Power Train Problems of Acura TLX - part 1

Transmission splines went out and transfer case has also failed which is only sending power to front wheels.

See all problems of the 2021 Acura TLX 🔎.

While making a right turn from a stop the car made a bang sound followed by grinding upon acceleration. I took my 23 Tlx type s to a local dunn tire and asked them to put it on the lift. They raised all tires off the ground, started the car, and accelerated. Only the front wheels spun. This is the exact scenario lots of consumers have reported with this model when the transfer case splines break off the shaft. The car is driving without error lights but feels different while corning. It's very concerning that the car has 41k miles on it and is well taken care of. I drive it in winter so awd is a huge reason I choose it. I have an appointment with my local Acura dealership but its over a week away. I asked to have a tech contact me back to ensure driving it more won't case future issues but they never followed up.

See all problems of the 2023 Acura TLX 🔎.

Went to the Acura dealer for an oil change. Was told I have a leak in the transmission and transfer case and that both will need to be replaced.

See all problems of the 2022 Acura TLX 🔎.

I discovered an active fluid leak from the transmission/transfer case area of my 2024 Acura Tlx type s. Fluid was visibly running down the drivetrain case, collecting around the mating area between the transmission and transfer case, and accumulating on the underbody splash shield. I bought the vehicle to an Acura dealer for inspection and they stated that this appears to be a known issue. They suspected the leak may be from the seal between the transmission and transfer case. However, instead of repairing or replacing the suspected seal or the conditions of the splines, I was advised to continue driving the vehicle for approximately 3,000 additional miles to see if more fluid leakage develops. The vehicle is available for inspection upon request. This creates a safety concern because continued fluid loss from the transmission and transfer case could lead to drive drain damage, abnormal shifting, transfer case failure, sudden loss of propulsion, or possible loss of vehicle control while driving. Leaking fluid could also drip onto the roadway or nearby hot components. There were no warning lights or dashboards messages before I discovered the leak from my driveway.

See all problems of the 2024 Acura TLX 🔎.

Car randomly goes into neutral and stays in neutral not allowing gear change.

See all problems of the 2015 Acura TLX 🔎.

I am submitting this complaint in reference to NHTSA defect petition dp26001, opened March 6, 2026, investigating loss of all-wheel drive capability in 2021-2023 Acura Tlx vehicles due to interfacing spline failure between the transmission and the power takeoff unit (transfer case). I am the owner of a 2021 Acura Tlx sh-awd with 55,300 miles. I purchased this vehicle on June 2nd, 2026. I have not yet experienced a failure, but I am registering as an affected vehicle owner given the known defect pattern documented in dp26001 and consistent with the 137,329-vehicle population identified in the NHTSA investigation. The failure mode as described in dp26001 involves stripping of splines at the transmission-to-ptu junction, resulting in sudden and complete loss of rear-wheel drive without warning lights or dashboard indication. Documented repair costs for this failure range from $5,000 to $19,000 depending on extent of damage. I am registering this complaint to be included in the documented owner population should the petition escalate to a formal defect investigation or recall. I request notification of any recall action, extended warranty coverage determination, or technical service bulletin issued for this failure pattern.

The transfer case spines have stripped and I no longer have all wheel drive only front wheel drive. This is a huge safety hazard for me .

Transfer case failure. I was driving my 2021 Acura Tlx type s when I suddenly heard a loud pop from underneath the car. Right after that, the sh awd system stopped working and the car was only driving in front wheel drive. There were no warning lights or signs before it happened, due to it being a mechanical failure and not an electrical one because the car does not have sensors for the transfer case. After getting it checked out, I was told the splines between the transfer case and transmission were stripped. I’ve also seen that a lot of other 2021 to 2023 Tlx type s owners have had the same problem. It’s concerning because the awd system failed out of nowhere, especially since the car depends on it for traction and stability. The car now needs a new transfer case and possibly more drivetrain repairs. (proof shown in pdf down below, only front wheels spinning).

I drive a 2021 Acura Tlx 2. 0 l turbo 4 cylinder. I was driving to work on [xxx] on a busy street in boyle heights, CA. When all of sudden I get a warning indicator “engine temp is high do not drive”. Pulled over immediately. Good thing I was in the far right lane and was able to pull over and not stall or get rear ended by another vehicle behind me. There were no warning, symptoms and indicators of the engine's overheating. My vehicle has been in great condition prior with no major or minor issues with my vehicle. We took it to two dealerships for diagnostics. The head gasket blown, empty coolant reservoir, cracked engine block, and other parts of the engine were affected. What if I was on a highway and the car stalled. I could’ve been seriously injured or seriously injured someone else on the road. Acura corporate is aware of our situation and refuse to own their engine safety defects. They want us to pay out of pocket to repair our vehicle. My car is 5 years old there is no way out of nowhere my vehicle should have this type of engine issues. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

Took my car for an oil change and found that the transfer case is leaking its fluid. Known to lead to tranfer case failure.

