2022 Acura TLX Complaints

POWER TRAIN — Filed 08/18/2026

Purchased this vehicle used, as-is, from a Ford dealership on August 18, 2026. Approximately 90 minutes after taking delivery, the vehicle began displaying multiple dashboard warning lights and lost access to Sport drive mode. The vehicle was returned to the selling dealership the same day; their technicians were unable to reproduce the fault or retrieve a diagnostic trouble code at that time. The vehicle was subsequently towed to an authorized Acura dealership for independent diagnosis. That inspection identified three separate issues: (1) the warning lights, attributed to a lean-running condition possibly caused by fuel quality; (2) a leaking front brake caliper, quoted at approximately 900 to repair; and (3) a fluid leak at the gasket between the transmission and transfer case, which the dealership states requires full replacement of both the transmission and transfer case, at an estimated cost of approximately 13,000. This transmission/transfer case leak occurs at the same location addressed in NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation Petition DP26001 (opened March 2026), covering 2021-2023 Acura TLX and 2022-2023 Acura MDX SH-AWD vehicles. NHTSA's review, resolved August 6, 2026, confirmed the underlying failure mechanism as real — splines connecting the transmission output shaft to the power take-off unit stripping or shearing, cutting power to the rear wheels — based on 62 owner complaints and manufacturer field reports, though NHTSA declined to mandate a recall. NHTSA's review also noted that the vehicle's dashboard provides no warning to the driver when this failure occurs. Given that this failure surfaced within 90 minutes of taking delivery of the vehicle, and that it matches a documented, federally-reviewed defect pattern on this exact model and drivetrain, I am filing this complaint to add to NHTSA's records on this known issue and to document a case where the failure manifested essentially immediately upon purchase.

POWER TRAIN — Filed 04/06/2026

Transfer case failure, leakage, discovered after warranty expired. Took vehicle in describing seeming loss of AWD and tech informed me it was “normal” I Later discovered, during an oil change, a leak From the transmission or transfer case that covered the lower skid plate, which looking up, was directly related to a known failure of the Type S’s transfer case/Transmission causing a loss of traction to the rear wheels.

POWER TRAIN — Filed 07/14/2026

The transfer case splines sheared off in the transmission. The car is safe to drive but went from AWD to FWD as there is now no power being transmitted through the transfer case to the rear wheels. The dealership confirmed the issue was the transfer case by lifting the car and seeing if the rear wheels were getting power. They then tore down the transmission and found the splines were all gone from the transfer case. The component was not inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance, or anyone else. There were no warnings or symptoms to the problem before the failure.

SUSPENSION,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL — Filed 07/02/2026

We have a 2022 Acura TLX Type S and it has started to show an errors - Adaptive Damper System Problem. From what I can gather from reviewing articles on the Internet is that this problem is caused because of poor wiring design by Honda / Acura, which is causing speed sensors electronics to erode. There are also articles that Honda /Acura is aware of this problem and is currently gathering data. Our concern is that in Michigan, if you have these problems, specially during winter when the roads are icy - if your drive type is stuck in the wrong mode - That can be a safety hazard. Example -The adaptive damper system can cause the automobile to be stuck in sports mode on an icy road, making it dangerous to drive............ Further, consumers are aware that this is a fault of the manufacturer, in the way the wiring harness is routed within the automobiles chassis. This poor design exposes the electronics to unwanted elements from road, snow, salt, dirt etc. It is also reported that this wiring harness is an expensive item to fix, hence Acura is reluctant in taking the necessary effort in resolving this very known issue. Consumers pay a lot for these vehicles for their quality - If this is a known issue , Acura should take care of it and not force the consumers to drive acuras with potential safety issues.

POWER TRAIN — Filed 06/26/2026

Went to the Acura dealer for an oil change. Was told I have a leak in the transmission and transfer case and that both will need to be replaced.

POWER TRAIN — Filed 05/20/2026

The transfer case spines have stripped and I no longer have all wheel drive only front wheel drive. This is a huge safety hazard for me .

POWER TRAIN — Filed 03/09/2026

Accelerated and heard a loud noise and felt like I had driven through wood and one got stocked to the whelle. There was a lot of traffic so I was driving slow. The noice I heard was like something was stuck inside the wheel, like it was grinding. Dealer diagnosed a bad transfer case and transmission and they replaced both under warranty.

