Head-to-head reliability
Acura TSX vs Honda Accord
How the Acura TSX and Honda Accord compare on NHTSA complaints, recalls and crash reports — and which is the lower-risk used buy.
Based on NHTSA owner-complaint & recall records
Acura TSX vs Honda Accord: The TSX averages about 53 complaints per year with 47 recalls, while the Accord averages about 452 complaints per year with 38 recalls. The TSX reports more steering and brake issues, and the Accord reports more engine and electrical problems. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Acura TSX or Honda Accord more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Acura TSX
The Acura TSX is a compact luxury sedan that generates about 53 complaints per year over a 10-year span, with 47 recalls and 36 crash-related reports. The most common owner complaint is steering noise and heavy steering from a leaking steering rack, followed by air bag warnings and brake pedal issues. With 24 injuries and 2 deaths reported, the data shows a pattern of mechanical wear that can affect control if ignored. For a used buyer, this means budgeting for steering and brake inspections rather than expecting a trouble-free commuter.
Honda Accord
The Honda Accord is a mainstream family sedan that averages about 452 complaints per year over 10 years, with 38 recalls and 162 crash-related reports. Owners frequently report engine stalling or loss of power, electrical glitches like power steering and brake lockup, and forward collision avoidance systems that brake unexpectedly. With 146 injuries and 3 deaths, the volume of complaints is much higher, but many involve newer model years with advanced driver aids. A used buyer should expect more frequent visits for software and sensor issues than with the TSX.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Acura TSX | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 529 Better | 4,524 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 47 | 38 Better |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 36 Better | 162 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 52.9 Better | 452.4 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 24 Better | 146 |
| Reported deathsTied to owner complaints | 2 Better | 3 |
Source: NHTSA owner complaints & recall records.
What actually goes wrong
The problems owners report
The most-complained-about systems on each vehicle — what fails, and what owners say in their own words.
Acura TSX
- 01STEERING209
- 02AIR BAGS93
- 03SERVICE BRAKES78
- 04ELECTRICAL SYSTEM55
- 05ENGINE36
Owners report a noise when turning and steering that becomes heavy, often traced to a power steering fluid leak from the steering rack boot. One complaint also describes losing steering mobility a week after a collision, which matters because steering failure can happen suddenly and affect control.
Complaints include a 'check airbag system' light after a minor accident and Takata recall notifications where parts were unavailable for repair. A buyer should verify that any open air bag recalls were actually fixed, since an unfixed inflator can be dangerous in a crash.
Owners describe frozen brakes where the first pump works but the next 3-5 pumps do not stop the car, and one report of stability assist kicking in without a warning light. These symptoms suggest brake hydraulic or sensor problems that could reduce stopping ability.
Reports include repeated stalling-to-start issues that dealers could not diagnose, and an immobilizer light that stayed on due to corrosion in the PCM/ECM from water damage. Electrical faults like these can leave a buyer stranded or unable to start the car.
“I BEGAN HEARING A NOISE WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL AND THE STEERING BECAME "HEAVY". I CHECKED THE POWER STEERING FLUID RESERVOIR AND IT WAS LOW ON FLUID. I CHECKED UNDER THE CAR AND SAW THAT THERE A LEAK FROM THE DRIVER'S SIDE BOOT ON THE STEERING RACK.…”
“OUR NON-MOVING VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A HARD REAR-END COLLISION AT A IN CITY TRAFFIC WAITING TO MAKE A LEGAL TURN. A WEEK LATER VEHICLE LOST STEERING MOBILITY. WE HAD BATON ROUGE, LA ACURA DEALERSHIP RUN A DIAGNOSTIC. THEY FAILED TO DETERMINE IF THE FAILURE…”
Honda Accord
- 01ENGINE1,006
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM895
- 03FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE837
- 04UNKNOWN OR OTHER746
- 05FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM602
Owners report alarms for brake, hill descent, and ABS followed by loss of speed, as well as rattling noises while accelerating and rough transitions between EV and gas modes. These engine and hybrid system issues can cause sudden power loss or expensive repairs.
