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#BS-2021-ACUTLX-3764

2021 Acura TLXProblems, Recalls & Reliability

Based on reports from 107 owners and 4 recalls for this exact model.

Data updated ·NHTSA complaints through October 28, 2026

Complaints
107
Crashes
7
Fires
0
Recalls
4
TSBs
113
🟡

Preliminary Verdict

Think Twice

Based on 107 complaints, 7 crashes, 0 fires, and 4 recalls. Complaint rate is 5.2x the class average.

See full verdict with buy/skip conditions

Top reported problems

1

transmission failed

2 complaints • Severity 9/10

$X,XXX
2

backup camera does not work at times

1 complaints • Severity 10/10

$X,XXX
3

side mirror exploded

1 complaints • Severity 10/10

$X,XXX
4

hood and bumper do not align properly

1 complaints • Severity 6/10

$X,XXX
5

lights under mirrors stopped working

1 complaints • Severity 4/10

$X,XXX

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Mechanic Inspection Checklist

!Check the DrivetrainHIGH

28 owners reported drivetrain issues — failures commonly reported around 32K miles.

!Inspect the BrakesMED
Look for symptoms of wear and premature failure
+ 6 more items in full checklistUnlock

Failure Timeline by Mileage

5
0–30K
3
30–60K
60–90K
3
90–120K
120–150K
150K+

Peak failure range: 0–30K miles (5 reports) • Median: 32K miles

Full report: which components fail at each mileageUnlock

30,000-Mile Cost Projection

Best Case

$X,XXX

Most Likely

$X,XXX

Worst Case

$X,XXX

Top cost driver: Drivetrain (28 reports).

Includes fuel costs, common repairs, and recall riskUnlock

Also in your report

Owner Intelligence

AI-synthesized themes from real complaints

Buyer Lot Checklist

Questions, test drive checks, walk-away triggers

Negotiation Talking Points

Data-backed dollar deductions

Buy / Skip Verdict

Final recommendation with conditions

10 sections total in the full reportUnlock all

Where the complaints fall

Drivetrain28 (26%)
Brakes10 (9%)
Other10 (9%)
Electrical9 (8%)
Airbags8 (7%)
Fuel System6 (6%)
Suspension6 (6%)
Engine5 (5%)

2021 Acura TLX: Known Issues & Problem Areas

Drivetrain Issues

Drivetrain complaints account for 26% of all reports filed for the 2021 Acura TLX, with 28 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. The median mileage at time of complaint is 32,000 miles, suggesting issues tend to surface around the 32K-mile mark.

Brakes Issues

Brakes complaints account for 9% of all reports filed for the 2021 Acura TLX, with 10 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to brakes-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.

Electrical Issues

Electrical complaints account for 8% of all reports filed for the 2021 Acura TLX, with 9 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to electrical-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.

Airbags Issues

Airbags complaints account for 7% of all reports filed for the 2021 Acura TLX, with 8 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to airbags-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.

Data sourced from NHTSA owner complaints and community reports. The full report analyzes severity, repair costs, and failure patterns for each category.

Complaint trend by year

7
21
12
22
13
23
10
24
17
25
48
26

Complaints filed with NHTSA by year for the 2021 Acura TLX. Recent trend: increasing.

Don't negotiate blind — know what this car costs to own

Repair costs • Negotiation scripts • Mechanic checklist • Buy/skip verdict

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Recall History (4 recalls)

24V064000Mar 2024

AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION:FRONT PASSENGER

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Pilot, Accord, Civic sedan, HR-V, Odyssey, 2020 Civic coupe, Fit, 2021-2022 Civic hatchback, 2021 Civic Type R, Insight, 2020-2021 CR-V, CR-V Hybrid, Passport, Ridgeline, Accord Hybrid, 2020 Acura MDX, 2022 Acura MDX, 2020-2022 Acura RDX, and 2020-2021 Acura TLX vehicles. The front passenger seat weight sensor may crack and short circuit, failing to suppress the air bag as intended.

24V950000Feb 2025

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY

Acura (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2021-2023 TLX vehicles. The fuel filler neck and fuel tank may have been improperly welded, which can result in a fuel leak.

25V391000Jul 2025

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:PEDALS AND LINKAGES

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."

26V332000Jul 2026

AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION:FRONT PASSENGER

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2018-2021, 2023 Acura TLX, 2019-2024 RDX, 2017-2020, 2022-2026 MDX, 2017-2021, 2023, 2025 Honda Ridgeline, 2017-2022 Pilot, 2019-2021 Passport, 2018-2026 Odyssey, 2019-2022 Insight, 2019-2021 HR-V, 2018-2020 Fit, 2020-2022 CR-V Hybrid, 2017-2022 CR-V, 2017-2018, 2021 Civic Type R, 2017-2021 Civic hatchback, 2016-2020 Civic coupe, 2016-2022 Civic, 2017-2022 Accord Hybrid, and 2016-2022 Accord vehicles. The front passenger seat weight sensor may crack and short circuit, which can cause the air bags to deploy unintentionally during a crash.