POWER TRAIN — Filed 04/20/2026

Was changing the oil on my car and noticed grease running out from between the transfer case and transmission and also fluid build up on the transfer case higher up a little below the driveshaft. The car has 41k miles on it, there should be no leaks. My concern is the transfer case/transmission spline failure issue.

SUSPENSION — Filed 03/19/2026

The contact owns a 2022 Acura TLX. The contact stated that there was an abnormal sound coming from the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed, and determined that the lower control arms needed to be replaced. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact was concerned that the control arms might fracture. The contact stated that the part to repair the vehicle was on back order. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and opened a case, but no additional assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 72,845.

STEERING,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM — Filed 04/04/2026

Subject: Vehicle Data Submission for Investigation DP26001 To the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI), I am submitting maintenance data for my Acura TLX Type S (VIN: [ВСТАВ ТУТ VIN]) to assist with the ongoing DP26001 investigation regarding the AWD Transfer Case (PTO) splines. The vehicle is a US-specification model currently operated in [XXX] . Maintenance Facts: At 29,000 km (18,000 miles): PTO fluid was changed. Metallic debris was observed in the fluid. At 43,000 km (26,700 miles): PTO fluid was changed again. Silver metallic shavings and "glitter" were clearly present. A magnetic drain plug was installed during this service to capture further debris. Symptoms: The vehicle experiences harsh downshifts and mechanical clunking at low speeds in traffic. I am providing this to ensure the failure rate is accurately tracked globally. Please add this VIN and data to the DP26001 file. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

POWER TRAIN — Filed 03/01/2026

My vehicle has less then 35000 miles, I was doing a oil change when I noticed that my transfer cases has a slight oil residue from the bottom, which I suppose it’s just gonna get worse overtime, at this mileage I don’t think this is right that’s why I’m submitting this complaint.

POWER TRAIN — Filed 12/23/2025

While accelerating from 0 to 40 miles per hour, I experienced a loud bang come from the car. Turns out the splines were stripped between my transmission and transfer case. This was due to the drive shaft spinning while in park mode, as well as an opening between the transmission and transfer case that was spooling. My powertrain system was severely compromised; who knows what could've happened if I had kept driving the car in this condition? Something was waiting to inevitably fail beyond what had happened. Thankfully, this happened on an empty road close to home, but it could have happened anywhere. There were no warnings, lights, or anything, which was the strangest part. Thankfully, this $10k+ bill was covered under the manufacturer's powertrain warranty, but it seems to be a common issue with many newer Acuras. Acura is well aware of the issue (spline failure) and should issue a recall to correct this design flaw within the powertrain.

SERVICE BRAKES — Filed 12/21/2025

Loss of brake power with “brake” light and “brake service” light on. I was backing out of my driveway and lost almost all braking power almost pushing the pedal to the floor. Once I came to a stop, I turned the car off and turned it back on, brake pedal felt fine and lights went away at that point.

SUSPENSION — Filed 11/28/2025

Last week, the right lower ball joint began producing a noticeable squeaking noise. I brought the vehicle to Irvine Acura in Irvine, California, where two technicians confirmed that the right lower ball joint boot is intact with no grease leakage; however, the ball-and-socket joint displays excessive play. The dealership recommended replacing both lower control arms, despite the left side currently being in acceptable condition. If the right lower ball joint were to fail, it could result in a loss of vehicle control.

STEERING,SUSPENSION — Filed 05/05/2025

I got new tires and an alignment performed and ever since the car has pulled to the right. The car has been to the dealer for 6 alignments due to the car veering to the right. They swapped the wheels from another car to ensure it wasn’t the new tires and the problem still occurred. As soon as I let go of the wheel it pulls to the right no matter if it’s a crowned road or not. Each time the alignment is completely off from the last time it had it performed. I took it to 3 different dealers and they all suggested throwing parts at it (replacing the rear subframe for $3000 or a front driver strut for $1400) telling me that they don’t know if it’d fix it or not.

