2017 Acura TLX dashboard

TABLE OF CONTENTS
Acura Total Luxury Care Roadside AssistanceYour Acura TLC Roadside Assistance representative is here to help you 24 hours a
day, 7 days a week. Under your 4-year/50,000-mile (80,000-km) warranty, the
following benefits are available:
•

T
owing services — full cost of towing to the closest Acura dealer
•

R
oadside assistance — jump starting, fuel delivery, lockout, and flat tire
•

T
rip planning — detailed trip routing, emergency services, and more Call (800) 594-8500 (U.S.) or (800) 565-7587 (Canada)
Acura Client RelationsYour authorized Acura dealer should be able to answer any questions you have
about your vehicle. However, if you are dissatisfied with the information you
receive, you can call Acura Client Relations (see page 134).
Call (800) 382-2238 (U.S.) or (888) 922-8729 (Canada)
INTRODUCTION
This Owner’s Guide is intended to help you quickly get acquainted with your
2017 Acura TLX. It provides basic information and instructions on technology and
convenience features, as well as emergency procedures and how to get assistance.
This guide is for vehicles sold in the United States and Canada. It covers all TLX
models, so you may find descriptions of features and equipment that are not in
your vehicle.
Images throughout this guide are from U.S. vehicles and represent features and
equipment that are available on some, but not all, models. Images shown in this
guide should be considered examples and used for demonstration purposes only.
This guide is not intended to be a substitute for the Owner’s Manual. The Owner
Information CD enclosed in your glove box kit includes the Owner’s Manual,
Navigation Manual, and vehicle and tire warranties in electronic format. This
information can be viewed on a computer (PC

or Mac platform) and sav
ed
or printed for your reference. You can also visit owners.acura.com to view the
complete and most current information.
If you are the first registered owner of your vehicle, you may request a
complimentary printed copy of the Owner’s Manual, Navigation Manual, or Vehicle
Warranty up to the first six months after vehicle purchase. To request a copy, visit
owners.acura.com and create or log in to your account. In Canada, please request a
copy from your Acura dealer.
American Honda Motor Company strives to be proactive in protecting our
environment and natural resources. By using electronic delivery for a considerable
portion of the information typically found in a vehicle owner’s manual, we are
further reducing our impact on the environment.
*if equipped
VISUAL INDEX

.......................................................
1
Steering Wheel and Nearby Controls

.................
1
Dashboard and Ceiling Controls

..........................
2
SAFETY INFORMATION

.......................................
3
Important Safety Information

.............................3
Seat Belts

.................................................................
5
Airbags

.....................................................................
8
Child Safety

...........................................................
14
Safety Label Locations........................................ 20
Reporting Safety Defects

....................................
21
INSTRUMENT PANEL..........................................22 Malfunction Indicators

.......................................
22
Condition Indicators

...........................................
24
On/Off Indicators

................................................
25
Multi-Information Display

.................................
26
VEHICLE CONTROLS

..........................................
27
Using the Remote Transmitter

...........................
27
Keyless Access System

.......................................
28
Door Operation from Inside the Vehicle

.........
29
Power Window Operation

.................................
30
Power Moonroof Operation


..............................
31
Interior and Exterior Lights

................................
32
One-Touch Turn Signal

.......................................
33
Wiper Operation

..................................................
33
Adjusting the Seats

.............................................
35
Driving Position Memory System

.....................
37
Adjusting the Steering Wheel

...........................
38
Adjusting the Mirrors

..........................................
39
Customized Features

..........................................
40
HomeLink® Universal Transceiver

.....................
41
Climate Control System

.....................................
42
Seat Heaters and Ventilation*

..........................
43AUDIO AND CONNECTIVITY

..........................
44
Basic Audio Operation

........................................
44
FM/AM Radio

.......................................................
47
SiriusXM® Radio

..................................................
48
Compact Disc (CD)

