2019 Acura TLX Problems

What owners report

Owners of the 2019 Acura TLX report two main patterns: fuel-system trouble (stalling, loss of power, check-engine lights, and a widely discussed fuel-pump recall with parts delays) and engine concerns tied to the connecting-rod-bearing recall, including cases where the repair was done and the problem returned later. A separate cluster of complaints describes the idle-stop feature failing to restart the engine after a stop, and many of these reports come at very low mileage.

1. 1
   Fuel system

   Fuel pump failure / recall parts unavailable

   • 26 complaints (28%)
   • median 16,000 mi at 2.3 yrs old (4 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2019–2026

   Complaints describe the engine losing power, dropping RPM, stalling at a stop, or failing to start, with the check-engine light coming on. Several owners say they were notified of recalls 21V215000 or 23V858000 but that dealers had no parts, sometimes for months. A few report a second pump, or the high-pressure pump, failing after the recall replacement. Reported from a few thousand miles up past 70,000 miles, spread across all model years in the sample.

   Recall 23V858000Recall 21V215000Recall 19V0600002 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask whether the fuel-pump recall was completed and get the paperwork; confirm which pump (low- or high-pressure) was replaced. Watch for hard starting, hesitation, or a check-engine light on a test drive.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I had the stop bearing rod recall performed on my 2019 Acura TLX along with a fuel pump recall. After less than 10,000 miles I am informed that my high pressure fuel pump has failed. When the did the recall on the vehicle they only did the low pressure fuel pump when there is known issue of the high pressure fuel pump failing.”

   NHTSA complaint #11690741, filed 2025-10

   “On several occasions I have experienced issues with the performance of my vehicle. Upon start up and attempting to move forward while the car is in drive the vehicle hesitates to move and feels like it is going to choke and stop. I have experienced this same issue at stops while the car is in operation. There is an open recall for 2015-20 TLX no SH-AWD Fuel Pump Mtr Saf Recall Exp2, RECALL DATE:12/18/2023 which has yet to be fixed. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11642588, filed 2025-02
2. 2
   Engine

   Connecting rod bearing wear and engine failure

   • 26 complaints (28%)
   • median 70,000 mi at 7.1 yrs old (3 state mileage, few)
   • 3 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2024–2026

   Owners describe a ticking or knocking noise followed by the engine stalling or seizing while driving, with loss of power and heavy steering. Some say the engine was already replaced under the rod-bearing recall and the same failure came back thousands of miles later, leaving the car on a second or third short block. Complaints also describe long waits for recall parts and repair. Reported from roughly 40,000 to 120,000 miles, often preceded by a brief knocking sound.

   Recall 23V751000

   What to check: Ask for proof the 23V751000 rod-bearing repair was performed and by whom, and listen for a knock at cold start and under light load. A pre-purchase inspection that includes an oil sample is worth considering.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “My engine has been replaced under warranty for connecting rod bearings failing before the recall 23V-751 existed. 40,000 miles later it failed again. I have paper work and other information available upon request. The vehicle is currently on it's third short block replaced by Acura. No CEL or anything prior to when the knocking started.”

   NHTSA complaint #11718417, filed 2026-02

   “My vehicle had an engine rod bearing issue before the 1st recall, they replaced part of the engine. My vehicle also went through a starter recall and they also changed the rod bearing with the corrected part that was in for the last recall. Currently, my engine is still having the exact same rod bearing issue which is a safety concern for me. It’s currently at Ed Voyles Acura in Chamblee, GA waiting on a decision from corporate Acura. They will determine if they will pay for the repairs of my vehicle due to an old recall. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11690121, filed 2025-09
3. 3
   Engine cooling

   Idle-stop fails to restart the engine

   • 20 complaints (22%)
   • median 24,450 mi at 4.5 yrs old (6 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2019–2026

   Complaints describe the engine shutting off at a light or stop sign when the auto idle-stop engages and then not restarting, sometimes for several minutes, leaving the car stuck in traffic; in some cases the driver restarts it manually with the start button. Owners report the car may also shift to neutral on its own, and some say a dealer software update or TSB 22-008 was applied. Reported across low and moderate mileage, often at the first few thousand miles, at stops in traffic.