2021 Acura Tlx type s sh-awd. Total mechanical failure of ptu/transfer case spline interface at 29,800 miles within factory powertrain warranty. Vehicle operated silently in fwd-only with no warning lights, no fault codes, and no dashboard alerts — consistent with all complaints cited in NHTSA defect petition dp26001 (opened March 6, 2026, NHTSA #11712885). Failure confirmed by dealer via lift test: propeller shaft and rear wheels stationary while fronts spun. During actuator test, check awd system light illuminated for the first time — because the lift removed road-induced wheel rotation that had masked the failure from the ecu throughout normal driving. This is the only condition under which this failure mode is electronically detectable. Dealer replaced transmission (remanufactured atr kit) and ptu under warranty. Repair took 38 days. Critical-third ptu revision: replacement ptu installed was part #29000-5yk-070. Known revision history: -050 (original, confirmed failure part) ? 060 (revised ~2022) ? 070 (installed June 2026). The 070 does not appear in any public oem parts database. Acura has now revised this component three times with zero tsbs, zero public disclosure of engineering changes, and no recall. The 070 revision appearing after dp26001 opened in March 2026 suggests a silent root cause fix while avoiding formal recall obligations. Critical-dpsm goodwill clause: Acura required acceptance of "one time goodwill authorized by dpsm" as condition of repair. This was a warranty obligation, not a goodwill gesture. This clause was imposed while dp26001 is under active federal review, before factory warranty expires, with no confirmed root cause fix. If the 070 part fails again, this clause may be used to deny future warranty coverage. Requesting: (1) complaint added to dp26001 record; (2) Acura compelled to disclose engineering changes between part numbers 050, 060, 070; (3) investigation of dpsm goodwill clause as systematic pre-recall liability limiation.

I am reporting a transmission failure in my 2021 Acura Tlx with approximately 84,300miles. While driving under normal conditions, after about 30 minutes on the road, I came to a stop at a red light. When I attempted to accelerate again, the vehicle would not shift out of first gear. The engine would rev, but the transmission failed to upshift. I also experienced a hard and abrupt engagement when shifting the vehicle into reverse. This issue occurred suddenly without warning and made the vehicle unsafe to operate in traffic, as I was unable to accelerate properly or maintain normal driving speed. The vehicle has been regularly serviced at an Acura dealership. At the time of the incident, the transmission fluid had not yet been replaced but had recently been recommended during a scheduled service visit. The vehicle is currently at an Acura dealership where I normally get the car serviced. The dealership has diagnosed the issue as an internal transmission failure and is recommending a transmission replacement.

} I am submitting an update to my previous complaint. In my original complaint, I stated that the vehicle had not received transmission service. After reviewing my records, I confirmed that a transmission fluid service (drain and refill with inspection) was performed at an Acura dealership in July 2024. Despite this maintenance, the transmission still failed at approximately 84,000 miles. I am providing this update to ensure the complaint is accurate.

Was changing the oil on my car and noticed grease running out from between the transfer case and transmission and also fluid build up on the transfer case higher up a little below the driveshaft. The car has 41k miles on it, there should be no leaks. My concern is the transfer case/transmission spline failure issue.

2021 Acura Tlx a-spec sh-awd and my transmission is leaking from the seal between the transmission and the differential. Acura is not sure if they can cover it under warranty because I am slightly past the powertrain warranty even though they had my car about a week ago when it was just barely past that point and no one said anything about the leak on the transmission until I checked with a certified Acura mechanic somewhere else. This is not just some small problem because with fluid leaking and leaving it will eventually damage the transmission and the differential or even just make them completely give out. This can be gears grinding and overheating. It is not just a problem it is also a safety hazard if this starts dripping onto the exhaust pipe or even on the road behind making traction a problem for someone behind. This needs to be under a recall not just warranty with how much I see this happening to these cars this is ridiculous we have to go through this.

