2015 Acura TLX Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often describe the transmission dropping out of gear or shifting into neutral while driving, frequently with a brief loss of acceleration, and many reports come at low mileage. A second recurring theme is the engine shutting off or failing to restart, including a no-restart condition around the idle-stop feature, along with dash lights for multiple systems and battery drain complaints.

1. 1
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Transmission slips into neutral or hesitates while driving

   • 166 complaints (48%)
   • median 8,880 mi at 1.6 yrs old (128 state mileage)
   • 7 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2014–2026

   Complaints describe the car momentarily shifting to neutral on its own, especially while accelerating at city speeds or on inclines, so the engine revs but the car does not move until the pedal is released and pressed again. Some owners report hesitation or a brief drop to idle, and a few describe an unexpected shift into park. Dealers in the complaints reprogrammed the transmission software, replaced the shifter, or in one case said a transmission replacement was needed. Reported from a few thousand miles up to well past 100,000 miles, with many reports between roughly 20,000 and 80,000 miles.

   Recall 16V640000Recall 14V7790007 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask whether any transmission software reprogram or wire-harness recall work was completed, and test drive at low speeds, on an incline, and through rolling acceleration to see whether the car hesitates or drops out of gear.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “When accelerating the car trips into neutral and will not let me continue accelerating. I can push the pedal all the way to the floor and nothing will happen. The only way it trips out of neutral is to release the pedal and then push it again. This happens when already driving around 10-30mph not from a stopped position and was on city streets. It does also happen when turning.”

   NHTSA complaint #11388342, filed 2021-01, 94,000 miles

   “There have been a couple of incidents where I will be driving and my car suddenly jolts and coasts to a stop. It seems as though the car is being placed in neutral while I am driving because when I press on the gas. It will just rev the engine. The check engine light will turn on as well. I typically turn off and on the car and the car will then work just fine. These incidents seem to happen when I am driving on a city street.”

   NHTSA complaint #11400022, filed 2021-03, 20,000 miles
2. 2
   Engine

   Engine shuts off or will not restart after idle stop

   • 54 complaints (16%)
   • median 38,500 mi at 4.7 yrs old (31 state mileage)
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2015–2026

   Owners describe the engine cutting out at stops, during parking, or while driving, sometimes with several warning lights coming on and the vehicle needing to be put in park and restarted. Several complaints specifically mention the idle-stop feature leaving the car unable to restart at a light until the driver cycles the ignition. Complaints describe dealers performing software updates, and some owners were told the starter was involved or that no fault could be duplicated. Reported across a wide mileage range, from about 20,000 miles to over 130,000 miles, and often described as intermittent.

   8 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask whether the PGM-FI software update tied to the idle-stop no-restart condition has been applied, and try the idle-stop feature on a test drive to confirm the car restarts reliably.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “2015 Acura TLX frequently stalls, does not restart when idle stop feature is used. This is a safety issue when at an intersection and I am stalled, having to put the car in park and then restart the car. Brought the car in twice to Acura in 2016 when I initially purchased the vehicle, brought it in again to Acura this week and they are unable to fix it, indicating this has been an issue with TLX's and mlx's. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11383216, filed 2020-12, 80,000 miles

   “I was driving home from work on interstate I 84 in my car engine stopped. I pulled over on the side of the road see what was going on without power steering without power breaking and when I was on the side of the road and I tried to start my car in the vehicle was just clicking. Once I got the car home I tested the battery and I tested the alternator both of which are working fine the starter somehow shut my car off. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11378581, filed 2020-12, 78,000 miles
3. 3
   Electrical system

   Multiple warning lights and loss of power while driving

   • 100 complaints (29%)
   • median 32,450 mi at 4.1 yrs old (61 state mileage)
   • 3 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2014–2026

   Complaints describe a cluster of warnings appearing together, such as brake system, vehicle stability assist, power steering, lane keeping and hill start messages, sometimes followed by a drop to limp mode or loss of acceleration. Some owners were able to restore normal operation by restarting the car or disconnecting the battery temporarily. Dealers in the complaints variously reported low voltage, a battery replacement, or could not find a cause. Mostly reported between roughly 20,000 and 120,000 miles, often at highway or city speeds rather than from a stop.

