2020 Acura Tl Safety Report

The 2020 Acura TLX presents a mixed safety picture, primarily due to significant engine and fuel system concerns despite a lack of formal safety ratings from NHTSA. With 59 total complaints, including 4 crashes and 1 injury, the vehicle has not been rated for overall, frontal, side, or rollover safety by NHTSA. The most prominent issues revolve around the engine, accounting for 8 complaints, and the fuel system, with 7 complaints. Several complaints detail severe engine failures, including rod bearing issues, engine knocking, and complete loss of power, sometimes at highway speeds, posing substantial safety risks. There are also reports of the vehicle entering 'limp mode' or shutting down unexpectedly, which could lead to dangerous situations. Beyond powertrain issues, there's a notable pattern of problems with advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS) and electrical components. Multiple complaints describe malfunctions of the front camera, which controls critical features like cruise control, lane assist, and automatic braking. These failures, often occurring at relatively low mileages (e.g., 61,000 miles), compromise active safety features designed to prevent collisions. Electrical system issues are also mentioned, sometimes leading to multiple dash warning lights and affecting vehicle operation. Despite these concerning complaint patterns, the 2020 Acura TLX has no open recalls listed by NHTSA, which is unusual given the severity and frequency of some reported issues, particularly those related to engine components and fuel delivery. Some complaints mention a 'recall performed on 2020 Acura TLX 3.5 for rod bearing recall' and 'NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V751000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING)' and '23V858000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE)', indicating that while no recalls are currently listed as active for the 2020 TLX in the provided data, there have been past or related campaigns. The lack of current official recalls for such critical components, coupled with the absence of NHTSA crash test ratings, makes it difficult to fully assess the vehicle's structural and passive safety performance. The high number of engine and fuel system complaints, some referencing previous recall attempts or parts unavailability, suggests ongoing reliability and safety challenges.

Our recommendation: Given the significant and recurring engine, fuel system, and ADAS issues, potential buyers should proceed with caution and thoroughly investigate the vehicle's service history, especially for powertrain and ADAS repairs, and confirm any outstanding recall completions.