You put the car in park and it rolls away. Very dangerous! *tr
2015 Acura TLX powertrain problems
moderate 150 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $2,500 · see powertrain across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
150
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$2,500
5crashes
When does it fail?
Of the 150 powertrain complaints filed for the 2015 Acura TLX, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 0-25,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
Of the 8 model years of Acura TLX we track for powertrain problems, this one carries the most owner complaints on file — 150.
Powertrain accounts for 44% of every owner complaint on file for this vehicle — the dominant problem area across 11 categories tracked.
The failure pattern owners describe
Buyer takeaway: The 2015 TLX transmission is a known hazard—hesitation, jerky shifts, and sudden loss of power create life-threatening situations at highway speeds and during traffic maneuvers. Multiple TSBs and software updates consistently fail to resolve problems, and dealers dismiss symptoms as "normal" despite some replacements occurring under warranty. Avoid this model or budget heavily for potential transmission replacement and accept ongoing safety risk.
The 2015 Acura TLX powertrain complaints center on transmission behavior that created real driving hazards. Owners describe a 9-speed ZF automatic (V6 models) and 8-speed dual-clutch automatic (4-cylinder models) both prone to hesitation, jerky shifting, and unexpected loss of power.
The most dangerous pattern: transmission dropping into neutral while driving, usually at highway speeds (45–80 mph), with complete loss of engine braking and power delivery. Owners report the car either recovers after a restart or the shift lever shows Drive while the transmission is actually in Neutral. One owner lost power at 60 mph in three lanes of highway traffic; another nearly merged into oncoming traffic when the car went neutral on a turn.
Hard, unpredictable shifting dominates every speed range. Cold starts trigger violent lurches between 1–2–3 gears. Stop-and-go traffic sees rough downshifts that feel like rear-end collisions—hard enough to cause back pain and near-miss accidents at intersections. Acceleration hesitation lasting 1–3 seconds occurs randomly: driver presses gas and nothing happens, then the car surges forward without warning, nearly causing rear-end collisions during merges and highway passing.
Some owners report the transmission shifting to neutral during deceleration or near-stop maneuvers, leaving them stranded mid-intersection. Parking itself became unpredictable: vehicles lurched forward from Park (one car damaged drywall in a garage), and one owner's car rolled forward under remote start from a standstill.
Acura issued TSBs and software updates (TCM, PCM, idle relearn), but owners report problems persisting or worsening after the update. Some dealers replaced the transmission outright; the replacement often exhibited identical behavior. Multiple owners encountered dealer responses that the transmission operates "within spec" or "as designed," even when the dealer's own test drive confirmed the rough shifts.
Same Acura TLX powertrain reports on nearby years: 2016 · 2017 · 2018
Failure modes owners describe
Unexpected Neutral Engagement While Driving
Transmission shifts from Drive to Neutral without driver input while vehicle is in motion, usually at highway speeds (45–80 mph), causing complete loss of engine power and braking.
When: Random, primarily reported at highway speeds; one incident at 60 mph, another at 75–80 mph, third at 45 mph uphill
Symptoms owners cite: Sudden loss of motive power and acceleration; Engine revs but vehicle coasts; Transmission display shows Neutral or yellow N indicator; Loss of engine braking; Inability to shift back into Drive without restart; Multiple warning lights illuminate (transmission, emissions, electronic parking brake, collision systems)
Codes mentioned: P0716, B2A60-97, Transmission warning (ZF 9-speed), Emissions system warning, Electronic parking brake error
Repairs/costs cited: PGM-FI, TCM, and PCM software updates performed; transmission software reprogrammed; battery disconnect/reconnect provided temporary resolution; vehicle eventually required tow truck; recall 16V-640000 applied to some VINs but not others
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Recall 16V-640000 (Power Train) issued for select VINs; some owners' VINs excluded from recall despite identical failure; extended warranty provided for ATF warmer-related transmission failure
Hard, Jerky Shifting (1–2–3 Gears, Especially Cold Start)
Transmission shifts violently between gears 1, 2, and 3, particularly when engine is cold or in stop-and-go traffic, creating abrupt vehicle motion resembling a whiplash or rear-end collision.
