Acura TLX Lemon Law

The TLX's most notorious defect is its 9-speed automatic transmission. Owners of the V6 TLX report violent, jerky shifting, hard downshifts, and hesitation — complaints that peaked on the earliest model years. The problem was serious enough that Acura issued a safety recall (NHTSA campaign 16V640000) for certain 2015 V6 TLX vehicles whose transmission could unexpectedly shift into neutral due to a faulty wiring crimp, with dealers reprogramming the transmission software. Even after tuning updates, owners have continued to describe hesitation and rough shifts.

The TLX's electronics are the other recurring complaint. Drivers report the infotainment screen going blank or unresponsive, cutting off navigation and audio controls, along with dead batteries, random dashboard warning lights, and other electrical faults.

A recall or a known defect doesn't automatically make your TLX a lemon — but California's Lemon Law may. If a substantial problem such as harsh or hesitating shifting or a failing infotainment system keeps coming back after a reasonable number of repair attempts, or your TLX spends an extended time in the shop, Acura may owe you a buyback, replacement, or cash settlement, and it pays your attorney fees.

A recall is not automatically a lemon — it's the manufacturer acknowledging a defect and offering a free repair. California's Lemon Law (the Song-Beverly Act) comes into play when a substantial defect can't be fixed after a reasonable number of attempts, or when your TLX has been out of service for 30 or more cumulative days.

If your Acura TLX qualifies, you may be entitled to a buyback (a refund of what you've paid, minus a mileage offset), a replacement vehicle, or a cash-and-keep settlement — and Acura pays your attorney fees on a successful claim, so pursuing your case costs you nothing out of pocket.