Dealer message - American Honda Motor Co., Inc. (AHM) is investigating certain 2015-2018 TLX 2WDs with a client complaint of Malfunction Indicator Lamp (MIL) on with DTC U129D (Lost Communication with the Precision All Wheel Steer Control Unit) stored. Client may experience limited speed of up to 50mph or the steering wheel not centered. To fully understand the cause of this condition, AHM would like to collect specific parts from the vehicle prior to you attempting a repair of any kind.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2015 Acura TLX steering problems
moderate Owners of the 2015 Acura TLX have filed 14 NHTSA complaints about the steering, typically surfacing around 38,500 miles at roughly $700 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See steering across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
14
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$700
| Model year | steering complaints |
|---|---|
| 2015 TLX (this page) | 14 |
| 2016 TLX | 4 |
| 2018 TLX | 6 |
What stands out
Of the 5 model years of Acura TLX we track for steering problems, this one carries the most owner complaints on file — 14.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering steering on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
Dealer message - American Honda Motor Co., Inc. (AHM) is investigating certain 2015-2018 TLX 2WDs with a client complaint of Malfunction Indicator Lamp (MIL) on with DTC U129D (Lost Communication with the Precision All Wheel Steer Control Unit) stored. Client may experience limited speed of up to 50mph or the steering wheel not centered. To fully understand the cause of this condition, AHM would like to collect specific parts from the vehicle prior to you attempting a repair of any kind.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Dealer message - American Honda Motor Co., Inc. (AHM) is investigating certain 2015-2018 TLX 2WDs with a client complaint of Malfunction Indicator Lamp (MIL) on with DTC U129D (Lost Communication with the Precision All Wheel Steer Control Unit) stored. Client may experience limited speed of up to 50mph or the steering wheel not centered. To fully understand the cause of this condition, AHM would like to collect specific parts from the vehicle prior to you attempting a repair of any kind.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗American Honda (AHM) is investigating certain 2015 TLXs with a customer complaint of brake judder. To fully understand the cause of this condition, AHM would like to collect specific parts from the vehicle prior to you attempting a repair of any kind.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗The high pressure fuel pump area chirps after the engine is warm.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners of 2015 Acura TLX models describe several steering-related failures. The most serious involve cracked steering columns that cause sudden, complete loss of power steering—one owner at 32,000 miles couldn't steer at all after parking in a garage with no prior warning. Acura's dealer refused warranty coverage, claiming physical damage despite no accident history; an independent mechanic assessed the crack as likely developing over time from a manufacturing defect rather than impact. A second owner at 65,000 miles reported the diagnostic code LSAK and found hundreds of similar complaints online, with repair costs quoted at $1,800–$2,000.
Intermittent power steering loss is also common. Owners report steering suddenly stops working at low or highway speeds, requiring them to pull over, shut off the engine, and restart to restore steering—a dangerous situation occurring multiple times over short mileages. Separately, one owner experienced the vehicle veering right without steering response, followed by grinding noises and shaking, happening five times in 8,600 miles.
Rear steering (AHS) actuators show side-to-side play in rear wheels, causing continuous shaking during turns; dealers claim this is normal. Highway vibrations between 65–75 mph occur despite replacing tires, brakes, rims, and hubs, with dealers denying any known issue. Multiple owners report steering wheel must be held at an angle to drive straight, unresolved by wheel alignment service.
Failure modes owners describe
Steering column crack / loss of power steering
Steering column develops cracks that cause loss of power steering function, typically accompanied by warning light illumination. Vehicle becomes difficult or impossible to steer. Owners report cracks appearing without evidence of accident or impact damage.
When: 32,000–65,000 miles; one case at 6,315 miles
Symptoms owners cite: steering stops responding; warning light illumination; difficulty maneuvering steering wheel; impossible to steer
Codes mentioned: LSAK
Repairs/costs cited: $3,000 steering column replacement; steering rack and pinion replacement reported in one case
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Acura refused warranty coverage in one case, claiming physical damage. One owner reported software upgrade performed after second diagnostic at dealer.
Rear steering (AHS) actuator wear / rear axle play
Rear steering actuators show side-to-side play in rear wheels when inspected on lift; dealers claim normal operation. Vehicle shakes during turns, and owners report similar complaints on Acura forums.
When: 40,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: side-to-side play in rear wheels; vehicle shakes during turns or S-curves; continuous shaking
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealer stated normal operation; warranty coverage denied
Intermittent loss of power steering / steering unresponsiveness
Power steering stops working intermittently while driving, requiring vehicle to be pulled over, shifted to park, shut off, and restarted to restore function. Occurs without warning.
When: 8,600 miles (9 months); occurs multiple times in some cases
Symptoms owners cite: power steering stops working; steering wheel does not respond to correction; requires engine restart to restore steering; grinding noise from rear
Steering veer / directional instability
Vehicle veers to the right while driving; steering wheel correction does not respond immediately. After several seconds, grinding noise and shake occur, then car returns to normal operation.
When: 8,600 miles; recurred 5 times in 9 months
Symptoms owners cite: vehicle veers right without driver input; steering wheel correction unresponsive; grinding noise from rear; vehicle shakes; occurs at all speeds and road conditions
Steering feel / alignment issues requiring manual correction
Steering wheel must be held at an angle to drive straight, suggesting alignment or steering geometry issue. Wheel alignment service does not resolve problem.
When: Various mileage
Symptoms owners cite: steering wheel must be held at angle; vehicle pulls or drifts straight; misalignment feeling
Repairs/costs cited: Wheel alignment performed without resolution
Vibration at highway speeds / steering instability
Vehicle vibrates or shakes at highway speeds (65–75 mph), occurring consistently at those speeds. Reported as safety concern. Owners have replaced tires, brakes, and rims without resolution; dealer states vehicle does not apply to known issue.
When: Under 50,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: vibration at 65–75 mph; shaking at highway speeds; occurs every time at speed range
Repairs/costs cited: Tires, brakes, rims, and hub replacements; balancing and road force testing performed without relief
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealer denied known issue and stated no corrective action available
Synthesized from 14 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 0 most recent
Had steering 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 steering problem on the 2015 Acura TLX?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 14 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $700 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the steering typically fail?
Across the 10 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most steering failures cluster between 8,400 and 41,000 miles, with the median around 38,500. A quarter of owners report trouble before 8,400; a quarter make it past 41,000. 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 $700 for steering 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 steering?
No active recalls currently cover steering 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.