Suspension and electrical system issues among the top complaints received by the NHTSA from vehicle owners
With several luxury brands to choose from, owners have trouble deciding what car to drive, but the 2020 Acura TLX continues to be a favorite. With “performance at its core,” this car has built up a lot of expectations. However, it is disappointing for drivers when they deal with the faulty suspension and glitchy electrical system.
Click on other model year to view more problems: 2019 2021
Behind the wheel of a premium vehicle, the road ahead should be nothing short of enjoyable and peaceful. Yet, customers find themselves in store for a rough ride with the TLX.
One Edmunds review says, “I have a TLX AWD 3.5L 2020 vehicle with 225 miles. The car has an odd rumbling/vibration in the steering wheel and sometimes throughout the entire vehicle. The issue occurs at all speeds, regardless of road conditions. The only consistent issue seems to be changing velocity…changing speed or direction. This trait is extremely annoying and if a smooth ride is important to you, this is not the car you’re looking for. I have asked the dealer and he assures me this is normal. If Acura considers this normal automotive engineering they are in the wrong business.”
Sadly, the entire vehicle meets sub-par standards. NHTSA Campaign Number 21V215000 states that over 628,000 vehicles have a low-pressure fuel pump that fails prematurely. If this occurs while driving, the engine can stall and possibly cause an accident. It’s difficult to see where the “performance” factor comes into play if the car itself can’t even move. Maybe it’s time for the automaker to strip this car back down to its core to fix the problem.
| Complaint Category | Number of Complaints |
|---|---|
| Engine | |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | |
| Electrical System | |
| Fuel/propulsion System | |
| Unknown Or Other | |
| Power Train | |
| Service Brakes | |
| Air Bags | |
| Forward Collision Avoidance: Automatic Emergency Braking |
In 2020, there were plenty of advanced electronic features that were put in new cars. However, the Acura failed on every front to provide technology that actually works the way it should.
Another Edmunds review says, “The 2020 sound system is a DISGRACE. Although the specs say that it is an ELS system is sounds like the cheapest sound system you can buy. I took it to the dealer who determined that THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH IT, although the manager himself acknowledged that the system sounds awful, tinny, scratchy, etc. I wrote a letter to corporate ACURA, hoping that they intervene.”
Acura isn’t ashamed to discuss problems, even issuing Service Bulletin #B20-013, which states that the navigation display starts to distort after using it for an hour or more. Plus, the time to travel and distance stops updating or the icon is shown in the wrong location. Additionally, the touch screen can stop displaying. If a customer thinks they will find their way behind the wheel of the TLX, they are sadly mistaken. Ultimately, Acura models were previously included in a class action lawsuit that claimed they tried to hide electrical defects to the air bags and seatbelt control units. Are these problems still occurring or has Acura suddenly decided to become transparent? Looking at what is being posted to the internet, it would be safe to assume that troubles are still lurking below the surface – maybe even down to the core.
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Brian Jones spent more than 30 years working as an ASE Certified Master Tech and Parts Specialist at multiple dealerships. Brian has become an authority in the industry, traveling across the country to consult for car dealerships and contributing his expertise as a writer for several major automotive publications. In his spare time, Brian enjoys working on pickup trucks, muscle cars, Jeeps and anything related to motorsports.
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