Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (battery, alternator, wiring, ignition, instrument cluster, infotainment).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2016 Acura TLX owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2016 Acura TLX. The contact stated that while attempting to register the vehicle, it was discovered that there was a mileage discrepancy. The vehicle was a private sale. At the time of the purchase the mileage was 86,000. At the time of the registration, it was discovered that the mileage was 259,000.
I was driving 70mph on I-75 south and I moved into the left lane to pass a vehicle and when pressed down on the gas my car decelerated and multiple (all) warning lights on the dashboard lit up. The car did not recover from the deceleration and caused the car behind me to slam on their brakes, I had to quickly navigate three lanes of traffic during rush hour to get off of the highway. I called Acura service from the off ramp and they said if I restart my car a few times it should reset and I can proceed home. When I brought my car to Acura they said it was a software update and that they don't perform the software update unless a customer is experiencing issues. I am deeply concerned that this issue has not been marked as a recall or automatic software update during regular service. …
The alarm on my car would intermittently and randomly go off at any time while car was parked and locked. After much research I deduced that it is the Smart Power Control Unit located behind the glove box. The epoxy clear covering on the circuit board is not fully covering the entire board allowing for dendritic growth and random surges. These surges can cause the alarm to go on and off, the head lights to turn on and off, and instrument panels to go haywire. I haven't experienced this issue while driving but it could certainly happen, which would obviously be very dangerous. I did not take it in to a mechanic or dealer to reproduce the problem, however I have confirmed with others with various honda models having the same issue.
Warning lights for Electric Parking Brake Problem and Emissions System Problem simultaneously occurring with no definitive solution. Codes can be cleared by disconnecting battery and reconnecting but warning lights eventually come back on sometimes in a matter or days, weeks or month. There are no other issues that coincide with these warning lights coming on.
The backup camera on the rear simply went blurry one day, it's now impossible to see out the camera. It worked one day then failed the next, This is a safety hazard now. I think these cameras should be required to always function. This is the camera on the trunk. It's unsafe for me to see when back up.
The defect with stalling after auto start continues even after Acura applied a software update. They refuse to complete second part of recall including starter replacement and valve adjustment as indicated on their attached letter. THIS NEGLIGENCE IS A HIGH RISK OF PERSONAL INJURY TO MY FAMILY AND I.
Idle Stop does not restart car & is difficult to restart since car remains in Drive after restart fails. A recall notice was issued, but the software update is not available at any dealers as of June 18, 2022. Product Update required for PGM-FI Software.
From a stopped position, moving forward my vehicle hesitated and decreased in power and the gas pedal did not help moving the vehicle forward. This happened in the middle of the intersection for several seconds 10-15 before the vehicle started moving forward again. From a moving position, I was going around a right-hand slight curve going approximately 45-50 mhp and the vehicle failed to keep power, speed decreased, and then began working again after several scary seconds. The main problem I have is when accelerating, the fuel seems like it is not processed correctly to allow my vehicle to accelerate. This is a dangerous mechanical issue that has happened more than ten times. I have contacted the dealership but they said my VIN was not in the listing of recalls. I am clearly having the same problems as many other Acura TLX owners. …
I saw a mechanic and figured out the problem on the 21st of July. I checked on acuras website and there was a notice that they recalled this car last year with the same exact thing that my car was diagnosed with and my car is malfunctioning and there is nothing they can do about it because my VIN does not have a recall on it even though I have the exact problem of their recall. My car is malfunctioning and I called headquarters client relations and they told me they can do nothing about it and that if I want it fixed then I have to fix it myself. I was driving on a high way when all the lights turned on in my car. My brake system says it failed my transmission light is on, my park brake is flashing, lane assist popping up. I was driving home form lake tahoe on a curvy road with my speed being 40-50. Many cars driving super fast when all of a sudden my car dropped to 20mph. …
Takata recall it was around 7:30 am I was driving my kids to school and I felt like I slightly lost control of my vehicle and like it was slipping somehow. Next thing I know the steering wheel is crooked and almost every warning lights have turned on and I started getting all the warning sounds describing more warinings than I could check on the second page on this incident report. I barely bought my Acura a few months ago so I'm very shocked be having such a scary incident so fast. I thought Acura's were dependable reliable cars that would keep me and more importantly my children safe. I felt so scared for the safety of my children. It was even more upsetting to find that this same situation on the same brand of Acura's has happened before to more than 1 person on youtube! What is Acura waiting for on a recall. You would think they wouldn't want any lawsuits when someone gets hurt. …
Electrical complaints in other TLX years
Frequently asked questions
How common are electrical problems on the 2016 Acura TLX?
NHTSA has 24 complaints about the electrical system of the 2016 Acura TLX, 22% of the model year's 111 complaints. The component named most often is instrument panel › speedometer/odometer (1 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2016 Acura TLX electrical problems?
No. NHTSA lists no electrical system recall for the 2016 Acura TLX, though it has 3 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2016 Acura TLX electrical problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 39,000 miles, and 18% before 25,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.