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.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2017 Acura TLX engine problems
severe Owners of the 2017 Acura TLX have filed 24 NHTSA complaints about the engine at roughly $3,100 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See engine across all vehicles →
Complaints
24
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$3,100
| Model year | engine complaints |
|---|---|
| 2015 TLX | 43 |
| 2016 TLX | 32 |
| 2017 TLX (this page) | 24 |
| 2018 TLX | 30 |
| 2019 TLX | 32 |
| 2020 TLX | 18 |
2fires
When does it fail?
Of the 24 engine complaints filed for the 2017 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
Engine accounts for 35% of every owner complaint on file for this vehicle — the dominant problem area across 3 categories tracked.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering engine 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.
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.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Service Bulletin - Drivers may experience a chirping sound coming from the engine area with the engine warmed up due to the high pressure fuel pump is making a chirp.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗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.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Service Bulletin - The engine will not crank on the initial startup attempt after the vehicle has been exposed to precipitation and then freezing temperatures. Water can enter the starter motor. In cold temperatures the water can freeze, preventing the starter motor from cranking the engine.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners of 2017 Acura TLX V6 engines report two major categories of failure: internal engine damage and unexpected stalling.
Engine problems range from loud clanking and knocking at highway speeds to catastrophic internal failure. One owner experienced engine fire while his son was driving; another found a hole in the oil pan from internal breakage that drained all the oil. Manufacturers required engine replacement in at least one case at 210,000 miles. The NHTSA recall 23V751000 addresses rod bearing issues, and while some owners had the bearing replaced under recall, several continued experiencing vibration, hesitation, and knocking. One owner's manufacturer engineer discovered wrist pin play on a piston requiring short block replacement, but the manufacturer refused coverage citing aftermarket components on the vehicle.
Stalling at traffic lights and in stop-and-go traffic appears consistently across multiple complaints, often involving the auto stop/start feature. Owners report the engine stalls when depressing the brake pedal, the dashboard lights up, and restarting is slow or difficult. Dealers have replaced batteries and alternators without resolving the issue. Mechanics in multiple cases could not retrieve fault codes or duplicate the stalling.
A critical secondary issue: recall parts for 23V751000 remain unavailable, with dealers reporting no availability until 2025 or later, leaving owners unable to get their vehicles repaired for months or years after recall notification.
Same Acura TLX engine reports on nearby years: 2015 · 2016 · 2018 · 2019 · 2020
Failure modes owners describe
Rod bearing failure / internal engine damage
Owners report engine knocking, clanking, metal-on-metal noise, and catastrophic internal failure requiring engine replacement. One owner experienced engine fire. Another reported rod bearing replacement under recall (23V751000) followed by continued vibration and hesitation. A third experienced wrist pin play on piston #2 requiring short block replacement, which manufacturer refused to cover citing aftermarket components.
When: Between 10,000 and 210,034 miles; two cases post-recall repair within 5 months
Symptoms owners cite: Loud clanking or knocking noise from engine; Engine vibration abnormal, especially at 70+ mph; Hesitation and loss of motive power; Check engine warning light; Engine fire; Metal debris in oil; Oil drained from vehicle (hole in oil pan from internal failure)
Codes mentioned: Check engine light illuminated
Repairs/costs cited: Engine replacement required in at least one case (~210k miles). Rod bearing replacement under recall 23V751000 in one case; wrist pin play on piston #2 discovered in another, requiring short block replacement (manufacturer refused coverage). One owner cited repair expense following engine fire; another reported hole in oil pan from internal breakage.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Campaign 23V751000 (Engine and Engine Cooling) addresses rod bearing issue. Manufacturer refused short block replacement claim citing aftermarket components on vehicle. One recall repair (rod bearing) did not resolve vibration/hesitation issues.
Stalling during idle or stop-and-go traffic
Multiple owners report unexpected engine stalling while at traffic lights, in stop-and-go traffic, or while idling. Stalling often occurs after depressing brake pedal, particularly with auto stop/start feature engaged. Some cases include difficulty restarting; others restart without issue. Dashboard warning lights reported in some incidents. One owner replaced alternator after initial stall, but vehicle stalled again.
When: Various mileages: 33,000 miles reported in one case; others not specified
Symptoms owners cite: Engine stalls at traffic light or stop-and-go traffic; Stalling when depressing brake pedal; Dashboard warning lights illuminated (multiple unknown lights); Difficulty restarting or slow to restart; Auto stop/start feature fails to restart vehicle; Engine shudders and shakes when shutting off
Repairs/costs cited: One dealer recommended battery replacement; another recommended alternator replacement ($155 labor reported, stalling recurred). Mechanics unable to retrieve fault codes or duplicate failures in some cases. No systematic repair documented.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer made aware in one case but unable to provide root cause. No manufacturer TSB or recall specifically addressing stalling identified in narratives.
