"Customer letter - Under certain circumstances, after coming to a stop and the idle stop feature engages, the vehicle may not automatically restart. To ensure your confidence in your vehicle. Acura is extending the warranty coverage for starter and starter relays and a valve adjustment related to this condition to 10 years from the original date of purchase with no mileage limitation. This warranty extension provides coverage for the original owner and any subsequent owners. No action is required on your part unless you experience a problem."
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2019 Acura TLX electrical problems
moderate Owners of the 2019 Acura TLX have filed 12 NHTSA complaints about the electrical at roughly $850 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See electrical across all vehicles →
Complaints
12
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$850
| Model year | electrical complaints |
|---|---|
| 2015 TLX | 43 |
| 2016 TLX | 21 |
| 2017 TLX | 4 |
| 2018 TLX | 16 |
| 2019 TLX (this page) | 12 |
| 2020 TLX | 8 |
| 2021 TLX | 5 |
When does it fail?
Of the 12 electrical complaints filed for the 2019 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
No new NHTSA electrical complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 6 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering electrical 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.
"Customer 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. In addition, to ensure your confidence in your vehicle, Acura is extending the warranty coverage for valve adjustment and starter replacement related to this condition to 10 years from the original date of purchase with no mileage limitation. This warranty extension provides coverage for the original owner and any subsequent owners. No action is required on your part unless you experience a problem."
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗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 ↗Service bulletin - Under certain circumstances, after coming to a stop and the idle stop feature engages, the vehicle may not automatically restart. Typically, the customer can immediately restart the vehicle by selecting Park and pushing the ENGINE START/STOP button.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Tech line summary article - Clients are experiencing multiple warning lights coming on with DTC C1600-94 (Precision All Wheel Steer System Unexpected Operation). You need to do an all DTC check. If you can duplicate and related codes are present, follow the appropriate troubleshooting. If you cannot duplicate the contention after clearing the DTC then follow up with the client and document the driving conditions needed to replicate the complaint.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners report 12 distinct electrical failures on the 2019 TLX. The front collision-avoidance sensors trigger repeated false warnings when stopped, especially in wet weather, forcing driver eyes off the road—multiple dealer visits and sensor replacements have not resolved it. The infotainment system (navigation, climate, radio) cycles itself off and on while driving or parked, disabling the backup camera and climate controls without warning. Engine stalling at idle is widespread and dangerous: the auto start/stop system fails to restart, leaving drivers stuck at traffic lights with unresponsive transmissions; dealers acknowledge this as a recall issue but claim no remedy yet exists. Battery drain persists across multiple replacements. Some owners face a mysterious no-start with flickering lights; others report sudden emissions and parking brake warnings appearing together. Backup cameras suffer moisture intrusion, fogging the lens. One owner experienced sudden acceleration failure, stalling, and loss of power at 2,000 miles with warning lights everywhere—dealers never reproduced it after a dozen visits. Another had the vehicle shut itself off 30–60 seconds after reversing. Across these reports, dealers either cannot diagnose the problem, offer no fix, or fail to resolve it after multiple attempts.
Same Acura TLX electrical reports on nearby years: 2016 · 2018
Failure modes owners describe
Front collision warning sensor malfunction
Front sensor (left and center) triggering erroneous collision warnings repeatedly when vehicle is stationary or transitioning from stop to motion, particularly in rain. Dealer attempts including sensor readjustment and replacement, plus full front-end disassembly, have failed to resolve the issue.
When: Present at delivery; persisted across 3+ dealer visits
Symptoms owners cite: Collision warning alerts fire repeatedly when stopped; Alerts continue when accelerating from full stop for several seconds; Alerts restart when returning to full stop; Pattern intensifies in wet conditions; Creates dangerous driver distraction
Repairs/costs cited: Left front sensor readjusted at visit 1; replaced at visit 2; entire front end removed and reassembled at visit 3 — front center sensor alerts persist
Unexplained acceleration and power loss with warning lights
Vehicle failed to accelerate despite depressed pedal, multiple warning lights illuminated, backup camera enabled on its own, vehicle stalled and lost motive power. Not reproduced by dealers or manufacturer electrical technician across multiple inspection attempts.
