Acura TLX (2021 year). Manual in english - page 2

27

Quick

 Referenc

e Guide

What to Do If

Why does the brake pedal 
pulsate slightly when 
applying the brakes?

This can occur when the ABS activates and does not indicate a 
problem. Apply firm, steady pressure on the brake pedal. Never 
pump the brake pedal.

2

Anti-lock Brake System (ABS) 

(P490)

The rear door cannot be 
opened from inside the 
vehicle. Why?

Check if the childproof lock is in 
the lock position. If so, open the 
rear door with the outside door 
handle.
To cancel this function, slide the 
lever up to the unlock position.

Why do the doors lock 
after I unlocked the doors?

If you do not open the doors within 30 seconds, the doors are 
relocked automatically for security.

Why does the beeper 
sound when I open the 
driver’s door?

The beeper sounds when:

●

The power mode is in ACCESSORY.

●

The exterior lights are left on.

●

The Auto Idle Stop is in operation.

28

Quick

 Referenc

e Guide

Why does a beeper sound 
when I walk away from the 
vehicle after I close the 
door?

The beeper sounds if you move outside the walk away auto lock 
operating range before the door completely closes.

2

Locking the doors and trunk (Walk away auto lock

®

) 

(P124)

Why does the beeper 
sound when I start driving?

The beeper sounds when the driver and/or front passenger are 
not wearing their seat belts.

Pulling the electric parking 
brake switch does not 
release the parking brake. 
Why?

Pull the electric parking brake switch with the brake pedal 
depressed.

I’m seeing an amber 
indicator of a tire with an 
exclamation point. What is 
that?

The Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) needs attention. 
Check tire pressure.

2

If the Low Tire Pressure/TPMS Indicator Comes On or Blinks 

(P603)

Depressing the accelerator 
pedal does not release the 
parking brake 
automatically. Why?

●

Fasten the driver’s seat belt.

●

Check if the transmission is in 

(

P

 or 

(

N

. If so, select any other 

position.

29

Quick

 Referenc

e Guide

Why does the gear position 
automatically change to 

(

P

 

when I open the driver's 
door to check for parking 
space lines when 
reversing?

●

Fasten the driver’s seat belt.

●

Close the driver's door and manually change the gear 
position.

u

When opening the driver’s door

 

(P383)

Why do I hear a screeching 
sound when I apply the 
brake pedal?

The brake pads may need to be replaced. Have your vehicle 
inspected by a dealer.

Unleaded gasoline with a 
Pump Octane Number 
(PON) of 91 or higher is 
recommended.
Is it possible to use 
unleaded gasoline with a 
Pump Octane Number 
(PON) of 87 or lower on 
this vehicle?

Use of a lower octane gasoline can cause occasional metallic 
knocking noise in the engine and will result in decreased engine 
performance.
Use of a gasoline with a pump octane less than 87 can lead to 
engine damage.

31

Safe Driving

You can find many safety recommendations throughout this chapter, and throughout this manual.

For Safe Driving

Important Safety Precautions.............. 32
Your Vehicle’s Safety Features............ 34
Safety Checklist ................................. 35

Seat Belts

About Your Seat Belts ........................ 36
Fastening a Seat Belt .......................... 39
Seat Belt Inspection............................ 42

Airbags

Airbag System Components ............... 43
Types of Airbags ................................ 46
Front Airbags (SRS) ............................ 46

Knee Airbags ..................................... 51
Side Airbags....................................... 54
Side Curtain Airbags .......................... 56
Airbag System Indicators.................... 57
Airbag Care ....................................... 60

Child Safety

Protecting Child Passengers ............... 61
Safety of Infants and Small Children... 63
Safety of Larger Children ................... 73

Exhaust Gas Hazard

Carbon Monoxide Gas ....................... 75

Safety Labels

Label Locations .................................. 76

32

Safe 

Driving

For Safe Driving

The following pages explain your vehicle’s safety features and how to use them 
properly. The safety precautions below are ones that we consider to be among the 
most important.

Important Safety Precautions

■

Always wear your seat belt

A seat belt is your best protection in all types of collisions. Airbags are designed to 
supplement seat belts, not replace them. So even though your vehicle is equipped 
with airbags, make sure you and your passengers always wear your seat belts, and 
wear them properly.

■

Restrain all children

Children ages 12 and under should ride properly restrained in a back seat, not the 
front seat. Infants and small children should be restrained in a child seat. Larger 
children should use a booster seat and a lap/shoulder seat belt until they can use the 
belt properly without a booster seat.

