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2019 Acura TLX engine problems
severe
Owners of the 2019 Acura TLX have filed 32 NHTSA complaints about the engine at roughly $3,100 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of September 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.See engine across all vehicles →
Teeth separation from the timing belt may result in an engine stall, increasing the risk of crash.
Fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the vehicle and replace any affected timing belt free of charge. Vehicles receiving a replacement timing belt will also have the engine inspected and any damaged components will be replaced for free. The recall began June 7, 2019. Honda owners may contact customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for this recall is L4M. Acura owners may contact customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Acura's number for this recall is Z4L.
A damaged engine may run improperly or stall while driving, increasing the risk of a fire, crash, or injury.
Fix: Dealers will inspect and repair, or replace the engine as necessary, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed March 28, 2024. 2016-2017 Acura MDX owner letters were mailed November 1, 2024. 2016-2020 Acura MDX owner letters are expected to be mailed in mid-December 2024. Honda began mailing owner notification letters as of March 18, 2024. 2015-2016 Acura owner letters are expected to be mailed mid-December 2024, 2018 Acura TLX owner letters are expected to be mailed the end of March/early April 2024, 2019 Acura TLX owner letters are expected to be mailed mid-May 2024, 2020 Acura TLX owner letters are expected to be mailed mid-June 2024, and 2016-2020 Acura MDX owner letters are expected to be mailed January 27, 2025. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for these recalls are XG1 and GG0.
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 BulletinB22-009Jul 2025
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.
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.
Service Bulletin - The MIL comes on during vehicle operation due to variations in the purge control solenoid valve spring, the valve wears unevenly and intermittently sticks. This may result in setting DTC P0441 (Evaporative Emission (EVAP) System Purge Flow Malfunction).
Service Bulletin - Due to variations in the purge control solenoid valve spring, the valve wears unevenly and intermittently sticks. This may result in setting DTC P0441 (Evaporative Emission (EVAP) System Purge Flow Malfunction).
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.
Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
The 2019 Acura TLX 3.5L engine has two major failure clusters: engine bearing damage and idle-stop system malfunction. Owners report connecting rod bearing and crankshaft wear starting around 70,000 miles, with symptoms including abnormal ticking, check engine light, loss of power, black smoke, and in one documented case, engine fire one week after a replacement engine was installed. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration opened investigation PE25008 covering this exact defect. Multiple owners say the bearing failure has recurred even after recall repairs were performed.
The idle-stop system frequently fails to restart the engine after automatic shutdown at traffic lights and stop signs, leaving owners stranded for 10–20 seconds or longer. Owners report no warning lights before these events.
Fuel pump module failure also occurs, sometimes following regular fuel pump replacement during bearing recall work. In one case, Acura denied warranty coverage for a high-pressure fuel pump failure that followed a factory fuel pump replacement, claiming the failure wasn't covered even though the owner linked it to their repair work.
Critically, recall parts for campaigns 23V751000 (engine) and 23V858000 (fuel system) have been unavailable for 6+ months, preventing owners from getting preventive repairs done. Dealers have placed customers on waiting lists with no timeline for completion.
Same Acura TLX engine reports on nearby years: 2016 · 2017 · 2018 · 2020
Failure modes owners describe
Connecting Rod and Engine Bearing Wear/Seizure
Premature wear or failure of connecting rod bearings or crankshaft, causing engine seizure, running damage, and stalling. One owner reported engine fire one week after a replacement engine was installed. Another reported the same issue recurring after a previous recall repair and again after a second repair attempt.
When: 70,000–100,000 miles; some cases after recall repair completion
Symptoms owners cite: Abnormal ticking or knocking noise from engine; Check engine light illumination; Loss of power or engine shutdown while driving; Black smoke from under hood and rear of vehicle; Vehicle vibration during shutdown; Smoke and fluid leak from engine compartment; Engine fire
Repairs/costs cited: Engine replacement or short-block replacement. One owner reported spending $400 (including deductible) for replacement engine repair. Multiple owners replaced connecting rods, crankshaft, and fuel pump components during recall service.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Campaign 23V751000 (Engine and Engine Cooling); NHTSA PE25008 investigation; multiple owners report recall parts unavailable for extended periods (6+ months documented); dealers conducting recall repairs but some cases show recurrence after repair.
