Acura TLX VIN Number Check

Run a free NHTSA vPIC decode on an Acura TLX VIN to confirm the model year and engine, then see which of the 14 NHTSA recall campaigns for 2015–2025 cover that year.

VIN prefix19U

Free decode plus the NHTSA recalls for its model year. 17 characters, no I, O or Q.

Acura TLX

About the Acura TLX

Acura has sold the TLX in the US since the 2015 model year, and there have been two generations. The UB1/2/3/4 came first (2015–2020), and the UB5/6/7 took over for 2021–2025. Across those years NHTSA lists 14 vehicle recall campaigns and 937 owner complaints. Complaints pile up on the UB1/2/3/4. Its 2015 and 2016 model years alone account for 452 of them, with owners bringing up engine and cooling most often and the powertrain after that. EPA rates the UB1/2/3/4 at 23–28 mpg combined, while the UB5/6/7 gets 21–25 mpg. A free VIN decode gives you NHTSA vPIC’s record for the car (model year, engine, plant) and the NHTSA recalls for its model year. It won’t show theft, flood or lemon-law history.

US model years2015–2025

GenerationsUB1/2/3/4 · UB5/6/7

NHTSA recall campaigns14

Owner complaints937 at NHTSA

Acura TLX photographed at a US vehicle auction — Auction lot photo, for illustration

Generations

Acura TLX generations

Two generations since the 2015 model year. The UB1/2/3/4 (2015–2020) has both the most owner complaints and the most recall campaigns (10).

2 / 2

UB5/6/7

2021–20252nd generation

Photo: Kevauto, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

201520202025

2021–2025· Generation 2 of 2

UB5/6/7 · 2nd generation

EPA classCompact Cars

EPA combined mpg21–25

NHTSA recalls6

Engines (EPA)

2.0 L 4-cyl (turbo) · 2021–2025
3.0 L 6-cyl (turbo) · 2021–2025

Drive & transmission (EPA)

AWD/4WD, FWD
automatic (2021–2025)

Known issues to check

Powertrain (transmission, driveline) (85)Electrical system (22)Brakes (14)1 high-risk recall campaign

Mentions in 164 NHTSA complaints.

Sample VIN pattern · UB5/6/719UUB7F0?MA······NHTSA vPIC decodes it as a 2021 Acura TLX Type S, built in Marysville, Ohio

Check a TLX VIN

Sources: Wikipedia · EPA · NHTSA · vPIC

NHTSA campaign data

Which TLX model years each recall covers

NHTSA data

NHTSA has 14 campaigns on file for TLX model years 2015–2025, and the 2015 and 2019 show up in the most (6 each). Move the line to your model year to see which apply.

Pick a row

What to ask

Source: NHTSA recall database, vehicle campaigns only; row text is NHTSA’s summary. A listed year does not mean every car is covered, so check the VIN.

Canada rows: Transport Canada recalls database. Transport Canada recalls that match an NHTSA campaign are folded into that row by VinNumber.net; rows with the Canadian flag have no NHTSA match. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada · Transport Canada.

Owner reports · NHTSA complaints

What Acura TLX owners report

Owner summaries + NHTSA data

Between them, the 2015 and 2016 hold 452 of the 937 complaints, or 48%. Tap any bar or generation.

937NHTSA complaints, 2015–2025

36mention a crash

5mention a fire

25injuries reported

Owner complaints by model yearUB5/6/7: 164 complaints · most for the 2021 (102)

Top complaint areas · UB5/6/7

Mentions in 164 complaints, 2021–2025.

Powertrain (transmission, driveline)85

Electrical system22

Brakes14

Forward collision avoidance13

Engine and cooling13

Suspension12

Crashes 3Fires 0Injuries 3

2021–2025 (UB5/6/7)

NHTSA data summary

Powertrain owns this generation. Its 85 mentions are more than twice the next area, electrical system (22). Its first model year, the 2021, drew more complaints than any other (102 of 164).

