Acura TLX vs Audi A4
Head-to-head reliability comparison from 4,885real NHTSA consumer complaints. Year-by-year breakdown, shared problems, crash & fire rates.
Which is more reliable, Acura TLX or Audi A4?
Verdict from 4,885 NHTSA complaints
Acura TLX wins this comparison overall. Acura TLX comes out ahead on 3 of 4 reliability metrics — including a 149% lower complaint rate. The Audi A4 edges ahead on crash-involvement rate.
Head-to-Head Metrics
Lower is better on every metric. Bar length = relative magnitude. ✓ = winner.
Acura TLX wins by 149%
Audi A4 wins by 15%
Acura TLX wins by 600%
Acura TLX wins by 154%
NHTSA Crash Test Ratings
Official NCAP star ratings — government crash test data. Most recent rated model year.
Acura TLX
2025 model yearAudi A4
2024 model yearSource: NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (NCAP). Lower star = higher injury risk in that crash type.
Complaint Volume — Year by Year
Sales-volume data not available for both models — showing raw complaint counts. Higher-volume models will appear higher even when reliability is comparable.
Most Reported Problems
Top component complaints for each model. Identical bar lengths = both have the same recurring issue.
Year-by-Year Head-to-Head
Lower is better. Click either model column to see that year's full breakdown.
Frequently Asked Questions
Acura TLX vs Audi A4 — the most common buyer questions, answered from NHTSA data.
Which is more reliable, the Acura TLX or the Audi A4?
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Acura TLX wins this comparison overall. Acura TLX comes out ahead on 3 of 4 reliability metrics — including a 149% lower complaint rate. The Audi A4 edges ahead on crash-involvement rate. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation via VinItel.
Should I buy a Acura TLX or a Audi A4?
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On reliability data alone, the Acura TLX is the safer bet — but the actual condition of the specific car matters far more than the model average. Check the VIN of any vehicle you're considering for accident history, title issues, and odometer rollbacks.
What problems do the Acura TLX and Audi A4 share?
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Top complaints for the Acura TLX: Transmission / Drivetrain, Engine Problems, Electrical Faults. Top complaints for the Audi A4: Airbags, Headlight/Taillight Failures, Electrical Faults. Source: NHTSA via VinItel.
Which has fewer NHTSA complaints, the Acura TLX or the Audi A4?
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Across all model years, the Acura TLX has 1,265 NHTSA complaints and the Audi A4 has 3,620. Normalized for sales volume (complaints per 10,000 vehicles sold), the Acura TLX has the lower complaint rate. Raw counts can mislead — a 2× more popular model will naturally collect 2× more complaints. Detailed normalized comparison: vinitel.com/stats/nhtsa-complaints/compare/acura/tlx/vs/audi/a4
Which is safer in a crash, the Acura TLX or the Audi A4?
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Crash-involvement rate from NHTSA complaints: Acura TLX 4.6% vs Audi A4 4.0% — the Audi A4 has the lower crash rate. NHTSA NCAP star ratings (frontal, side, rollover) for both models are also shown on the comparison page. Note: the per-VIN history matters more than the model average — a salvage-title car of any model carries higher crash exposure than the median.
Does the Acura TLX or the Audi A4 have more fires?
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Fire-involvement rate based on NHTSA complaints: Acura TLX 0.30% vs Audi A4 2.10%. The Acura TLX has the lower reported fire rate. Fire complaints are a relatively rare but important safety signal — they often correlate with electrical-system or fuel-system defects. Check specific recall campaigns at vinitel.com/stats/nhtsa-complaints/acura/tlx and vinitel.com/stats/nhtsa-complaints/audi/a4
What years of the Acura TLX are worse than the Audi A4?
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The comparison page renders a year-by-year head-to-head table — for each model year (where both models have data), it shows complaint count or per-10K rate side by side and marks which model fares better that year. Buyers cross-shopping a specific model year should always check the year-level VinItel pages: vinitel.com/stats/nhtsa-complaints/acura/tlx/{year} and vinitel.com/stats/nhtsa-complaints/audi/a4/{year}.
Where does this Acura TLX vs Audi A4 comparison data come from?
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All complaint, crash, fire, and fatality data comes from the NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) consumer-complaint database — the same source insurance regulators and the federal government use. NCAP star ratings come from NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program crash tests. Sales-volume normalization (per 10K sold) uses US annual vehicle sales. Data refreshes every 6 hours. Source: NHTSA via VinItel.
Related Reliability Comparisons
Other head-to-head matchups buyers cross-shopping the TLX or A4 also look at:
Comparison data refreshed 2026-05-04 from NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.·Source: NHTSA ODI
A model average can't see the car you're buying.
Even the Acura TLX has cars with hidden accidents, salvage titles, and odometer rollbacks. Check the VIN before you buy — full report $4.99 (vs. Carfax $44.99).
Deep-dive into either model: