Last updated: 2026-10-10

2025 Acura TLX
RELIABILITY SCORE: 80/100 (EXCELLENT)

2025 Acura TLX Reliability Report

The 2025 Acura TLX has excellent reliability and low repair costs, with one federal recall on the hydraulic service brakes to confirm.

Recalls

1

Complaints

3

Complaint Rate

3.7per 10,000 sold

Est. Repair Cost

$440

Annual Fuel Cost

$2,750–$3,300

Detailed Score Breakdown

Complaint Severity71/100

Component-weighted complaints normalized by sales volume

Repair Costs90/100

Independent repair cost ratings

Recall Impact88/100

Recall count weighted by severity

Issue Diversity73/100

Breadth of reported problem categories

The Verdict

Buy

Final year of the second generation, with excellent reliability, just three owner complaints, and one hydraulic brake recall.

Top Issues to Watch

  • STEERING (1)
  • ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (1)
  • ENGINE (1)

Generation & Refresh (US)

Post-Refresh

2025 is 1 year after the facelift refresh.

  • Year 5 in the Second generation (UB5/UB6/UB7) (2021–present).
  • Well-established in its generation — most early issues should be resolved.
  • 2nd generation TLX (US).

What this means for buyers

Post-refresh years tend to be among the most refined — updates have been applied and early kinks worked out.

2021: Second generation (UB5/UB6/UB7) Launch

Generation start — new platform.

2024: Mid-Cycle Refresh

Updated features and styling tweaks.

2025: This Model Year

2025 is 1 year after the facelift refresh.

Should You Buy the 2025 Acura TLX?

Reliability is excellent for this model year, and it sits above average among 2025 sedans. Within the TLX's own scored years, it ranks among the stronger of eight. The 2024 model rates about the same, so neither year has an edge on reliability. Independent repair-cost data puts model-wide yearly repairs at $440, against $739 for the class. The federal crash-test rating is 5 of 5 stars.

Owners filed 3 complaints, about 3.7 per 10,000 sold. The data does not say what those complaints describe, so no repeat symptom can be named. One federal recall covers the hydraulic service brakes. Brakes are a safety system, so treat that recall as something to settle before you buy.

Ask the seller for proof that the brake recall work was done, or check the VIN against federal recall records. The 2024 TLX had 4 complaints and 1 recall, which makes it a fair alternative if price or availability favors it.

See also the 2024 Acura TLX for an earlier comparison.

Pros

  • +Strong reliability score
  • +$299 cheaper to maintain than avg luxury midsize cars
  • +Infrequent unscheduled repairs
  • +Low major repair risk (6%)
  • +Low recall count

Cons

  • −Above-average complaint rate for Sedan
  • −STEERING (1)

Compare 2025 Acura TLX With

Common Problem Categories

Safety

LOW RISK
  • 1 manufacturer recall issued

Other

MODERATE
  • STEERING (1)
  • ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (1)

See detailed breakdown by component ↓

Recall Overview

1

recall on record

The 2025 Acura TLX carries 1 recall — a low count. Authorized dealers repair any open recall free of charge, regardless of warranty status.

NHTSA.gov →

Complaint Breakdown

3.7

per 10,000 sold

Segment avg: 2

LowAvgHigh
Low

Safety Incidents

0

Crashes

0

Fires

0

Injuries

0

Deaths

★★★★★

NHTSA 5/5 Stars

Data sourced from NHTSA complaint filings and manufacturer recall notices. Complaint narratives are owner-reported.

2025 Acura TLX Recall Details

1 recall has been issued for the 2025 Acura TLX. All recall repairs are performed free of charge at authorized dealerships.

25V3910002025-06-12

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2021-2025 Acura TLX, 2023-2025 Acura MDX, and 2023-2025 Honda Pilot vehicles. The brake pedal pivot pin was not secured properly, which can cause the pedal to shift out of position. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard numbers 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment" and 135, "Light Vehicle Brake Systems."

Consequence

A brake pedal that shifts out of position can prevent the driver from applying the brakes as intended, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.

Remedy

Dealers will inspect and replace the brake pedal assembly as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 29, 2025. Owners may contact Honda's customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are FLX and XLY.

VIN History Report

Buying a used 2025 Acura TLX? Check its history first

Steering problems lead owner complaints about the 2025 Acura TLX, and 1 recall was issued for it. A VIN check shows whether this car's recall work was done, plus accident, title, and odometer history.

No VIN? Just hit “Check VIN” to look one up.