When: Approximately 2,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Failure to accelerate when pedal depressed; Multiple unknown warning lights illuminated; Backup camera enabled independently; Vehicle stalled; Loss of motive power
Repairs/costs cited: Failure not duplicated by dealer or independent mechanic; not diagnosed or repaired
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer notified; electrical technician inspection conducted but failure not reproduced
Infotainment system shutdown and dashboard display cycling
Navigation, climate, phone, and radio functions cycle down and restart repeatedly while driving or parked. Prevents use of backup camera and climate controls during operation, creating significant distraction.
When: September 2019 at 5,000 miles; November 10, 2019
Symptoms owners cite: Display boards for navigation and temperature controls cycle down on their own; Phone and radio cycling on and off repeatedly; Occurs in both drive and park; Prevents backup camera functionality; Prevents climate control adjustment
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle kept at dealership for over a week; no definitive diagnosis provided
Battery drain failure
Vehicle experiences persistent battery drainage, preventing start. Battery replaced twice at first dealer without resolution; second dealer unable to determine cause. Owner replaced battery a third time.
When: Approximately 6,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle fails to start; Requires towing; Battery drains repeatedly
Repairs/costs cited: Battery replaced twice; third replacement by owner; root cause not identified
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer indicated assistance available after diagnosis; vehicle not diagnosed
Engine stalling and no-start condition related to auto start/stop
Engine stalls during idle or at traffic lights; auto start/stop system fails to restart vehicle. Transmission becomes unresponsive when attempting to accelerate after stall. Part of recall but no remedy currently available from dealer.
When: Not specified
Symptoms owners cite: Engine stalls at idle; Auto start/stop fails to restart engine; Failure to start when attempting to depart; Transmission unresponsive after stall; Risk of rear-end collision
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer indicates no remedy available; described as part of recall
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Recall exists but no remedy available; dealer instructing owners to defer service
Backup camera moisture intrusion and image degradation
Moisture or liquid enters backup camera housing, severely degrading image clarity and making reversing difficult. Dealer wants over $1,000 to replace after bumper repair.
When: Not specified
Symptoms owners cite: Moisture inside camera lens; Poor image visibility during backup; Significantly reduced camera functionality
Repairs/costs cited: Replacement quoted at over $1,000
Engine shutdown and transmission neutral engagement during idle
Engine shuts off while idling at traffic lights, transmission shifts to neutral automatically, vehicle stalls. Fuel pressure warning and battery light illuminate during shutdown events.
When: Not specified
Symptoms owners cite: Engine shuts off while idling at traffic light; Transmission shifts to neutral automatically; Vehicle stalls; Fuel pressure warning light illuminates; Battery warning light illuminates
Electronic parking brake and emissions system warnings
Electronic parking brake and emissions system problem alarms trigger without clear cause. Multiple owners report sudden appearance of these combined warnings; some indicate pattern of repeated or constant alarming.
When: Reported August 26, 2025 and ongoing
Symptoms owners cite: Electronic parking brake problem alarm; Emissions system problem alarm; Warnings appear suddenly; Warnings persist or recur constantly
No-start condition with dashboard light flickering
Vehicle fails to start; dashboard lights flicker when ignition attempted. Vehicle was parked prior to no-start occurrence.
When: Not specified
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle will not start; Dashboard lights flicker
Unexpected engine shutdown during idle after reversing
Engine shuts off on its own after backing in and remaining stationary for 30 to 60 seconds.
When: Not specified
Symptoms owners cite: Engine shuts off after backing in; Occurs during idle after reversing; Happens within 30 to 60 seconds of stopping
Synthesized from 12 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 2 most recent
Acura tlx, 2019, fuel system failed, shifted gears on its own and I had to immediately die to safety concerns. This issue first appears in september 2019, with 5k miles. Ok november 10,2019, tlx display boards for (navigation and temperature adjustments, use of phone and radio would cycle down on it own. This happened repeatedly while the car is in drive or park. It causes a huge distraction…
My car was parked came out to start it and the car wouldn't start just keeps flickering the lights
Had electrical trouble with your 2019 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 electrical problem on the 2019 Acura TLX?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 12 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $850 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the electrical typically fail?
Based on the 12 complaints filed, electrical issues most often appear around 7,470 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 $850 for electrical 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 electrical?
No active recalls currently cover electrical 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/2019/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.