Decode Your VIN
Enter your vehicle's VIN code to discover all technical specifications. The VIN consists of 17 alphanumeric characters.
Acura TLX VIN Decoder
Decode any Acura TLX VIN free in under three seconds. Type the 17-character vehicle identification number into the decoder above and pull the generation, model year, engine, trim, drivetrain, plant of origin, and open NHTSA recalls. No account, no credit card, no email gate.
This page is the dedicated Acura TLX hub. Below you’ll find the real chassis codes the TLX carries inside its own VIN, the single plant that has ever built it, the engine codes for both generations, a position-by-position guide, and where to physically find the VIN on the car.
About the Acura TLX
If you’re searching for a TLX VIN decoder because you actually own a TL or a TSX, you’re not lost: the TLX replaced both of them. Acura sold the TL (a larger sedan) and the TSX (a smaller, sportier one) side by side through the 2014 model year, then discontinued both and merged their positioning into a single new nameplate. The TLX debuted as a 2014 auto-show prototype, reached production for the 2015 model year, and has been Acura’s sole sedan below the flagship RLX ever since. If you own a 2014 or earlier Acura sedan, use the TL or TSX VIN decoder instead; this page covers 2015-onward TLX VINs only.
The TLX has run through two generations, and its VIN spells out the exact variant at positions 4 to 6, not just a generation letter:
| Generation | Model years | VIN chassis codes (positions 4-6) | Platform | Built at |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st gen | 2015-2020 | UB1 (FWD 2.4L I4), UB2 (FWD 3.5L V6), UB3 (SH-AWD 3.5L V6) | Shares its core platform with the 9th-generation Honda Accord | Marysville, Ohio |
| 2nd gen | 2021-present | UB5 (FWD 2.0L turbo I4), UB6 (SH-AWD 2.0L turbo I4), UB7 (SH-AWD 3.0L turbo V6, Type S) | Model-exclusive TLX chassis and body structure | Marysville, Ohio |
The Type S name, absent from the TLX lineup for its entire first generation, came back for 2021 as the range-topping performance trim: a 3.0-liter turbo V6, standard SH-AWD, Brembo front brakes, and a firmer chassis tune. It’s the direct descendant of the original Acura TL Type-S and CL Type-S from the 2000s. A separate long-wheelbase model, the TLX-L, is built in China by the GAC Honda joint venture for that market only; it does not appear in US listings and won’t decode against the WMI below.
Acura TLX WMI codes (positions 1 to 3)
The first three characters of a VIN form the World Manufacturer Identifier, assigned by SAE on behalf of ISO. Every US-market TLX VIN we decoded, spanning 2015 through 2023 and every drivetrain and engine combination, carried the same WMI:
| WMI | Country | Manufacturer | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 19U | USA | American Honda Motor Co. (Acura), Marysville, Ohio | Every North American TLX, both generations |
Unlike a nameplate sold across several factories (a Camry or a Civic, for instance), the TLX has only ever been assembled in one place for the US market, so its WMI is uniquely stable. If a VIN presented as a US-spec TLX starts with anything other than 19U, decode it with the tool at the top of this page before trusting the listing; it may be a China-market TLX-L, a different Acura or Honda model, or a data-entry error.
How to decode an Acura TLX VIN, position by position
Every TLX VIN uses the 17-character ISO 3779 standard, split into a World Manufacturer Identifier, a Vehicle Descriptor Section, a check digit, and a Vehicle Identifier Section.
Positions 1 to 3: World Manufacturer Identifier
See the WMI table above. Because Acura builds the TLX in exactly one plant, this block doesn’t vary the way it does on nameplates assembled in multiple countries.
Positions 4 to 8: Vehicle Descriptor Section (VDS)
This is where the generation, engine, and drivetrain actually live, and on the TLX they’re concentrated earlier than on most cars: positions 4 through 6 spell out the literal chassis code (UB1 through UB7), which by itself tells you the generation, the engine family, and whether the car is FWD or SH-AWD. Position 7 carries body and restraint-system data; in every VIN we decoded across both generations it read F. Position 8 shifts with trim and equipment package but doesn’t map to a single published meaning on its own, so we’re not going to guess at one; the decoder above reconstructs trim from the full VDS plus the build data, not from position 8 in isolation.
Because the chassis code at positions 4 to 6 already encodes the engine, that’s the table worth memorizing:
1st generation (2015-2020), positions 4-6:
| Code | Engine | Drivetrain |
|---|---|---|
| UB1 | 2.4L K24W7 4-cylinder | FWD |
| UB2 | 3.5L J35Y6 V6 | FWD |
| UB3 | 3.5L J35Y6 V6 | SH-AWD |
2nd generation (2021-present), positions 4-6:
| Code | Engine | Drivetrain |
|---|---|---|
| UB5 | 2.0L K20C6 turbo 4-cylinder | FWD |
| UB6 | 2.0L K20C6 turbo 4-cylinder | SH-AWD |
| UB7 | 3.0L J30AC turbo V6 (Type S) | SH-AWD |
All six chassis codes above were confirmed against real, checksum-valid TLX VINs decoded through NHTSA’s vPIC database.
Position 9: Check digit
The check digit catches typos. It’s calculated from the other 16 characters using a fixed weighting table and modulo-11 math. Every VIN used to build this page passed NHTSA’s check-digit validation; mistype a single character anywhere in a TLX VIN and the math stops matching, which is why any compliant decoder, state DMV, or the NHTSA recall lookup will reject it.
Position 10: Model year
The 10th character maps to model year on the standard 30-year cycle every VIN-compliant vehicle uses:
| Char | Year | Char | Year | Char | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| P | 1993 | 9 | 2009 | K | 2019 |
| R | 1994 | A | 2010 | L | 2020 |
| S | 1995 | B | 2011 | M | 2021 |
| T | 1996 | C | 2012 | N | 2022 |
| V | 1997 | D | 2013 | P | 2023 |
| 2 | 2002 | E | 2014 | R | 2024 |
| 4 | 2004 | F | 2015 | S | 2025 |
| 5 | 2005 | G | 2016 | T | 2026 |
| 6 | 2006 | H | 2017 | ||
| 7 | 2007 | J | 2018 |
Only the range from F (2015) onward applies to a TLX, since no earlier VIN exists for the model. We confirmed F, G, K, L, N, and P directly against real TLX VINs decoding to 2015, 2016, 2019, 2020, 2022, and 2023 respectively. The letters I, O, and Q are always skipped because they resemble 1 and 0.
Position 11: Assembly plant
Every US-market TLX VIN we decoded, across both generations and every engine, carried the same single character:
| Char | Plant |
|---|---|
| A | Marysville Auto Plant, Marysville, Ohio |
Acura has never built the TLX anywhere else for the North American market, so this position doesn’t discriminate the way it does on a nameplate assembled at multiple sites.
Positions 12 to 17: Serial number
The final six characters are the production sequence stamped on your specific TLX as it left the line. Combined with the previous 11 characters, this makes every TLX VIN globally unique; two cars with the same generation, year, and drivetrain still differ here.
TLX trim levels and how they appear in the VIN
A TLX VIN doesn’t spell out the trim name; the decoder reconstructs it from the VDS plus the equipment package on file. Trim lineups by generation:
- 1st gen (2015-2017): Base (2.4L or 3.5L), Technology, Advance
- 1st gen (2018-2020): 2.4L, 2.4L Technology, 2.4L A-Spec, 3.5L, 3.5L Technology, 3.5L A-Spec, 3.5L Advance (plus the limited-run 2020 PMC Edition, hand-assembled at Marysville’s Performance Manufacturing Center)
- 2nd gen (2021-2023): Base, Technology, A-Spec, Advance, Type S
- 2nd gen (2024-present): Technology (now the standard trim), A-Spec, Type S, with Advance folded into the streamlined lineup
When you decode a TLX VIN with the tool above, the result also returns the drivetrain (FWD or SH-AWD) and factory options so you can match it against a sticker or a build sheet.