.............................................
49
iPod® or USB Flash Drive

...................................
50
Bluetooth® Audio

.................................................
51
Hard Disc Drive (HDD) Audio*

.........................
52
Pandora®*

.............................................................
53
AcuraLink featuring Aha™

.................................
54
BLUETOOTH® HANDSFREELINK®

....................
56
Basic

HFL Operation

...........................................
56
Pairing a Phone

....................................................
58
Making a Call

........................................................
59
SMS Text Messaging and E-Mail

.......................
62
ACURALINK
®* ......................................................63
A
curaLink Messages ............................................ 63
Subscription Features
......................................... 64
NAVIGATION*
..................................................... 65
Basic Navigation Operation
.............................. 65
Entering a Destination
........................................ 68
Routing

.................................................................. 70

2 || 3
S AFETY
V
ISUAL I NDEX
99
97910911959894
93969192
SAFETY INFORMATION
Your safety—and the safety of others—is very important, and operating this vehicle
safely is an important responsibility. While we strive to help you make informed
decisions about safety, it is not practical or possible to warn you about all the
hazards associated with operating or maintaining your vehicle. Therefore, you must
use your own good judgment.
Dashboard and Ceiling Controls
1 Color information display
2 On-Demand Multi-Use Display p. 46
3 Hazard warning button
4 Climate control buttons p. 42
5 USB port p. 44
6 Moonroof switch p. 31
Map lights p. 32
AcuraLink®* buttons p. 64
7 Power window switches p. 30
Door lock switches
p. 29


Door mirr
or controls p. 39
8 Hood release handle p. 118
9 Driving Position Memory System
buttons

p. 37
10 Integrated Dynamics System
(IDS) button

p. 84
Electric parking brake p. 81
Electronic gear selector* p. 79
Shift lever* p. 77
Brake hold button p. 82
Auto idle stop button*

p. 83
Audio/phone/navigation*

buttons

p. 46, p. 56, p. 65
11
*if equipped
Important Safety Information
This guide explains many of your vehicle’s safety features and how to use them.
Please read this information carefully. Following the instructions below will also
help to keep you and your passengers safe.
Important Safety Precautions•
Al
ways wear your seat belt.
•

Secur
e all children in the proper restraint system.
•

Be awar
e of airbag hazards.
•

Don’t drink
and drive.
•

P
ay appropriate attention to the task of driving safely.
•

C
ontrol your speed.
•

K
eep your vehicle in safe condition.
Engaging in cell phone conversation or other activities that keep you from paying
close attention to the road, other vehicles, and pedestrians could lead to a crash.
Remember, situations can change quickly, and only you can decide when it is safe
to divert some attention away from driving.
Safety Messages When you see the following messages throughout this guide, pay close attention.
You WILL be KILLED or SERIOUSLY HURT if you don’t follow
instructions.
You CAN be KILLED or SERIOUSLY HURT if you don’t follow
instructions.
You CAN be HURT if you don’t follow instructions.
This information is intended to help you avoid damage to
your vehicle, other property, or the environment.
DANGER
WARNING
CAUTION
NOTICE