I am formally requesting a neutral third-party arbitration review under the magnuson-moss warranty act to compel american Honda motor CO. To provide a permanent mechanical remedy—specifically, the sourcing and installation of a brand-new, redesigned engine assembly (engine #four)— this vehicle frame is now on its third engine block. Car was bought 11/30/2024. At grubbs Acura, fuel pump safety recall that involves flashing/re-calibrating the engine control unit (fi-ecu) software was done. Just a few weeks after new fuel pump, the vehicle displayed sudden stalling symptoms. The engine suffered a terminal, catastrophic internal collapse. The vehicle was towed to grubbs Acura where corporate Honda directed a forced out-of-pocket internal engine teardown. The physical teardown explicitly confirmed a catastrophic connecting rod bearing failure (spun bearing) identical to the structural manufacturing flaws currently under active federal investigation by the NHTSA under preliminary evaluation pe25008 / rq24-025. Corporate Honda subsequently issued a verbal agreement to fully reimburse my out-of-pocket teardown fees. Because a manufacturer will never fund diagnostic labor if evidence of owner fault is present, this corporate reimbursement serves as formal validation that no owner maintenance neglect occurred, and that the engine died exclusively from an inherent component defect. Gunn Acura (san antonio, TX) confirmed with my VIN, that engine #3 was a warranty/dealer-installed replacement unit at 22,000 miles. It failed after less than 40,000 miles of total operation. A professionally manufactured and dealer-installed engine is reasonably expected to last well beyond 40,000 miles. The manufacturer network cannot utilize arbitrary part-ownership rules or uncooperative, fragmented dealer communications. The original factory-installed engine and the dealer-installed replacement engine both suffered identical connecting rod bearing failures.

See all problems of the 2019 Acura TLX 🔎.

I am filing a formal safety complaint regarding the execution of NHTSA recall 24-002 (connecting rod bearing replacement) by an authorized Acura dealership, and a fundamental safety flaw in Acura’s official service bulletin for this recall. My vehicle underwent "repair #1" under this recall, which involved opening the engine block and replacing the rod bearings due to a factory defect that causes metal-on-metal wear. However, upon picking up my vehicle, I discovered the dealership left the old, dirty oil filter attached to the engine. I reviewed Acura’s service bulletin 24-002 and realized the "required materials" list explicitly omits a new oil filter for repair #1. Because dealerships strictly follow this bulletin for warranty reimbursement, they are systematically leaving old filters on engines that just received new bearings. This means old, metal-contaminated oil trapped in the filter is immediately recirculated through the brand-new precision bearings. This procedural flaw directly jeopardizes the integrity of the engine, completely undermining the purpose of the safety recall and putting drivers at risk of sudden engine failure at highway speeds. I have time-stamped video and photographic evidence of my vehicle’s mileage (61,325) and the untouched, original oil filter immediately after returning home from the dealership. Acura corporate was contacted regarding this procedural negligence and failed to provide a resolution. I am requesting the NHTSA investigate Acura's repair procedures for recall 24-002 to prevent further unsafe vehicle modifications.

My vehicle was performing as expected, but there was a smell of burning oil or rubber. When I took the car into the dealership the found that the transmission was slipping and the transfer box was failing. In the video they sent of the initial inspection there is obvious brown sludge leaking from the transmission. I was told that a complete transmission and transfer case was required.

Accelerated and heard a loud noise and felt like I had driven through wood and one got stocked to the whelle. There was a lot of traffic so I was driving slow. The noice I heard was like something was stuck inside the wheel, like it was grinding. Dealer diagnosed a bad transfer case and transmission and they replaced both under warranty.

Complete loss of awd. Car is now only fwd with no warning. Loud thud (transfer case splines being stripped) and then immediate loss of awd.

My vehicle has less then 35000 miles, I was doing a oil change when I noticed that my transfer cases has a slight oil residue from the bottom, which I suppose it’s just gonna get worse overtime, at this mileage I don’t think this is right that’s why I’m submitting this complaint.

Driving towards the gas station, still at lows speeds while I was in the neighborhood so speed limit was 15mph. I can hear and feel the car struggle to move forward, about 2 minutes into the drive a hear a big toon and check engine light is on for about a minute before going away. I filled gas and headed back home and I heard a larger toon but this time all the warning light came up. These are all errors reported by the car at the same time - vehicle stability system - hill start assist problem - addictive cruise control system problem - collision mitigation braking system problem - road departure mitigation system problem - emission system problem - all wheel drive system problem - brake system problem these are all errors that appeared on the Acura app - emission system problem - vehicle stability system - electric parking brake problem - electric power steering problem - adaptive cruise control problem.

