2023 Acura TLX: True Cost, Problems & Verdict
10 NHTSA owner complaints · 3 recalls · data-computed verdict. No opinions — public data only.
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. 2023 specifically: a year the record favours — 10 complaints, score 84/100. The caveats in the note apply to other years of this nameplate more than to this one.
Read the guide
Used Acura MDX, RDX and TLX: the years to avoid, including 2023 — written and signed by Adir Trabelsi, 2026-09-16.
Owner complaints: 10 filed with NHTSA
Complaints per year on the road: 3.33
What owners say
Verbatim reports filed with the United States safety regulator (NHTSA) by owners of this exact model year. Public record.
The AWD components fail and turns the car into front wheel drive only. Yes it’s available. This puts mine and others after at risk due to expecting the car to accelerate at a full stop instead, it causes me to slowly accelerate <5 mph until the system recognizes it’s in FWD only. I fear that someone will rear end me expecting the car to go faster than it can in that moment. Yes, this has been reported to a reputable …
Purchased a 2023 TLX Aspec with Telecommunication package from Carvana. When I as unable to connect my device to the vehicle, I took it to my local Acura dealer per the limited warranty instructions. It was there after they removed the dash, we discovered the control device was missing and the bracket was missing and the coaxial connector that attaches it to the dashboard is broken. The cellular device was removed…
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.
Recalls: 3 campaigns (3 severe)
| Campaign | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|
| 25V391000 | Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Pedals And Linkages | 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. |
| 24V950000 | Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly | 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. |
| 26V332000 | Air Bags:Sensor:Occupant Classification:Front Passenger | 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… |
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.
What it costs to run
EPA combined 24 MPG · estimated annual fuel cost $3,150
Re-priced automatically from your country's retail fuel, electricity and parts indices — change country in the bar at the top. Estimates; see methodology.
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.
- Unknown Or Other4 complaints · typical job: Diagnosis and mixed repair (2.0 h labour + parts)$360–$940
- Electrical System2 complaints · typical job: Alternator, battery-drain or body-module diagnosis and replacement (3.0 h labour + parts)$540–$1,310
- Service Brakes2 complaints · typical job: Pads, rotors and caliper service, both axles (3.0 h labour + parts)$580–$1,140
- Power Train1 complaints · typical job: Transmission service or clutch-pack repair (7.0 h labour + parts)$1,290–$4,040
- Seat Belts1 complaints · typical job: Pretensioner or retractor replacement (1.5 h labour + parts)$360–$800
- Suspension1 complaints · typical job: Struts, springs and control-arm bushings, one axle (4.0 h labour + parts)$780–$1,580
Other Acura TLX years
FAQ
What is the most common problem with the 2023 Acura TLX?
The most-reported issue in NHTSA complaint data is Unknown Or Other (4 complaints in our indexed sample).
Is the 2023 Acura TLX a good used car to buy?
Our data verdict is BUY with a reliability score of 84/100, computed from 10 NHTSA complaints and 3 recall campaigns. See the verdict card for the top reasons.
How much does it cost to fix the 2023 Acura TLX's most common problem?
4 of the NHTSA complaints filed against the 2023 Acura TLX sit in the Unknown Or Other group — more than any other component on this model year. The representative job there is diagnosis and mixed repair: about 2.0 hours of labour plus parts, roughly $360–$940 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 2023 Acura TLX cost to run per year?
About $4,303 a year in fuel or energy plus the maintenance band — roughly $21,515 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 2023 Acura TLX have recalls?
Yes — NHTSA lists 3 recall campaign(s) for the 2023 Acura TLX, 3 of them touching fire, crash or stall risk, the most recent recorded 12/06/2025. Check this car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls before you buy.
Compare with
Other luxury midsizes of about the same age.
What will a 2023 Acura TLX really cost YOU per year?
Fuel, maintenance band and depreciation — computed from public data in 10 seconds.
Open the true-cost calculatorData 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.
Thin evidence — 10 complaints, 3 recalls on record
- 10 NHTSA complaints on record (3.3/yr of exposure) — better than a typical year of this model (10.3/yr)
- 3 recall campaigns, 3 touching safety-critical systems
- Thin complaint record — this score is held close to the model's own average rather than read as evidence of quality