■

Be aware of airbag hazards

While airbags can save lives, they can cause serious or fatal injuries to occupants 
who sit too close to them, or are not properly restrained. Infants, young children, 
and short adults are at the greatest risk. Be sure to follow all instructions and 
warnings in this manual.

■

Don’t drink and drive

Alcohol and driving don’t mix. Even one drink can reduce your ability to respond to 
changing conditions, and your reaction time gets worse with every additional drink. 
So don’t drink and drive, and don’t let your friends drink and drive, either.

1

Important Safety Precautions

Some states, provinces and territories prohibit the use 
of cell phones other than hands-free devices by the 
driver while driving.

33

uu

For Safe Driving

u

Important Safety Precautions

Safe 

Driving

■

Pay appropriate attention to the task of driving safely

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.

■

Control your speed

Excessive speed is a major factor in crash injuries and deaths. Generally, the higher 
the speed, the greater the risk, but serious injuries can also occur at lower speeds. 
Never drive faster than is safe for current conditions, regardless of the maximum 
speed posted.

■

Keep your vehicle in safe condition

Having a tire blowout or a mechanical failure can be extremely hazardous.
To reduce the possibility of such problems, check your tire pressures and condition 
frequently, and perform all regularly scheduled maintenance.

■

Do not leave children unattended in the vehicle

Children, pets and people needing assistance left unattended in the vehicle may be 
injured if they activate one or more of the vehicle controls. They may also cause the 
vehicle to move, resulting in a crash in which they and/or another person(s) can be 
injured or killed. Also, depending on the ambient temperature, the temperature of 
the interior may reach extreme levels, which can result in harm or death.
Even if the climate control system is on, never leave them in the vehicle unattended 
as the climate control system can shut off at any time.

34

uu

For Safe Driving

u

Your Vehicle’s Safety Features

Safe 

Driving

Your Vehicle’s Safety Features

The following checklist will help you take an active role in protecting yourself and 
your passengers.

1

Your Vehicle’s Safety Features

Your vehicle is equipped with many features that 
work together to help protect you and your 
passengers during a crash.

Some features do not require any action on your part. 
These include a strong steel framework that forms a 
safety cage around the passenger compartment, 
front and rear crush zones, a collapsible steering 
column, and tensioners that tighten the front and 
outer rear seat belts in a sufficient crash.

However, you and your passengers cannot take full 
advantage of these features unless you remain seated 
in the correct position and always wear your seat 
belts. In fact, some safety features can contribute to 
injuries if they are not used properly.

6
7

9

10
11
12

Safety Cage
Crush Zones
Seats and Seat-Backs
Head Restraints
Collapsible Steering Column
Seat Belts
Front Airbags

Side Curtain Airbags
Door Locks

Side Airbags

7

7

10

10

9

9

11

11

6

8

Knee Airbags

8

12

Seat Belt Tensioners

13

Outer Lap Pretensioner

13

12

8

35

uu

For Safe Driving

u

Safety Checklist

Safe 

Driving

Safety Checklist

For the safety of you and your passengers, make a habit of checking these items 
each time before you drive.

•

After everyone has entered the vehicle, be sure all doors are closed and locked. 
Locking the doors helps prevent an occupant from being ejected and an outsider 
from unexpectedly opening a door.

2

Locking/Unlocking the Doors from the Inside

 P. 130

•

Adjust your seat to a position suitable for driving. Be sure the front seats are 
adjusted as far to the rear as possible while allowing the driver to control the 
vehicle. Sitting too close to a front airbag can result in serious or fatal injury in a 
crash.

2

Seats

 P. 166

•

Adjust head restraints to the proper position. Head restraints are most effective 
when the center of the head restraint aligns with the center of your head. Taller 
persons should adjust their head restraint to the highest position.

2

Adjusting the Head Restraint Positions

 P. 172

•

Always wear your seat belt, and make sure you wear it properly. Confirm that any 
passengers are properly belted as well.

2

Fastening a Seat Belt

 P. 39

•

Protect children by using seat belts or child seats according to a child’s age, height 
and weight.

2

Child Safety

 P. 61

1

Safety Checklist

If the door and/or trunk open message appears on 
the multi-information display (MID), a door and/or 
the trunk is not completely closed. Close all doors 
and the trunk tightly until the message disappears.

