Owners have filed 10 complaints
about the 2022 Acura TLX Type S with NHTSA between 2025 and 2026.
The largest single group is the transmission & drivetrain.
Across this model's run it ranks 3 of 3 worst.
The letter says how bad. This says what kind — whether this year drew
an unusual number of complaints, unusually dangerous
ones, or failures that arrived unusually early.
The dashed ring is 50 — the national norm. Further out is worse.
Complaint volume — 27
Against the median year of the Acura TLX Type S. 50 means typical for this
model; 100 means roughly double.
Severity — 0
0% of these complaints
involved a crash, fire, injury or death, against a national rate of
9.7%.
Early failure — not reported
Too few complaints recorded a mileage to measure this.
How 2022 compares with every other Acura TLX Type S
Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade:
A
B
C
D
F
ungraded
What breaks on a 2022 Acura TLX Type S
Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.
Transmission & Drivetrain
880.0%
Fuel & Propulsion
110.0%
Steering
110.0%
When owners complained
A spike years after the car went on sale usually means a part wearing
out on schedule across the whole fleet — the kind of pattern no single
owner can see from inside their own car.
Feb 2025peak 3Apr 2026
NHTSA investigations into the 2022 Acura TLX Type S
An investigation is the step before a recall: the agency has seen enough
complaints to look into a pattern itself. An open one means it thinks
something may be wrong and nothing has been fixed yet.
DP26001Opened 6 Mar 2026Closed 4 Aug 2026POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
All wheel drive allegation
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) has completed its review of a Petition dated January 9, 2026, requesting an investigation into the loss of the optional all-wheel drive capability in model year (MY) 2021-2023 Acura TLX and MY 2022-2023 Acura MDX vehicles. The Petition alleges failures in the interfacing splines between the front wheel drive transaxle and the rear wheel drive power take off unit. Failure of these splines prevents the transfer of drive power to the rear axle, making the vehicle front wheel drive only. The Petition further alleges that this failure reduces vehicle direct...
The most recent complaints
In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.
Khmelnytskyi, VA
STEERING
Subject: Vehicle Data Submission for Investigation DP26001 To the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI), I am submitting maintenance data for my Acura TLX Type S (VIN: [ВСТАВ ТУТ VIN]) to assist with the ongoing DP26001 investigation regarding the AWD Transfer Case (PTO) splines. The vehicle is a US-specification model currently operated in [XXX] . Maintenance Facts: At 29,000 km (18,000 miles): PTO fluid was changed. Metallic debris was observed in the fluid. At 43,000 km (26,700 miles): PTO fluid was changed again. Silver metallic shavings and "glitter" were clearly present. A magnetic drain plug was installed during this service to capture further debris. Symptoms: The vehicle experiences harsh downshifts and mechanical clunking at low speeds in traffic. I am providing this to ensure the failure rate is accurately tracked globally. Please add this VIN and data to the DP26001 file. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
NHTSA complaint #11729471 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Khmelnytskyi, VA
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Subject: Vehicle Data Submission for Investigation DP26001 To the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI), I am submitting maintenance data for my Acura TLX Type S (VIN: [ВСТАВ ТУТ VIN]) to assist with the ongoing DP26001 investigation regarding the AWD Transfer Case (PTO) splines. The vehicle is a US-specification model currently operated in [XXX] . Maintenance Facts: At 29,000 km (18,000 miles): PTO fluid was changed. Metallic debris was observed in the fluid. At 43,000 km (26,700 miles): PTO fluid was changed again. Silver metallic shavings and "glitter" were clearly present. A magnetic drain plug was installed during this service to capture further debris. Symptoms: The vehicle experiences harsh downshifts and mechanical clunking at low speeds in traffic. I am providing this to ensure the failure rate is accurately tracked globally. Please add this VIN and data to the DP26001 file. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
NHTSA complaint #11729471 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Fort Benning, GA
POWER TRAIN
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.
NHTSA complaint #11728394 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Brooklyn, NY
POWER TRAIN
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.
NHTSA complaint #11723118 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Jacksonville, FL
POWER TRAIN
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.
NHTSA complaint #11722739 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Brooklyn Park, MN
POWER TRAIN
Transmission and transfer case failed. Traction control light flashes when accelerating.
NHTSA complaint #11693166 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Philadelphia, PA
POWER TRAIN
The component that failed or malfunctioned was the transmission and transfer case on my 2022 Acura TLX type S at 45K miles. I was driving the car on the street and the car was shaking and stuttering violently and at certain points it would not move requiring a tow. The problem was confirmed by the dealership to be the transmission. And inspected by the manufacturer (Acura) there were no warning, lights, messages or other symptoms prior to failure. They started appearing around 45,000 miles.
NHTSA complaint #11667007 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Pawtucket, RI
POWER TRAIN
Blown transfer case
NHTSA complaint #11666444 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
East Islip, NY
POWER TRAIN
Went to accelerate and heard LOUD bang. Transfer case shaft snapped internally into transmission. Transfer case AND transmission assembly both replaced under warranty. Will happen again in another 40-50k miles.
NHTSA complaint #11642839 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Cooper City, FL
POWER TRAIN
The vehicles AWD system has prematurely failed as confirmed by the car dealership Acura of Pembroke Pines that I have taken it to. The lack of traction to the rear wheels causes excessive torque steering and constant engaging of the VSA system if the road is even remotely wet and the vehicle is under anything more than mid level acceleration. There are several Acura TLX Type-S trim vehicles that are being reported to have this common issue and Acura / Honda is keeping this quiet and replacing the prematurely failing transmission and transfer cases with what I fear are the same faulty parts instead of properly developing a revised updated part that will properly correct the issue. An AWD system is meant to give the driver confidence on the road and premature failure under slippery road conditions be it rain or snow is putting peoples lives in jeopardy.
NHTSA complaint #11640757 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.