When: Cold start conditions; first 2–3 complete stops after startup; when engine warms, some report improvement; occurs almost every time in stop-and-go traffic
Symptoms owners cite: Hard lurch or jerk when shifting from 1st to 2nd gear; Rough shift from 2nd to 3rd gear (most commonly cited); Car feels like it has been rear-ended; Abrupt forward motion despite smooth braking; Shudder or clunk felt throughout vehicle; In some cases, whiplash-like motion causing lower back pain; Shifts improve after engine warms up
Codes mentioned: 03214 (defect code cited by one owner), No codes generated in many cases despite dealer acknowledgment of rough shifts
Repairs/costs cited: TCM software updates (Operation Numbers 1255A2 and 1255C9); TSB 15-021 (April 23, 2015) issued to address jerky shifts in low-speed traffic; TSB 16-012 addressed hard shifts and unpredictable downshifts but did not cover early VIN ranges; transmission fluid change attempted; transmission replacement performed on some vehicles; rough shifts persisted after all repairs
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: TSB 15-021 and TSB 16-012; software updates; dealers consistently told owners this is 'normal' or 'the way you drive it'; one dealer noted the problem during test drive but still claimed it was within spec; Acura stated early VINs not covered by TSB 16-012; one Acura rep told owner this transmission behavior is intentional to meet fuel economy standards
Acceleration Hesitation (1–3 Second Delay)
Transmission fails to respond to accelerator pedal, leaving engine at idle or rev-limited for 1–3 seconds before suddenly surging forward, creating serious safety risk during merges, passing, and intersection navigation.
When: Random onset; reported at all speeds; most dangerous during merges, highway passing, and left turns from stopped position; one incident at 10 mph turning corner
Symptoms owners cite: Engine revs to 3500–5000 RPM but vehicle does not accelerate; Tachometer drops to ~900 RPM (idle); After 1–3 second delay, transmission engages abruptly with a 'jerk' or 'lunge'; Unpredictable—sometimes no delay, sometimes long delay; Unable to control vehicle during maneuvers; Nearly caused multiple accidents: rear-end collisions, oncoming traffic during merges, intersection near-misses; Occurs when turning low-speed corners and accelerating, or downshifting on highway to pass
Codes mentioned: No codes generated in most cases despite video evidence provided to dealers, TSB 16-012 addressed this issue but did not cover early VIN ranges
Repairs/costs cited: TSB 16-012 fluid/software update attempted; many dealers have no instructions or TSBs available; dealers claim 'no bad codes' and dismiss as driver error; transmission replaced on one vehicle but shudder persisted post-replacement
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: TSB 16-012 issued but limited to certain VINs; dealers initially denied any defect; Acura Corporate acknowledged 'known problem' but stated no solutions available; Acura eventually took case to dealership level
Unpredictable Downshift Response and Downhill Surging
Transmission fails to downshift when needed (especially when braking), or downshifts abruptly, causing unexpected acceleration and loss of vehicle control on downgrades.
When: When braking to stop; on downhill grades; when stepping on gas during slow turns
Symptoms owners cite: Car does not downshift when braking, requiring sudden brake pressure or shifting to Neutral to slow down; Downshift occurs after vehicle is at complete stop, causing lurch forward; On downgrades, downshift causes car to surge forward ('freefall feel') before settling; Engine momentarily appears to be in Neutral and does not respond to accelerator; Transmission slips out of gear feeling, then searches for correct gear
Codes mentioned: No codes reported in most cases
Repairs/costs cited: TSB 16-012 addressed delayed downshift issue for certain VINs; one owner reported TSB 16-012 did not cover their early VIN; no repairs successful
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: TSB 16-012; dealers state transmission is 'within spec'
Park Engagement Failure and Unintended Rolling
Vehicle rolls or lurches forward from Park position when stationary, either after driver releases brake or during remote start, despite transmission display showing Park engaged.