Where to find the VIN on an Acura TLX
- Lower-left corner of the windshield, visible from outside the car
- Driver’s side door jamb sticker
- Stamped on the engine bay firewall or shock tower
- Vehicle title, registration, insurance card
The windshield and door jamb are the fastest to check on a used-car lot. The firewall stamp is the one to check if you suspect a cloned or re-titled car; it’s physically tied to the vehicle and far harder to alter than an adhesive label.
Acura TLX recalls and safety
The TLX has been the subject of several notable NHTSA campaigns. A 2019 recall (19V-060) covered 2015-2019 V6 TLX models (alongside related MDX and Accord years) whose fuel pumps could accumulate particulates and stall the engine while driving. A separate 2023 recall (23V-751) covered 2015-2020 TLX models over a manufacturing defect in the connecting rod bearing that could seize and damage the engine. That same year, a much broader campaign (23V-858) expanded fuel pump replacement to 2013-2023 Honda and Acura vehicles, including every first-generation TLX. On the second generation, a 2024 recall (24V-950) covered 2021-2023 TLX models with a misaligned fuel filler neck weld that could leak fuel, and a 2025 recall (25V-391) covered 2021-2025 TLX, MDX, and Pilot models over an improperly secured brake pedal pivot pin. A separate 2026 airbag-sensor recall (26V-332) covers 2018-2021 and 2023 TLX models alongside several other Acura and Honda SUVs.
To check your specific TLX:
- Decode the VIN with the tool above to confirm the exact model year and generation
- Cross-reference the 17-character VIN with NHTSA’s recall database
- Contact your nearest Acura dealer for any open campaign repair
Recall repairs are free regardless of vehicle age, mileage, or ownership history.
Frequently asked questions
How do I decode an Acura TLX VIN?
Type the 17-character VIN from the windshield, door jamb, or title into the decoder at the top of this page. Results return in seconds and include generation, model year, engine, drivetrain, trim, plant of origin, and any open NHTSA recalls. No sign-up.
Is the TLX the same as the TL or the TSX?
Not the same car, but its direct successor. Acura discontinued both the TL and the TSX after the 2014 model year and replaced them with the single TLX nameplate starting in 2015, positioned between the two in size. If your VIN is from a 2014 or older TL or TSX, it will not decode as a TLX; use the TL or TSX-specific decoder instead.
Where is the VIN on an Acura TLX?
The two easiest spots are the lower-left corner of the windshield, readable from outside the car, and the driver-side door jamb sticker. Both are required by federal labeling regulation. The firewall stamp in the engine bay carries the same number and is harder to tamper with.
How do I tell which TLX generation I have from the VIN?
Look at positions 4 to 6. UB1, UB2, or UB3 means a 2015-2020 first-generation TLX. UB5, UB6, or UB7 means a 2021-present second-generation TLX. The code also tells you the engine and drivetrain: UB1 and UB5 are the base four-cylinder FWD cars in each generation, while UB3 and UB7 are the SH-AWD V6 variants (SH-AWD Type S on the second generation).
Is the Acura TLX VIN decoder really free?
Yes. VinDecoderPlus decodes every TLX VIN free of charge with no sign-up. The basic decode covers everything the factory stamped into the VIN. A full vehicle history report (accident records, odometer history, prior ownership, salvage status) is available as a paid upgrade if you need it.
Can an Acura TLX VIN be faked?
The 17 characters can be retyped on a counterfeit plate, but the check digit at position 9 catches most single-character changes through math, and the firewall stamp is physically tied to the original car. If the windshield and door-jamb VINs match but the firewall stamp doesn’t, treat the car as potentially cloned. The guide how to check if a car is stolen by VIN walks through the verification steps.
Decode any Acura TLX VIN free
Type your 17-character TLX VIN into the decoder at the top of this page for an instant breakdown. To go deeper into VIN structure or check other Acura models:
- Acura VIN decoder hub for the brand-wide guide
- How to read a VIN number for the general standard
- What every character in a VIN means for a position-by-position reference
- Classic car VIN decoder for pre-1981 vehicles
- VIN decoder vs. vehicle history report for what a decode covers vs. what it doesn’t
