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2016 Acura Tlx

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2016 Acura Tlx do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 65.

About this comparison →

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

57 reports with mileage · 53 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Engine. Review the 27 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 24 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 15 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

5 crash reports0 fire reports6 injury reports

Electrical System complaints

24 reports
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Mileage unknown · Apr 17, 2021
Electrical SystemUnknown Or Other

I HAVE SOME SERIOUS ISSUES WITH ACURA TLX WITH IDLE STOP FEATURE. MY CAR HAD THE SAME ISSUES LAST YEAR, WHEN THE CAR DIDN'T TURN BACK ON AUTOMATICALLY AFTER THE IDLE STOP FEATURE ACTIVATED. I TOOK MY CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP(ACURA OF FREMONT, CA) AND THEY CAN'T ABLE TO FIGURE OUT THE ROOT CAUSE AND MY CAR BATTERY DIED IN THE MIDDLE…

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I HAVE SOME SERIOUS ISSUES WITH ACURA TLX WITH IDLE STOP FEATURE. MY CAR HAD THE SAME ISSUES LAST YEAR, WHEN THE CAR DIDN'T TURN BACK ON AUTOMATICALLY AFTER THE IDLE STOP FEATURE ACTIVATED. I TOOK MY CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP(ACURA OF FREMONT, CA) AND THEY CAN'T ABLE TO FIGURE OUT THE ROOT CAUSE AND MY CAR BATTERY DIED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. IT TOOK 3 -4 HOURS TO TAKE THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY REPLACED THE BATTERY BUT NOW THIS ISSUE STARTED HAPPENING AGAIN. I CALLED ACURA CUSTOMER SERVICE AND THEY PROVIDED ME THIS CASE NUMBER # [XXX] AND FORWARD THE CASE TO LOCAL DEALERSHIP (ACURA OF FREMONT, CA). I HAVE DROPPED THE CAR AT THE DEALERSHIP BUT THEY ARE NOT VERY HOPEFUL TO FIND OUT THE ROOT CAUSE OF THIS ISSUE. THIS ISSUE IS REALLY A SAFETY RISK AND NOT SURE WHAT YOU ARE PLANNING TO DO TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE. IT'S SEEMS TO BE A KNOWN ISSUE WITH IDLE STOP FEATURE. HTTPS://WWW.TLXFORUMS.COM/THREADS/ENGINE-FAILING-TO-START-AFTER-IDLE-STOP.31809/ I AM HOPEFUL THAT YOU WILL ADDRESS MY CONCERN. PLEASE FEEL TO REACH OUT TO ME AT [XXX]. THANKS INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

NHTSA ODI #11408575

Mileage unknown · Jan 24, 2021
Electrical System

THE TELEMATICS UNIT IN MY 2016 ACURA TLX REMAINS IN THE ON POSITION AND CONTINUES TO ATTEMPT TO CONNECT TO A BLUETOOTH DEVICE WHILE VEHICLE IS OFF. THIS CONTRIBUTES TO BATTERY FAILURE. MANY OWNERS HAVE DISCONNECTED THE DEVICE AS HAVE I , IN ORDER TO KEEP THE BATTERY FROM CONSTANTLY DYING. CAR DIES AFTER ONE FULL DAY OF NOT BEING…

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THE TELEMATICS UNIT IN MY 2016 ACURA TLX REMAINS IN THE ON POSITION AND CONTINUES TO ATTEMPT TO CONNECT TO A BLUETOOTH DEVICE WHILE VEHICLE IS OFF. THIS CONTRIBUTES TO BATTERY FAILURE. MANY OWNERS HAVE DISCONNECTED THE DEVICE AS HAVE I , IN ORDER TO KEEP THE BATTERY FROM CONSTANTLY DYING. CAR DIES AFTER ONE FULL DAY OF NOT BEING STARTED REQUIRING THE BATTERY TO NEED TO BE RECHARGED. ACURA STATED THEY CAN REPLACE TELEMATICS FOR A CHARGE OF $1000 BUT NOT SURE IF THIS WILL CORRECT THE ISSUE.

