Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2020 TLX.
The 2020 Acura TLX is a passenger car equipped with a nine-speed automatic transmission (S9) that carries 4.4 quarts of 0W-20 API engine oil and carries EPA fuel-economy ratings of 20 mpg city, 29 mpg highway, and 23 mpg combined. Reliability data for this model year records 61 owner complaints and five recalls, with engine-related issues representing the top complaint category. Within the 2012–2025 production span, the 2020 model sits well below the 2015 peak of 340 complaints yet above the 2012 low of one, positioning it as a moderate point in the model’s longitudinal quality history for researchers.
Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.
Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.
From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI 35 · 470 CCA battery. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.
Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.
| Transmission | Automatic (S9) |
| Overall length | 190.6 in |
| Overall width | 72.8 in |
| Overall height | 57.1 in |
| Wheelbase | 109.4 in |
| Curb weight | 3565 lb |
| Track (front / rear) | 63 / 63 in |
| Weight distribution (front / rear) | 60/40 |
| EPA city / highway / combined | 20 / 29 / 23 mpg |
| Drivetrain | All-Wheel Drive |
| Passenger volume | 93 cu ft |
| Cargo volume | 14 cu ft |
| Recommended fuel | Premium Gasoline |
0–60 mph, quarter-mile, horsepower and torque from independent road tests.
Independent road tests for the TLX of this era, listed by trim and engine — this page spans more than one engine, so no single horsepower figure is shown.
| Year | Trim / engine | 0–60 | ¼ mile | HP | Drivetrain |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | V-6 SH-AWD A-Spec 3.5L V6 | 5.70 sec | 14.20 sec | 290 hp | AWD |
| 2018 | V-6 SH-AWD A-Spec 3.5L V6 | 6.00 sec | 14.50 sec | 290 hp | AWD |
| 2015 | V-6 Advance Package 3.5L V6 | 5.70 sec | 14.20 sec | 290 hp | FWD |
| 2015 | V-6 SH-AWD Advance Package 3.5L V6 | 5.80 sec | 14.20 sec | 290 hp | AWD |
| 2015 | V-6 SH-AWD Advance Package 3.5L V6 | 5.90 sec | 14.40 sec | 290 hp | AWD |
| 2015 | 2.4L Technology Package 2.4L I-4 | 6.80 sec | 15.40 sec | 206 hp | FWD |
| 2015 | 2.4L Technology Package 2.4L I-4 | 7.20 sec | 15.60 sec | 206 hp | FWD |
| 2015 | 2.4L Technology Package 2.4L I-4 | 7.30 sec | 15.60 sec | 206 hp | FWD |
Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.
This engine holds 4.4 qt of 0W-20 API engine oil, Acura All-Wheel Drive Fluid in the differential, Dot 3 brake fluid. Torque lug nuts to 80 ft-lbs.
| Automatic Transmission Fluid | Acura Type 3.0 |
| Automatic Transmission Fluid Capacity | 3.5 |
| Automatic Transmission Fluid | Acura Type 2.0 |
| Automatic Transmission Fluid Capacity | 3.5 |
| Brake Fluid | Dot 3 |
| Differential Gear Oil | Acura All-Wheel Drive Fluid |
| Differential Gear Oil Capacity | 2.8 qt |
| Engine Coolant | Honda Type 2 antifreeze/coolant |
| Engine Flywheel Bolts | 55.0 ft-lbs |
| Oil Pump to Cylinder BLock Bolts/Studs | 108.0 inch lbs. ft-lbs |
| Lug Nuts | 80 ft-lbs |
| Front Wheel Hub | 242.0 |
| Rear Wheel Hub | 181.0 |
| Curb Idle Speed (Secondary Under Load) | 680 |
| Curb Idle Speed Variance (Secondary Under Load) | ±50 rpm |
| Curb Idle Speed (Secondary Under Load) | 720 Speed up rpm |
| Curb Idle Speed Variance (Secondary Under Load) | ±50 rpm |
| Spark Plug Manufacturer | Acura |
| Spark Plug Gap | .039-.043 in |
| Spark Plug Torque | 16 ft-lbs |
| Ignition Timing | 8 degrees |
| Refrigerant | R134a |
| Refrigerant Capacity | 1.04-1.16 lbs |
| Oil Group | PAG |
| Oil Type | 46 |
| Oil Capacity | 2.37-2.88 oz |
| Standard BCI Group Number | 35 |
| Standard BCI Cranking Performance | 470 cca |
| Standard BCI Group Number | 48 |
| Fuel Pump Pressure Minimum | 60.0 |
| Fuel Pump Pressure Maximum | 67.0 |
| Regulated Fuel System Pressure (With Vacuum) | 60.0 |
| Fuel Pump Pressure Minimum | 57.0 |
| Fuel Pump Pressure Maximum | 64.0 |
| Regulated Fuel System Pressure (With Vacuum) | 57.0 |