When: Immediately after releasing brake in Park; during remote start with unattended vehicle; when putting car in Park after driving
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle lurches forward 2–6 inches to 2 feet despite Park indicator lit; Caused property damage (driveway damage, garage drywall damage); Occurs at low mileage (under 4,000 miles reported); Vehicle remains running in idle during unintended roll; One incident involved car rolling back and then forward under remote start power; Shift-by-wire system provides no mechanical fallback
Codes mentioned: No codes generated; DPSM (Acura's diagnostic system) inspection found 'no problems detected'
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer inspection over 17 days found no defect; dealer suggested keeping foot on brake until engine fully stops and engaging parking brake; no software or hardware repairs applied
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Recall 16V-640000 addressed transmission power loss and roll-away; similar issue to 2015 recall but this new complaint was not included; dealer unaware of prior recall until owner provided information
Transmission Software Updates Causing or Worsening Symptoms
TCM (transmission control module) software updates—intended to fix rough shifting—result in same or worse transmission behavior after repair.
When: Immediately after software update installation; some improvement noted for a few days before symptoms return
Symptoms owners cite: Transmission becomes worse after update: jerks increase or shift to new issues; Rough 2–3 shift persists or worsens; Jerky shifting on every downshift appears after update that was supposed to fix 2–3 shift; Transmission 'learns' new bad behavior over several days post-update; RPMs fluctuate erratically while parked in Neutral (goes to 2–3 RPM); Hesitation and hard shifts return within days or weeks
Codes mentioned: No new codes generated after update
Repairs/costs cited: PGM-FI, TCM, and PCM Idle Learn updates performed but did not resolve hesitation or hard shifts; owner initially told to pay for software update, then covered under warranty; multiple software update attempts (Operations 1255A2, 1255C9) all unsuccessful; later transmission replacement requested but symptoms persisted
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Multiple TSBs issued with software solutions; Acura performed updates but without success documented in narratives
Transmission Stuck in Park (Shift-by-Wire Failure)
Shift-by-wire system prevents driver from disengaging Park, trapping vehicle and requiring specialized equipment to recover; caused by battery acid leaking onto transmission wiring harness.
When: Vehicle would not start or shift from Park; multiple warning lights activated across unrelated systems
Symptoms owners cite: Computer refuses to shift from Park despite button input; Multiple unrelated warnings displayed: Adaptive Cruise Control, Stop Driving When Safe, Electronic Parking Brake, Emissions, VSA, Collision Mitigation, Road Departure Mitigation, Blind Spot Info System; Vehicle required special equipment and two-day wait for roadside service to be moved onto tow truck; No mechanical override available in shift-by-wire system
Codes mentioned: Multiple unrelated system warnings
Repairs/costs cited: Transmission wiring harness replaced under warranty after several days; battery corrosion damage identified as root cause
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Warranty repair performed; no TSB or recall referenced
Fuel Pump Malfunction and Highway Stalling
Fuel pump failure causes engine stall at highway speeds with sudden loss of power, creating collision risk; stall persists after recall repair in 2022.
When: Random highway stalling at highway speeds; after 2022 recall repair attempt
Symptoms owners cite: Engine stalls while driving at highway speed; Loss of power steering and braking assist (hydraulic); Intermittent hesitation, loss of power, and engine shutdown before stall; Warning indicators and fault codes present intermittently; Stall recurs multiple times after recall repair; same failure symptoms return
Codes mentioned: Warning indicators and fault codes reported; cleared by dealership without repair
Repairs/costs cited: Fuel pump safety recall performed in 2022; diagnostic trouble codes cleared; fuel pump not repaired or replaced despite failure; vehicle stalled again under similar driving conditions
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Fuel pump safety recall (2022); dealership inspection after recall did not perform corrective repair
Loss of Power/Limp Mode at Highway Speeds
Vehicle enters limp mode and shifts to Neutral while driving, preventing acceleration and forcing immediate exit from highway; occurs randomly with no warning and cannot be replicated by dealer.
