Head-to-head reliability
Acura TSX vs Toyota Camry
How the Acura TSX and Toyota Camry 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 Toyota Camry: The TSX averaged 52.9 complaints per year with 47 recalls, while the Camry averaged 205.6 complaints per year with 31 recalls. The TSX's top issue is steering (209 complaints), and the Camry's is power train (385 complaints). Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Acura TSX or Toyota Camry 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 averaged about 53 complaints per year over a 10-year span, with steering problems dominating the list. Owners frequently report power steering fluid leaks, heavy steering, and even sudden loss of steering ability, which can be alarming. Air bag issues, including Takata recalls and warning lights, are also common. While the TSX has fewer total complaints than the Camry, the high proportion of steering and air bag problems means potential safety concerns that need careful inspection.
Toyota Camry
The Toyota Camry is a midsize family sedan that averaged about 206 complaints per year, with power train, engine, and brake issues leading the way. Owners describe intermittent problems like the key getting stuck in the ignition, hesitation and shuddering while driving, and electronic parking brake failures. The sheer volume of complaints, including many crash-related reports, suggests that while the Camry is popular, it has a wide range of recurring faults that can affect daily driving.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Acura TSX | Toyota Camry |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 529 Better | 2,056 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 47 | 31 Better |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 36 Better | 171 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 52.9 Better | 205.6 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 24 Better | 158 |
| Reported deathsTied to owner complaints | 2 | 1 Better |
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 power steering fluid leaks from the steering rack boot, leading to heavy steering and noise when turning. In some cases, the vehicle lost steering mobility entirely, which is a serious safety risk.
Many complaints involve the Takata air bag inflator recall, with owners waiting for parts. Others report a 'check airbag system' warning light after minor accidents, which can prevent the car from passing inspections or being used for ride-share.
Drivers describe a frozen brake pedal where the first pump works but subsequent pumps do not engage, making the car hard to stop. This often happens in the morning or during normal driving, which is dangerous.
Owners report stalling to start, immobilizer issues, and corrosion in the PCM/ECM control unit due to water leaks. These problems can leave the car unable to start or cause intermittent electrical failures.
“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…”
Toyota Camry
- 01POWER TRAIN385
- 02UNKNOWN OR OTHER323
- 03ENGINE315
- 04SERVICE BRAKES285
- 05ELECTRICAL SYSTEM237
Owners of 2023 Camrys report the ignition key getting stuck and unable to be removed even when in Park, requiring battery disconnection. Others describe hesitation and shuddering while driving, often with the check engine light on.
Complaints include delayed throttle response where pressing the accelerator does not move the car for several seconds. This hesitation and shuddering can occur at various speeds, making merging or accelerating unpredictable.
The electronic parking brake (EPB) may fail to disengage, requiring a tow to the dealer. Owners also hear a clicking or vibrating noise from the brake pedal area, which the manufacturer says is normal but owners find concerning.
Multiple systems like stability control, power steering, blind spot monitoring, and lane keeping can malfunction simultaneously. This suggests complex electronic issues that may be hard to diagnose and repair.
“My 2023 Toyota Camry has developed an intermittent defect where the ignition key becomes stuck and cannot be removed even though the dashboard shows the vehicle is in Park. The only way to remove the key is to disconnect the vehicle's battery, which is not a…”
“The contact owns a 2023 Toyota Camry. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle was hesitating and shuddering, and the check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, who diagnosed the vehicle…”
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…
Toyota Camry — 31 recalls
The defect: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2023 Camry and Camry Hybrid vehicles. The lug nuts that attach the wheels to the vehicle may be loose, which can result in wheel detachment.
