2019 Acura Tl Safety Report

The 2019 Acura TLX (note: the provided data refers to TLX, not TL) presents a mixed safety picture based on NHTSA complaint data, despite having no official NHTSA safety ratings available (Overall, Frontal, Side, Rollover are all N/A). With 87 total complaints, including 7 crashes, 1 fire, and 3 injuries, there are significant concerns, particularly around engine and fuel system reliability. A notable pattern involves engine failures, specifically connecting rod bearing issues, which are mentioned repeatedly in complaints, often leading to engine replacement. This issue is so prevalent that it is tied to NHTSA Recall 23V-751 (Engine and Engine Cooling), even though the provided data states 0 recalls for the vehicle, the complaints clearly reference this recall and its impact. Beyond engine issues, sudden unintended acceleration is a serious concern, with one complaint detailing a vehicle accelerating through a garage wall at low speed, resulting in injuries. Fuel system problems, including high-pressure fuel pump failures and issues related to NHTSA Recall 23V-858000 (Fuel System, Gasoline), also appear frequently, sometimes causing stalling or non-starting conditions. Electrical system malfunctions, such as internal failure of the front-facing camera affecting auto braking and lane assist, and electronic parking brake/emissions system warnings, contribute to the vehicle's safety concerns. The high number of complaints related to critical components like the engine (15 complaints) and fuel system (8 complaints for FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE, 6 for FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM) indicates potential systemic issues that buyers should be aware of. The absence of official NHTSA crash test ratings makes it difficult to assess the vehicle's passive safety performance in a collision. However, the active safety concerns, particularly those related to engine reliability, sudden acceleration, and fuel system integrity, are significant. The repeated mentions of engine replacements, even after recall repairs, suggest that the underlying issues may be persistent or complex to resolve. The 7 reported crashes and 3 injuries underscore the real-world impact of these mechanical and system failures.

Our recommendation: Given the prevalent and severe engine and fuel system issues, including multiple recalls and reports of engine replacements, exercise extreme caution. Thoroughly investigate service history for engine and fuel pump repairs, and consider an extended warranty if purchasing this vehicle.