| Engine Compression | 135 Minimum PSI. 29 Maximum Variation PSI. |
| Brake Caliper Bolt to Carrier Torque | Front: 53.0 ft-lbs; Rear: 26.0 ft-lbs |
| Brake Caliper Carrier to Hub Bolt Torque | Front: 101.0 ft-lbs; Rear: 80.0 ft-lbs |
| ABS Sensor Torque | Front: 6.0; Rear: 6.0 |
| Vented Rotor Minimum Thickness for Replacement | Front: 1.024; Rear: .315 |
| Variation from Parallelism Thickness Variation | .0006 |
| Maximum Rotor Runout | .0016 |
| 1 | 15.0 ft. lbs., Step 2: 90° | 15 ft. lbs |
Prep Brand New Pulley Bolt or Crankshaft: Step 1: 133.0 ft. lbs., Step 2: Loosen Bolt
| 3 | 37.0 ft. lbs., Step 4: 90°; Reusing pulley bolt or crankshaft: Step 1: 37.0 ft. lbs., Step 2: 90° | 37 ft. lbs |
| 1 | 48.0 ft. lbs., Step 2: 60° | 48 ft. lbs |
| 1 | 22.0 ft. lbs., Step 2: 90°, Step 3: 90°, Step 4: Turn an additonal 90° when using new bolts. | 22 ft. lbs |
| 1 | 30.0 ft. lbs. | 30 ft. lbs |
| 2 | 90° | |
| 3 | 90° | |
| 4 | Turn an additional 90° if using new bolts. | |
| 1 | 30.0 ft. lbs., Step 2: 47°. Side Bolts: 36.0 | 30 ft. lbs |
Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.
The 2020 Acura TLX recorded 61 federal complaints, 5 recalls, and 3 investigations, marking a slight decrease in complaints compared to 2019 (90 complaints, 6 recalls) and a comparable level to 2021 (64 complaints, 4 recalls). Across the generation, complaints peaked sharply in 2015 with 340 complaints before steadily declining, placing the 2020 model in the mature, lower-complaint phase of the vehicle's lifecycle. The primary complaint areas for 2020 center on the Engine (8 complaints), Fuel System, Gasoline (7 complaints), and Power Train (5 complaints), alongside four crash-related complaints and zero fire complaints, though the provided data does not specify the root causes for these issues. The number of recalls remains elevated at five, indicating that while overall owner complaints have dropped, active safety campaigns are still a significant factor for this model year. Ultimately, the 2020 TLX represents a relatively stable point in the generation's arc with fewer complaints than earlier models, making it a reasonably good year to buy provided you verify that all five recall campaigns have been completed.
All 61 complaints on record, top 8 components.
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.
Showing 2 of 5 campaigns on record for this vehicle.
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Acura MDX, MDX Sport Hybrid, RDX, TLX, Honda Accord, Civic Hatchback, Insight, 2019 Acura ILX, Honda Accord Hybrid, Civic Coupe, Civic Coupe Si, Civic… Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel pump assembly, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed May 18, 2021. Owners may contact Honda customer service at…
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… 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…
Showing 5 of 48 bulletins on record with NHTSA.
| Bulletin | Date | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| B22-009 | 2025-07-07 | Engine | Service Bulletin - Under certain circumstances, after coming to a stop and engaging idle… |
| B24-022 | 2025-02-19 | Engine | Service Bulletin - The AWD warning light is on with one or more AWD DTCs having been set… |
| B24-022 | 2024-11-22 | Structure | Service Bulletin - The AWD warning light is on potentially due to water intrusion into… |
| B24040A | 2024-05-01 | Engine | Service News - Due to On-Board Diagnostic (OBD) regulation change starting with 2019… |
| B23-035 | 2024-01-10 | Engine And Engine Cooling | Service Bulletin - The MIL comes on during vehicle operation due to variations in the… |
The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.
Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.
Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.
Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.
4.4 qt of 0W-20 API, per the factory manual.
NHTSA lists 5 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.
EPA figures are 20 city / 29 highway / 23 combined mpg.