The risk: A wheel that detaches from a moving vehicle can cause a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the repair has been performed. Dealers will inspect and tighten the lug nuts, and replace any damaged components, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed on…
The defect: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2023-2024 Camry and Camry Hybrid vehicles. The second-row center and right-side seats may have insufficiently welded head restraint brackets. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle…
The risk: A head restraint bracket that is insufficiently welded may not properly restrain an occupant during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix: Dealers will replace the 60% rear seat-back frame sub-assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 19, 2024. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for this recall are 24TB0…
The defect: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Avalon, Avalon Hybrid, Corolla, Highlander, Highlander Hybrid, RAV4, RAV4 Hybrid, Lexus ES350, Lexus RX350, Lexus RX450H, 2021 Sienna Hybrid, Lexus ES250, 2020-2022 Camry, Camry Hybrid, and ES300H vehicles. A short cir…
The risk: An air bag that does not deploy during a crash increases the risk of injury.
The fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the sensor as necessary, free of charge. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed in February 2024. Some final remedy owner letters were mailed October 31, 2024. Letters will continue…
The defect: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2023-2024 Camry and Camry Hybrid vehicles. The second-row center and right-side seats may have insufficiently welded head restraint brackets. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle…
The risk: A head restraint bracket that is insufficiently welded may not properly restrain an occupant during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix: Dealers will replace the 60% rear seat-back frame sub-assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 19, 2024. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for this recall are 24TB0…
Buyer analysis
Acura TSX or Toyota Camry: which should you buy?
The Acura TSX has far fewer complaints per year (about 53) compared to the Toyota Camry (about 206), but the TSX's issues are more concentrated in critical areas like steering and air bags. The Camry's higher volume means more frequent visits to the shop for a variety of problems, though many are not necessarily safety-critical. In practice, the TSX may need fewer repairs overall, but when something goes wrong, it could be more serious.
Key differences
- The Acura TSX has a much lower annual complaint rate (53 vs. 206), but its top issue is steering, with reports of fluid leaks and loss of steering, while the Camry's top issue is power train, with key stuck and hesitation problems.
- The TSX has 47 recalls over 10 years, including multiple Takata air bag inflator recalls, whereas the Camry has 31 recalls, with seat and air bag sensor recalls.
- Camry complaints include many crash-related reports (171) and injuries (158), while the TSX has 36 crash-related and 24 injuries, but the TSX has 2 deaths compared to 1 for the Camry.
- The TSX's brake complaints involve a frozen pedal that reduces stopping ability, while the Camry's brake complaints focus on the electronic parking brake failing to disengage and noise from the ABS system.
- Check for power steering fluid leaks around the steering rack boot and listen for whining or heavy steering when turning; a low reservoir or leak could indicate a failing rack.
- Inspect the air bag system for any warning lights and verify that the Takata recall repair has been completed; an unresolved recall means the air bag may not deploy correctly.
- Test the ignition key removal in various gears and ensure it does not get stuck; also check for hesitation or shuddering during a test drive, which could indicate power train issues.
- Verify that the electronic parking brake engages and disengages smoothly, and listen for clicking or vibrating noises from the brake pedal area, which may signal ABS problems.
Before you buy
- Obtain a full vehicle history report and confirm all open recalls have been addressed, especially the Takata air bag recall on the Acura TSX.
- Have a mechanic inspect the steering system on the TSX for leaks, play, or noise, and check the power steering fluid level and condition.
- On the Camry, test the ignition key removal multiple times and scan for any stored engine or transmission codes that could indicate hesitation issues.
- For both vehicles, check the brake system thoroughly: on the TSX, test for a firm pedal that does not fade; on the Camry, test the electronic parking brake and listen for abnormal noises.
- Review the NHTSA complaint database for the specific model year you are considering to see if there are patterns beyond the general trends.
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 Toyota Camry in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Acura TSX vs Toyota Camry
- Acura TSX total complaints
- 529
- Toyota Camry total complaints
- 2,056
- Acura TSX total recalls
- 47
- Toyota Camry total recalls
- 31
- Acura TSX avg complaints/year
- 52.9
- Toyota Camry avg complaints/year
- 205.6
- More reliable overall
- Acura TSX
- Acura TSX top complaint area
- STEERING
- Toyota Camry top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN