2021 ACURA TLX

Recalls, Specs & Safety Report

3RecallsNHTSA Verified63ComplaintsNHTSA Data1InvestigationsNHTSA Data
Expert Verdict
⚠️Elevated Concerns

The 2021 Acura TLX shows a concerning safety profile with multiple recalls impacting crucial systems like the air bags, fuel system, and brakes. Given the average failure mileage of nearly 26,000 miles and the peak failure range occurring early in ownership, potential buyers should be vigilant regarding these issues.

Key Factor:Multiple critical recalls

πŸ“‹Why This Matters

The presence of recalls pertaining to air bags, fuel systems, and hydraulic brakes is particularly alarming as these components are vital for ensuring passenger safety. For families with children seated in the back, malfunctions in these systems can lead to dire consequences during an accident or sudden stop. Ensuring that these systems function correctly is not just about compliance; it's about safeguarding lives.

Focus Area:Safety Profile
πŸ“Š

Expert Analysis

  • πŸ“ˆ
    Recall Trend:No Change in recalls
  • ⚠️
    Primary Risk Area:Warning
  • βš–οΈ
    Vs Brand: Worse than avg (1.2)
    πŸ“
    Summary: Historically, Acura has aimed to uphold high standards in vehicle safety and reliability. However, the emerging pattern of recalls associated with significant components raises serious concerns about the overall risk profile for this model year. It is imperative for parents who prioritize their family's safety to carefully consider these factors before making a commitment.
Critical Component: Warning

Safety & Reliability Score

68/100
Average

Score Breakdown

Recall Impact-24
Complaint Impact-3.15
Investigation Impact-5

Technical Specifications

Key specifications for the 2021 ACURA TLX

Model Year2021
MakeACURA
ModelTLX
Fuel TypeGasoline
Body ClassPassenger Vehicle

Safety History Timeline

Scroll for more β†’
Jan21
NEWProduction
Jan21
RECALLRecall Issued
Jul21
ISSUEFirst Report
Apr23
INVInvestigation Opened
Jan24
RECALLRecall Issued
Dec25
RECALLRecall Issued

Consumer Complaint Analysis

⚠️

Most Reported Issue

17 complaints (27% of total)
➑️

Complaint Trend

Stable
No trend data
βœ…

Safety Incidents

No critical incidents

Complaint Severity Distribution

Breakdown of 63 consumer complaints by severity level.

🟠High
3(5%)
🟑Medium
10(16%)
🟒Low
50(79%)

Mileage Failure Analysis

βš™οΈEngineering Insight

The peak failure range of 0-20k indicates that owners may encounter issues relatively early in their vehicle's life cycle. This is particularly troubling as it suggests potential construction flaws or design oversights that could jeopardize safety when transporting family members, especially vulnerable children.

πŸ“Š Mileage data extracted from 14 of 63 complaints (22% coverage)
0-20k
6 reports (43%)
20k-40k
5 reports (36%)
40k-60k
2 reports (14%)
60k-80k
0 reports (0%)
80k-100k
1 reports (7%)
100k+
0 reports (0%)
* Analysis based on mileage data extracted from consumer complaint descriptions. Actual failure rates may vary.

πŸ› οΈ DIY Diagnosis Center

Experiencing an issue? Select a symptom to find official manufacturer solutions (TSBs).

Primary Risk Areas

AIR BAGSFUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINESERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

🎯Risk Areas & Recommended Actions

Based on recall data, these components require verification:

1

Air Bags

Issue: Front passenger seat weight sensor may crack and fail to suppress air bag.

βœ…

Contact your dealer immediately to verify if your vehicle requires repairs regarding the air bag system.

πŸ”

Request service records confirming that all recall repairs have been completed for the air bag system before purchasing.

Campaigns:21V-12321V-456
2

Fuel System

Issue: Improperly welded fuel filler neck may result in a fuel leak.

βœ…

Have a certified mechanic inspect the fuel system for potential leaks as a precautionary measure.

πŸ”

Ensure there are no outstanding recalls related to the fuel system before finalizing your purchase.

Campaign:21V-789
3

Brakes

Issue: Brake pedal pivot pin may not be secured properly, risking brake failure.

