⌘K
Find a vehicle
RecallsCompareNewsPricing
Your vehicle
VIN decoderWindow stickerProblems by systemTitle brands
Federal filings
Service bulletinsOwner complaintsInvestigationsEarly Warning reportsWarranty extensionsDriver-assist crashesTrouble codes
Browse the record
GuidesRankingsAll makesQuarterly reportsWhat is in the data
Paperwork
Repair Claim KitCar CheckFor attorneysFor expert witnessesFor repair shopsRecall disclosure formRecall fix sheets
Tools and data
Recall WatchFleet VIN checkCost calculatorsCar crosswordAPI & data
Sign inGarage
Your vehicleHome›Acura›TLX› 2018
Acura · Compact Sedan

2018 Acura TLX

Gas
Compact Cars
5 EPA-rated configurations
Data refreshed 2026-10-26
C
Safety Signal
76 / 100 from the NHTSA recall record
RecallsNHTSA campaigns 4
Complaints3 crash · 1 fire · 2 injured reported 96
Crash ratingNHTSA overall 5★
Fuel economybest combined, EPA 27 mpg
2025202420232022202120202019201820172016

The 2018 Acura TLX is sold in the U.S. as a gas compact sedan with 5 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the TLX FWD, is EPA-rated at 27 mpg combined. NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns for this model year, which gives it a Safety Signal grade of C. Owners have filed 96 complaints, most often about the engine. NHTSA crash-tested it at 5 stars overall.

Acura TLX — photograph via Wikimedia Commons
Acura TLX · Photo: MercurySable99 · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Specs & fuel economy

Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov
ConfigurationPowertrainDriveEngine / motorCityHwyCombAnnual fuel*
TLX FWDGasFWD2.4L 4-cyl233327$3,050
TLX AWDGasAWD3.5L 6-cyl213024$3,400
TLX FWDGasFWD3.5L 6-cyl203224$3,400
TLX AWD A-SPECGasAWD3.5L 6-cyl202923$3,550
TLX FWD A-SPECGasFWD3.5L 6-cyl203023$3,550

*EPA estimate at 15,000 miles/year at EPA reference fuel and electricity prices. fueleconomy.gov record ids: 38756, 38759, 38757, 38760, 38758.

Emissions & certification

Source: EPA emission certificates
ConfigurationSmog ratingEmission standardWhere it can be sold newSmartWay
TLX AWD, TLX AWD A-SPEC, TLX FWD3 / 10California LEV-III ULEV125 / Federal Tier 3 Bin 125All 50 states (federal, all altitudes); California and states following California standards—
TLX FWD A-SPEC3 / 10Federal Tier 3 Bin 125 / California LEV-III ULEV125All 50 states (federal, all altitudes); California and states following California standards—

Certified for all fifty states, so it can be registered new anywhere in the U.S.

The smog rating scores tailpipe pollutants other than greenhouse gases, 1 (worst) to 10 (best), and is comparable only within a model year. The standard is the federal bin or California tier the configuration was certified to. Both come from the EPA certificate behind the window sticker.

Specifications filed with NHTSA

Source: NHTSA vPIC

Dimensions Exterior

Body styleSedan/Saloon
Doors4
GVWR classClass 1C: 4,001 - 5,000 lb (1,814 - 2,268 kg)

Engine Basics

Cylinders4
Displacement2.4 L
Engine configurationIn-Line

Engine Output

Horsepower206 hp

Fuel Economy

FuelGasoline

Seating

Seat rows2
Seating capacity5 seats

Transmission

Drivetrain4x2
TransmissionDual-Clutch Transmission (DCT)
Transmission speeds8

Driver assistance

Standard: Adaptive cruise control, Anti-lock brakes, Automatic emergency braking, Backup camera, Blind-spot monitoring, Electronic stability control, Forward collision warning, Lane departure warning, Lane keeping assist

Filed by the manufacturer with NHTSA under the federal vehicle-identification rule and decoded from the VIN pattern — not a manufacturer press kit, so it describes the configurations we could identify rather than every trim (seen: ADVANCE V6, SH-AWD ADVANCE V6, SH-AWD TECH+A / TCH+AR V6, SH-AWD V6). Figures for the trim you are looking at may differ.

Dimensions & weight

Source: Transport Canada
Length190.6 in
Width (body, without mirrors)72.8 in
Height57.1 in
Wheelbase109.4 in
Track, front63.0 in
Track, rear63.0 in
Curb weight3,519–3,748 lb
Weight distribution, front/rear60/40 to 61/39

Measured by Transport Canada for its Canadian Vehicle Specifications database, which covers the North American versions of each model — here 2 configurations: 4-door Sedan FWD, 4-door Sedan Sh-Awd. Where a range is shown, those versions differ. Width is the body without mirrors, which is why it can read narrower than a brochure figure. Before we used it we checked it against the US manufacturer press kits we hold (27 Sep 2026): wheelbase agreed within 1% on every vehicle we could compare, length on 98%, and the curb weight fell inside the manufacturer's range on 96%. Source dataset. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada. Licence.

Also on file Beside the 2018 TLX
Other years The 2025 TLX Recalls Acura recalls
Advertisement

Factory warranty running out?

The 2018 Acura TLX is in the years where transmission, electronics and drivetrain repairs land on the owner. What an extended plan does and does not cover is worth reading before a dealer quotes you one.

What to check before you buy →

Affiliate disclosure: some links on this page are affiliate links. If you request a quote or buy through them we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Nothing on this page changes because of it.

Recalls (4)

Source: NHTSA recall database
▲high

Air Bags

98,892 vehicles 32% reported repaired
Problem 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. Risk Air bags that deploy unintentionally during a crash increase the risk of injury. Fix Dealers will replace the seat weight sensors, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 7, 2026. Owners may contact Honda's customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are BOL, WO9, OOA, WOM, XOH, NOC, POD, BOE, UOF, POB, EOG, AOI, QO8, TOJ, DO7, and SOK. This recall expands previous NHTSA recall number 24V064. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will be searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning May 29, 2026.
Filed with NHTSADefect report PDFOwner letter PDFDealer notice PDF
NHTSA campaign 26V332000 reported May 21, 2026 Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) the full filing, and every vehicle covered →
▲high

Fuel System, Gasoline

KGC, KGD
2,490,460 vehicles 79% reported repaired
Problem 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. Risk Fuel pump failure can cause an engine stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash. Fix Dealers will replace the fuel pump module, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed September 6, 2024. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are KGC and KGD. This recall is an expansion of NHTSA recall numbers 21V-215 and 20V-314.
Filed with NHTSAOwner letter PDFRemedy instructions PDF
NHTSA campaign 23V858000 reported Dec 18, 2023 Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) the full filing, and every vehicle covered →
▲high

Engine And Engine Cooling

XG1, GG0
248,999 vehicles 78% reported repaired built Feb 5, 2014 – Jul 28, 2020
Problem 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. Risk A damaged engine may run improperly or stall while driving, increasing the risk of a fire, crash, or injury. Fix Dealers will inspect and repair, or replace the engine as necessary, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed March 28, 2024. 2016-2017 Acura MDX owner letters were mailed November 1, 2024. 2016-2020 Acura MDX owner letters are expected to be mailed in mid-December 2024. Honda began mailing owner notification letters as of March 18, 2024. 2015-2016 Acura owner letters are expected to be mailed mid-December 2024, 2018 Acura TLX owner letters are expected to be mailed the end of March/early Apr
Filed with NHTSADefect report PDFRemedy instructions PDF
NHTSA campaign 23V751000 reported Nov 13, 2023 Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) the full filing, and every vehicle covered →
●moderate

Fuel System, Other

N3X, P3W
437,032 vehicles 90% reported repaired built Mar 28, 2017 – Mar 23, 2018
Problem 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. Risk Reduced fuel pump performance can result in an engine stall, increasing the risk of crash. Fix Honda will notify owners, and dealers will update the fuel injection engine control unit (FI-ECU) software and, if necessary, replace the fuel pump, free of charge. The recall began March 25, 2019. Owners may contact customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Acura's recall number for this recall is P3W. Honda's recall number for this recall is N3X.
Filed with NHTSAOwner letter PDFRemedy instructions PDF
NHTSA campaign 19V060000 reported Jan 29, 2019 Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) the full filing, and every vehicle covered →

These are vehicle campaigns — the ones the automaker filed against this model. NHTSA also records equipment recalls, filed by a parts maker against a component (a tyre, a child seat, an aftermarket part), and those are not listed here or counted above. nhtsa.gov/recalls shows both for a VIN.

NHTSA defect investigations

Engine — Engine failure open

The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) has received 414 reports of connecting rod bearing failures in the 3.5L V6 engine used in the following vehicles: Model Years (MY) 2018-2020 Acura TLX, MY2016-2020 Acura MDX, MY2016-2020 Honda Pilot, MY2018-2020 Honda Odyssey, and MY2017-2019 Honda Ridgeline.  The subject engine failures were analyzed as part of a Recall Query (RQ24013).  It was determined that these engine failures are outside the scope of Honda Recall 23V-751. Further, evidence gathered in conjunction with RQ24013 does not suggest this failure is caused by the same crankshaft manufacturing defect that is addressed by Honda in Recall 23V-751.  Based on analysis of data from RQ24013,

Opened Aug 20, 2025 · action PE25008 · the investigation’s page →

Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine — No Restart After Auto Start/Stop Engages open

On June 3, 2022, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened Preliminary Evaluation PE22005 after the agency received VOQs and several field reports concerning the Auto Idle Stop (AIS) feature on 2016-2019MY Honda Pilot vehicles. The complaints allege that the engine fails to restart on its own from a complete stop at a traffic light or road intersection with the AIS function engaged. The subject vehicles are equipped with a 3.5L engine with a 9-speed automatic transmission. On January 6, 2023, Honda released service bulletins 23-008 and 23-009. These service bulletins address the failure to restart issue in the 2016-2019MY Honda Pilot vehicles, as well as the 2015-2020 Acura TLX, 2016-2020

Opened Mar 26, 2025 · action EA25004 · the investigation’s page →

Engine — Engine failure closed

On November 8, 2024, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened Recall Query RQ24013 to assess the scope of Honda recall 23V-751 after receiving complaints that alleged connecting rod bearing failures in vehicles that were not within the scope of recall 23V-751. In November 2023, Honda recalled 248,999 various Model Year (MY)2016–2020 Honda and Acura vehicles equipped with the 3.5L V6 engine. Honda recalled these vehicles due to a crankshaft manufacturing defect that caused premature connecting rod bearing wear and engine seizure. While the out-of-scope failures involved in these complaints appear to have a very similar failure mechanism as the recalled engines, a thorough analysis of

Opened Nov 8, 2024 · closed Aug 20, 2025 · action RQ24013 · the investigation’s page →

Whether any of this applies to one specific TLX

A campaign covers a build range, not a model year, so two identical-looking cars from 2018 can differ. Both of these check a VIN against the manufacturer’s own list, free, in about ten seconds. Acura publishes its own lookup because federal rule 49 CFR 573.15 requires it to, and to keep it current to within seven days.

NHTSA VIN check →Acura’s own VIN lookup →

Hear about a recall before the letter does

The manufacturer’s letter is the last step of a recall: it has up to 60 days after filing to mail owners, at the address on the registration. We email you the day NHTSA posts a recall on the 2018 Acura TLX, with what to do next. Nothing else, ever — no newsletter, no marketing, one-click unsubscribe in every message.

Advertisement

Parts & accessories for the 2018 Acura TLX

Search by fitment on eBay Motors — OEM take-offs, aftermarket, and the trim pieces dealers no longer stock. The listing and the price are the seller's.

Find parts for this TLX →

Owner complaints

Source: NHTSA complaint database
96complaints filed

3 involved a crash · 1 a fire · 2 injuries · 0 deaths reported

30 per 10,000 built · Acura reported 32,113 TLX built (its Early Warning production report to NHTSA)

Filed per year: 2017: 3 · 2018: 1 · 2019: 5 · 2020: 5 · 2021: 5 · 2022: 8 · 2023: 13 · 2024: 30 · 2025: 17 · 2026: 9

Most-cited components

Engine 43
Electrical System 20
Fuel/Propulsion System 15
Unspecified 13
Power Train 11
Lane Departure 11

In owners' own words

Filed with NHTSA by the people who own these cars, one per problem area. Quoted as written, with anything identifying removed.

