Research · Compact Cars

2017 Acura TLXRecalls, problems, MPG & safety

NHTSA lists 3 safety recalls and 71 owner complaints for the 2017 Acura TLX. Most complaints involve engine (24) and power train (18). The EPA rates it 25–28 mpg combined, and NHTSA gives it 5 stars overall.

Combined MPG
25–28mpg
EPA · 3 versions
NHTSA overall
5of 5 stars
NCAP crash tests
Safety recalls
3campaigns
Latest Dec 2023
Owner complaints
71
Top: engine
Fuel cost / yr
$2,750est.
EPA estimate, best version
01 —Recalls

Safety recalls

3 NHTSA campaigns · applies to some vehicles, check your VIN

Fuel system

Free remedy

Honda (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 vehicles. The fuel pump inside the fuel tank may fail.

Fuel system, gasolineReported Dec 19, 2023NHTSA 23V858000

Engine and engine cooling: hard parts internal

Free remedy

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.

Engine and engine coolingReported Nov 13, 2023NHTSA 23V751000

Fuel system

Free remedy

Honda (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.

Fuel system, otherReported Jan 29, 2019NHTSA 19V060000
Data from NHTSA Recalls API · synced Nov 11, 2026 · All recall detailsNHTSA vehicle page
02 —Complaints

Owner complaints by component

71 complaints filed with NHTSA · May 2017 – Sep 2026
  1. Engine24
  2. Power train18
  3. Fuel/propulsion system10
  4. Engine and engine cooling10
  5. Service brakes9
  6. Electrical system8
  7. Vehicle speed control4
  8. Electronic stability control (esc)3
  9. Seats2

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.

By model year

Complaints for each TLX model year we’ve synced.

View as table
Model yearNHTSA complaints
2015344
2016111
201771
201898
201993
202063
202175
202226
202311
20245
20254
Crashes reported
2
Fires reported
3
Injuries reported
1
Deaths reported
0
Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 11, 2026 · Full problem breakdownNHTSA vehicle page
03 —Common problems

What owners report most

Verbatim excerpts from NHTSA complaints, by component

Engine

24 reports2 crashes3 fires
“Acura TLX 2017, with only 112,000 miles. On [XXX], while the consumer was driving, the vehicle caught on fire. The consumer saw what appeared to be smoke coming from under the hood. The consumer stopped the vehicle immediately at a 4-way intersection, put it in park, and turned it off. The hood latch was open. When the consumer opened the hood, the engine compartment was on fire, and the car was engulfed in fire within seconds. Fire department and Police depratment arrived at the scene. The car was deemed a total loss, and the fire was determined to have started in the engine compartment. In May 2024, Acura stated that the connecting rod bearing needed replacement and that it was covered under the recall. However, 6 months after replacement, in October 2024, the knocking noise returned. The vehicle was brought to the Acura dealership, which noted at that time that the engine needed to be replaced, but the repair was denied under the recall this time. As required and recommended by the Acura Dealership, as well as by the recall, which noted safety risks, the consumer moved forward with having the engine replaced by the Acura Dealership, and the cosnsumer paid…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 7, 2026Unknown or other, EngineFire reportedODI 11762505

Power train

18 reports1 crash
“Vehicle has been recalled for a speed sensor issue that still persists. Recall repair was NOT properly executed. Vehicle engine still randomly shuts off while in idle at stoplights and during travel. Engine won’t start at this point.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 3, 2026Power train, Electrical system, EngineODI 11741898

Fuel/propulsion system

10 reports
“My 2017 Acura TLX stalled dangerously on the highway due to an unexpected fuel delivery failure, creating an immediate traffic hazard. Hiley Acura of Fort Worth diagnosed the vehicle with code P0087 (Low Fuel Rail Pressure) and confirmed it needs a new low-pressure fuel pump assembly for $1,540.62. They also pulled code P0430 (Catalyst System Efficiency) showing my front catalytic converter has failed, costing $2,461.77.The low-pressure fuel pump failure starved the engine of fuel, causing the highway stall. This fueling issue directly overheated and destroyed the catalytic converter substrate.This pump failure is the core subject of the Oliver v. Honda class action lawsuit. Honda previously issued a temporary corporate software update on my vehicle that deliberately altered how the computer reads errors, masking the physical fuel pump defect. This software update is the exact reason my car currently shows no open recalls on standard databases, despite still containing the defective, unreplaced factory hardware. This temporary software fix has now failed, resulting in a dangerous highway stall, and Honda is using the software-cleared VIN status to deny safety coverage.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 15, 2026Engine, Fuel/propulsion systemODI 11750596
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 11, 2026
04 —Key specs

Engines, transmissions & drive

3 versions rated by the EPA
EPA class
Compact Cars
Engines
2.4L 4-cyl · 3.5L 6-cyl
Transmissions
Automatic (AM-S8) · Automatic (S9)
Drive
Front-Wheel Drive · All-Wheel Drive
Fuel
Premium Gasoline

Towing, payload and dimensions aren’t in the EPA or NHTSA data, so we don’t list them.