I am submitting this complaint regarding a sudden and premature transfer case failure on my 2021 Acura Tlx type s equipped with Acura’s super handling all-wheel drive (sh-awd) system. The failure occurred during normal driving conditions and without prior warning indicators. Based on my experience and numerous similar reports from other owners of this vehicle, this appears to be an ongoing and systemic issue that warrants formal investigation and recall consideration. While accelerating under normal road conditions, I heard a loud and distinct “pop” noise from underneath the vehicle. The sound was abrupt and mechanical in nature, as if an internal drivetrain component had failed. Immediately following the noise, the vehicle’s driving characteristics changed noticeably. Although the car continued to move forward and there were no immediate warning lights illuminated on the dashboard, the drivetrain behavior was clearly altered. After the incident, the vehicle began operating as though the majority of drivetrain load was being directed to the front wheels. The vehicle now feels significantly front-heavy during acceleration and general driving. There is a distinct change in weight transfer and torque delivery that was not present prior to the failure. The balance that is characteristic of a rear-biased sh-awd performance system is no longer present. There were no grinding sounds, fluid leaks, or vibration at the time of failure. There were also no warning messages, check engine lights, awd system warnings, or drivetrain alerts displayed to notify me of any malfunction. The failure occurred suddenly and without notice. I respectfully request that NHTSA open a formal investigation into premature transfer case failures on 2021–2023 Acura Tlx type s vehicles equipped with sh-awd. This issue should be evaluated for recall eligibility or mandated corrective action to ensure driver safety. Thank you for reviewing this complaint.

My Acura was not sending power to the rear wheels. The car was driving as if it was front wheel drive only. I feel that the safety of not knowing your vehicle is not acting as they all-wheel-drive vehicle when it’s supposed to an impact safety because the vehicle would not be able to handle as it was intended to. After inspection from the mechanic shop, the failure was deemed to be the internal lines of the transmission that would connect with the transfer case were stripped. Because of that, there was no power being sensor to the transfer case that will then send power to the rear differential to the rear wheels. There were no warning lights that show that the car is not sending power to the back wheel wheels. The situation that happened at realize that this problem has occurred, was when the front of my vehicle was stuck in snow and the car was unable to get out even when the back wheels were on solid floor.

The transfer case in my Acura Tlx type s failed due to the internal splines stripping at approximately 57,600 miles. I heard a loud bang while attempting to maneuver out of a parking spot that was covered in snow. When this occurred, the transfer case was no longer able to transfer power to the rear wheels, causing the all-wheel-drive system to stop functioning. As a result, the vehicle effectively operated as front-wheel drive only. The most concerning part of this failure is that the vehicle provided no warning whatsoever to the driver. There were no dashboard alerts, drivetrain warnings, awd system warnings, or check engine lights indicating that the awd system had failed. The vehicle continued to operate and display information as if everything was functioning normally. This occurred during the winter in new york while driving in snowy conditions, where the awd system is critical for traction and safety. Because there was no warning that the awd system had failed, I continued driving the vehicle assuming it still had awd capability. On multiple occasions the vehicle became stuck in snow due to the loss of rear-wheel power. A critical drivetrain component such as a transfer case should not fail under normal driving conditions at this mileage. Additionally, a vehicle equipped with awd should provide a clear warning to the driver if the system is no longer functioning. The absence of any warning combined with a sudden loss of awd capability creates a serious safety concern, particularly in winter climates where drivers rely on awd for traction and control. Under the wrong circumstances this type of failure could potentially lead to an accident or serious injury.

This 2021 Acura Tlx type-s has experienced a complete failure of the transfer case after approximately 40,000 miles of use. This unfortunately is a known issue on the online forums for this vehicle in model years 2021-2023. I have a video inspection performed by the local dealership proving this. The only warning is a one-time loud boom when accelerating and a leaking from the transfer case of fluid thereafter. There is no safety issue best I can tell, however the car only performs in front drive mode once the transfer case quits working. The issue is due to weak splines within the transfer case that shear off and thus damage the 10-speed automatic transmission in the process. Acura has a 6 year 70,000 mile warranty, so a complete replacement is covered, however my concern is for whether the new transfer case part # 29000-5yk-060 which replaces the old 29000-5yk-050 part will do the same. This is a very expensive fix into the 5 figures (over $10,000) and really needs to have a recall as there are dozens and dozens of owners online who have experienced this failure.

