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2021 Acura Tlx Type S Problems and Recalls

Owners filed 32 complaints with NHTSA about the 2021 Acura Tlx Type S, most often about the transmission (91% of complaints). It is the most complained-about Tlx Type S model year since 2000 and has 1 recall.

Most common 2021 Acura Tlx Type S problems

1. Transmission

   29 complaints · 91%

   Parts named most often: automatic transmission.

   Transfer case and drivetrain failure from spline stripping. No hard driving performed yet parts still failed. Car went from AWD to FWD without codes. Car failed to gain traction when going up hill and nearly rolled back into another car.

2. Engine

   4 complaints · 13%

Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.

2021 Acura Tlx Type S recalls

1. Electrical: software

   NHTSA 25V031000 · January 23, 2025 · 294,612 vehicles

   Risk: An engine stall or loss of power can increase the risk of a crash or injury.

   Fix: Dealers will reprogram the fi-ecu software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed march 17, 2025. Owners may contact honda's customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are el1 and al0.

   Full defect summary

   Honda (american honda motor co.) is recalling certain 2022-2025 acura mdx type-s, 2023-2025 honda pilot, and 2021-2025 acura tlx type-s vehicles. A software error in the fuel injection electronic control unit (fi-ecu) may cause an engine stall or a loss of power.

Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which recalls are still open on your car.

NHTSA defect investigations

• All wheel drive allegation

  DP26001 · opened March 6, 2026 · closed August 4, 2026
  Summary

  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.â failure of these splines prevents the transfer of drive power to the rear axle, making the vehicle front wheel drive only.â the petition further alleges that this failure reduces vehicle directional control. Most traditional AWD systems utilize mechanical and passive measures. These systems

Questions about the 2021 Acura Tlx Type S

What are the most common problems with the 2021 Acura Tlx Type S?

By NHTSA owner complaints: transmission (29 complaints); engine (4 complaints).

How many recalls does the 2021 Acura Tlx Type S have?

1 recall listed by NHTSA, the latest from January 23, 2025 (electrical). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.

Is the 2021 a bad year for the Acura Tlx Type S?

It is the most complained-about Tlx Type S model year since 2000, with 32 complaints. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so popular years collect more of them, and the newest years have had less time to.

Other Acura Tlx Type S years

• 2021

Acura Tlx Type S problems by year