What TLX owners report across recent generations

Owner summary

2021–2025 (2nd generation)

The 2021 draws most of the complaints, and CarComplaints has few reports. Nearly half of NHTSA owners of the 2021 describe transfer case failures on all wheel drive cars, some with fluid leaks or grinding, and an r/Acura thread gathers owners with the same failures on the TLX and MDX. CarComplaints lists transmission failure, moisture inside the car and a backup camera that works only at times for 2021. Acura ended the TLX after 2025. Recalls cover fuel filler necks on 2021–2023 models that may leak, brake pedal pivot pins on 2021–2025 models and passenger seat weight sensors. [1] [2] [3]

2015–2020 (1st generation)

The 2015 draws by far the most complaints. More than a third of NHTSA owners of the 2015 describe jerky or rough shifting, especially in stop and go traffic, along with hesitation and stalling. CarComplaints lists jerks between gears, jerky shifting in traffic and a steering wheel that locked for 2015, and jerky shifting, ABS failure and transmission failure for 2016. Recalls cover transmission wiring on some 2015 models that may shift to neutral, fuel pumps on 2015–2019 V6 models and connecting rod bearings on some 2015–2020 models that may seize. [4] [5] [6]

What to check before buying

Run the VIN through the NHTSA recall lookup, including the fuel pump and connecting rod bearing recalls on 2015 to 2020 models and the brake pedal recall on newer cars.
On all wheel drive cars, look for fluid at the transfer case and ask for repair records.
On the drive, feel for jerky shifts in slow traffic and listen for grinding.

Sources (6) and method

Sources:

Counts: NHTSA complaints file, records to October 1, 2026, one count per complaint; areas are NHTSA component groups.

Owner summary updated September 25, 2026.

Owner complaints · by model year

TLX complaint breakdown by model year

NHTSA data

Every TLX version is counted together. Tap a year to see its top systems.

937complaints, 2015–2025

36mention a crash

5mention a fire

25injuries reported

Most complaints: 2015 (342), 2016 (110), 2021 (102)

2015 · 342 complaints

Crashes 12 · fires 0 · injuries 9

Power train160

Engine82

Electrical system64

Unknown or other42

Service brakes24

Systems as NHTSA names them; a complaint can list several. Source: NHTSA complaints data, records to October 1, 2026.

EPA fuel economy & emissions

TLX CO₂, smog rating and yearly fuel cost

EPA data

EPA lists 50 TLX versions for model years 2015–2025. The lowest tailpipe CO₂ is 321 g/mi (2017). Pick a model year and powertrain to see each version.

UB1/2/3/42015–2020

23–28 mpg · CO₂ 321–387 g/mi

UB5/6/72021–2025

21–25 mpg · CO₂ 352–421 g/mi

Model year2025

25combined MPG

352CO₂ grams per mile (tailpipe)

$3,300EPA yearly fuel cost

6/10Smog rating

1 = worst · 10 = cleanest

5/10Greenhouse gas rating

California LEV-III SULEV30 · Federal Tier 3 Bin 30Emission standard

Cleanest gas version of 2025: TLX FWD · Auto (S10), 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Turbo — 25 MPG · 352 g/mi

Best (lowest) CO₂ by model year

Gas

Annual fuel cost is EPA’s estimate at its current fuel-price assumptions (15,000 miles a year, 55% city driving), so older years are priced at today’s fuel prices. Smog rating and emission standard can differ by sales area (federal vs. California); both are shown. Source: fueleconomy.gov.

Compare rivals

TLX vs BMW 3 Series vs Mercedes-Benz C-Class

NHTSA + EPA data

Take 2015–2020. NHTSA lists 10 recall campaigns for the TLX, against 28 for the BMW 3 Series and 47 for the Mercedes-Benz C-Class. Pick a range to compare.

Acura TLXUB5/6/7

Model years 2021–2025

NHTSA recall campaigns: 6
NHTSA owner complaints: 164
EPA combined mpg: 21–25
Engines (EPA): 4-cyl 2.0 L · 6-cyl 3.0 L
Also listed: turbo
Drive (EPA): AWD/4WD, FWD
NHTSA crash rating: 5★ overall (2021)

Most-reported complaint areas (NHTSA)

Powertrain (transmission, driveline) 85
Electrical system 22
Brakes 14

BMW 3 Series

Model years 2021–2025

NHTSA recall campaigns: 16
NHTSA owner complaints: 87
EPA combined mpg: 25–31
Engines (EPA): 4-cyl 2.0, 3.0 L · 6-cyl 3.0 L
Also listed: turbo, mild hybrid, plug-in hybrid
Drive (EPA): AWD/4WD, RWD
NHTSA crash rating: 5★ overall (2021)