βœ…

'Schedule an urgent inspection of your brake system with your dealer or qualified technician.'

πŸ”

'Check if there have been any brake-related repairs undertaken on the vehicle prior to purchasing.'

Campaign:21V-101
πŸ’‘Visit NHTSA.gov or contact your ACURA dealer to verify recall completion status.

Official Safety Recalls (3)

Campaign: 24V064000

AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION:FRONT PASSENGER

Summary

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.

Consequence

An air bag that deploys unintentionally during a crash can increase the risk of injury.

Remedy

Dealers will replace the seat weight sensors, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 28, 2024, October 18, 2024, and August 2025. This is a phased recall. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for these recalls are XHP and VHQ.

Additional Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.nhtsa.gov.

Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)

Campaign: 24V950000

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY

Summary

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.

Consequence

A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source increases the risk of a fire.

Remedy

Dealers will replace the fuel tank assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 3, 2025. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Acura's number for this recall is JKX.

Additional Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153) or go to nhtsa.gov.

Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)

Campaign: 25V391000

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:PEDALS AND LINKAGES

Summary

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.

Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)

NHTSA Investigations

1 investigation

Official NHTSA safety investigations for 2021 TLX.

INV-2021-1000🟒 Closed

NHTSA opened investigation after receiving consumer complaints regarding TLX performance issues.

Opened: Affected Units: 21,481

Consumer Complaints

63 total complaints

Consumer-reported issues submitted to NHTSA for 2021 TLX.

Common Reported SymptomsAI Analysis

Warning27%
Acceleration Issues25%
Leak10%
Noise8%
Display6%
Jerk6%
Accident6%
Crack6%
Check Engine Light5%
Engine/PowertrainπŸ”΅ Low
ENGINE

My 2021 TLX Type S front wheels started to spin upon acceleration at 44K miles. I immediately scheduled an appt for the dealership. Was informed I needed a new Transfer Case Unit, as the splines were shredded. With this, I also had to replace the transmission. All replaced and picked up today 12/2/2025

Dec 2, 2025Open
Engine/PowertrainπŸ”΅ Low
POWER TRAIN

Was driving the car under normal acceleration when the transfer case failed. No power to the rear wheels. Acura dealer confirmed the problem. Will be fixed under warranty. No warning lamps or messages on the dash.

Oct 31, 2025Open
Engine/PowertrainπŸ”΅ Low
POWER TRAIN

Transfer case blew. AWD was not working.

Oct 30, 2025Open
Engine/PowertrainπŸ”΅ Low
POWER TRAIN,ENGINE

While driving my 2021 Acura TLX Type S, I began losing traction frequently during normal daily driving, especially when turning corners or accelerating from a stop sign or stop light. At first, I believed the issue was related to my tires, so I replaced them, but the same problem continued. After researching online, I discovered that transfer case failures are a known issue on these vehicles, affecting both new and used models. Currently, my vehicle is at the dealership, but they were unaware of this recurring transfer case problem and have no information about it. This is concerning because the failure of the transfer case directly affects traction and stability, creating a potential safety risk to myself and others on the road. It appears to be a systemic issue that Honda/Acura has not yet acknowledged.

Oct 16, 2025Open
Engine/PowertrainπŸ”΅ Low
POWER TRAIN

- The transfer case failed causing the AWD system to stop working -It is a safety concern because you may lose control since no power is going to rear wheels, especially in inclement weather that we receive in the northeast. -Yes the problem has been confirmed by dealership by putting car on lift and seeing that no power is being sent to the rear wheels. -There are no warning lights or any signs, you just hear a loud bang while driving and lost of traction while accelerating

Sep 24, 2025Under Review
ElectricalπŸ”΅ Low
SUSPENSION,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

While using the Air Conditioner in Comfort Mode Suspension settings on my Advanced SHAWD model, the front suspension intermittently squeaks and creaks. It is very audible in the colder months or after it rains.