   9 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask whether the PGM-FI idle-stop software update (TSB 22-008 and related bulletins) was applied. Try a stop with idle-stop active during the test drive to see how the restart behaves.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I stopped(stationary) at a light to make a left turn into the freeway. While stationary the engine went into automatic idle stop to save gas and once the light turn green the car was not able to turn on at all and had to call aaa. It was giving me error messages in regards fuel pump and brake system etc. In the dash.”

   NHTSA complaint #11323447, filed 2020-05, 5 miles

   “My car stalled for the second time on june 12, 2019. First time was march 31, 2019. Since I already got the recall notice (NHTSA recall 19v-060) before the first time, I took it to the dealer and they said they fixed the issue by doing a software update. However, even after the software update, it stalled again on june 12th, 2019. It looks like either a new issue or their software update did not fix it. There is also a possibility of the updated software having new bugs. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11222008, filed 2019-06, 3,900 miles
4. 4
   Vehicle speed control

   Unexpected acceleration / brake complaints

   • 17 complaints (18%)
   • median 8,500 mi at 2.0 yrs old (9 state mileage, few)
   • 5 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2019–2026

   A number of complaints describe the car accelerating on its own at low speed, sometimes while pulling into a driveway or parking space, and separate reports of the brake pedal going to the floor with little or no deceleration. Several of these ended in a collision with a wall, parked car, or barrier. Owners say dealers could not reproduce the condition. Reported from under 1,000 miles up to about 28,000 miles, usually at parking-lot or driveway speeds.

   What to check: During a test drive, check that the brake pedal is firm and does not sink, and that the car holds a steady idle in gear. Ask whether the dealer has inspected the brake system and the adaptive cruise/auto-brake systems.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I was driving on a residential street approx. 10 MPH and turned into a driveway. There was another vehicle parked ahead. I stopped hard on my brakes but my car didn't stop and hit the parked car. As it happened so quickly, I must have turned the steering wheel, continued to press on the brakes but ended up also hitting a building.”

   NHTSA complaint #11292041, filed 2019-12, 9,288 miles

   “I was entering a left-hand turn lane, with a red light. The third-party investigation showed I entered the lane at 35mp. I started gentle breaking and when there was no response, I pushed the brake hard and to the floor. I did not feel the car decelerate but the investigation shows that braked for 7 seconds plus and hit the last car in line at about 20mph. The investigator was unable to recreate the circumstances.”

   NHTSA complaint #11306475, filed 2020-02, 800 miles
5. 5
   Electrical system

   Battery drain and warning lights at startup

   Mentioned in 6 of 60 sampled complaints

   Owners describe repeated no-start conditions and battery drain, with dealers replacing the battery more than once without resolving it. Others report clusters of warnings such as emissions-system, parking-brake, and check-engine lights appearing after the car has been parked, sometimes shortly after purchase, with dealers unable to find a fault. Reported from a few hundred to about 6,000 miles, often after the car sits parked.

   2 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask how old the battery is and whether the charging system was tested. Check that no warning lights remain lit after startup, and note any that reappear after the car sits overnight.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Well, today November 3 , car have 70900 miles, few weeks ago Acura do a replacements, recall fuel, problems, today warning , engine and ( P ) Brake system came on , and i look in the forum of this type of issues with Acuras and some many diferents opinions. To many complaint about this problems with Acura. I am worry that driving the car with this issues ruins the car. But its the only transportation that i have. Thanks”

   NHTSA complaint #11697318, filed 2025-11

   “2019 Acura TLX 2.4l. Purchased brand new less than a month ago with less than 900 miles on the vehicle. Sudden emissions problem and parking brake check engine lights flashing after vehicle has been sitting/parked. This has happened repeatedly and seems to be a known problem to Acura which the dealer does not know how to repair. When dealer checks problem it shows a problem code indicating emissions leak but after testing nothing can be found.”

   NHTSA complaint #11234786, filed 2019-07, 843 miles

Buying note. This model year has open recall work on the fuel pump and connecting rod bearing, so confirm both were completed with documentation before buying, and be prepared to verify the repair history again later. A pre-purchase inspection that covers the engine and fuel system, plus a check of the idle-stop restart behavior on a test drive, gives a clearer picture than service records alone.

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.