NHTSA ODI #11389703

Mileage unknown · Nov 10, 2020
Electrical SystemEngine

I TRIED TO START MY CAR AND IT MADE A WEIRD TICKING NOISE AS IF THE BATTERY WAS DEAD. ALL THE LIGHTS ON THE DASHBOARD TURNED ON AND THE CAR KEPT TELLING ME I NEEDED TO TURN OFF SOME SORT OF BRAKE SYSTEM IN ORDER FOR THE CAR TO WORK. I TURNED THE CAR OFF AND TRIED AGAIN, THIS TIME IT WOULD NOT START BUT AUTOMATICALLY TURNED ON TO…

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I TRIED TO START MY CAR AND IT MADE A WEIRD TICKING NOISE AS IF THE BATTERY WAS DEAD. ALL THE LIGHTS ON THE DASHBOARD TURNED ON AND THE CAR KEPT TELLING ME I NEEDED TO TURN OFF SOME SORT OF BRAKE SYSTEM IN ORDER FOR THE CAR TO WORK. I TURNED THE CAR OFF AND TRIED AGAIN, THIS TIME IT WOULD NOT START BUT AUTOMATICALLY TURNED ON TO ACCESSORY MODE. I HAD TO CALL MY CAR INSURANCE TO GIVE THE CAR A JUMP AND IT SEEMED TO DO THE TRICK, HOWEVER, HE NOTED THAT IT WASN'T THE BATTERY AND THAT IT WAS VERY ODD.

NHTSA ODI #11373940

57,000 miles · Jul 28, 2020
Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Vehicle Speed Control

I SAW A MECHANIC AND FIGURED OUT THE PROBLEM ON THE 21ST OF JULY. I CHECKED ON ACURAS WEBSITE AND THERE WAS A NOTICE THAT THEY RECALLED THIS CAR LAST YEAR WITH THE SAME EXACT THING THAT MY CAR WAS DIAGNOSED WITH AND MY CAR IS MALFUNCTIONING AND THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO ABOUT IT BECAUSE MY VIN DOES NOT HAVE A RECALL ON IT EVE…

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I SAW A MECHANIC AND FIGURED OUT THE PROBLEM ON THE 21ST OF JULY. I CHECKED ON ACURAS WEBSITE AND THERE WAS A NOTICE THAT THEY RECALLED THIS CAR LAST YEAR WITH THE SAME EXACT THING THAT MY CAR WAS DIAGNOSED WITH AND MY CAR IS MALFUNCTIONING AND THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO ABOUT IT BECAUSE MY VIN DOES NOT HAVE A RECALL ON IT EVEN THOUGH I HAVE THE EXACT PROBLEM OF THEIR RECALL. MY CAR IS MALFUNCTIONING AND I CALLED HEADQUARTERS CLIENT RELATIONS AND THEY TOLD ME THEY CAN DO NOTHING ABOUT IT AND THAT IF I WANT IT FIXED THEN I HAVE TO FIX IT MYSELF. I WAS DRIVING ON A HIGH WAY WHEN ALL THE LIGHTS TURNED ON IN MY CAR. MY BRAKE SYSTEM SAYS IT FAILED MY TRANSMISSION LIGHT IS ON, MY PARK BRAKE IS FLASHING, LANE ASSIST POPPING UP. I WAS DRIVING HOME FORM LAKE TAHOE ON A CURVY ROAD WITH MY SPEED BEING 40-50. MANY CARS DRIVING SUPER FAST WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN MY CAR DROPPED TO 20MPH. MY ACURA WOULD NOT GO PAST 20MPH AND MY LIFE AND MY PASSENGERS WERE IN SERIOUS DANGER!

NHTSA ODI #11341902

66,000 miles · Mar 6, 2020
Electrical System

I PURCHASED THE CAR SEPTEMBER 2016 FIRST BATTERY REPLACEMENT IN NOVEMBER 2018; SECOND BATTERY REPLACEMENT MARCH 2020. BOTH BATTERIES CAME WITH A 5 YEAR WARRANTY BOTH NEEDED REPLACEMENT WITHIN 2 YEARS. UNKNOWN WHY THE BATTERIES KEEP FAILING.

NHTSA ODI #11316533

33,875 miles · Nov 7, 2019
Electrical SystemFuel/propulsion SystemVehicle Speed Control

FROM A STOPPED POSITION, MOVING FORWARD MY VEHICLE HESITATED AND DECREASED IN POWER AND THE GAS PEDAL DID NOT HELP MOVING THE VEHICLE FORWARD. THIS HAPPENED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE INTERSECTION FOR SEVERAL SECONDS 10-15 BEFORE THE VEHICLE STARTED MOVING FORWARD AGAIN. FROM A MOVING POSITION, I WAS GOING AROUND A RIGHT-HAND SLIGHT…