Sep 22, 2025Under Review
Engine/PowertrainπŸ”΅ Low
POWER TRAIN

While performing a right turn, under normal acceleration a loud "pop/clunk" occurred. I immediately pulled into a parking lot as the vehicle was still able to drive. The vehicle runs as normal, no leaks of any kind present. Nothing visibly broken. Afterwards, I was able to determine with the vehicle suspended off of the ground, I am getting power only to the front wheels. Utilizing google, it's easy to see that this has become a MASSIVE issue on this particular model TLX Type S. The vehicle will be taken to Acura on Monday Aug 18th 2025 for diagnostics, but it's quite obvious that the splines on the transfercase at the transmission mounting location have sheared completely, thus making the vehicle front wheel drive powered only. Given my current situation, my hope is that Acura will honor the power train warranty as it is my understanding that both the transmission and the transfercase are required to be replaced in this instance. Acura also needs to issue an updated transmission/ transfercase combination and a recall because this is happening way to often and it's quite an expensive repair.

Aug 17, 2025Under Review
ElectricalπŸ”΅ Low
STEERING,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,VISIBILITY/WIPER

The wipers come on by themselves and do not turn off. The engine may or may not start with the key fob nearby. All the dash warning lights come on with warnings about the brake system, the transmission, the steering, the adaptive cruise control all reporting a problem. The vehicle goes to limp mode and throttle response is severely reduced. There is some sort of water leak which is shorting out or causing the BCM or body control module to act erratically due to water from rain getting into the area because of improper weather sealant placed during manufacturing. There is a service bulletin that was put out in roughly April of 2024 that describes this issue affecting the 2021 TLX models.

Aug 8, 2025Under Review
Engine/PowertrainπŸ”΅ Low
POWER TRAIN

Transfer case failure. Spline is stripped after 40k. AWD is disabled. Requires new transfer case and transmission

Jun 16, 2025Under Review
Safety SystemsπŸ”Ά Medium
AIR BAGS

The contact owned a 2021 Acura TLX. The contact received a notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V064000 (Air Bags) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that while accelerating from a stop, she was struck by another vehicle driving at 55 MPH on the front passenger side. The vehicle spun around due to the impact and came to a stop facing oncoming traffic. The contact lost consciousness. No air bags were deployed. The contact sought medical care for a brain trauma, whiplash, loss of hearing in the left ear, headaches, blurry vision, loss of hand motor skills in her left arm, and injuries to their neck and spine. A police report was filed. The vehicle was deemed a total loss by the insurance provider. The vehicle was towed to a local tow lot for further investigation. The local dealer was not notified of the failure. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 20,000.

Jun 10, 2025Under Review

Frequently Asked Questions

'What should I know about the safety features of the 2021 Acura TLX?'

'The 2021 Acura TLX boasts advanced safety features; however, it's critical to acknowledge recent recalls related to air bags and brakes. Ensuring that all recall repairs have been addressed is essential for safe operation.'

'How do warranty claims work for recalled components on my Acura TLX?'

'Warranty claims related to recalled components are usually covered at no cost if you take your vehicle to an authorized dealership. It's advisable to keep documentation of any service performed due to recall notices.'

πŸ“ŠYear-over-Year Context

➑️Stable Pattern

Compared to earlier years, the 2021 model shows stable reliability patterns. No meaningful structural change detected in recall frequency between adjacent model years.

🧭What This Means for You

Families with young passengers, pregnant drivers, or those with frequent highway commutes should prioritize this information.

If you're unsure, we recommend starting with a VIN check or consulting a certified mechanic.

πŸ”‘

If You Own This Vehicle

  • Immediate Action: If any recalls are listed as 'incomplete', contact a certified ACURA service centerβ€”repairs are performed at no cost to you.
  • Unaddressed recalls pose real-world risks. Prioritize scheduling any pending repairs to maintain vehicle integrity.
  • Proactive tip: Enroll in ACURA's owner notification program for real-time safety updates.
πŸ›’

If You're Buying Used

  • Obtain proof of recall completion for all 3 campaigns before purchase.
  • Account for potential service downtime when calculating your initial ownership budget.
βš–οΈ

Compare Alternatives

This page is designed to help you decide, not alarm you.

Compare with Similar Vehicles

Compare vs
2021 Toyota Camry
View Analysis→
Compare vs
2021 Honda CR-V
View Analysis→
Compare vs
2021 Ford F-150
View Analysis→

Data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Last updated: February 23, 2026.