Acura TSX Problems by Year
NHTSA has 671 owner complaints and 12 safety recalls on file for the Acura TSX, across 11 model years (2004–2014). The 2004 model year has the most complaints (142). The most reported problem area overall is steering.
Acura TSX years to avoid? What the complaint data shows
These model years drew at least twice as many complaints as a typical TSX year: 2004, 2012. Look at what owners reported before buying one, and check the VIN for open recalls.
Model years with the most complaints
- 2004 TSX: 142 complaints, 3 recalls
- 2012 TSX: 133 complaints, 6 recalls
- 2009 TSX: 91 complaints, 6 recalls
Model years with the fewest complaints
- 2014 TSX: 7 complaints, 3 recalls
- 2007 TSX: 22 complaints, 2 recalls
- 2013 TSX: 33 complaints, 4 recalls
Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold or how long each year has been on the road, so newer and less popular years naturally have fewer complaints. Use them to spot problem patterns, not as a safety ranking.
Most common Acura TSX problems (all years)
| Problem area | Complaints | Model years | Crashes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Steering problems | 223 | 10 | 7 |
| Air Bags problems | 122 | 11 | 23 |
| Electrical System | 84 | 11 | 2 |
| Service Brakes | 49 | 11 | 7 |
| Engine | 41 | 11 | 0 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 39 | 6 | 0 |
| Power Train | 39 | 9 | 2 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 34 | 7 | 1 |
| Seats | 30 | 6 | 1 |
| Structure | 25 | 9 | 4 |
| Seat Belts | 19 | 6 | 5 |
| Tires | 16 | 6 | 0 |
| Exterior Lighting | 14 | 6 | 0 |
| Suspension | 14 | 6 | 1 |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) | 12 | 8 | 1 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 11 | 7 | 3 |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 10 | 7 | 1 |
| Equipment | 8 | 4 | 0 |
| Visibility | 8 | 5 | 1 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 7 | 3 | 0 |
| Wheels | 7 | 5 | 1 |
| Interior Lighting | 6 | 2 | 0 |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 3 | 2 | 0 |
| Service Brakes, Electric | 3 | 2 | 0 |
| Chest Clip, Buckle, Harness | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Parking Brake | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Visibility/wiper | 1 | 1 | 0 |
Acura TSX problems by model year
Problem areas with enough reports for their own page.
All Acura TSX model years
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Crash rating | Top problem | Compared with other years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 TSX | 7 | 3 | — | Service Brakes | |
| 2013 TSX | 33 | 4 | — | Steering | Fewer complaints than other years |
| 2012 TSX | 133 | 6 | — | Steering | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2011 TSX | 45 | 7 | — | Steering | About as many complaints as other years |
| 2010 TSX | 63 | 7 | — | Air Bags | More complaints than other years |
| 2009 TSX | 91 | 6 | — | Air Bags | More complaints than other years |
| 2008 TSX | 34 | 2 | — | Steering | Fewer complaints than other years |
| 2007 TSX | 22 | 2 | — | Steering | Far fewer complaints than other years |
| 2006 TSX | 50 | 3 | — | Steering | About as many complaints as other years |
| 2005 TSX | 51 | 3 | — | Air Bags | About as many complaints as other years |
| 2004 TSX | 142 | 3 | — | Air Bags | Far more complaints than other years |
More from Acura: all Acura models · Acura VIN decoder
Frequently asked questions
Which Acura TSX years should you stay away from?
By NHTSA complaints, 2004 (142), 2012 (133) drew at least twice as many complaints as a typical TSX year. Counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, and newer years have had less time to collect complaints.
What is the biggest problem with the Acura TSX?
Steering, with 223 complaints across 10 model years.
How many recalls does the Acura TSX have?
12 safety recalls across all model years. Each model year page lists its recalls and fixes.