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FROM A STOPPED POSITION, MOVING FORWARD MY VEHICLE HESITATED AND DECREASED IN POWER AND THE GAS PEDAL DID NOT HELP MOVING THE VEHICLE FORWARD. THIS HAPPENED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE INTERSECTION FOR SEVERAL SECONDS 10-15 BEFORE THE VEHICLE STARTED MOVING FORWARD AGAIN. FROM A MOVING POSITION, I WAS GOING AROUND A RIGHT-HAND SLIGHT CURVE GOING APPROXIMATELY 45-50 MHP AND THE VEHICLE FAILED TO KEEP POWER, SPEED DECREASED, AND THEN BEGAN WORKING AGAIN AFTER SEVERAL SCARY SECONDS. THE MAIN PROBLEM I HAVE IS WHEN ACCELERATING, THE FUEL SEEMS LIKE IT IS NOT PROCESSED CORRECTLY TO ALLOW MY VEHICLE TO ACCELERATE. THIS IS A DANGEROUS MECHANICAL ISSUE THAT HAS HAPPENED MORE THAN TEN TIMES. I HAVE CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP BUT THEY SAID MY VIN WAS NOT IN THE LISTING OF RECALLS. I AM CLEARLY HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS AS MANY OTHER ACURA TLX OWNERS. ADDITIONALLY, WHEN I PUSH THE START BUTTON IT DID NOT START THE VEHICLE. THIS HAS HAPPENED 3 TIMES AS OF NOV 2019. MY VEHICLE SHOULD BE LISTED WITH THE RECALLED LISTING OF OTHER 2016 TLX ACURA VEHICLES.

NHTSA ODI #11278642

51,247 miles · Sep 5, 2019
Electrical SystemFuel/propulsion SystemPower Train

AGAIN, WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 75 MPH ON INTERSTATE ALL ERROR CODES ON DASHBOARD (MIL) LIT UP AND THE CAR BEGAN TO FEEL AS IF THE TRANSMISSION WAS NOT ENGAGED AS IF I WAS IN NEUTRAL AND THE ENGINE BEGAN LOOSING POWER. THE SPEED BEGAN DECREASING, BUT THEN WOULD CATCH FOR A FEW SECONDS. THE GEAR INDICATED THAT IT WAS IN DRIVE…

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AGAIN, WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 75 MPH ON INTERSTATE ALL ERROR CODES ON DASHBOARD (MIL) LIT UP AND THE CAR BEGAN TO FEEL AS IF THE TRANSMISSION WAS NOT ENGAGED AS IF I WAS IN NEUTRAL AND THE ENGINE BEGAN LOOSING POWER. THE SPEED BEGAN DECREASING, BUT THEN WOULD CATCH FOR A FEW SECONDS. THE GEAR INDICATED THAT IT WAS IN DRIVE. I PULLED OFF THE INTERSTATE & PARKED. I WAITED A FEW MINUTES & RESTARTED AND TRIED TO RE-ENGAGE IN DRIVE TO SEE IF IT RESET ITSELF AS IT HAS DONE IN THE PAST JUST 7 WEEKS PRIOR, HOWEVER IT JUST REVVED UP. I CALLED ROAD SIDE ASSISTANCE AND HAD IT TOWED TO NEAREST DEALER AN HOUR AWAY AS AGAIN THE MECHANICAL BREAK DOWN OCCURRED WHILE I WAS TRAVELING IN BETWEEN CITIES. THE NEXT MORNING, THE DEALER WAS ABLE TO RETRIEVE THE ERROR CODES AND SAID THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED ANOTHER SOFTWARE UPDATE TO REPAIR THE ISSUE, THE COMPUTER WAS RESET . WHILE DRIVING HOME THE TRANSMISSION BECAME JUMPY AGAIN AROUND 3RD GEAR. I CONTACTED MY LOCAL DEALERSHIP AND MADE THEM AWARE OF MY SAFETY CONCERNS FOR THE CAR AS AGAIN, MY ENTIRE FAMILY (HUSBAND, KIDS AND DOGS) WERE IN THE CAR AND FELT AS IF THIS COULD HAVE RESULTED IN HORRIBLE ACCIDENT HAD I NOT SAFELY NAVIGATED OFF OF THE INTERSTATE WHILE AT SUCH A HIGH SPEED WITH HEAVY HOLIDAY TRAFFIC. THIS ERROR HAS DISPLAYED FOR TIMES AND EACH TIME THERE WAS A DIFFERENT SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM BESIDES HAVING 2 TRANSMISSION UPDATES, BAD BATTERY CELL AND REPLACED PUSH BUTTON GEAR ASSEMBLY. I HAVE DOCUMENTED ALL INCIDENTS AND REPORTED TO DEALERSHIP AS WELL AS ACURA CORPORATE. I CURRENTLY HAVE APPOINTMENT FOR NEXT WEEK SO THAT THEIR SERVICE ADVISER CAN TRY AND REPLICATE THIS INTERMITTENT PROBLEM TO DETERMINE WHAT THE ERROR IS. I'VE MADE THEM AWARE THAT THIS IS A DANGEROUS MECHANICAL ISSUE THAT NOT ONLY PUTS ME AND MY PASSENGERS IN DANGER BUT POSSIBLY OTHER CARS, BUT WAS ASSURED I DO NOT NEED A RENTAL UNTIL IT CAN BE SEEN AGAIN.