Complaints include electronic power steering and braking systems failing and locking up at highway speeds, plus a tire failure after a TPMS repair. Electrical failures that affect steering and brakes are especially serious because they can lead to a crash.
Owners describe the system braking unexpectedly on open roads and with adaptive cruise control set, sometimes twice on the same route. Unwanted braking can surprise a driver and increase the risk of being rear-ended.
Reports include a persistent rotten-egg sulfur odor that remained after a paid filter replacement, and a foot slipping behind a plastic side panel. These may seem minor, but they point to build quality and interior safety concerns.
“Vehicle drove normally in the morning commute. In the afternoon commute it started normally and as i approached highway speeds the alarms started showing up. the Brake, hill descent system, abs, critical failure. the vehicle started losing speed and could not…”
“Vehicle makes rattling noises while accelerating similar to a diesel engine also rough transitions between EV mode and Gas mode also when you press the charge button the engine makes a very noticeable jerk once it’s on ,Honda does not want to fix my issue and…”
Official recalls
Safety recalls on record
Federal recall campaigns — the defect, the risk, and the fix. Confirm any open recall was completed before you buy.
Acura TSX — 47 recalls
The defect: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2014 Honda Insight and Acura TSX and TSX Wagon, 2014-2015 Honda Crosstour and Pilot vehicles nationwide, as well as certain 2014 Honda FCX Clarity and Fit EV vehicles in Florida, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, Texas, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississip…
The risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
The fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began November 6, 2018. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are…
The defect: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2009-2014 Acura TSX, 2011-2014 TSX Sport Wagon, 2010-2013 ZDX, 2008-2012 Honda Accord, 2010-2011 Accord Crosstour, 2006-2011 Civic and Civic Hybrid, 2008-2010 Civic GX NGV, 2012-2015 Crosstour, 2007-2011 CR-V, 2009-2013 Fit, 2014 Fit EV, 2010-20…
The risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
The fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began August 12, 2019. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are F…
The defect: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2009-2014 Acura TSX, 2011-2013 TSX Sport Wagon, and 2010-2012 ZDX and 2008-2012 Honda Accord, 2010-2011 Accord Crosstour, 2006-2011 Civic, Civic Hybrid and Civic NGV, 2012-2014 Crosstour, 2007-2011 CR-V, 2009-2013 Fit, 2010-2013 Insight, and 200…
The risk: An incorrectly installed air bag inflator may not properly deploy the passenger frontal air bag in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the inflator installation and, if necessary, replace the passenger frontal air bag module assembly, free of charge. The recall began July 5, 2019. Owners may contact Honda customer service…
The defect: Dorman Products, Inc. (Dorman) is recalling certain Accelerator Pedal Assemblies part numbers 699-114 and 825-5029-1, sold as replacement parts for 2003-2006 Acura MDX, 2004-2008 Acura TL and TSX, 2003-2007 Honda Accord, 2005-2006 Honda CR-V, 2007-2011 Honda Element, 2005-2008 Honda Pilot and 2006-…
The risk: If the accelerator pedal binds, the engine may not quickly return to idle after the pedal is no longer pressed, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dorman will notify owners, and qualified service facilities will replace the affected accelerator pedal assemblies, free of charge. The recall began December 9, 2019. Owners may contact Dorman customer service at 1-800-523-2492, using opti…
Honda Accord — 38 recalls
The defect: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2023-2025 Honda Accord Hybrid vehicles. Due to a software error, the integrated control module (ICM) central processing unit (CPU) may reset while driving, causing a loss of drive power.
The risk: A loss of drive power increases the risk of a crash or injury.
The fix: Dealers will reprogram the ICM CPU software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 6, 2026. Owners may contact Honda's customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for this recall is TN2. Vehicle Identificati…
The defect: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2023-2026 CR-V Hybrid, Accord Hybrid, and 2025-2026 CR-V Fuel Cell EV vehicles. When using the tire repair kit, pressure may build within the sealant bottle, causing the bottle cap to detach.