I have had, for years, Idle Stop/restart failures on my 2018 Acura TLX, too many times to count. One time, I heard the screeching tires of a car behind me stopping to avoid rear-ending me, when the driver thought I was going to proceed through an intersection, only to have the car die.
Electrical System Jan 23, 2023 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11503261
The car failed to turn back on after the auto stop fuction turned the engine off. This left me stranded at a green light. After a few seconds the car put itself in neutral and I slowly coasted to the side of the road as I was on a hill. It would not start for around 30 seconds, remained in accessory mode with the engine off.
Engine Dec 21, 2022 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11498449
This unit had recall for the fuel pump and even after the recall was completed . The car is still doing the same thing . It stalls out I tried to reach out to the manufacturer and nothing has been done
Fuel/Propulsion System Jul 3, 2022 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11472239
When I bought the 2018 Acura TLX I asked about the buttons on the shifter being warn out. And they said they were fine and did not need to be replaced. I also brought this to Acura's attention that the fact that they wear out enough other drivers will not know which buttons is which and it can become a safety issue.
Power Train Jun 21, 2022 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11470167
There are so many lights flashing, my vehicle will not go over 50MPH, My steering wheel is no longer straight its actually to the left. I brought it to Acura and they are stating its a REAR TOE ACTUATOR issue and refuse to cover the 5,100.00 fee to fix this issue that has had a SAFETY BULLETIN posted for a 2015 TLX.
Service Brakes Mar 20, 2022 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11457542
My car slid off of the road during a blizzard and hit a tree head on. My front end had smashed in and the car was totaled. The airbags did not deploy and the police who arrived on the scene believed that they should have. I brought my car to a body shop to assess the damages as well as look into the issue of the airbags.
Air Bags Mar 1, 2022 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11454676

Complaint counts are raw owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects, and scale with how many were sold. Use them to spot patterns, not to rank.

Reported by Acura itself: 21 death-or-injury claims on this model year in its quarterly Early Warning reports to NHTSA (49 CFR 579.21): 24 injured, as claimed, not verified — about 65 per 100,000 built. Every TLX model year, by year and system → Dated and by system, they are exhibit F of the defect dossier.

When owners reported it

Reported at 48k

miles, typically

Half the 27 owner reports with an odometer reading on file fall between 16,000 and 89,000 miles. That is when problems get reported, which is not the same as when they start — and not a failure rate, because nobody knows how many of these cars never had a problem at all.

Too few readings for a curve — the 27 on file: 4 under 10k, 4 10k–20k, 2 20k–30k, 1 30k–40k, 4 40k–50k, 3 50k–60k, 1 70k–80k, 2 80k–90k, 4 100k–150k, 2 150k +.

Odometer readings as filed by owners with NHTSA. Readings under 100 or over 400,000 miles are dropped as data entry rather than history, and a component needs at least 12 readings before a median is shown for it.

Crash ratings

Source: NHTSA NCAP
ConfigurationOverallFrontalSideRolloverRollover risk
4 DR AWD★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★10%
4 DR FWD★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★10%

NHTSA New Car Assessment Program. Standard driver-assist: forward collision warning, lane departure warning.

Service bulletins & campaigns

Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications
Extended coverage on file 3 filings by the manufacturer with NHTSA naming this model year

The term and the vehicles it covers are the manufacturer’s, as NHTSA’s summary of each filing states them; a dealer checks one particular car by its VIN. Every Honda warranty extension (66) → · Every warranty extension on file, all makes →

Communicationsfiled with NHTSA 92
Most recentmanufacturer date 2026-09-25
Kindsas classified by NHTSA 91 service bulletins, 1 other

Most often about: Engine, Fuel/Propulsion System, Electrical System, Equipment, Power Train.