NHTSA ODI #11253514

29,000 miles · Aug 16, 2019
Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Steering

TAKATA RECALL IT WAS AROUND 7:30 AM I WAS DRIVING MY KIDS TO SCHOOL AND I FELT LIKE I SLIGHTLY LOST CONTROL OF MY VEHICLE AND LIKE IT WAS SLIPPING SOMEHOW. NEXT THING I KNOW THE STEERING WHEEL IS CROOKED AND ALMOST EVERY WARNING LIGHTS HAVE TURNED ON AND I STARTED GETTING ALL THE WARNING SOUNDS DESCRIBING MORE WARININGS THAN I …

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TAKATA RECALL IT WAS AROUND 7:30 AM I WAS DRIVING MY KIDS TO SCHOOL AND I FELT LIKE I SLIGHTLY LOST CONTROL OF MY VEHICLE AND LIKE IT WAS SLIPPING SOMEHOW. NEXT THING I KNOW THE STEERING WHEEL IS CROOKED AND ALMOST EVERY WARNING LIGHTS HAVE TURNED ON AND I STARTED GETTING ALL THE WARNING SOUNDS DESCRIBING MORE WARININGS THAN I COULD CHECK ON THE SECOND PAGE ON THIS INCIDENT REPORT. I BARELY BOUGHT MY ACURA A FEW MONTHS AGO SO I'M VERY SHOCKED BE HAVING SUCH A SCARY INCIDENT SO FAST. I THOUGHT ACURA'S WERE DEPENDABLE RELIABLE CARS THAT WOULD KEEP ME AND MORE IMPORTANTLY MY CHILDREN SAFE. I FELT SO SCARED FOR THE SAFETY OF MY CHILDREN. IT WAS EVEN MORE UPSETTING TO FIND THAT THIS SAME SITUATION ON THE SAME BRAND OF ACURA'S HAS HAPPENED BEFORE TO MORE THAN 1 PERSON ON YOUTUBE! WHAT IS ACURA WAITING FOR ON A RECALL. YOU WOULD THINK THEY WOULDN'T WANT ANY LAWSUITS WHEN SOMEONE GETS HURT. PLEASE HELP TURN THIS INTO A RECALL BEFORE LIVES ARE LOST. THANK YOU

NHTSA ODI #11244397

39,000 miles · Aug 2, 2019
Electrical SystemService BrakesUnknown Or Other

2016 ACURA TLX 39,462 MILES ON ODOMETER. THE ENGINE LOST POWER. THE WARNING LIGHT DISPLAYED PARKING BRAKE SYSTEM MALFUNCTION, EMISSION SYSTEM MALFUNCTION. AFTER 3 TIMES SHUTTING OFF AND TURNING ON THE POWER BUTTON, THE CONDITION WENT BACK TO NORMAL.

NHTSA ODI #11241361

46,202 miles · Aug 2, 2019
Electrical System

THIS VEHICLE HAS HAD REPEATED BATTERY FAILURES. I HAD TO HAVE A BATTERY REPLACED IN THIS CAR LESS THAN A YEAR AGO AND YESTERDAY, THE NEW BATTERY DIED AGAIN. I WAS AT THE GAS STATION GETTING GAS AND WHEN I TRIED TO START THE VEHICLE, ALL OF THE LIGHTS STARTED FLICKERING WITH A LOUD REPETITIVE CLICKING SOUND AND THE VEHICLE WOULD …

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THIS VEHICLE HAS HAD REPEATED BATTERY FAILURES. I HAD TO HAVE A BATTERY REPLACED IN THIS CAR LESS THAN A YEAR AGO AND YESTERDAY, THE NEW BATTERY DIED AGAIN. I WAS AT THE GAS STATION GETTING GAS AND WHEN I TRIED TO START THE VEHICLE, ALL OF THE LIGHTS STARTED FLICKERING WITH A LOUD REPETITIVE CLICKING SOUND AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. I HAD TO CALL ACURA ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE WHO SENT OUT A AAA TOW DRIVER. THE TOW DRIVER SAID THAT HE HAS HAD ABOUT 80 CALLS FOR THIS TYPE OF VEHICLE JUST THIS YEAR ALONE AND ALL OF THEM HAVE HAD BATTERY ISSUES. ACURA SHOULD ISSUE A RECALL FOR THESE DEFECTIVE BATTERIES. I HAVE THE VEHICLE AT AN ACURA DEALER FOR THE 2ND TIME IN A YEAR TO HAVE THE BATTERY REPLACED. THE VEHICLE IS STILL FAIRLY NEW WITH ONLY 46,000 MILES.

NHTSA ODI #11241252

Official recalls

3

23V858000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:fuel Pump

Dec 18, 2023

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2013-2023 Honda Accord, Civic Coupe, Civic Sedan, Civic Hatchback, Civic Type R, CR-V, HR-V, Ridgeline, Odyssey, Acura ILX, MDX, MDX Hybrid, RDX, RLX, TLX, 2019-2022 Honda Insight, Passport, 2020 Honda CR-V Hybrid, 2018-2019 Honda Clarity PHEV, Fit, and 2015-2020 Honda Accord Hybrid, Pilot, Acura NSX vehicles. The fuel pump inside the fuel tank may fail.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: Fuel pump failure can cause an engine stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Dealers will replace the fuel pump module, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed September 6, 2024. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are KGC and KGD. This recall is an expansion of NHTSA recall numbers 21V-215 and 20V-314.

23V751000 · Engine And Engine Cooling:engine:hard Parts Internal/mechanical

Nov 13, 2023

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2015-2020 Acura TLX, 2016-2020 Acura MDX, 2016 and 2018-2019 Pilot, 2017 and 2019 Ridgeline, and 2018-2019 Odyssey vehicles. Due to a manufacturing error, the connecting rod bearing in the engine may wear and seize, damaging the engine.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: A damaged engine may run improperly or stall while driving, increasing the risk of a fire, crash, or injury.

Remedy: Dealers will inspect and repair, or replace the engine as necessary, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed March 28, 2024. 2016-2017 Acura MDX owner letters were mailed November 1, 2024. 2016-2020 Acura MDX owner letters are expected to be mailed in mid-December 2024. Honda began mailing owner notification letters as of March 18, 2024. 2015-2016 Acura owner letters are expected to be mailed mid-December 2024, 2018 Acura TLX owner letters are expected to be mailed the end of March/early April 2024, 2019 Acura TLX owner letters are expected to be mailed mid-May 2024, 2020 Acura TLX owner letters are expected to be mailed mid-June 2024, and 2016-2020 Acura MDX owner letters are expected to be mailed January 27, 2025. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for these recalls are XG1 and GG0.

19V060000 · Fuel System, Other:delivery:fuel Pump

Jan 29, 2019

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2016-2018 Acura MDX, 2015-2019 Acura TLX and 2015-2017 Honda Accord vehicles, equipped with a 3.5L V6 engine. Particulates in fuel may adhere to the internal components of the fuel pump, reducing its performance.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: Reduced fuel pump performance can result in an engine stall, increasing the risk of crash.

Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will update the fuel injection engine control unit (FI-ECU) software and, if necessary, replace the fuel pump, free of charge. The recall began March 25, 2019. Owners may contact customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Acura's recall number for this recall is P3W. Honda's recall number for this recall is N3X.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

2

EA25004 · No Restart After Auto Start/stop Engages

Opened Mar 26, 2025 · No close date supplied

Status: open (inferred from source dates) · Engine And Engine Cooling:engine; Engine And Engine Cooling:engine:crank/camshaft Position Sensor; Engine And Engine Cooling:engine:engine Control Module (ecu/ecm):software; Engine And Engine Cooling:engine:hard Parts Internal/mechanical