1. Transfer case-sh-awd failure-> no, it was recently replaced at the dealership at no cost. 2. Failure with the awd system would cause me to be in fwd, only causing failure in steering input, especially in turns. 3. The car was put onto the lift and attempted to spin all 4 wheels, only the front 2 spun. Also, they noticed a seal failure/leak from the transfercase/transmission. 4. Acura technicians recommended the replacement after spotting my concern and pointing out the exact issue 5. No lights or warning since the failure happened I had no idea of how bad the issue was until an Acura technician brought it up. 5(c). I did notice a difference in driving feel I. E jerking in low gear and a leak on the floor, but thought it was just excess oil from oil changes. Confirmed by the tech, it was not when I asked them.

Short description transmission-to-ptu splines, causing awd loss and requiring full transfer case and transmission replacement. Summary this drivetrain failure poses an unreasonable safety risk due to the sudden loss of awd capability, lack of alerts, and resulting instability. My experience is consistent with dozens of documented cases and matches the mechanical fault pattern already under federal review. Given the potential for severe loss of vehicle control, a full investigation and corrective action (including a recall) is necessary. Symptoms sudden awd loss loud bang or grinding only front wheels receiving power no warning lights safety risks loss of directional stability wheel spin under acceleration hazard in inclement weather cost & extent of repairs many cases require complete drivetrain replacement costing $13k–$19k. Prevalence 137k+ vehicles, NHTSA dp26?001 currently open.

Vehicle has been recalled for a speed sensor issue that still persists. Recall repair was not properly executed. Vehicle engine still randomly shuts off while in idle at stoplights and during travel. Engine won’t start at this point.

See all problems of the 2017 Acura TLX 🔎.

While accelerating from 0 to 40 miles per hour, I experienced a loud bang come from the car. Turns out the splines were stripped between my transmission and transfer case. This was due to the drive shaft spinning while in park mode, as well as an opening between the transmission and transfer case that was spooling. My powertrain system was severely compromised; who knows what could've happened if I had kept driving the car in this condition? something was waiting to inevitably fail beyond what had happened. Thankfully, this happened on an empty road close to home, but it could have happened anywhere. There were no warnings, lights, or anything, which was the strangest part. Thankfully, this $10k+ bill was covered under the manufacturer's powertrain warranty, but it seems to be a common issue with many newer Acuras. Acura is well aware of the issue (spline failure) and should issue a recall to correct this design flaw within the powertrain.

Lost power to rear wheels. Awd system failure. I was denied repair at my local dealership as they insisted the car was fine. I told them I had no awd they didn’t believe me. I was then forced to trade my car into them for a massive $$ loss becuase I feared for my safety driving a fwd car in the winter. I don’t know who owns the car now. I actually have a video of it happening. I can send you it if you work with me. Thanks.

Transfer case needs replacing.

Rapid loss of oil from the transfer case, oil was everywhere. Now I have vibration, wooing sound and hard down shifts from a failing transfer case. . The dealership refuse to replace it because they cleaned the area and it did not leak oil again. Probably, because there's no more oil left in it to leak. This is unacceptable.

The awd transfer case failed and require replacement along with the transmission.

While accelerating from a stop, I heard a loud bang from the drivetrain area and initially believed another vehicle had struck the rear of my car. After checking my surroundings, I realized there had been no collision. Immediately after the incident, the vehicle lost power delivery to the rear wheels. The vehicle is designed as an all-wheel-drive performance sedan, and the sudden loss of rear-wheel power significantly changed the way the vehicle handled. The vehicle became effectively front-wheel drive without warning, causing all engine power to be directed through the front wheels. This resulted in reduced traction, altered handling characteristics, and increased front tire wear. No warning lights, messages, or indicators appeared on the dashboard before or at the time of the failure. There were no symptoms that alerted me that a drivetrain failure was about to occur. The vehicle was inspected by an Acura dealership, and Acura confirmed failure of the transfer case and transmission components associated with the all-wheel-drive system. The transfer case and transmission are currently being replaced under the manufacturer's drivetrain warranty. I believe this failure created a safety risk because the vehicle unexpectedly lost its intended all-wheel-drive capability while in operation. Drivers rely on the handling, traction, and stability characteristics of the sh-awd system. The sudden and unannounced loss of rear-wheel power changed the vehicle's behavior and could increase the risk of loss of control, particularly during acceleration, cornering, emergency maneuvers, or operation in poor weather conditions. The failed components are available for inspection through Acura as part of the warranty repair process.