  • B26-023 Service bulletin
    2026-09-25 · Fuel/Propulsion System
  • Service Bulletin - The factory fuel fill pipe assembly may not have been manufactured to specification. As a result, small contamination particles inside the fuel fill neck may prevent the primary shut-off valve flap seal from sealing properly. This may result in a fuel smell from the fuel fill neck area and may cause DTC P0455 or P0456 (EVAP system leak detected) to be set.
  • 2026-09-25 · Fuel/Propulsion System
  • Dealer Message - The fuel fill pipe assembly may not have been manufactured to specification. As a result, small contamination particles inside the fuel fill neck may prevent the primary shut-off valve flap seal from sealing, resulting in fuel smell from the fuel fill neck area and may cause DTC P0455 or P0456 (EVAP system leak detected) to be set.
  • B22-009 Service bulletin
    2025-07-07 · Engine
  • Service Bulletin - Under certain circumstances, after coming to a stop and engaging idle stop the vehicle may not restart automatically due to excessive cylinder pressure and/or low cranking torque. Typically, the client can immediately restart the vehicle by selecting Park and pressing the ENGINE START/STOP button.
  • B24-022 Service bulletin
    2025-02-19 · Engine
  • Service Bulletin - The AWD warning light is on with one or more AWD DTCs having been set due to water intrusion into the electric oil pump motor connector area corrodes the terminals.
  • B24-022 Service bulletin
    2024-11-22 · Structure — Body
  • Service Bulletin - The AWD warning light is on potentially due to water intrusion into the rear differential pump motor connector area that corrodes the terminals.
  • B23-035 Service bulletin
    2024-01-10 · Engine And Engine Cooling — Exhaust System — Emission Control
  • Service Bulletin - The MIL comes on during vehicle operation due to variations in the purge control solenoid valve spring, the valve wears unevenly and intermittently sticks. This may result in setting DTC P0441 (Evaporative Emission (EVAP) System Purge Flow Malfunction).
  • B23-035 Service bulletin
    2023-12-15 · Fuel System, Gasoline
  • Service Bulletin - Due to variations in the purge control solenoid valve spring, the valve wears unevenly and intermittently sticks. This may result in setting DTC P0441 (Evaporative Emission (EVAP) System Purge Flow Malfunction).
  • ONL6AX07052023 Service bulletin
    2023-07-05 · Engine And Engine Cooling
  • Owner Notification Letter - Under certain circumstances, after coming to a stop and the idle stop feature engages, the vehicle may not automatically restart. Acura is providing a product update with new PGM-FI software update to fix this issue.

A service bulletin is the manufacturer telling its dealers how to diagnose or repair a known condition. It is not a recall, not a finding that the vehicle is defective, and the work is not automatically free — though a bulletin is often what a dealer works from when you describe a symptom, so quoting the document number can save a diagnosis. The count is every communication filed; the list shows the most recent, one entry per campaign, because a single campaign is usually filed as several documents on the same day. The summaries are NHTSA's; the full documents come from the manufacturer.

Diagnostic trouble codes on file

Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications and complaints

Codes documented against this model year in the federal record. A code appearing here does not mean this vehicle will set it — it means the code is part of this nameplate-year's documented history.

CodeWhat it meansMost often filed underWhere it appears
P0171
P0171 on Acura →		The engine is running lean on bank 1: too much air, or not enough fuel, for the mixture the computer wants.Fuel/Propulsion System · Mass air flow sensor →16 bulletins
P0174
P0174 on Acura →		The engine is running lean on bank 2.Fuel/Propulsion System · Mass air flow sensor →16 bulletins
P219A
P219A on Acura →		Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.Fuel/Propulsion System · Fuel pump →16 bulletins
P0430
P0430 on Acura →		The catalytic converter on bank 2 is not cleaning up the exhaust as well as it should.Engine · Catalytic converter →9 bulletins
P0420
P0420 on Acura →		The catalytic converter on bank 1 is not cleaning up the exhaust as well as it should.Engine · Catalytic converter →5 bulletins
P0441
P0441 on Acura →		The evaporative purge is not flowing the way it should.Engine · EVAP purge valve →4 bulletins
P0716
P0716 on Acura →		Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.Power Train3 bulletins
U129DManufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.Steering3 bulletins
P0455
P0455 on Acura →		A large leak in the evaporative emissions system — often a fuel cap left off.Fuel/Propulsion System · Gas cap →2 bulletins
P0456
P0456 on Acura →		A very small leak in the evaporative emissions system.Fuel/Propulsion System · Gas cap →2 bulletins

Generic codes (the second character is 0 or 2) mean the same thing on every vehicle sold in the United States. Manufacturer-specific codes (1 or 3) mean whatever the automaker assigned, and no honest source can define them for you — which is why the ones here carry the evidence instead of a definition. A code is a link when enough separate federal documents name it across the catalogue to be worth a page of its own; the rest are listed here, where the vehicle is the context that makes them mean something.

Affiliate disclosure: some links on this page are affiliate links. If you request a quote or buy through them we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Nothing on this page changes because of it.