8 || 9
S AFETY
S
AFETY
Airbags
Your vehicle is equipped with several types of airbags: front airbags, driver’s knee
airbag, side airbags, and side curtain airbags.
Front Airbags (SRS)
The front SRS airbags inflate in a moderate-to-severe frontal collision to help
protect the head and chest of the driver and/or front passenger. They are housed
in the center of the steering wheel for the driver, and in the dashboard for the
front passenger. Both airbags are marked SRS AIRBAG.
SRS (Supplemental Restraint System) indicates that the airbags are designed to
supplement seat belts, not replace them. Seat belts are the occupant’s primary
restraint system.
Driver’s Knee AirbagThe driver’s knee SRS airbag inflates in a moderate-to-severe frontal collision
to help keep the driver in the proper position and to help maximize the benefit
provided by the vehicle’s other safety features.
Advanced Airbags
Your front airbags have advanced features to help reduce the likelihood of airbag-
related injuries to smaller occupants.
The driver’s advanced front airbag system includes
a seat position sensor. Based on information from
this sensor and the severity of the impact, the
advanced airbag system determines the optimal
deployment of the driver’s airbag.
If there is a problem with the driver’s seat position
sensor, the SRS indicator will come on and
the airbag will inflate with full (normal) force,
regardless of the driver’s seating position.
The passenger’s advanced front airbag system
has weight sensors. Although Acura recommends
against carrying an infant or small child in front, if
the sensors detect the weight of a child (up to 65
lbs or 29 kg), the system will automatically turn off
the passenger’s front airbag.
Side Airbags
The side airbags help protect the upper torso and pelvis of the driver or a front
passenger during a moderate-to-severe side impact. They are housed in the
outside edge of the driver’s and front passenger’s seat-backs. Both are marked
SIDE AIRBAG.
Side Curtain Airbags
Side curtain airbags help protect the heads of the driver and passengers in outer
seating positions during a moderate-to-severe side impact. The side curtain
airbags are also designed to help reduce the likelihood of partial and complete
ejection of vehicle occupants through side windows in crashes, particularly
rollover crashes.
The side curtain airbags are located in the ceiling
above the side windows on both sides of the vehicle.
The side curtain airbags are designed to deploy
in a rollover or moderate-to-severe side impact.
If the SRS control unit senses that your vehicle is
about to roll over, it immediately deploys both side
curtain airbags and activates both front seat belt
tensioners. If the impact is on the passenger’s side,
the passenger’s side curtain airbag will inflate even if
there are no occupants on that side of the vehicle.
To get the best protection from the side curtain
airbags, occupants should wear their seat belts
properly and sit upright and well back in their seats.
Do not attach any objects to the side windows or roof pillars, as they can
interfere with the proper operation of the side curtain airbags.
When side curtain airbags deploy in a frontal collision
One or both side curtain airbags may also inflate in a moderate-to-severe angled
frontal collision. In this case, the side curtain airbags will deploy slightly after the
front airbags.
Side curtain airbag storage
Deployed side curtain airbags
For both advanced front airbags to work properly:
•
Do not spill an
y liquid on or under the seats.
•

Do not put an
y object under the passenger’s seat.
•

Mak
e sure any objects are positioned properly on the floor. Improperly
positioned objects can interfere with the advanced airbag sensors.
•

All
occupants should sit upright and wear their seat belts properly.
•

Do not place an
y cover over any part of the passenger side dashboard.
Driver’s
seat
position
sensor
P assenger’ s
seat weight
sensors

10 || 11
S AFETY
S
AFETY
Important Facts About Your Airbags
Always wear your seat belt properly, and sit upright and as far back from the
steering wheel as possible while allowing full control of the vehicle. A front
passenger should move their seat as far back from the dashboard as possible.
Do not place hard or sharp objects between yourself and a front airbag.
Carrying hard or sharp objects on your lap, or driving with a pipe or other sharp
object in your mouth, can result in injuries if your front airbag inflates.
Do not attach or place objects on the front and driver’s knee airbag covers.
Objects on the covers marked SRS AIRBAG could interfere with the proper
operation of the airbags or be propelled inside the vehicle and hurt someone if
the airbags inflate.
Do not attach accessories on or near the side airbags. They can interfere with
the proper operation of the airbags, or hurt someone if an airbag inflates.
Do not attach any objects to the side windows or roof pillars. They can
interfere with the proper operation of the side curtain airbags.
Do not cover or replace the front seat-back covers. This can prevent your side
airbags from properly deploying during a side impact.
Ignoring the SRS indicator can result in serious injury or death if the airbag
systems or tensioners do not work properly.
Have your vehicle checked by a dealer as soon as possible if the SRS indicator
alerts you to a possible problem.
WARNING
Passenger Airbag Off indicator
The indicator comes on to alert you that the front
passenger’s front airbag has been turned off. This
occurs when the front passenger’s weight sensors
detect 65 lbs (29 kg) or less, the weight of an infant
or small child, on the seat.
Infants and small children should always ride
properly restrained in a back seat.
Objects placed on the seat can also cause the indicator to come on.
If the front passenger’s seat is empty, the passenger’s front airbag will not deploy
and the indicator will not come on.
If the indicator comes on with no occupant or objects in the front passenger’s
seat, something may be interfering with the weight sensors, such as:
•

