Acura SLX problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
13 owner complaints analyzed
4 distinct recall campaigns
93,750 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1995 to 2000 model years. Data updated: . 4 complaints include usable failure mileage. View data status.
This selection has limited data. It remains available for lookup but is excluded from search indexing.
Most common problems
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 3 of 13 complaints (23.1%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 2 | 15.4% |
| Braking behavior | 2 | 15.4% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 1 | 7.7% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 7.7% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 3 |
| Tires | 2 |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 1 |
| Exterior Lighting | 1 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 1 |
| Power Train:Manual Transmission | 1 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings | 1 |
| Suspension | 1 |
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 3; Tires: 2; Air Bags:Frontal: 1; Exterior Lighting: 1; Fuel System, Gasoline: 1; Power Train:Manual Transmission: 1; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings: 1; Suspension: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 0 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 1 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 1 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 2 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 1; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 1; 100,000 to 149,999: 2; 150,000 and above: 0
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (2). 9 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 1997 | 1 |
| 1998 | 1 |
| 1999 | 1 |
| 2000 | 3 |
| 2001 | 1 |
| 2002 | 1 |
| 2004 | 2 |
| 2006 | 2 |
| 2008 | 1 |
1997: 1; 1998: 1; 1999: 1; 2000: 3; 2001: 1; 2002: 1; 2004: 2; 2006: 2; 2008: 1
Pattern summary
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 2 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 2 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 1 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 781969 · 1999-02-21 (February 21, 1999)
TRANSMISSION JUMPED OUT OF GEAR. THIS HAPPENED FROM FIRST AND FIFTH GEAR.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 781969 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10156940 · 2006-05-07 (May 7, 2006)
MY 1998 ACURA SLX, WITH 122,000 MILES, REQUIRES A NEW ENGINE. THE CAR DEVELOPED A LOUD SLAPPING NOISE AND WAS DIAGNOSED BY 2 MECHANICS AS A BROKEN PISTON SKIRT. I WAS TOLD THAT THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE WITH THESE CARS - A RESULT OF A MISMATCH BETWEEN THE ISUZU ENGINE AND THE ACURA TRANSMISSION. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. 122,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10156940 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10151511 · 2006-03-01 (March 1, 2006)
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THERE IS BRAKE FLUID LEAKAGE AND STOPPING DISTANCES WERE INCREASED AS A RESULT. THERE IS A NHTSA RECALL, # 97V092002, REGARDING THE SERVICE BRAKES HOSES AND LINES. THE VEHICLE HAS THE SAME PROBLEMS AS INDICATED IN THE RECALL; HOWEVER IT IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION OR REPAIR.
Owner-reported narrative. 112,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10151511 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 742841 · 2001-03-21 (March 21, 2001)
THROTTLE SUCKED TO THE GROUND AND WOULD NOT RELEASE WHEN BRAKES APPLIED, WHEN EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS EXTENDED. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 742841 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10246866 · 2008-10-27 (October 27, 2008)
I HAVE THE 1997 ACURA SLX. I HAVE BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE HEADLIGHTS COMING ON WHENEVER IT GETS COLD OUTSIDE. WHEN THE TEMP IS 30 DEGREES OR LOWER THE HEADLIGHTS COME ON BY THEMSELVES. I HAVE TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO SEE WHAT CAUSES THIS BUT NO ONE CAN CORRECT THE PROBLEM OR EVEN KNOWS WHAT CAUSES THE LIGHTS TO COME ON. AS A RESULT OF LIGHTS COMING ON IT RUNS DOWN THE BATTERY. I HAVE HAD THE CABLE WIRES REPLACED I HAVE PURCHASED NEW BATTERIES AND THE PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN RESOLVED. DO YOU KNOW WHAT COULD CAUSE THIS PROBLEM? *TR
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10246866 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 539076 · 1998-07-31 (July 31, 1998)
THE QUICK DISCONNECT GAS TANK CONNECTION CAME LOOSE ON THE HIGHWAY. DRIVER IS UNAWARE OF LEAK UNTIL MADE AWARE OF IT BY SOMEONE ELSE.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 539076 at NHTSA ↗
Recalls by model year
All campaigns in the snapshot affecting each model year, including recalls announced years later.