   2 related service bulletins

   What to check: Have the battery and charging system checked, ask whether any stored codes were diagnosed or cleared, and confirm that warning lights go out after startup on a test drive.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “After replacing my battery on my 2015 TLX I started receiving warning codes saying emission system problem and electric parking brake problem. I went to 3 different Acura dealerships for a diagnosis and was given a different diagnosis from each dealership. I first seen the codes as I was entering the expressway at approximately 35 MPH 1 week after getting a new battery.”

   NHTSA complaint #11343762, filed 2020-08, 90,000 miles

   “After a traffic light stop, I accelerated and the car lost acceleration, then the check engine turned on. I pulled over and had no response from the accelerator. Check engine was flashing. I turned off the car then turned it back on, and problem was gone acceleration came back. I merge into my lane again and not even 100 ft when my dash lights came on, like a christmas tree. Every light in my dash was lit. The following are some of the lights that were on. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11406102, filed 2021-04, 179,000 miles
4. 4
   Engine

   Engine noise, knocking or failure tied to bearings

   • 75 complaints (22%)
   • median 45,000 mi at 4.5 yrs old (45 state mileage)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2015–2026

   Complaints describe a loud knocking or unusual noise from the engine followed by loss of power and a vehicle that will not restart, with dealers diagnosing connecting rod bearing damage and engine replacement. Some owners mention waiting on recall parts before the repair. Other complaints describe a fuel pump-related stall with a low fuel rail pressure code and pump replacement. Mostly reported from about 55,000 miles upward, with several reports over 80,000 miles.

   Recall 23V751000Recall 23V858000Recall 19V060000

   What to check: Ask whether the connecting rod bearing and fuel pump recalls were completed and whether any engine noise, oil leak or knocking was inspected; listen for knocking at idle and during acceleration.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Several times, all of the lights would flash on the car to check all of the systems and then the car would shut off while I was mid drive mostly while in a residential neighborhood but sometimes on a major parkway. After about an hour the car would start back up. I would not be able to start the car or change gear while it was shut off. I had the battery and alternator checked and that was not the problem. I took it to the repair shop and they said it was the fuel pump. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11373196, filed 2020-11, 55,000 miles

   “The contact owns a 2015 Acura TLX. The contact stated while driving at approximately 25 MPH, the vehicle lost motive power and stalled. The contact stated that the vehicle lost power steering and braking functionality. The contact coasted the vehicle to a stop. The contact was unable to restart the vehicle and was unable to shift the vehicle out of park(P). The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11557468, filed 2023-11, 102,000 miles
5. 5
   Electrical system

   Battery drains and needs repeated jump starts

   • 43 complaints (13%)
   • median 60,000 mi at 5.9 yrs old (29 state mileage)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2015–2025

   Owners describe the car failing to crank and needing a jump, sometimes repeatedly, with the battery replaced and the problem returning months later. Several complaints state the dealer tested the battery as good or attributed the condition to weather. Reported from around 25,000 to 75,000 miles, with some owners noting the problem over multiple years.

   What to check: Ask how old the battery is and whether a parasitic drain test was performed; check that the car starts cleanly from cold without assistance.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Car won't crank and won't start. Ended up stranded numerous times within the last 2 months while out shopping. Each time stranded, the car would start after being jumped by another vehicle each time. After the first account of being stranded and jumped by another vehicle, I immediately drove to the dealership and was told by the dealership that my car battery was testing very good and they said my battery would recharge itself and that the drainage could be due to the hot texas weather. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11366844, filed 2020-10, 50,000 miles

   “Acura TLX 2015 consistant draining battery issue for the past 3 years. The battery was replaced march 2019 while under warranty, malfunctioned 9 months later (dec. 2019) and was finally replaced elsewhere february 2020 (due to ongoing dispute with Acura)... Now february 2021 the same battery draining issue has returned.”

   NHTSA complaint #11394918, filed 2021-02, 75,000 miles

Buying note. Check that the open recalls for this model year were completed and that any transmission and idle-stop software updates were applied, since many complaints center on these. A thorough test drive at low speed, on an incline and with the idle-stop feature active can reveal the hesitation and no-restart behavior owners describe.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.