The risk: A detached bottle cap can become a projectile and strike the user or others nearby, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix: Dealers will replace the tire repair kit nozzle or sealant bottle, free of charge. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed July 27, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the final remedy is available, anticipat…
The defect: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2021 Accord Sedan, Accord Hybrid, CR-V, Ridgeline, 2022 Insight and CR-V Hybrid vehicles. The automatic locking retractor on the second-row center seat belt assembly may deactivate improperly, which can result in an unsecured child restraint sys…
The risk: An unsecured child restraint system can increase the risk of injury during a crash.
The fix: Dealers will replace the second-row center seat belt assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 14, 2022. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138.
The defect: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Pilot, Accord, Civic sedan, HR-V, Odyssey, 2020 Civic coupe, Fit, 2021-2022 Civic hatchback, 2021 Civic Type R, Insight, 2020-2021 CR-V, CR-V Hybrid, Passport, Ridgeline, Accord Hybrid, 2020 Acura MDX, 2022 Acura MDX, 2020-2022 Acura R…
The risk: An air bag that deploys unintentionally during a crash can increase the risk of injury.
The fix: Dealers will replace the seat weight sensors, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 28, 2024. This is a phased recall. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for these recalls ar…
Buyer analysis
Acura TSX or Honda Accord: which should you buy?
The Acura TSX has far fewer complaints per year (about 53) than the Honda Accord (about 452), so on paper the TSX has a lower rate of reported problems. In practice, the TSX issues tend to be mechanical wear like steering leaks and brake pumps, while the Accord has more electronic and driver-assist complaints that can be harder to diagnose. Neither is problem-free, but the TSX may be simpler to own if you inspect the known trouble spots.
Key differences
- The Acura TSX averages about 53 complaints per year, while the Honda Accord averages about 452, so the Accord has a much higher reported problem rate.
- TSX owners most often report steering leaks and heavy steering, while Accord owners report engine stalling and electrical failures affecting steering and brakes.
- The Accord has 162 crash-related reports and 146 injuries versus 36 crash-related and 24 injuries for the TSX, though the Accord's larger sales volume may influence totals.
- Air bag recalls appear on both, but the TSX complaints mention Takata parts shortages, while the Accord recalls include hybrid power control software and fuel pump issues.
- Check for power steering fluid leaks at the steering rack boot and listen for noise or heavy steering when turning.
- Test the brake pedal for a firm first pump followed by a pedal that does not go down on repeated pumps, and scan for any air bag or immobilizer warning lights.
- Test drive at highway speeds and watch for unexpected braking from the forward collision avoidance system or loss of power with multiple dashboard alarms.
- Check for a rotten-egg sulfur odor and verify that any electrical or hybrid power control recalls have been completed.
Before you buy
- Ask for a pre-purchase inspection that specifically checks the steering rack, brake hydraulics, and any stored air bag or electrical fault codes.
- Verify that all open recalls for air bags, fuel pumps, and hybrid software have been repaired by a dealer, and get written proof.
- Test drive the car from a cold start, including repeated brake pumps and a highway loop to trigger forward collision warnings.
- Check for water damage or corrosion under the center console and carpet, especially on the Acura TSX.
- Request the full NHTSA complaint and recall history for the specific model year you are considering.
Check the actual car
Comparing models is smart. Checking the VIN is essential.
Brand averages tell you the trend. A VIN check tells you what's wrong with the specific Acura TSX or Honda Accord in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Acura TSX vs Honda Accord
- Acura TSX total complaints
- 529
- Honda Accord total complaints
- 4,524
- Acura TSX total recalls
- 47
- Honda Accord total recalls
- 38
- Acura TSX avg complaints/year
- 52.9
- Honda Accord avg complaints/year
- 452.4
- More reliable overall
- Acura TSX
- Acura TSX top complaint area
- STEERING
- Honda Accord top complaint area
- ENGINE