2

Warning

 P. 103

36

Safe 

Driving

Seat Belts

About Your Seat Belts

Seat belts are the single most effective safety device because they keep you 
connected to the vehicle so that you can take advantage of many built-in safety 
features. They also help keep you from being thrown against the inside of the 
vehicle, against any passengers, or out of the vehicle. When worn properly, seat 
belts also keep your body properly positioned in a crash so that you can take full 
advantage of the additional protection provided by the airbags.

In addition, seat belts help protect you in almost every type of crash, including:

-

frontal impacts

-

side impacts

-

rear impacts

-

rollovers

■

Lap/shoulder seat belts

All five seating positions are equipped with lap/shoulder seat belts with emergency 
locking retractors. In normal driving the retractor lets you move freely while keeping 
some tension on the belt. During a collision or sudden stop the retractor locks to 
restrain your body.

The front passenger’s and rear seat belts also have a lockable retractor for use with 
child seats.

2

Installing a Child Seat with a Lap/Shoulder Seat Belt

 P. 69

1

About Your Seat Belts

If you extend the seat belt too quickly, it will lock in 
place. If this happens, slightly retract the seat belt, 
then extend it slowly.

Seat belts cannot completely protect you in every 
crash. But in most cases, seat belts can reduce your 
risk of serious injury.

Most states and all Canadian provinces and territories 
require you to wear seat belts.

3

WARNING

Not wearing a seat belt properly increases 
the chance of serious injury or death in a 
crash, even though your vehicle has 
airbags.

Be sure you and your passengers always 
wear seat belts and wear them properly.

Continued

37

uu

Seat Belts

u

About Your Seat Belts

Safe 

Driving

■

Proper use of seat belts

Follow these guidelines for proper use:

•

All occupants should sit upright, well back in the seat, and remain in that position 
for the duration of the trip. Slouching and leaning reduce the effectiveness of the 
belt and can increase the chance of serious injury in a crash.

•

Never place the shoulder part of a lap/shoulder seat belt under your arm or 
behind your back. This could cause very serious injuries in a crash.

•

Two people should never use the same seat belt. If they do, they could be very 
seriously injured in a crash.

•

Do not put any accessories on the seat belts. Devices intended to improve comfort 
or reposition the shoulder part of a seat belt can reduce the protective capability 
and increase the chance of serious injury in a crash.

The seat belt system includes an indicator on 
the instrument panel to remind the driver or a 
front passenger or both to fasten their seat 
belts.
If you set the power mode to ON and a seat 
belt is not fastened, a beeper will sound and 
the indicator will blink. After a few seconds, 
the beeper will stop and the indicator will 
come on and remain illuminated until the seat 
belt is fastened.

The beeper will periodically sound and the 
indicator will blink while the vehicle is moving 
until the seat belt is fastened.

■

Seat Belt Reminder

1

About Your Seat Belts

If a passenger moves around and extends the seat 
belt, the lockable retractor may activate. If this 
happens, release the retractor by unfastening the 
seat belt and allow the belt to retract completely. 
Then refasten the belt.

1

Seat Belt Reminder

The indicator will also come on if a front passenger 
does not fasten their seat belt within six seconds after 
the power mode is set to ON.

When no one is sitting in the front passenger’s seat, 
the indicator will not come on and the beeper will not 
sound.
The indicator also may not come on and the beeper 
may not sound when the occupant is not heavy 
enough to trigger the weight sensor. Such occupants 
(e.g., infants and smaller children) should be moved 
to the rear seat as a deploying front airbag likely will 
injure or kill them.

2

Protecting Child Passengers

 P. 61

uu

Seat Belts

u

About Your Seat Belts

38

Safe 

Driving

The front seats and the outer rear seats are 
equipped with automatic seat belt tensioners 
to enhance safety.

The tensioners automatically tighten the front 
seat belts and the outer rear seat belts during 
a moderate-to-severe frontal collision, 
sometimes even if the collision is not severe 
enough to inflate the front airbags or the 
driver’s and passenger’s knee airbags.

■

Automatic Seat Belt Tensioners

1

Automatic Seat Belt Tensioners

The seat belt tensioners can only operate once.
If a tensioner is activated, the SRS indicator will come 
on. Have a dealer replace the tensioner and 
thoroughly inspect the seat belt system as it may not 
offer protection in a subsequent crash.

During a moderate-to-severe side impact, the 
tensioners on both sides of the vehicle activate.

Driver’s seat belt tension

Front passenger’s and outer rear seat 

belt tension

39

uu

Seat Belts

u

Fastening a Seat Belt

Continued

Safe 

Driving

Fastening a Seat Belt

After adjusting a front seat to the proper position, and while sitting upright and well 
back in the seat:

2

Seats

 P. 166

1.