An object
hanging on the seat or in the seat-back pocket.
•

A
child seat or other object pressing against the rear of the seat-back.
•

A r
ear passenger pushing or pulling on the back of the front passenger’s seat.
•

The
front seat or seat-back is forced against an object on the seat or floor
behind it.
•

An
object placed under the front passenger’s seat.
If none of these conditions exist, have your vehicle checked by a dealer as soon as
possible.
The passenger airbag off indicator may go on and off repeatedly if the total
weight on the seat is near the airbag cutoff threshold.
U.S. Canada
Airbag System Indicators
If a problem occurs in the airbag system, the SRS
indicator will come on and a message appears on
the multi-information display.
SRS (Supplemental Restraint System) indicator
If the indicator comes on at any other time besides
vehicle start-up, or does not come on at all, have
the system checked by a dealer as soon as possible.
If you don’t, your airbags and seat belt tensioners
may not work properly when they are needed. An open glove box can cause serious injury to your passenger in a crash, even
if the passenger is wearing the seat belt.
Always keep the glove box closed while driving.
WARNING
Model w/o
navigation Model w/
navigation

12 || 13
S AFETY
S
AFETY

Airbag System Components
1 Two SRS (Supplemental Restraint System) front airbags. The driver’s airbag
is stored in the center of the steering wheel; the front passenger’s airbag is
stored in the dashboard. Both are marked SRS AIRBAG.
2 Driver’s knee airbag. The knee airbag is stored under the steering column. It is marked SRS AIRBAG.
3 Two side airbags, one for the driver and one for the front passenger. The airbags are stored in the outer edges of the seat-backs. Both are marked
SIDE AIRBAG.
4 Two side curtain airbags, one for each side of the vehicle. The airbags are stored in the ceiling, above the side windows. The front and rear pillars are
marked SIDE CURTAIN AIRBAG.
5 An electronic control unit that continually monitors information about the about the various impact sensors, seat and buckle sensors, rollover sensor,
airbag activators, and seat belt tensioners and other vehicle information
when the vehicle is on.
6 Automatic front seat belt tensioners. The driver’s and front passenger’s seat belts incorporate sensors that detect whether or not they are fastened.
On

models with CMBS
TM, the front seat belt tensioners also include the
e-pretensioners.
7 A driver’s seat position sensor. If the seat is too far forward, the airbag will inflate with less force.
8 Weight sensors in the front passenger’s seat. The front passenger’s airbag will be turned off if the weight on the seat is about 65 lbs (29 kg) or less
(the weight of an infant or small child).
Airbag Care
You do not need to, and should not, perform any maintenance on or replace
any airbag system components yourself. However, you should have your vehicle
inspected by a dealer in the following situations:
When the airbags have deployed
If an airbag has inflated, the control unit and other related parts must be
replaced. Similarly, once an automatic seat belt tensioner has been activated, it
must be replaced.
When the vehicle has been in a moderate-to-severe collision
Even if the airbags did not inflate, have your dealer inspect the following: the
driver’s seat position sensor, weight sensors in the passenger’s seat, front seat
belt tensioners, and each seat belt that was worn during the crash.
Do not remove or modify a front seat without first consulting a dealer
This would likely disable or affect the driver’s seat position sensor or the weight
sensors in the passenger’s seat. If it is necessary to remove or modify a front seat
to accommodate a person with disabilities, contact an Acura dealer. For U.S.
vehicles, call Acura Client Relations at (800) 382-2238. For Canadian vehicles,
call Acura Client Services at (888) 922-8729.
99 99
911 9194 98 93 94
96
91 910
9129
9
9
9
99 9
6 9
9
9
7
93 9
2
913 9
5
9 Impact sensors that can detect a moderate-to-severe front or side impact.
10 An indicator on the dashboard that alerts you that the front passenger’s front
airbag has been turned off.
11 An indicator on the instrument panel that alerts you to a possible problem with the airbag system or seat belt tensioners.
12 Safing sensor
13 A rollover sensor that detects whether the vehicle is about to roll over.