  • Accidents
  • Open Recalls
  • Title History
  • Odometer Rollback

2025 Acura TLX NHTSA Safety Ratings

Overall Safety Rating

Overall safety rating: 5 out of 5
Crash Test Results by Configuration (expand)

Gas Powertrain

Driver: 5/5Passenger: 4/5

Rollover risk: 9.0%

Safety Technologies

Dynamic Head Restraints (Not Available)Head Restraint (Driver, Front Passenger, 2nd row)Advanced Belt Feature (Not Available)Seat Belt Pretensioners (Driver, Front Passenger, 2nd row)Seat Belt Load Limiters (Driver, Front Passenger, 2nd row)Adjustable Upper Belt Anchorage (Driver, Front Passenger)Seat Belt Reminder System (Driver, Front Passenger, 2nd row)Frontal Air Bag (Driver, Front Passenger)Head Protection (Driver, Front Passenger, 2nd row)Torso and/or Pelvis Protection (Driver, Front Passenger)Knee (Driver, Front Passenger)Additional Air Bags (N/A)Meets Side Air Bag Out-of-Position Requirements (Yes)Unattended Child Reminder Direct Sensing System (Info Not Available)LATCH Locations (2nd row)Safety Power Windows (Anti-Pinch) (Standard)Safety Power Windows (Anti-Pinch) locations (Driver, Front Passenger, 2nd row, Roof)
View full safety data on NHTSA.gov →

Acura TLXRepair Costs & Maintenance

Maintenance Rating

4.5Maintenance rating: 4.5 out of 5

Based on NHTSA complaint patterns, recall severity, and publicly available cost benchmarks.

Est. Annual Maintenance

$440

vs $739 avg for luxury midsize cars

vs $652 avg for all vehicles

Repair Frequency

0.2

unscheduled repair visits per year

Severe Repair Probability

6%

chance of a major repair

Annual Cost Comparison

TLX
$440
Category Avg
$739
All Vehicles
$652

Category-level averages derived from publicly available industry reports (AAA, CarMD). Model-level estimates produced by Auto Reliability Index.

MPG & Annual Running Costs

Gas

21–25 MPG

Running cost: $3,200–$3,750/yr

Fuel + repair

19–22 city / 25–31 hwy MPG

Running cost includes EPA fuel-cost estimate and independent repair-cost data (repair cost estimated at model level). Excludes routine maintenance, depreciation, and insurance. Data as of 2025 EPA label cycle.

Gas trims
TrimDriveTrans.CityHwyCombFuel Cost
TLX FWD 2.0L 4-cylFront-Wheel DriveAutomatic (S10)223125$2,750
TLX AWD A-SPEC 2.0L 4-cylAll-Wheel DriveAutomatic (S10)212924$2,900
TLX Type-S 3.0L 6-cylAll-Wheel DriveAutomatic (S10)192521$3,300

Used Buying Checklist

Key things to inspect or verify before purchasing a 2025 Acura TLX.

  • Check digital instrument cluster for blackouts during startup

  • Test power steering functionality after ignition

  • Inspect infotainment screen for darkening issues

  • Verify engine performance in humid conditions for misfire or acceleration loss

  • Ensure vehicle shuts off properly without remaining in accessory mode

  • Check for any active recalls or service bulletins related to engine or electrical issues

2025 Acura TLX Common Problems by Component

3 owner complaints grouped by vehicle system.

1
1
1
STEERING (1)ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (1)ENGINE (1)

STEERING

1 complaint
2026-01-22

Description of Safety Defect: While starting car up, the digital instrument cluster (speedometer and all primary driver instrumentation) goes completely black with no warning. The infotainment system continues to operate normally. After driving a short distance (sometimes only a few miles), the vehicle then experiences a complete loss of power steering, making the car extremely difficult or impossible to control. This creates an immediate risk of a crash, especially at speed or during turning. In multiple instances, after this failure occurs, the vehicle also becomes difficult to shut off, remaining in accessory or powered states despite attempts to turn the vehicle off. This defect involves simultaneous failure of: •Driver instrumentation display •Electric power steering assistance •Normal ignition shutdown behavior The loss of steering assist results in a sudden and unexpected loss of vehicle control. This appears to be an electronic or control-module failure affecting multiple safety-critical systems. Safety Impact: This defect poses a serious risk of crash, injury, or death due to sudden loss of steering assistance and lack of speed/vehicle status information while driving. Frequency: Has occurred twice - each time requiring roadside assistance to get the car to the dealer Warning Lights or Messages: None - just complete loss of instrumentation cluster Dealer Response (if applicable): Dealer initially claimed it had fixed, but it occurred again within 24 hours of retrieving from dealer. Dealer has now had car go over a week claiming that it needs to generate the fault state more than once before it will make any warranty repairs

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

1 complaint
2025-07-28

We have three Acura vehicles at home and this is the newest one - 2025 TLX A-Spec. The vehicle is only a few months old and already suffered two INFORTAINMENT Screen failures. This is the primary screen on the dash that shows navigation and other information. The screen goes dark completely due to either an electronics/hardware issue or a software issue. This could be a safety issue if the driver is driving using the map app at a busy intersection, and the screen stops working. Once it is out of order, the only way to fix it is taking it back to dealer and do a battery level re-set. Not acceptable! Please investigate and start a recall if needed. Thanks so much for your time.