Recall severity analysis & seller scripts

The full report rates each recall's severity and gives you scripts for asking the seller about recall completion.

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2021 Acura TLX NHTSA Safety Ratings

Overall

★★★★★

5 of 5 stars

Frontal crash

★★★★★

5 of 5 stars

Side crash

★★★★★

5 of 5 stars

Rollover

★★★★★

5 of 5 stars

From NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program (5-Star Safety Ratings). Where NHTSA tested more than one version of this vehicle, the lowest rating is shown.

NHTSA Defect Investigations (2)

1 investigation still open: NHTSA is examining whether a defect warrants a recall.

DP26001ClosedOpened Mar 2026 · closed Aug 2026

All wheel drive allegation

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

EA25004OpenOpened Mar 2025

No Restart After Auto Start/Stop Engages

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:CRANK/CAMSHAFT POSITION SENSOR

The worst model year for the Acura TLX is the 2015 — worth knowing if you're cross-shopping years. The biggest problem area is transmission.

2021 Acura TLX vs. Class Average (Compact Cars)

This vehicle

107

Class avg

20

5.2x the class average — significantly more complaints than typical compact cars vehicles.

Complaint counts correlate with sales volume — popular vehicles naturally generate more reports. The full report normalizes for this.

About this data

NHTSA Complaints

Federal database of owner-filed safety complaints. 107 records for this vehicle.

NHTSA Recalls

Manufacturer-issued safety recalls. 4 recalls found for this vehicle.

Repair Cost Data

Real-world repair costs from owner reports and independent databases.

Last updated . NHTSA complaints received through October 28, 2026; safety ratings from NHTSA's 5-Star program.

Other Acura TLX Model Years

20252024202320222021202020192018201720162015
View all Acura TLX years →

2021 Acura TLX: Frequently Asked Questions

What is the most common problem with the 2021 Acura TLX?
The most commonly reported issue with the 2021 Acura TLX is related to the drivetrain, with 28 complaints filed with NHTSA.
Is the 2021 Acura TLX reliable?
The 2021 Acura TLX has 107 complaints, 7 crash reports, and 0 fire reports filed with NHTSA. This is 5.2x the class average — higher than typical for its segment.
How safe is the 2021 Acura TLX?
NHTSA rates the 2021 Acura TLX 5 out of 5 stars overall, with 5 stars in frontal crash tests, 5 stars in side crash tests, 5 stars for rollover resistance. Where NHTSA tested more than one version, the lowest rating is shown.
How much does it cost to fix 2021 Acura TLX problems?
Repair costs vary by issue. The full BumperScan report includes detailed repair cost estimates (low/median/high) for every major issue, plus a 30,000-mile total cost of ownership projection.
Does the 2021 Acura TLX have any recalls?
Yes, the 2021 Acura TLX has 4 recalls on record. The full report includes recall severity analysis and scripts for asking the seller about recall completion.
What mileage do Acura TLX problems start?
Based on 11 complaints with mileage data, the median mileage at time of complaint is 32,000 miles. The highest concentration of reported issues occurs in the 0–30K mile range. The full report breaks down exactly which components fail at each mileage bracket.
When was the 2021 Acura TLX data last updated?
BumperScan last checked this vehicle against NHTSA on October 30, 2026, covering owner complaints received through October 28, 2026 plus the latest recalls, investigations and technical service bulletins.
What’s in the full report?
10 sections of AI analysis: severity-ranked issues, component scores (0-100), 30K-mile cost projection, failure timeline by mileage, recall details with seller scripts, owner sentiment analysis, mechanic checklist, buyer lot checklist, negotiation ammo with dollar figures, and a buy/skip verdict.
How is this different from free NHTSA data?
NHTSA gives you raw complaint text. BumperScan cross-references 2.1M+ complaints with community repair cost data, EPA fuel data, and recall records — then uses AI to synthesize it into actionable advice with dollar figures.
How is this different from Carfax?
Carfax is VIN-specific history ($45/report). BumperScan is model-level reliability intelligence — what problems this car is known for, what they cost, and whether you should buy it. Complementary, not competing.
What if the report isn’t useful?
100% money-back guarantee. If the report doesn’t help you make a more informed decision, we’ll refund you — no questions asked.
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10 sections of AI analysis based on 107 owner reports. Know before you buy.

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