Idle Stop/Start System Failure—No Engine Restart
The automatic idle stop feature leaves the vehicle unable to restart after stopping, stranding owners at traffic lights and stop signs. Owners must manually place the car in Park and operate the start button multiple times to recover.
When: Throughout vehicle life; varies by owner (some instances 4 months apart)
Symptoms owners cite: Engine shuts off automatically at stop light or stop sign; Engine fails to restart when releasing brake after auto-stop; Delay in restart (10–20 seconds documented); Error message: 'Keyless remote not detected' (some cases); No warning lights preceding failure
Codes mentioned:Remote keyless system error code (referenced by some owners)
Repairs/costs cited: Owners report key fob battery replacement and computer software updates via recall service. Dealer service checks have not reproduced or identified root cause in several cases.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Acura service checks conducted; no issues found in diagnostic. Computer update performed in some cases (recall-related).
Fuel Pump Module Failure
Fuel pump module failure causing engine stalling or failure to start. In one case, high-pressure fuel pump failure occurred after regular fuel pump replacement during rod bearing recall work, with Acura asserting the failure was not covered under active recall despite the causal link.
When: Post-repair in some cases; no consistent mileage threshold noted
Symptoms owners cite: Engine will not start; Stalling while driving; Error messages for fuel pump and brake system on dash; Complete loss of engine drive
Codes mentioned:Fuel pump system error codes (referenced in complaint narratives)
Repairs/costs cited: Regular fuel pump and high-pressure fuel pump replacement. One owner reported high-pressure fuel pump failure after recall-service fuel pump replacement and had to pursue independent repair; another noted parts distribution issues.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Campaign 23V858000 (Fuel System, Gasoline); manufacturer notes active recall on high-pressure fuel pump but denies coverage if VIN not included in recall scope; parts unavailable for extended periods (6+ months).
Recall Parts Distribution Delays
Owners receive recall notifications for Campaigns 23V751000 and 23V858000 but parts remain unavailable for 6+ months. Dealers place customers on waiting lists and cannot schedule repairs. Some owners report being denied inspection or told repair will only occur after a failure happens.
When: Post-recall notification; delays exceed 6 months in multiple cases
Symptoms owners cite: No active failure (in most cases); parts unavailable blocks preventive recall service
Repairs/costs cited: None—repairs cannot be scheduled due to parts unavailability.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Campaigns 23V751000 and 23V858000; manufacturer acknowledges extended delay beyond reasonable timeframe; some dealers confirm parts unavailable; one owner reports dealer denying inspection without active failure present; one dealer (Acura) charges inspection fee before recall repair despite recall notification.
Synthesized from 32 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer
allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting
5 most recent
engine
· filed 12/30/2024
There are two outstanding recalls on my vehicle, and I have been unable to get scheduled for these repairs with Motorcars Acura in Bedford, Ohio. I have been told for almost a year, that I was on a waiting list, and that I should continue to call them for availability. I would like to know what type of resolution there will be going forward, if the dealer is unable to perform these repairs in a…
engine
· filed 11/23/2022
The car does not restart after it has turned off during an idle stop. This is part of the start/stop system. The stop/start feature will leave you stranded at stoplights due to a failure to restart the car. To restart, you must put the car in Park mode and hit the start/stop button at least twice to turn it off, then turn on the car. This causes some panic when you get into the situation, as it…
engine
· filed 11/18/2024
The contact owns a 2019 Acura TLX. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V858000 (Fuel System, Gasoline) and 23V751000 (Engine and Engine Cooling); however, the parts to do the recall repairs were unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The…
engine
· filed 11/04/2024
The contact owns a 2019 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…
engine
· filed 10/25/2023
Car stalls when auto idle stop, have to put back in park to start car
Had engine 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 engine problem on the 2019 Acura TLX?
It's a meaningful issue. 32 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?
Mileage data is limited for this issue. Owners report failures across a wide range, suggesting cause is more about driving conditions and maintenance than mileage alone.
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?
Yes — 2 active recall(s) cover engine issues on this vehicle. Recall fixes are always free regardless of mileage or warranty status. Use the VIN decoder at the top of the page to check if your specific vehicle is affected.
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.