On June 3, 2022, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened Preliminary Evaluation PE22005 after the agency received VOQs and several field reports concerning the Auto Idle Stop (AIS) feature on 2016-2019MY Honda Pilot vehicles. The complaints allege that the engine fails to restart on its own from a complete stop at a traffic light or road intersection with the AIS function engaged. The subject vehicles are equipped with a 3.5L engine with a 9-speed automatic transmission. On January 6, 2023, Honda released service bulletins 23-008 and 23-009. These service bulletins address the failure to restart issue in the 2016-2019MY Honda Pilot vehicles, as well as the 2015-2020 Acura TLX, 2016-2020 Acura MDX, 2019-2022 Honda Passport, and 2020-2023 Honda Ridgeline vehicles. The repair outlined in the service bulletins is a two-stage countermeasure to remedy the issue. The first stage is a Programmed Fuel Injection (“PGM-FI”) software update. The second stage is only deployed if the software update fails to remedy the issue. The second stage, depending on the model and model year, consists of replacement of the starter assembly, starter relays, and a valve adjustment. Additionally, Honda extended the warranty coverage to 10 years with unlimited mileage for vehicles requiring the second stage component replacement. ODI continues to receive complaints of the AIS failure to restart, with many complainants alleging the campaign countermeasures had been completed.NHTSA has reviewed Honda's Information Request Letter responses involving warranty claims, lawsuits, and consumer complaints in addition to ODI's own data. This Engineering Analysis is being opened to further consider the potential safety defect, including gathering additional data regarding Honda’s service campaign efficacy. ODI is additionally expanding the scope to encompass all vehicles addressed in Honda’s service bulletins 23-008 and 23-009 as well as newer model year vehicles, which are substantially similar to the vehicles covered by the service campaign. To review the ODI reports cited in the Opening Resume ODI Report Identification Number document, go to NHTSA.gov.

Additional source detail variants (4)

Engine And Engine Cooling:engine:crank/camshaft Position Sensor

On June 3, 2022, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened Preliminary Evaluation PE22005 after the agency received VOQs and several field reports concerning the Auto Idle Stop (AIS) feature on 2016-2019MY Honda Pilot vehicles. The complaints allege that the engine fails to restart on its own from a complete stop at a traffic light or road intersection with the AIS function engaged. The subject vehicles are equipped with a 3.5L engine with a 9-speed automatic transmission. On January 6, 2023, Honda released service bulletins 23-008 and 23-009. These service bulletins address the failure to restart issue in the 2016-2019MY Honda Pilot vehicles, as well as the 2015-2020 Acura TLX, 2016-2020 Acura MDX, 2019-2022 Honda Passport, and 2020-2023 Honda Ridgeline vehicles. The repair outlined in the service bulletins is a two-stage countermeasure to remedy the issue. The first stage is a Programmed Fuel Injection (“PGM-FI”) software update. The second stage is only deployed if the software update fails to remedy the issue. The second stage, depending on the model and model year, consists of replacement of the starter assembly, starter relays, and a valve adjustment. Additionally, Honda extended the warranty coverage to 10 years with unlimited mileage for vehicles requiring the second stage component replacement. ODI continues to receive complaints of the AIS failure to restart, with many complainants alleging the campaign countermeasures had been completed.NHTSA has reviewed Honda's Information Request Letter responses involving warranty claims, lawsuits, and consumer complaints in addition to ODI's own data. This Engineering Analysis is being opened to further consider the potential safety defect, including gathering additional data regarding Honda’s service campaign efficacy. ODI is additionally expanding the scope to encompass all vehicles addressed in Honda’s service bulletins 23-008 and 23-009 as well as newer model year vehicles, which are substantially similar to the vehicles covered by the service campaign. To review the ODI reports cited in the Opening Resume ODI Report Identification Number document, go to NHTSA.gov.

Engine And Engine Cooling:engine:engine Control Module (ecu/ecm):software

On June 3, 2022, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened Preliminary Evaluation PE22005 after the agency received VOQs and several field reports concerning the Auto Idle Stop (AIS) feature on 2016-2019MY Honda Pilot vehicles. The complaints allege that the engine fails to restart on its own from a complete stop at a traffic light or road intersection with the AIS function engaged. The subject vehicles are equipped with a 3.5L engine with a 9-speed automatic transmission. On January 6, 2023, Honda released service bulletins 23-008 and 23-009. These service bulletins address the failure to restart issue in the 2016-2019MY Honda Pilot vehicles, as well as the 2015-2020 Acura TLX, 2016-2020 Acura MDX, 2019-2022 Honda Passport, and 2020-2023 Honda Ridgeline vehicles. The repair outlined in the service bulletins is a two-stage countermeasure to remedy the issue. The first stage is a Programmed Fuel Injection (“PGM-FI”) software update. The second stage is only deployed if the software update fails to remedy the issue. The second stage, depending on the model and model year, consists of replacement of the starter assembly, starter relays, and a valve adjustment. Additionally, Honda extended the warranty coverage to 10 years with unlimited mileage for vehicles requiring the second stage component replacement. ODI continues to receive complaints of the AIS failure to restart, with many complainants alleging the campaign countermeasures had been completed.NHTSA has reviewed Honda's Information Request Letter responses involving warranty claims, lawsuits, and consumer complaints in addition to ODI's own data. This Engineering Analysis is being opened to further consider the potential safety defect, including gathering additional data regarding Honda’s service campaign efficacy. ODI is additionally expanding the scope to encompass all vehicles addressed in Honda’s service bulletins 23-008 and 23-009 as well as newer model year vehicles, which are substantially similar to the vehicles covered by the service campaign. To review the ODI reports cited in the Opening Resume ODI Report Identification Number document, go to NHTSA.gov.