Data from EPA fueleconomy.gov · synced Nov 11, 2026EPA listing
05 —Fuel economy

EPA fuel economy by version

City / highway / combined, annual fuel cost and CO₂
EPA
VersionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yrCO₂ g/mi
TLX FWD
Auto (AM-S8), 4 cyl, 2.4 L · Front-Wheel Drive
243528$2,750321
TLX AWD
Auto (S9), 6 cyl, 3.5 L · All-Wheel Drive
213125$3,100358
TLX FWD
Auto (S9), 6 cyl, 3.5 L · Front-Wheel Drive
213425$3,100358
  • TLX FWD
    Auto (AM-S8), 4 cyl, 2.4 L
    24 city · 35 hwy · $2,750/yr
    28
    mpg comb.
  • TLX AWD
    Auto (S9), 6 cyl, 3.5 L
    21 city · 31 hwy · $3,100/yr
    25
    mpg comb.
  • TLX FWD
    Auto (S9), 6 cyl, 3.5 L
    21 city · 34 hwy · $3,100/yr
    25
    mpg comb.
Data from EPA fueleconomy.gov · synced Nov 11, 2026 · Fuel cost is EPA’s annual estimate (15,000 mi, 55% city)
06 —Safety

NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings

2 tested variants
Overall rating
5/ 5
5 of 5
Acura TLX 4 DR FWD
Frontal crash
5 of 5
Side crash
5 of 5
Side pole
5 of 5
Rollover
5 of 5
Rollover risk
9.8%
Overall
5 / 5
Acura TLX 4 DR AWD
Frontal crash
5 of 5
Side crash
5 of 5
Side pole
5 of 5
Rollover
5 of 5
Rollover risk
9.8%
Data from NHTSA NCAP Safety Ratings API · synced Nov 11, 2026Vehicle 11019Vehicle 11018
07 —Maintenance

Maintenance basics

General guidance, not the OEM schedule. Check your owner’s manual.
General guidance
ItemMilesTimeNote
Engine oil & filter5,000–10,000 mi6–12 monthsFollow the oil-life monitor if fitted
Tire rotation5,000–7,500 miEvery oil changeCheck pressure monthly
Engine air filter15,000–30,000 mi1–2 yearsSooner in dusty areas
Cabin air filter15,000–25,000 mi1–2 years
Brake fluid—2–3 yearsAbsorbs moisture over time
Coolant60,000–100,000 mi5–10 yearsLong-life coolants last longer
Spark plugs60,000–100,000 mi—Iridium/platinum plugs at the long end
12V battery—3–5 yearsHeat shortens battery life
  • Engine oil & filter5,000–10,000 mi
    6–12 months
  • Tire rotation5,000–7,500 mi
    Every oil change
  • Engine air filter15,000–30,000 mi
    1–2 years
  • Cabin air filter15,000–25,000 mi
    1–2 years
  • Brake fluid—
    2–3 years
  • Coolant60,000–100,000 mi
    5–10 years
  • Spark plugs60,000–100,000 mi
    —
  • 12V battery—
    3–5 years
Typical intervals for modern cars. Severe service (towing, short trips, extreme heat or cold) shortens them.
09 —FAQ

2017 TLX questions

How many recalls does the 2017 Acura TLX have?

3 safety recalls as of Nov 11, 2026, according to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at a dealer. Check your VIN to see whether your car is included and whether the repair was done.

What are the most common 2017 Acura TLX problems?

Owners filed 71 complaints with NHTSA. The most-cited components are engine (24), power train (18), fuel/propulsion system (10). Complaints are unverified owner reports and aren't adjusted for how many cars were sold.

What MPG does the 2017 Acura TLX get?

The EPA rates the 2017 Acura TLX at 25–28 mpg combined, depending on engine and drivetrain (3 versions rated).

How safe is the 2017 Acura TLX?

NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program gives the 2017 Acura TLX 5 out of 5 stars overall.

Data from NHTSA & EPA · synced Nov 11, 2026