ENGINE

1 complaint
2025-05-24

While driving in humid, rainy conditions for over five hours, I experienced a sudden and dangerous loss of acceleration. Moisture appears to have built up, resulting in a misfire and a flashing MIL/Check Engine light. This occurred while I was overtaking another vehicle just before entering a restricted-width construction zone, making the situation extremely hazardous. The complete loss of acceleration lasted for about a minute. Afterward, I was only able to maintain minimal speed by flooring the accelerator. I continued in this limited-power mode until I could safely exit the highway. After shutting off the vehicle for 10 minutes, I restarted it, and it operated normally. After researching this issue, I found active recalls and service bulletins describing this exact behavior, including: NHTSA Recall Number: 25V-031 Acura Campaign Number: EL1 Service Bulletin Number: 25-010 Additionally, an earlier bulletin describes identical symptoms: Service Bulletin Number: 20-053 (Version 4, dated March 12, 2024) Despite these matches, my VIN does not show any active recalls or bulletins. When I brought the car into the dealership to address this issue under the bulletin, they informed me they could not perform any service since my VIN was not listed. Given the severity of what occurred, I am requesting urgent assistance in updating or reviewing the recall eligibility for my vehicle. I would like to prevent this issue from recurring, especially in dangerous conditions. Thank you for your attention, and I look forward to your prompt response.

Best & Worst Acura TLX Years

Best Acura TLX Years to Buy

Acura TLX Years to Avoid

Acura TLX Reliability Score Trend

Scores 0–100. Higher is better. Current year highlighted.

Acura TLX reliability scores by year
YearScoreRating
201871/100Good
201969/100Good
202071/100Good
202171/100Good
202275/100Good
202379/100Good
202480/100Excellent
202580/100Excellent

Acura TLX Reliability Compared to Other Years

Reliability scores compared across model years
YearScorevs Prior YearRatingRecallsComplaints
2025(selected)80/1000Excellent13
202480/100+1Excellent14
202379/100+4Good213
202275/100+4Good326
202171/1000Good379
202071/100+2Good459
201969/100-2Good587
201871/100—Good390

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the 2025 Acura TLX reliable?
Yes. Its reliability standing is excellent, above average among 2025 sedans, and among the stronger of the eight scored TLX years. Owners filed only 3 complaints. Independent repair-cost data also shows low model-wide yearly repair costs compared with the class. One federal recall on the brakes is the main item to check.
What are the most common problems with the 2025 Acura TLX?
No single problem dominates the data. Owners filed just 3 complaints, and the data does not describe a repeated symptom. The one clear issue is a federal recall involving the hydraulic service brakes. Confirm that any used example has had that recall work completed.
Does the 2025 Acura TLX have brake problems?
It has one federal recall in the service brakes, hydraulic area. That is the only recall on record for this year. The data does not say how many owners saw brake symptoms, so check recall records by VIN and ask for proof the repair was done.
How much does it cost to maintain a 2025 Acura TLX?
Independent repair-cost data estimates $440 per year for the TLX model-wide. That is well below the $739 estimated for its class. The figure covers the whole TLX model, not only this year, so your own cost depends on the specific car and its history.
Is the 2025 Acura TLX better than the 2024?
Not on reliability. Both years rate excellent and about the same. The 2024 had 4 complaints and 1 recall, against 3 complaints and 1 recall for the 2025. That gap is small, so choose between them on price, condition, and recall records.

Don’t buy a 2025 Acura TLX without checking its VIN first — hidden accidents, title issues, and open recalls could cost you thousands.

Look Up a VIN →

How we score the 2025 Acura TLX

Of the four inputs behind this score, the 2025 Acura TLX does best on repair costs (90/100) and worst on complaint severity (71/100). Scores weight complaint severity at 35%, repair costs at 30%, recall impact at 20%, and the spread of complaints across systems at 15%, with complaint counts adjusted for US sales. Read the full methodology.

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