Most-reported complaint areas (NHTSA)

Electrical system 28
Engine and cooling 25
Powertrain (transmission, driveline) 10

Mercedes-Benz C-Class

Model years 2021–2025

NHTSA recall campaigns: 19
NHTSA owner complaints: 88
EPA combined mpg: 19–30
Engines (EPA): 4-cyl 2.0 L · 6-cyl 3.0 L · 8-cyl 4.0 L
Also listed: turbo, mild hybrid, plug-in hybrid
Drive (EPA): AWD/4WD, RWD
NHTSA crash rating: 5★ overall (2021)

Most-reported complaint areas (NHTSA)

Forward collision avoidance 23
Electrical system 19
Engine and cooling 16

NHTSA recalls (vehicle campaigns for all powertrain versions; equipment and tire campaigns left out), complaints (not sales-adjusted) and 5-Star overall ratings for the latest year rated for all three; EPA mpg, engines and drive. Rivals: same EPA class, picked by VinNumber.net.

Acura TLX VIN number location

Where to find the VIN on a TLX

Tap a spot. Every location should show the same 17 characters.

Silver Acura TLX (second generation) sedan, front three-quarter view, with the VIN locations marked

Photo: Hans Haase, CC BY-SA 3.0, cropped

Illustration: VinNumber.net

Photo: MercurySable99, CC BY-SA 4.0; edited and VIN pins added by VinNumber.net

Locate the TLX's VIN on the plate at the lower driver's side windshield. Door jamb sticker and a trunk lid label near the latch are secondary locations. The 2021-present TLX is a completely new model from prior generations, verify the VIN identifies the correct chassis. TLX Type S performance variants carry a firewall stamp in the engine bay that's absent on base and A-Spec trims. The UB5/6/7 generation starts with the 2021 model year; the VIN’s 10th character (M for 2021) shows which side of that line a car falls on.

Windshield plateRead it through the glass at the base of the driver's side windshield.
Source: 49 CFR 565.13(f) (NHTSA): VIN inside the passenger compartment, readable through the glazing next to the left windshield pillar
Door jamb labelOpen the driver's door: the certification label on the B-pillar lists the VIN.
Source: 49 CFR 567.4 (NHTSA): certification label with VIN at the driver door hinge pillar, latch post or door edge

The title, registration and insurance card show the VIN as well. All locations should match.

FAQ

Common Acura TLX VIN questions

Which Acura TLX model years have the most owner complaints?

The 2015 leads with 342, ahead of the 2016 (110) and 2021 (102). Those first two alone make up 48% of the 937 TLX complaints filed with NHTSA, not adjusted for sales.

How many recalls has the Acura TLX had?

NHTSA’s recall records show 14 vehicle campaigns for model years 2015–2025, leaving out equipment and tire campaigns. By generation, UB1/2/3/4 leads with 10. Then come the UB5/6/7 (6), and a campaign can span two generations.

Which Acura TLX recalls are high risk?

NHTSA’s record names a fire risk in 23V-751 and 24V-950. Each should show as closed on a VIN check.

Which TLX generation am I looking at?

By US model year, the UB1/2/3/4 is 2015–2020 and the UB5/6/7 2021–2025. Read the year off the VIN’s 10th character (M is 2021).

What fuel economy does the Acura TLX get?

It varies. EPA rates the 2021–2025 UB5/6/7 at 21–25 mpg combined, depending on engine and drive, up from 23–28 mpg for the 2015–2020 UB1/2/3/4 (fueleconomy.gov).

How does the Acura TLX compare with the BMW 3 Series and Mercedes-Benz C-Class on recalls?

For 2021–2025 models the TLX has 6 NHTSA recall campaigns. The BMW 3 Series has 16, the Mercedes-Benz C-Class 19. Complaints run 164, 87 and 88 in that order, with no sales adjustment.

What crash rating does the Acura TLX have?

NHTSA’s 5-Star Safety Ratings give the 2025 TLX 5 stars overall. Both rated versions, FWD and AWD, get that score.

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