Recall campaigns
Shared campaigns appear once in each affected model year.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 1995 | 0 |
| 1996 | 2 |
| 1997 | 2 |
| 1998 | 1 |
| 1999 | 0 |
| 2000 | 0 |
1995: 0; 1996: 2; 1997: 2; 1998: 1; 1999: 0; 2000: 0
Year-by-year records
Vehicle analysis explorer
Inspect model-year patterns, reported mileage, monthly activity and the evidence behind each signal.
Data completeness
13 unique complaints in this selection. Analysis snapshot: 2026-10-01.
Missing, zero and invalid mileage is excluded. Dates after the snapshot are excluded. Examples are limited selections, not a representative sample.
Problems by model year
Model-wide comparison of the eight most reported components across the model. Cells show counts and shares within each model year. Open a cell for source examples.
| Component | 1995 | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 350.0%ODI 10044341 · 75,000 miCONSUMER STATED SHE HEARD KNOCKING AND A LOUD PINGING NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE. SHE THEN PULLED OVER AND HER HUSBAND CHECKED THE VEHICLE AND SAW THAT THE OIL WAS EMPTY ALTHOUGH SHE HAD AN OIL CHANGE BEFORE THE TRIP. ALL OF THE OIL SPILLED FROM THE ENGINE. ENGINE HAD BLOWN. *AK *SC *JB | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Tires | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 116.7%ODI 732031UNABLE TO STEER STRAIGHT LINE AT 70 MPH 95 DEGREES, WANDERS OVER ROAD, OKAY WHEN TIRES COLD. *AK( DOT NUMBER: CLL417 TIRE SIZE: P245/70R16 ) | 1100.0%ODI 737878TIRES WERE IN GOOD SHAPE, COMPLETE SEPERATION OF TIRE WALL WITHOUT ANY WARNING. OUTSIDE TEMP. APPROX . 53 DEGREES. (DOT NUMBER: ELMTCLL239 TIRESIZE: P245/70R16) | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 133.3%ODI 8008518FRONT COLLISION AT 35-40 MPH, NEITHER AIRBAG DEPLOYED, VEHICLE WAS TOTALLED. NO INJURIES.*AK | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Exterior Lighting | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 1100.0%ODI 10246866I HAVE THE 1997 ACURA SLX. I HAVE BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE HEADLIGHTS COMING ON WHENEVER IT GETS COLD OUTSIDE. WHEN THE TEMP IS 30 DEGREES OR LOWER THE HEADLIGHTS COME ON BY THEMSELVES. I HAVE TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO SEE WHAT CAUSES THIS BUT NO ONE CAN CORRECT THE PROBLEM OR EVEN KNOWS WHAT CAUSES THE LIGHTS TO COME ON. AS A RESULT OF LIGHTS COMING ON IT RUNS DOWN THE BATTERY. I HAVE HAD THE CABLE WIRES REPLACED I HAVE PURCHASED NEW BATTERIES AND THE PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN RESOLVED. DO YOU KNOW WHAT COULD CAUSE THIS PROBLEM? *TR | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 116.7%ODI 539076THE QUICK DISCONNECT GAS TANK CONNECTION CAME LOOSE ON THE HIGHWAY. DRIVER IS UNAWARE OF LEAK UNTIL MADE AWARE OF IT BY SOMEONE ELSE. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Power Train:Manual Transmission | 1100.0%ODI 781969TRANSMISSION JUMPED OUT OF GEAR. THIS HAPPENED FROM FIRST AND FIFTH GEAR. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 133.3%ODI 10151511 · 112,500 miDT*: THE CONTACT STATED THERE IS BRAKE FLUID LEAKAGE AND STOPPING DISTANCES WERE INCREASED AS A RESULT. THERE IS A NHTSA RECALL, # 97V092002, REGARDING THE SERVICE BRAKES HOSES AND LINES. THE VEHICLE HAS THE SAME PROBLEMS AS INDICATED IN THE RECALL; HOWEVER IT IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION OR REPAIR. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Suspension | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 133.3%ODI 517148VEHICLE'S SUSPENSION IS NOT VERY STABLE CREATING THE POSSIBILITY FOR ROLL OVER. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
Darker cells indicate a larger share of submitted complaints. Components overlap. This measures complaint composition, not failure probability.
