Why does my 2015–2017 Acura TLX V6 jerk between gears or hesitate?

Short answer: The V6 TLX uses a 9-speed automatic that many owners say shifts harshly between low gears or hesitates when you speed up after slowing down. Acura's bulletin 20-015 blames bad learned shift settings in the transmission computer and fixes it with a software update. The computer then needs about 500 miles to relearn. Owner results vary: many say it got better, some still feel it.

Symptom: A thump or jerk on the 1–2 or 2–3 upshift, a delay when you press the gas after slowing to yield, or uneven shifts with steady acceleration.

What to check first

1. Ask an Acura dealer to check your VIN for bulletin 20-015 and recalls 14V779 and 16V640.
2. Give it 500 miles after any update before judging it, since the computer relearns your driving.
3. Describe exactly when it happens (speed, gear, cold or warm) so the dealer can reproduce it.
4. Keep records in case the problem continues.

Likely causes

1. Transmission computer learned values off (software). Acura bulletin 20-015: harsh or jerky upshifts with steady acceleration come from abnormal learned values. Dealers update the software.
2. Transmission wiring crimp fault (2015 models). Recall 16V640: poor crimps in the transmission wiring can make some 2015 TLXs shift to neutral. Fixed free.

What it usually costs

The software update is a dealer bulletin, usually covered under warranty. I couldn't find a reliable published price for paying out of pocket.

Is it safe to keep driving?

Usually drivable. But a hesitation pulling into traffic is risky, and a car that shifts into neutral or won't go into Park (both 2015 recalls) is a safety problem. Verify with a mechanic.

DIY or shop?

Dealer. Software updates and relearns need Acura's tools.

Recalls, bulletins and complaints in plain words

• Recall 14V779 (2015 TLX V6): the transmission may not go into Park properly. Dealers inspect it and replace the transmission if needed. If your car is part of this recall, the dealer fixes it for free.
• Recall 16V640 (2015 TLX): poor crimps in the transmission wiring can make it shift into neutral unexpectedly. Dealers update the software for free.
• Acura bulletin 20-015 (TLX V6 9-speed): harsh or jerky upshifts with steady acceleration. Dealers update the transmission software, and the car needs about 500 miles to adapt.
• NHTSA complaints: 241 keyword-matched complaints for Acura TLX 2015–2017 (of 526 unique complaints queried, NHTSA complaints API by model year, queried 2026-10-17; keywords: transmission, shift, jerk, hesitat, lurch, harsh, 9-speed, 9 speed, neutral).

What owners report

• On AcuraZine, a shopper asked whether all 3.5L TLXs are affected by the transmission problem. Owners said it varies car to car, and one said the bigger issue was hesitation after slowing to yield and then pressing the gas.
• AcuraZine's long 9AT hard shift 1-2 and 2-3 thread has owners comparing results after updates, and some owners reported a transmission being replaced. On TLX Forums, owners compared updates under the 15-038 and 15-040 bulletins.

My take

My advice as a former car salesman: test drive a V6 TLX in stop-and-go traffic and do a rolling slowdown, then accelerate. That's where owners feel the hesitation, and a quick highway loop won't show it.

Vehicle focus: 2015–2017 Acura TLX V6 with the 9-speed automatic (the 2.4L uses a different transmission).

Safety / mechanic note

An unexpected shift to neutral or hesitation in traffic can cause a crash. Verify with a mechanic.