Check a VIN

2016 Acura TLX engine problems

41 complaints (37% of all complaints for this car). Typical mileage when it fails: 93,000. 2 crashes reported.

owner complaints
41
of this car's complaints
37%
typical mileage
93,000
crashes
2
recalls
1

Which part fails

  • Exhaust system: emission control: catalytic convertor
    1

At what mileage

Complaints by mileage at the time of the problem.

0k-25k
25k-50k
50k-75k
75k-100k
100k-125k
125k-150k
150k-175k
175k-200k
200k+

Acura TLX engine problems in other years

2015201620172018201920202021202220242025

Specific symptoms reported on the 2016 Acura TLX engine

Phrases found in the owners' own descriptions, so one complaint can mention several symptoms.

Stalling 14Check engine light 8Knocking 8Engine failure 7Loss of power 5

Related recalls

Engine and engine cooling: engine: hard parts internal/mechanicalReported November 13, 2023 · 248,999 vehicles affected
What is wrong
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.
Remedy
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.

Recall number 23V751000 · Recall details

Related investigations

No Restart After Auto Start/Stop EngagesOpened March 26, 2025, still open

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 restart on its own from a complete stop at a traffic light or road intersection with the AIS function engaged. The subject vehicles are equipped with a 3.5L engine with a 9-speed automatic transmission. On January 6, 2023, Honda released service bulletins 23-008 and 23-009. These service bulletins address the failure to restart issue in the 2016-2019MY Honda Pilot vehicles, as well as the 2015-2020 Acura TLX, 2016-2020 Acura MDX, 2019-2022 Honda Passport, and 2020-2023 Honda Ridgeline vehicles. The repair outlined in the service bulletins is a two-stage countermeasure to remedy the issue. The first stage is a Programmed Fuel Injection (“PGM-FI”) software update. The second stage is only deployed if the software update fails to remedy the issue. The second stage, depending on the model and model year, consists of replacement of the starter assembly, starter relays, and a valve adjustment. Additionally, Honda extended the warranty coverage to 10 years with unlimited mileage for vehicles requiring the second stage component replacement. ODI continues to receive complaints of the AIS failure to restart, with many complainants alleging the campaign countermeasures had been completed.the federal safety agency has reviewed Honda's Information Request Letter responses involving warranty claims, lawsuits, and consumer complaints in addition to ODI's own data. This Engineering Analysis is being opened to further consider the potential safety defect, including gathering additional data regarding Honda’s service campaign efficacy. ODI is additionally expanding the scope to encompass all vehicles addressed in Honda’s service bulletins 23-008 and 23-009 as well as newer model year vehicles, which are substantially similar to the vehicles covered by the service campaign. To review the ODI reports cited in the Opening Resume ODI Report Identification Number document, go to

EA25004

What 2016 Acura TLX owners say

Most recent owner complaints, unedited.

Filed Jun 19, 2026 · Engine · CO

This vehicle was sold to me on July 18, 2025 with Campaign CH7 open and unperformed. The dealer's disclosure form falsely stated that I had been informed of all recalls with the vehicle. No specific mention of Campaign CH7 was ever made. Separately, Acura manufacturer records (eVRM/Techline) confirm that this vehicle's original engine was previously replaced under warranty following a seizure (Defect Code: SEIZED) — directly related to the defect type covered by the CH7 recall. The replacement engine subsequently seized approximately eight months after I purchased the vehicle. I am requesting the federal safety agency investigate whether the open Campaign CH7 recall contributed to the engine failure, and whether FSL Motors' practice of selling vehicles with open recalls while falsely certifying recall disclosure warrants further review.

Filed Mar 24, 2026 · Engine · PA

I have a 2016 Acura TLX 3.5L j35Y6 AWD that initially Had the safety recall XG1 and the engine was replaced at roughly 140k miles, 40k miles later the replacement engine suffered the same problem, and I am aware that I am not the only person this has happened to as there is currently a the federal safety agency investigation PE25008 that is related to these replacement engines failing. I have pushed the dealership for full replacement as this is not right and they have not budged as to the replacement. there were no warning lamps as to before the failure. the engine just threw me into limp mode.

Filed Dec 26, 2025 · Brakes, Engine · NC · crash · 1 injury

While braking and attempting a left turn at an intersection, my vehicle completely shut down with no braking or steering control. Fortunately there were no damages and the vehicle started up again and I was able to clear the intersection. I took the vehicle to an authorized dealer for repair. They indicated that this was a known issue and they were familiar with it. They installed a battery sensor and did brake work as they said there was air in the system. I paid for the repair and approximately a month later, while slowing down for a red signal, the same thing occurred, only this time my vehicle impacted another vehicle, causing damage to both vehicles. I had my vehicle towed to the shop that did the initial repair, but they said they could not find any codes that would indicate that their repairs were faulty.

Filed Oct 23, 2025 · Engine · MS

The contact owns a 2016 Acura TLX. The contact received notification of the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 23V751000 (Engine and Engine Cooling). The vehicle was taken to the dealer; however, the contact was unsure if the vehicle was inspected. The contact stated that the dealer had not provided a status update regarding the vehicle or the repair. In addition, the contact stated that the vehicle had been at the dealer for several days. The contact stated that it was expensive paying out of pocket for a loaner vehicle while waiting for the vehicle to be repaired due to the recall. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure.

Filed Oct 2, 2025 · Engine · OH

This is in regard to Honda recall 23V‑751 on my 2016 Acura TLX. Honda keeps sending letters to me in the mail yet when I have contacted the dealership in the past, they report parts are not available to address the recall. This situation has been going on for more than a year. The latest letter received from Honda was 10/2/2025. I called Honda's recall hotline. The person I spoke to wanted to pass the responsibility to the dealership. After insisting, the person I spoke to did create a Honda case number (15887835). I also contacted the federal safety agency hotline and received case number (11690977). This complaint is to document the issue in case there are any problems with my car due to the lack of Honda's response to the recall.

Filed Oct 2, 2025 · Engine · OH

The contact owns a 2016 Acura TLX. The contact received notification of the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 23V751000 (Engine and Engine Cooling); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. Since the release of the recall, the contact made several attempts to have the recall repair performed and each time the contact was informed that parts were not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue and the contact was informed that the manufacturer was allocating parts to dealers and the contact was provided a case number. The contact stated that there appeared to be a parts distribution disconnect as the federal safety agency website indicated that parts for the recall repair were available. The contact had not experienced a failure.

Filed Aug 29, 2025 · Engine · AL

I was driving on the interstate and went to pass someone and gassed it. When I did that, my car wouldnt go. It was still on but when pressing the gas it wouldnt go. I am so lucky no one read ended me and I was able go coast off the side of the road.

Filed Jul 2, 2025 · Engine · OH

The contact owns a 2016 Acura TLX. The contact received notification of the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 23V751000 (Engine and Engine Cooling); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.

Filed Apr 28, 2025 · Engine · CO

In June 2023 My 2016 Acura TLX was diagnosed as an issue with the lower rod bearing by my mechanic and confirmed by Fisher Acura to have a lower engine bearing problem. January 2024 the recall was issued for my TLX rod bearing, after I had replaced the engine. I have filed a claim with Honda for the reimbursement cost of replacing my engine but Honda is denying my claim for the reason I did not have the bottom of the engine disassembled by Honda service dept. to identify the problem. This would have been at my own expense, because the recall had not been issued yet. I followed Fisher Acura's recommendation and worked with my mechanic instead. I followed my mechanic's recommendation and decided to spend money to replace the engine rather than spend money rebuilding the engine which would have been much more expensive. I followed all the right steps before Honda issued a protocol to follow. I had to fix my car, before they even knew what the fix was. I am writing to you today asking for your help, please. Honda corp. is not helping me at all and I believe they owe me money for the cost of the engine I had to replace. Honda has not helped and in fact been very unhelpful and difficult to work with. I paid $4500 for a used engine and install, $400 for Fisher Acura to diagnose and a couple of tow charges totaling $150. $5050 is what I am hoping to recuperate due to this recall. Logan from Honda Corp. is my case manager (Case #[XXX]). After multiple discussions with him presenting my case, he seems to be looking for any reason possible to deny my claim and has not reimbursed me for the repairs I incurred due to this recall they are not taking responsibility for. Let me know if you need anything else. Thank you. You are my last hope INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Filed Apr 21, 2025 · Engine, Fuel system · CA

I was driving on a main road stopped at an intersection and my car suddenly stopped it shifted my car to neutral I had to restart the car and drove home . I went online and started reading about that problem comes out to be it’s a fuel pump recall . I then look up my vin number and it says that there is no recall for it but I find it hard to believe because it’s having the same exact symptoms . Thank you have a blessed day

Questions about the 2016 Acura TLX engine

Does the 2016 Acura TLX have engine problems?

Owners have filed 41 complaints about the engine of the 2016 Acura TLX, 37% of all its complaints, more than any other problem.

At what mileage do 2016 Acura TLX engine problems start?

The typical (median) mileage in owner complaints is 93,000 miles.

Was there a recall on the 2016 Acura TLX engine?

Yes, 1 recall: 23V751000. Check your VIN to see if your car still needs the free repair.

What year does the Acura TLX have bad engine?

The Acura TLX model years with the most engine complaints are 2015 (97 complaints), 2018 (46 complaints) and 2019 (45 complaints).

Other 2016 Acura TLX problems

Electrical 24Transmission 15Fuel system 13Driver assistance 12Acceleration 11Visibility 6Brakes 5Steering 4Body 3Seats 3Tires 3Airbags 2Lights 1Suspension 1Wheels 1

VIN decoder

See the problems and recalls for an exact car

Buying a used 2016 Acura TLX?

Check the exact car before you pay: accidents, salvage or flood titles, odometer readings and previous owners.

Check its history