At the New York inspection station

Source: New York State DMV

In New York’s inspection lanes over the 12 months to Oct 10, 2026, the 2018 Acura TLX failed the emissions check on 7.1% of first inspections — higher than the 3.0% for every 2018 model-year vehicle inspected; and the safety inspection on 1.1% (every 2018 vehicle: 1.9%).

New York inspections 7.1%

failed emissions

1,098 initial inspections of 1,079 vehicles.

MeasureThe 2018 TLXEvery 2018 vehicleBehind it
Failed the emissions check7.1%3.0%1,097
Failed the safety inspection1.1%1.9%1,098
Air-bag warning lamp stayed lit0.55%0.22%1,098
Miles driven a year9,85010,002odometer at inspection
Average odometer81,86382,833odometer at inspection

New York’s emissions test on these model years is an on-board diagnostics check: it fails a car whose check-engine light is on or whose self-tests have not finished. First inspections only, so a car that failed and came back is counted once; private and special plates, not taxis, livery or commercial plates. A rate appears only where at least 200 inspections stand behind it. “Every 2018 vehicle” is every 2018 model-year car, SUV and pickup inspected in the same window, all makes. This is the state’s record of test results, not a reliability score by itself. Source: New York State Department of Motor Vehicles, Vehicle Inspections (data.ny.gov, Open NY terms).

TLX by model year

all years, side by side →
Year Safety Recalls Complaints
2025 B 2 4 25 mpg2024 B 2 5 25 mpg2023 C 4 19 25 mpg2022 C 4 34 25 mpg2021 C 5 104 25 mpg2020 C 5 63 27 mpg2019 D 6 93 27 mpg2018 this page C 4 96 27 mpg2017 B 3 71 28 mpg2016 B 3 111 28 mpg

Common questions about the 2018 TLX

Source: EPA, NHTSA and manufacturer press kits

Does the 2018 Acura TLX have any recalls?

NHTSA has posted 4 recall campaigns for the 2018 Acura TLX. The most serious on file is 26V332000, covering Air Bags. Check your own VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls; a recall applies to specific build ranges, not every car.

How safe is the 2018 Acura TLX?

NHTSA gave the 2018 Acura TLX 5 stars overall in its New Car Assessment Program tests — 5-star frontal crash, 5-star side crash, 5-star rollover. WhichTrim also grades it C (76/100) on its recall record, which is a different question from crash protection.

What is the fuel economy of the 2018 Acura TLX?

Across the 5 EPA-rated configurations of the 2018 Acura TLX, the best EPA combined figure is 27 mpg. Figures are the EPA's own, per configuration, and every one is listed above.

What are the dimensions of the 2018 Acura TLX?

Transport Canada measured it at 190.6 in long, 72.8 in wide (body, without mirrors), 57.1 in tall, on a 109.4 in wheelbase. Curb weight: 3,519–3,748 lb depending on configuration. Those are its measurements of the North American versions; every figure is in the table above.

What do owners complain about on the 2018 Acura TLX?

Owners have filed 96 complaints with NHTSA about the 2018 Acura TLX, most often about engine, electrical system, fuel/propulsion system. Of those, 3 involved a crash, 1 a fire, 2 reported injuries. Complaints are unverified owner reports, so treat the pattern as a signal and the individual report as an anecdote.

How clean is the 2018 Acura TLX?

The EPA smog rating for the 2018 Acura TLX is 3 out of 10. That score covers tailpipe pollutants other than greenhouse gases, and it only compares vehicles within the same model year. It is certified for all fifty states, so it can be registered new anywhere in the U.S. Its configurations were certified to different standards — California LEV-III ULEV125, Federal Tier 3 Bin 125 — which the table above lists per configuration.

Are there service bulletins for the 2018 Acura TLX?

The manufacturer has filed 92 service bulletins and related communications with NHTSA for the 2018 Acura TLX, most often covering engine, fuel/propulsion system, electrical system. The most recent is dated 2026-09-25. A bulletin is not a recall: it is the repair procedure a manufacturer sends its dealers for a condition it knows about, and the work is not automatically paid for. It is still worth knowing — if the symptom matches, quoting the bulletin number at the service desk can save a diagnosis. The document numbers and summaries are listed above.

How does the 2018 Acura TLX do at state inspection?