20 || 21
S AFETY
S
AFETY
Allowing a child age 12 or under to sit in the front can result in injury or
death if the passenger’s front airbag inflates.
If a larger child must ride in front, move the vehicle seat as far to the rear as
possible, have the child sit up properly and wear the seat belt properly, using
a booster seat if needed.
WARNING
Safety Label Locations
Safety labels are in the locations shown. They warn you of potential hazards that
can cause serious injury or death. Read these labels carefully.
Reporting Safety Defects
In the U.S.
If you believe that your vehicle has a defect which could cause a crash or could
cause injury or death, you should immediately inform the National Highway Traffic
Safety Administration (NHTSA) in addition to notifying American Honda Motor
Co., Inc.
If NHTSA receives similar complaints, it may open an investigation, and if it finds
that a safety defect exists in a group of vehicles, it may order a recall and remedy
campaign. However, NHTSA cannot become involved in individual problems
between you, your dealer, or American Honda Motor Co., Inc.
To contact NHTSA, you may call the Vehicle Safety Hotline toll-free at 1-888-
327-4236 (TTY: 1-800-424-9153); go to http://www.safercar.gov; or write to:
Administrator, NHTSA, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC 20590. You
can also obtain other information about motor vehicle safety from http://www.
safercar.gov.
In Canada
If you believe that your vehicle has a defect which could cause a crash or could
cause injury or death, you should immediately inform Honda Canada, Inc., and you
may also inform Transport Canada.
If Transport Canada receives similar complaints, it may open an investigation, and
if it finds that a safety defect exists in a group of vehicles, it may lead to a recall
and remedy campaign. However, Transport Canada cannot become involved in
individual problems between you, your dealer, or Honda Canada, Inc.
To contact Transport Canada’s Defect Investigations and Recalls Division, you may
call 1-800-333-0510. For more information on reporting safety defects or about
motor vehicle safety, go to http://www.tc.gc.ca/roadsafety.
If a lap/shoulder belt cannot be used properly, position the child in a booster seat
in a rear seating position. For the child’s safety, check that the child meets the
booster seat manufacturer’s recommendations.
Some U.S. states and Canadian provinces/territories require children to use a
booster seat until they reach a given age or weight (e.g., 6 years or 60 lbs). Be
sure to check current laws in the state or province/territory where you intend to
drive.
Radiator cap
Doorjambs
Sun visors
U.S. models
Canadian models
Dashboard
(U.S. models)