STEERING,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,SERVICE BRAKES — Filed 04/26/2025

My husband and I have a 2022 Acura TLX (purchased new) that was issued a safety recall. We brought the car into the dealership in April to fix the problem. Two weeks later, the car completely malfunctioned- every warning light went off at the same time, and the car completely lost control. Steering, brakes, power/gas, everything went out. During this second visit, the dealership replaced the PCM. Last night, the exact same issue happened. My husband was thankfully near home, but if he was on a highway, he could've easily been killed. Again, everything in the car went out- steering, brakes, power- and he had zero control of the car. The car was towed a couple hours ago to the dealership (third time since initial visit in April), and the service manager said, "This has never happened before..." and had no answers. This is an extremely high risk situation, and we do not feel safe getting into this car when the dealership/manufacturer is clearly not able to fix their own safety recall.

STEERING — Filed 06/22/2025

When I was driving as low speed, all the dashboard lights began blinking on the dashboard while I was driving. The steering wheel began to get stiff and I had a hard time turning it. I pulled into a parking lot, with much difficulty trying to steer into it and the steering wheel locked completely. I turned the car off and back on and all the lights went off and the dashboard looked normal. I then drove home without any other incident. I wish I had taken a picture of the dashboard to show the dealer. Hopefully it won't happen again.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER — Filed 11/25/2024

My vehicle was stolen from apartment parking structure. Car was locked and both keys were with me. Thieves were still able to get in my car and start the vehicle without the keys in less than 5 minutes. This problem has been happening all over the country try with Acura specifically. Just the other day at work another 2023 Acura TLX was stolen. I tried to speak with Acura and they said theft has increased and thieves can steal the car in seconds. This is a huge issue and Acura refuses to do anything about it such as updating their security hardware/firmware. The issue is all over the United States. Now for my new vehicle I need to install a 2000 dollar security system because acuras vehicle security is horrible.

STEERING,UNKNOWN OR OTHER — Filed 09/10/2024

All the dashboard lights began blinking on the dashboard while I was driving about 30mph. The steering wheel began to get stif. I pulled over immediately and the steering wheel locked completely. I turned the car off and back after about 10 min and I was able to drive home. Luckily I was only 5 minutes away. I took it to the Acura dealer and after it was inspected they said it had to do with the steering however nothing was replaced or fixed. They advised me to let them know if it happens again. This is the first time it occurs however I’m afraid to drive this car especially on the freeway if the same incident occurs it can cause a major accident.

POWER TRAIN,ENGINE — Filed 08/28/2024

Transmission jerks at low speeds, Car jerks when it is downshifting. The car only has 14,000 miles. Dealership refusing to do any work due to car not having any codes. The car feels like it is having a misfire.

SERVICE BRAKES — Filed 12/08/2023

My vehicle is a 2022 Acura TLX A-Spec with 20,000 miles on it. I bought it certified from an Acura dealer October of 2022 at 7,600 miles. I started to have an issue with the driving experience recently. I took it in to my closet dealer and they stated that the problem was the rotors being warped from driving and braking then that I would have to pay for the replacement rotors and brakes, but it’s impossible and the mileage shows. This is an manufacturer issue that has affected many owners and hasn’t been resolved.

TIRES — Filed 09/10/2023

255/R40 Passenger Front and Rear tires sustained cuts/slashes on the inside walls. Front was more severe and went flat immediately. The other went flat the following day. Subsequently, saw that my TLX may have had tire issues from the manufacturer. I didn’t know this at the time and when I called the dealer, they offered no assistance. Repairs cost almost $900 for two new tires at Firestone.

FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE — Filed 08/11/2023

This is the four time this happened to me in this vehicle. I was driving down Ellsworth street in south Philadelphia. I had a baby in the back with a car seat and a 8 year old in the front seat. And all of a sudden the warning light started flashing BREAK BREAK And than the breaks slammed on. This happened for about 3-5 seconds, until the car stop. Thank God no cars were driving behind me or they would have ran into the back of my vehicle.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE — Filed 05/14/2023

Driving on the highway during light rain. Applied 45%-65% throttle to pass. The check engine light began to flash and the car went into limp mode. Pulled over on the highway shut the vehicle down and restarted it 30 seconds later. Check engine light was gone, no longer in limp mode.

FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE,LANE DEPARTURE — Filed 04/19/2023

The contact owns a 2022 Acura TLX. The contact stated while driving approximately 20 MPH, the contact made a right turn, depressed the brake pedal, and the vehicle came to a stop with the electric power steering, Forward Collision Avoidance, Road Departure Mitigation, Cruise Control, Hill Ascend Assist, and VSA warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was towed to a dealer but was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 3,600.