The Acura SLX was introduced in 1996 as part of Honda's premium division. The vehicle was essentially an upgraded Isuzu Trooper, with Consumer Reports putting both through its routine avoidance-maneuvering test and finding them both to be 'not acceptable.'
Both the Trooper and SLX flunked the test due to their outside wheels leaving the ground during sudden turns, making them at a high risk for rolling over.
This was not an isolated incident, as other vehicles such as the 1988 Suzuki Samurai and 2001 Mitsubishi Montero Limited also received the same marks for the same reasons.
The poor performance of the SLX led to only about 6,590 units being sold in its four years of production, making it a commercial failure.
However, it's worth noting that the typical SUV is taller than a comparable car, which increases its weight and throws off its center of gravity, making it more likely to roll over.
Recent efforts have been made to address this issue, such as with the Jeep Wrangler, but the problem persists.
A spokesperson for NHTSA declined to press forward with a further investigation into the SLX/Trooper situation, citing that they couldn't see a defect.
The center of gravity wasn't affected by any suspension upgrades, according to Isuzu engineers, and Acura itself did not tie the upgrades to the rollover issue.
Despite the poor performance in the rollover test, customers who purchased an SLX seemed happy with their vehicle, as indicated by positive reviews.
The issue is not unique to the Acura SLX or Trooper, but rather a concern for many SUVs.