Failure mileage by component
Median and middle 50% of usable owner-reported mileages. Ranges require at least five records.
| Component | Mileage range (25th–75th percentile) | Median | Usable records | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | Too few reports for a range | 75,000 mi | 3 (sparse) | ODI 10044341 · 75,000 miCONSUMER STATED SHE HEARD KNOCKING AND A LOUD PINGING NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE. SHE THEN PULLED OVER AND HER HUSBAND CHECKED THE VEHICLE AND SAW THAT THE OIL WAS EMPTY ALTHOUGH SHE HAD AN OIL CHANGE BEFORE THE TRIP. ALL OF THE OIL SPILLED FROM THE ENGINE. ENGINE HAD BLOWN. *AK *SC *JB ODI 10081295 · 38,000 miIN JUNE OF 2003, WE TOOK OUR 1998 ACURA SLX W/45K MILES ON IT INTO STEVENS CREEK ISUZU DEALERSHIP FOR A MAJOR SERVICE AND TO CHECK OUT THE "PINGING/GRINDING" NOISE THAT WE HAD BEEN HEARING FOR A LONG TIME. WE WERE TOLD THEY COULDN'T DUPLICATE THE NOISE. IN JUNE 2004, WE TOOK IT TO THE RENO ISUZU FOR AN OIL CHANGE AND TO CHECK OUT THE NOISE AND WE WERE TOLD THAT WE NEEDED A NEW ENGINE. OUR CAR NOW HAS 54K MILES ON IT. WE TOOK IT TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC SHOP FOR A SECOND OPINION AND WERE TOLD THAT A ROD WAS BLOWN AND A NEW ENGINE WOULD BE … ODI 10156940 · 122,000 miMY 1998 ACURA SLX, WITH 122,000 MILES, REQUIRES A NEW ENGINE. THE CAR DEVELOPED A LOUD SLAPPING NOISE AND WAS DIAGNOSED BY 2 MECHANICS AS A BROKEN PISTON SKIRT. I WAS TOLD THAT THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE WITH THESE CARS - A RESULT OF A MISMATCH BETWEEN THE ISUZU ENGINE AND THE ACURA TRANSMISSION. *NM |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings | Too few reports for a range | 112,500 mi | 1 (sparse) | ODI 10151511 · 112,500 miDT*: THE CONTACT STATED THERE IS BRAKE FLUID LEAKAGE AND STOPPING DISTANCES WERE INCREASED AS A RESULT. THERE IS A NHTSA RECALL, # 97V092002, REGARDING THE SERVICE BRAKES HOSES AND LINES. THE VEHICLE HAS THE SAME PROBLEMS AS INDICATED IN THE RECALL; HOWEVER IT IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION OR REPAIR. |
Complaint and recall timeline
Explore monthly filing activity alongside recall announcements. Up to ten years of monthly history is available.
Solid line: filed complaints. Dashed amber lines: recall announcement dates for this vehicle selection; markers include all recall components. The latest month is partial. Temporal proximity does not establish causation.
Monthly counts, recall campaigns and complaint examples
| Month | Complaints | Campaigns announced | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-11 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2024-12 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-01 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-02 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-03 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-04 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-05 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-06 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-07 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-08 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-09 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-10 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-11 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-12 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-01 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-02 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-03 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-04 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-05 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-06 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-07 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-08 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-09 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-10 (partial) | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
Emerging complaint spikes
Complete months in the latest six months with at least 10 complaints, at least twice the preceding 12-month average, and at least three square-root deviations above that average.
This is a descriptive screening rule, not a statistical defect finding. Publicity and reporting changes can increase submissions.
No complete months meet the spike thresholds for this selection.
Equal-age model-year comparison
Model-wide cumulative reports during the first three or five calendar years, starting with the model year (age 0). Only fully elapsed windows are compared.
1999: 1 complaints · 2000: 1 complaints
| Model year | Through age 0 | Through age 1 | Through age 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 2000 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
Date coverage across each selected cohort
| Year | Incident dates used | Filing date fallbacks | Excluded dates |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 2000 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Incident date is preferred when valid and no later than filing; otherwise filing date is used. Model year approximates age. Equal observation time does not adjust for sales, distance driven or reporting delays. One complaint linked to multiple model years can appear in each cohort.
Components reported together
Each cell counts unique complaints naming both components. Open a nonzero cell for examples.
| Component | Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | Tires | Air Bags:Frontal | Exterior Lighting | Fuel System, Gasoline | Power Train:Manual Transmission | Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings | Suspension |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Tires | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Exterior Lighting | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Power Train:Manual Transmission | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 |
| Suspension | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
Co-reporting does not establish that one component caused another concern.
Recurring narrative patterns
Specific keyword mentions beyond broad component labels. Matching includes negations and comparisons and does not confirm a diagnosis.
0 patterns with matching reports.
No narratives match the published patterns.