28 || 29
VEHICLE CONTROLS
VEHICLE CONTROLS
Keyless Access System
When you carry the remote transmitter (for example, in a pocket or purse) and it
is outside the vehicle and within range (about 32 inches or 80 cm), you can lock or
unlock the doors and trunk without handling the transmitter.
Unlocking/Locking the Doors
To unlock: Grab either front door (or rear door*)
handle when the vehicle is off.
The driver’s seat slides rearward when the driver’s
door is opened to allow easy entry. The seat slides
forward to the last driving position when the
vehicle is turned on (see page 37).
To lock: Press the door lock button on either front
door (or rear door*) handle when the vehicle is off.
If the remote transmitter is inside the vehicle, the
doors will not lock.
Opening the Trunk
Press the trunk release button under the trunk
handle to unlock and open the trunk. The vehicle
can be on or off.
Door lock
button
*Some Canadian models include rear door keyless access.
Door Operation from Inside the Vehicle
Use these methods to lock or unlock the doors.
Using the Lock Tab
To unlock: When you unlock either front door
using the lock tab, the specific door (driver’s or
passenger’s) unlocks.
To lock: When you lock the door using the lock tab
on the driver’s door, all the other doors and trunk
lock at the same time. When you lock the door
using the lock tab on the front passenger’s door,
only that door locks.
Using the Master Door Lock Switch
To unlock: Press the unlock side of the switch to
unlock all doors and the trunk.
To lock: Press the lock side of the switch to lock
all doors and the trunk.
Using the Front Door Inner Handle
Pull the front door inner handle. The door unlocks
and opens in one motion. Unlocking and opening
the driver’s door from the inner handle unlocks all
other doors.
Do not pull a front door inner handle while the
vehicle is moving.
Childproof Door Locks The childproof door locks prevent the rear doors
from being opened from the inside regardless of the
position of the lock tab.
Slide the lever in the rear door to the lock position,
and close the door.
Open the door using the outer door handle.
Using the Trunk OpenerPress the trunk opener on the dashboard next to
the steering column when all doors are unlocked to
open the trunk.
To lock
To unlock Lock tab
Inner handle
Unlock
Lock
Master door lock switch
To lock
To unlock
Trunk
release button
Trunk opener

34 || 35
V EHICLE C ONTROLS
V
EHICLE C ONTROLS
Headlight Washers*
Canadian models
Turn the headlights on. Press the headlight washer
button to operate the washers.
The headlight washers also operate when you first
turn on the windshield wipers.
Heated Windshield Button*
Canadian models
Turn the vehicle on. Press the heated windshield
button to de-ice the windshield.
The heated windshield may automatically activate
when the outside temperature is below 4°C, and
deactivate when the temperature reaches 6°C.
*if equipped
*if equipped
Adjusting the Seats
Make seat adjustments before driving to ensure the best comfort and safety.
Adjusting the Front Seats
Adjust the driver’s seat as far back as possible
while allowing you to maintain full control of
the vehicle. You should be able to sit upright and
well back in the seat, adequately press the pedals
without leaning forward, and grip the steering
wheel comfortably. The passenger’s seat should
be adjusted so that it is as far back from the front
airbag in the dashboard as possible.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and Transport Canada
recommend that drivers allow at least 10 inches (25 cm) between the center of
the steering wheel and the chest.
Sitting too close to a front airbag can result in serious injury or death if the
front airbags inflate.
Always sit as far back from the front airbags as possible while maintaining
control of the vehicle.
WARNING
Allow sufficient space. Move back.
Horizontal position
adjustment
Driver’s seat/
passenger’s seat*
height adjustment Lumbar support
adjustment
(driver’s seat only)
Seat-back angle
adjustment
Reclining the seat-back too far can result in serious injury or death in a crash.
Adjust the seat-back to an upright position, and sit well back in the seat.
WARNING
Automatic Rain-Sensing Wipers*
When you move the lever to the
AUTO position while driving in
rainy weather, the wipers operate
based on the amount of detected
rainfall.
Rotate the adjustment ring
to adjust the rainfall sensor
sensitivity.
Lower
sensitivity
Higher
sensitivity Adjustment ring
Ensure the wiper lever is in the OFF position before entering a car wash or
cleaning the windshield. Wiper-system damage may happen otherwise.
NOTICE
Do not use the wipers when the windshield is dry. The windshield will get
scratched, or the rubber blades will get damaged.
In cold weather, the blades may freeze to the windshield, becoming stuck.
Operating the wipers in this condition may damage the wipers. Use the
defroster to warm the windshield, or manually clear the windshield of ice and
snow before turning on the wipers.
NOTICE