Engine And Engine Cooling:engine:hard Parts Internal/mechanical

On June 3, 2022, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened Preliminary Evaluation PE22005 after the agency received VOQs and several field reports concerning the Auto Idle Stop (AIS) feature on 2016-2019MY Honda Pilot vehicles. The complaints allege that the engine fails to restart on its own from a complete stop at a traffic light or road intersection with the AIS function engaged. The subject vehicles are equipped with a 3.5L engine with a 9-speed automatic transmission. On January 6, 2023, Honda released service bulletins 23-008 and 23-009. These service bulletins address the failure to restart issue in the 2016-2019MY Honda Pilot vehicles, as well as the 2015-2020 Acura TLX, 2016-2020 Acura MDX, 2019-2022 Honda Passport, and 2020-2023 Honda Ridgeline vehicles. The repair outlined in the service bulletins is a two-stage countermeasure to remedy the issue. The first stage is a Programmed Fuel Injection (“PGM-FI”) software update. The second stage is only deployed if the software update fails to remedy the issue. The second stage, depending on the model and model year, consists of replacement of the starter assembly, starter relays, and a valve adjustment. Additionally, Honda extended the warranty coverage to 10 years with unlimited mileage for vehicles requiring the second stage component replacement. ODI continues to receive complaints of the AIS failure to restart, with many complainants alleging the campaign countermeasures had been completed.NHTSA has reviewed Honda's Information Request Letter responses involving warranty claims, lawsuits, and consumer complaints in addition to ODI's own data. This Engineering Analysis is being opened to further consider the potential safety defect, including gathering additional data regarding Honda’s service campaign efficacy. ODI is additionally expanding the scope to encompass all vehicles addressed in Honda’s service bulletins 23-008 and 23-009 as well as newer model year vehicles, which are substantially similar to the vehicles covered by the service campaign. To review the ODI reports cited in the Opening Resume ODI Report Identification Number document, go to NHTSA.gov.

Engine And Engine Cooling:engine

On June 3, 2022, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened Preliminary Evaluation PE22005 after the agency received VOQs and several field reports concerning the Auto Idle Stop (AIS) feature on 2016-2019MY Honda Pilot vehicles. The complaints allege that the engine fails to restart on its own from a complete stop at a traffic light or road intersection with the AIS function engaged. The subject vehicles are equipped with a 3.5L engine with a 9-speed automatic transmission. On January 6, 2023, Honda released service bulletins 23-008 and 23-009. These service bulletins address the failure to restart issue in the 2016-2019MY Honda Pilot vehicles, as well as the 2015-2020 Acura TLX, 2016-2020 Acura MDX, 2019-2022 Honda Passport, and 2020-2023 Honda Ridgeline vehicles. The repair outlined in the service bulletins is a two-stage countermeasure to remedy the issue. The first stage is a Programmed Fuel Injection (“PGM-FI”) software update. The second stage is only deployed if the software update fails to remedy the issue. The second stage, depending on the model and model year, consists of replacement of the starter assembly, starter relays, and a valve adjustment. Additionally, Honda extended the warranty coverage to 10 years with unlimited mileage for vehicles requiring the second stage component replacement. ODI continues to receive complaints of the AIS failure to restart, with many complainants alleging the campaign countermeasures had been completed.NHTSA has reviewed Honda's Information Request Letter responses involving warranty claims, lawsuits, and consumer complaints in addition to ODI's own data. This Engineering Analysis is being opened to further consider the potential safety defect, including gathering additional data regarding Honda’s service campaign efficacy. ODI is additionally expanding the scope to encompass all vehicles addressed in Honda’s service bulletins 23-008 and 23-009 as well as newer model year vehicles, which are substantially similar to the vehicles covered by the service campaign. To review the ODI reports cited in the Opening Resume ODI Report Identification Number document, go to NHTSA.gov.

EA19001 · Electrical Overstress

Opened Apr 19, 2019 · Closed Sep 19, 2024

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Air Bags: Air Bag/restraint Control Module

The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened this investigation to determine if the failure of airbags to deploy during severe crashes, in certain vehicles, was the result of a safety related defect.  During the investigation a complex failure was studied that can result in non-deployment of subject vehicle air bags and other restraint system devices in severe crash events. The subject vehicles may be equipped with an airbag control unit (ACU) for the supplemental restraint system (SRS) Electronic Control Unit (ECU) manufactured by ZF-TRW.  The ECU receives signals from crash sensors mounted in the vehicle and deploys the vehicle air bags and seat belt pretensioners in accordance with manufacturer design specifications.  The ECU in the subject vehicles contains a model DS84 application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) which controls the communication of the crash sensor signal, firing commands (i.e., when to deploy the airbag(s) and/or pretensioners), and fault information (e.g., diagnostic trouble codes). In September 2016, FCA announced recall 16V-668 for certain model year (MY) 2010 to 2014 Chrysler, Dodge and Jeep products manufactured with the subject ZF-TRW ACU.  In this recall, FCA discussed an EOS condition that resulted in a failure of the subject DS84 ASIC, which caused air bag non-deployment.  FCA noted that the defect condition had only been observed in vehicles equipped with sensor harnessing routed across the front of the vehicle.  Other FCA vehicles that also used the subject ACU, but were not equipped with cross-car harnessing, had not experienced EOS failures, despite similar time in service. During the course of this investigation, ODI sent two separate Information Request (IR) letters to six vehicle manufactures (including FCA, Hyundai, Honda, Kia, Mitsubishi, and Toyota) and one IR letter to ZF-TRW.  These IR letters resulted in ODI receiving comprehensive data from these manufacturers and suppliers. Studies of this data found that the DS84 ASIC does not have sufficient protection against negative electrical transients or electrical overstress (“EOS”) that can be generated in certain severe crashes.  An electrical transient occurs when the electrical power supplied to a circuit changes momentarily over a short duration of time.   In these severe crash cases, the crash sensors and other powered wiring can be damaged and short circuited so as to create a negative electrical transient of sufficient intensity and duration (that are outside the vehicle manufacturer's specification) to damage the ASIC before the restraint device deployment signal is received by the SRS ECU.  This damaged signal can lead to incomplete or nondeployment of the air bags and/or pretensioners.  Airbag non-deployment and/or lack of pretensioner operation can increase the risk or severity of injury in a crash.A total of 8 fatalities and 14 injuries were associated with known EOS events. The common element in all investigated manufacturers vehicles is the SRS ECU containing a DS84 ASIC manufactured by ZF-TRW.  The risk associated with the ASIC is equally shared among all OEMS involved in the investigation.  The actual real-world risk can be mitigated by other factors which were assessed by ODI during this investigation. The first mitigating factor involves protections built into the ACU design which protect the DS84 ASIC from damage.  There are multiple strategies and levels of protection employed by different OEMs that provide effective EOS mitigation.  The two most common strategies at the ACU level are circuit protection diodes on the remote senor signal lines, and current limiting resistors that protect critical components. The second mitigating factor is found at the vehicle level and involves the location and routing of the wires leading from the crash sensors to the SRS ECU.  If the wires are well protected in a crash and are not routed with other power wires carrying large currents, the risk for an EOS event is significantly reduced or eliminated. These design specific factors combine to produce a spectrum of risk for the vehicles equipped with ACUs using the DS84 ASIC.  Given the many of years of field exposure, it is possible to divide the subject population into two groups; vehicles which have experienced EOS events, and vehicles which have not experienced EOS field events. Four of the six OEMs involved in this investigation have experienced EOS field events on at least one of their models equipped with a DS84 ASIC.  All vehicle models (including the Toyota models identified in the Failure Report Summary of the opening resume for this investigation) with field events have been recalled.  In an abundance of caution, ODI kept this investigation open five years to monitor field performance and did not identify any field events on vehicles not included in existing safety recalls. Given the spectrum of risk identified in this investigation and that all vehicles with a demonstrated unreasonable risk have been recalled, ODI is closing this investigation. ODI is closing this investigation with the following manufacturer safety recalls: 16V-668, 18E-043, 18V-137, 18V-363, and 20V-024.  With the recall actions taken by the subject vehicle and equipment manufacturers, this investigation is closed. The closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by NHTSA that a safety-related defect does not exists on other model or model year vehicles outside of the recall scopes. The agency reserves the right to take further action if warranted by the circumstances.