When: Random; two incidents in 2020, one in 2024, all at highway speeds
Symptoms owners cite: Sudden loss of acceleration capability; Transmission shifts into Neutral without input; Vehicle will not allow shift to other gears; Cannot accelerate at all; Restarting vehicle temporarily restores function; No warning lights or alerts prior to failure; Failure cannot be replicated during dealer test drives
Codes mentioned: No codes available; dealers could not replicate issue
Repairs/costs cited: Mechanics unable to find any issue; software reprogrammed without resolving underlying problem; vehicle towed to dealer multiple times with same result
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealers classified as software issue and performed reprogramming; no hardware repairs attempted
Engine Failure (Post-Recall)
Engine replacement under Recall 23V75100 (rod bearing failure) itself failed after 43,000 miles, with new engine seizing at highway speed.
When: Original engine failed at 130,810 miles; replacement engine failed at 173,722 miles (43,092 miles post-replacement)
Symptoms owners cite: Sudden loss of power at 70 mph in construction zone; Engine seized; unable to continue driving; Metal shavings and bearing metal in oil pan; No warning lamps or alerts before failure; All warning lights illuminated after loss of power
Codes mentioned: No pre-failure warnings
Repairs/costs cited: Long block replacement under Recall 23V75100 by Southern Acura of Newport News, VA; replacement engine seized after 43,092 miles; independent service (American Pride - Fort Eustis) confirmed bearing failure
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Recall 23V75100 performed; replacement engine failure not yet addressed in narrative
Synthesized from 150 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 6 most recent
Went in for a recall notice I received for my 2015 Acura tlx specifying a possible faulty transmission in car - went to go have it looked at. Determined by tech that car was not experiencing exact issue in recall but car should have a TCM software update since it was jerking at the 2-3 shift. When I received the car back it was 10 times worse! Still jerking but now was jumping on every downshift…
I have had the vehicle into the dealer 3 times (feb 2018, july 2018 and nov 18) for the same problem. Each time the vehicle stalls and must bet into park and restarted when at a stop sign, stop light or stopped for road construction on the highway. The automatic idle causes the car to stall. In order to get it going must shift into park and restart. It is very frightening because it happens…
Low speed acceleration - shifting from 1st or 2nd or 3rd (not sure) gear to next gear is not smooth. It is a fairly hard shift. The rest of the shifting is smooth 4-9. Also automatic downshifting creates an odd speed up for a second to what seems like a rev match to try to make it smooth, but causes problems on slippery roads. Also early warning brake warning signal is very intermittent and…
The fuel delivery system, specifically the fuel pump, has malfunctioned. This vehicle is subject to a fuel pump safety recall, which was reportedly repaired in 2022; however, the vehicle continues to experience the same failure symptoms and is available for inspection upon request. The vehicle has stalled multiple times at highway speeds, resulting in sudden loss of power while driving and…
Tl* the contact owns a 2015 Acura tlx. While driving 20 MPH, the vehicle jerked while accelerating from first into second gear without warning. The contact took the vehicle to joe rizza Acura (8150 w 159th st, orland park, il 60462, (708) 403-7770) where it was repaired per NHTSA campaign number: 16v640000 (power train). After the recall repair was performed, the failure continued. The vehicle…
Had powertrain trouble with your 2015 Acura TLX?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the powertrain problem on the 2015 Acura TLX?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 150 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $2,500 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the powertrain typically fail?
Across the 85 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most powertrain failures cluster between 4,245 and 53,000 miles, with the median around 20,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 4,245; a quarter make it past 53,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $2,500 for powertrain repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to powertrain?
No active recalls currently cover powertrain issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2015/Acura/TLX.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.