The all-new 2021 TLX sport sedan continues Acura's "Safety Through Innovation" approach to enhancing safety performance with the introduction of a world's first passenger front airbag designed to address the issue of severe brain trauma commonly associated with angled frontal collisions. The 2021 TLX targets a 5-star Overall Vehicle Score, the highest available rating in NHTSA's NCAP testing, along with an IIHS Top Safety Pick+ rating, including a GOOD rating in all collision tests and a SUPERIOR rating for frontal crash prevention. In addition to the new passenger front airbag, the 2021 TLX now includes knee airbags for the driver and front passenger. The knee airbags are designed to better control the forward motion of the occupants in the event of a frontal collision, in conjunction with the front airbags and seatbelts. Each knee airbag is contained beneath a panel on the underside of the instrument panel, which is contoured away from the knees, providing improved legroom and easier ingress and egress from the vehicle.

The 2021 TLX is equipped with eight airbags in total, the most ever for the model, including front, side and knee airbags for the driver and front passenger and side-curtain airbags with a rollover sensor.