Fuel system / fuel odor issue post-recall repair
One owner reported abnormal fuel odor from vehicle after rod bearing repair under recall 23V751000. Dealer diagnosed oil rings on fuel injector had detached. Repaired after approximately five diagnostic visits.
When: Post-recall repair; failure mileage 142,000
Symptoms owners cite: Abnormal fuel odor from vehicle
Repairs/costs cited: Oil rings on fuel injector replaced. Required approximately five dealer visits to diagnose.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer notified; contact referred to NHTSA Hotline. No indication of coverage under recall or warranty.
Unresolved symptoms following recall repair (23V751000)
Owners report continued engine problems after rod bearing replacement under recall 23V751000. One owner experienced abnormal vibration and hesitation; another experienced engine knocking five months post-repair requiring valve adjustment, with wrist pin play later discovered on piston #2.
When: Post-recall repair (within 5 months in one documented case)
Symptoms owners cite: Abnormal engine vibration; Hesitation and power loss; Engine knocking; Warning lights
Repairs/costs cited: Rod bearing confirmed replaced under recall; vehicle not re-diagnosed for continued issues in one case. Valve adjustment performed; short block replacement recommended but refused by manufacturer.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Recall 23V751000 remedy (rod bearing replacement) did not fully resolve engine issues in reported cases. Manufacturer engineer inspection in one case identified wrist pin play and recommended short block replacement but refused coverage citing aftermarket components.
Parts unavailability delays for recall 23V751000
Multiple owners report NHTSA Campaign 23V751000 recall parts unavailable for extended periods, with dealers stating availability not expected until 2025 or later. Owners state manufacturer exceeded reasonable time for recall repair. This is a systemic supply issue rather than a failure mode itself, but directly affects owners' ability to address defects.
When: Notifications received in 2023; parts delays extending into 2025 and beyond
Symptoms owners cite: No failure experienced (parts unavailable, repair cannot be performed)
Repairs/costs cited: Multiple owners report repairs pending parts availability. One dealer advised earliest repair date of March 16, 2027.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Campaign 23V751000 parts distribution disconnect; dealers informed owners of availability delays.
Synthesized from 24 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 8 most recent
On May 26, 2023, I purchased my 2017 Acura TLX from Sterling McCall Acura Houston, TX. On July 16th, my son was driving the Acura TLX and the engine burst into a fire. After the engine fire, I had to replace the entire. On November 20, 2023, after reading an article and contacting American Honda ( [XXX] ) I became aware of a recall on my Acura TLX. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE…
The contact owns a 2017 Acura TLX. The contact stated that the vehicle was previously repaired under NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V751000 (Engine and Engine Cooling); however, the failure occurred five months after the recall repair. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the engine started knocking. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who performed a valve adjustment, but…
Vehicle stalled twice in the past 2 months at the traffic light. No accident occurred but caused traffic. The car has been maintained exceptionally well.
My daughter was driving her car to work. Well in the middle of rush hour traffic the car put itself in neutral and then would not move and all of the lights were displayed on the dashboard as if the car was turned off. The car would not go into gear to move forward. She put the car in park and then shut the engine off. The engine shuttered and the car shook while it turned off. He then tried to…
The contact owns a 2017 Acura TLX. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V751000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts…
[XXX] [XXX] > 4:28 PM (19 minutes ago) to takahiro_hachigo American Honda 1919 Torrance Blvd PO Box 2215 Torrance, CA 90509 - 9870 RE: Request for Financial Compensation Vehicle: 2017 Acura TLX VIN: [XXX] Dear American Honda Executive, I am reaching out as a long-term and loyal Honda customer, having owned multiple Honda vehicles over the past 30 years, including a 1990 Accord, a 2000…
I have been stopped by traffic or stop light when I put my foot on the gas to start up, the car stalls. The whole dashboard is lights up and I have to try several times to get engine started. This is very scary.... I took the car to dealership. After 4 hours at the dealership and $155, my car is stalling again. I am scared I could get hurt in this car!
The contact owns a 2017 Acura TLX. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V751000 (Engine and Engine Cooling); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to start intermittently. The contact stated that while…
Had engine trouble with your 2017 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 engine problem on the 2017 Acura TLX?
It's a meaningful issue. 24 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $3,100.
At what mileage does the engine typically fail?
Based on the 24 complaints filed, engine issues most often appear around 93,048 miles. Some report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 with no symptoms. Maintenance habits matter — vehicles that received timely fluid services and were not regularly overworked tend to last longer.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $3,100 for engine 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 engine?
No active recalls currently cover engine 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/2017/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.