In New York’s inspection lanes over the 12 months to Oct 10, 2026, the 2018 Acura TLX failed the emissions check on 7.1% of first inspections — higher than the 3.0% for every 2018 model-year vehicle inspected; and the safety inspection on 1.1% (every 2018 vehicle: 1.9%). The figures are New York State DMV’s own inspection records, first inspections only, and the table above sets each one against every vehicle of the same model year.

What we hold, and what an empty row means

Paid vehicle-history reports will not tell you the difference between “nothing happened to this car” and “we never received that record” — both of the big two say as much in their own help pages. Most of what is on this page comes from complete federal registers, so we can tell you which is which, row by row.

DataHeldSourceWhat it covers — or what empty means
Fuel economy & configurations5 configurationsEPA certification recordsEvery configuration the EPA certified for sale, with its own test figures.
Emission certificates5 configurationsEPA emission certificatesSmog rating, standard and the sales area that decides where the car can be sold new.
Recalls4NHTSA recall campaignsA complete federal register: every campaign covering this model year, with severity and advisory flags.
Owner complaints96NHTSA complaint databaseAlso complete, but unverified: these are reports owners filed, not findings. Counts scale with how many were sold.
Crash ratings2 testedNHTSA NCAPOnly the configurations NHTSA chose to crash-test, which is never all of them.
Service bulletins92NHTSA manufacturer communicationsEverything the manufacturer told its dealers about a defect or malfunction, short of a recall.
Investigations3NHTSA Office of Defects InvestigationOpen and closed defect investigations, with the agency's own narrative.
Driver-assist crash reportsnoneNHTSA Standing General Order 2021-01No report has been filed. Only entities named in the order report, and only crashes they hear of — so this is also what an unequipped car, or a manufacturer without telematics, looks like.
Specifications filed with NHTSA13 fieldsNHTSA vPIC, decoded from VIN patternsWhat the manufacturer filed under the federal VIN rule — a configuration, not the full trim ladder.
Measured dimensions7 fieldsTransport Canada, Canadian Vehicle SpecificationsLength, width, height, wheelbase, track and curb weight, measured on the North American versions.
Trims, pricing & equipmentnoneManufacturer press kitWe have not transcribed a press kit for this model year yet. This is our gap, not the manufacturer's — the one row here where an empty cell means we are behind.

Rebuilt nightly; this page was generated 2026-10-26. Every figure above is traceable to the source named beside it, and the JSON for this page carries the same values with their identifiers.

Where to go next

pages beside this one
Other years The 2025 TLX The TLX model year with the cleanest record on file — grade B, 2 recalls.Recalls Every Acura recall on file All campaigns filed against Acura vehicles, newest first, with the manufacturer's own number.Recall Watch Watch this TLX by VIN Give it the VIN and you hear the night a campaign is filed — from $29 a month for a lot, free for ten.

Sources & method

Safety Signal starts every model-year at 100 and subtracts points per open NHTSA recall campaign by severity: critical 15 (fire risk, park-outside or do-not-drive advisories), high 8 (brakes, steering, airbags, loss of drive power, structure, battery), moderate 6, minor 3 (software, labels, lighting fixed by an update). The most serious recall counts in full and each further one counts 85% of the one before, because a vehicle sold in millions is recalled more often than a rare one without being more dangerous — and because a flat subtraction bottomed the scale out, scoring a vehicle with 22 recalls within a point of one with six. A ≥ 90, B ≥ 80, C ≥ 70, D ≥ 60, otherwise F. Read it as what it counts: recall campaigns on the federal record, weighted by severity. The damping reduces the sales bias by roughly 40% but does not remove it: like our complaint counts, this is not normalized by how many were sold, so a best-seller still scores somewhat worse than an obscure model with the same real risk. NHTSA crash ratings, do-not-drive and park-outside advisories, and the crash, fire, injury and death counts in owner complaints are reported separately on every page and never blended into the letter — a vehicle can hold five stars and a poor letter at once, and where that happens we say so rather than leave you to notice. Because the scale subtracts from a clean sheet, a model year too new to have been recalled, complained about or bulletined scores full marks on an empty record; we label those grades provisional rather than present them as earned.

EPA figures come from fueleconomy.gov vehicle records. Recalls, complaints, investigations and crash ratings come from NHTSA's public flat files, refreshed nightly.

JSON for this page · API