall campaigns. See the verdict card for the top reasons.

How much does it cost to fix the 2019 Acura TLX's most common problem?

31 of the NHTSA complaints filed against the 2019 Acura TLX sit in the Engine group — more than any other component on this model year. The representative job there is cooling-system or timing-drive repair: about 6.0 hours of labour plus parts, roughly $1,040–$2,220 at a US independent shop and re-priced to your country at the top of the page. It is an estimate of what this class of failure costs, not a quote for this car.

What does a 2019 Acura TLX cost to run per year?

About $5,197 a year in fuel or energy plus the maintenance band — roughly $25,985 over five years, before purchase price, insurance and depreciation. Figures come from available EPA fuel-economy data and industry maintenance averages, and are re-priced to your country.

Does the 2019 Acura TLX have recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 6 recall campaign(s) for the 2019 Acura TLX, 4 of them touching fire, crash or stall risk, the most recent recorded 12/04/2019. Check this car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls before you buy.

What will a 2019 Acura TLX really cost YOU per year?

Fuel, maintenance band and depreciation — computed from public data in 10 seconds.

Open the true-cost calculator

Data sources

Complaints & recalls: NHTSA · Fuel economy: EPA fueleconomy.gov · Scoring: our published methodology.
Maintenance bands are industry-average estimates (AAA Your Driving Costs, CarMD index) — labeled estimates, not measurements. Last updated: 2026-10-04.

67RELIABILITY / 100
CAUTION

Moderate evidence — 91 complaints, 6 recalls on record

Typical price today$26,800–$38,600used market estimate · the full money picture
Running cost, next 5 years$25,985fuel/energy + maintenance band midpoint · estimate
  • 91 NHTSA complaints on record (13.0/yr of exposure) — worse than a typical year of this model (10.3/yr)
  • 6 recall campaigns, 4 touching safety-critical systems

How this score is computed →