Pull the seat belt out slowly.

2.

Insert the latch plate into the buckle, then 
tug on the belt to make sure the buckle is 
secure.

u

Make sure that the belt is not twisted or 
caught on anything.

1

Fastening a Seat Belt

No one should sit in a seat with an inoperative seat 
belt or one that does not appear to be working 
correctly. Using a seat belt that is not working 
properly may not protect the occupant in a crash. 
Have a dealer check the belt as soon as possible.

If the seat belt appears to be locked in a fully 
retracted position, firmly pull out on the shoulder belt 
once, then push it back in.
Then smoothly pull it out of the retractor and fasten. 
If you are unable to release the seat belt from a fully 
retracted position, do not allow anyone to sit in the 
seat, and take your vehicle to a dealer for repair.

2

About Your Seat Belts

 P. 36

2

Seat Belt Inspection

 P. 42

Pull out slowly.

Correct 

Seated 

Posture.

Latch 

Plate

Buckle

uu

Seat Belts

u

Fastening a Seat Belt

40

Safe 

Driving

3.

Position the lap part of the belt as low as 
possible across your hips, then pull up on 
the shoulder part of the belt so the lap part 
fits snugly. This lets your strong pelvic 
bones take the force of a crash and reduces 
the chance of internal injuries.

4.

If necessary, pull up on the belt again to 
remove any slack, then check that the belt 
rests across the center of your chest and 
over your shoulder. This spreads the forces 
of a crash over the strongest bones in your 
upper body.

The front seats have adjustable shoulder anchors to accommodate taller and shorter 
occupants.

1.

Move the anchor up and down while 
holding the release button.

2.

Position the anchor so that the belt rests 
across the center of your chest and over 
your shoulder.

1

Fastening a Seat Belt

To release the belt, push the red 

PRESS

 button and 

then guide the belt by hand until it has retracted 
completely.
When exiting the vehicle, be sure the belt is properly 
stowed so that it will not get caught in the closing 
door.

Never insert any foreign objects into the buckle or 
retractor mechanism.

3

WARNING

Improperly positioning the seat belts can 
cause serious injury or death in a crash.

Make sure all seat belts are properly 
positioned before driving.

Lap belt 

as low as 

possible

■

Adjusting the Shoulder Anchor

1

Adjusting the Shoulder Anchor

The shoulder anchor height can be adjusted to four 
levels. If the belt contacts your neck, lower the height 
one level at a time.

After an adjustment, make sure that the shoulder 
anchor position is secure.

Push

41

uu

Seat Belts

u

Fastening a Seat Belt

Safe 

Driving

If you are pregnant, the best way to protect yourself and your unborn child when 
driving or riding in a vehicle is to always wear a seat belt and keep the lap part of the 
belt as low as possible across the hips.

■

Advice for Pregnant Women

1

Advice for Pregnant Women

Each time you have a checkup, ask your doctor if it is 
okay for you to drive.

To reduce the risk of injuries to both you and your 
unborn child that can be caused by an inflating front 
airbag:

•

When driving, sit upright and adjust the seat as far 
back as possible while allowing full control of the 
vehicle.

•

When sitting in the front passenger’s seat, adjust 
the seat as far back as possible.

Wear the shoulder belt 

across the chest avoiding 

the abdomen.

Wear the lap part of the 

belt as low as possible 

across the hips.

42

uu

Seat Belts

u

Seat Belt Inspection

Safe 

Driving

Seat Belt Inspection

Regularly check the condition of your seat belts as follows:

•

Pull each belt out fully, and look for frays, cuts, burns, and wear.

•

Check that the latch plates and buckles work smoothly and the belts retract 
easily.

u

If a belt does not retract easily, cleaning the belt may correct the problem. Only 
use a mild soap and warm water. Do not use bleach or cleaning solvents. Make 
sure the belt is completely dry before allowing it to retract.

Any belt that is not in good condition or working properly will not provide proper 
protection and should be replaced as soon as possible.
A belt that has been worn during a crash may not provide the same level of 
protection in a subsequent crash. Have your seat belts inspected by a dealer after 
any collision.

1

Seat Belt Inspection

3

WARNING

Not checking or maintaining seat belts can 
result in serious injury or death if the seat 
belts do not work properly when needed.

Check your seat belts regularly and have 
any problem corrected as soon as possible.

43

Continued

Safe 

Driving

Airbags

Airbag System Components

9

12

7

9

9

9

11

10

9

8

6

9

6

6

6