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Vehicle Stats/Acura/TSX Reliability
NHTSA Official DataUpdated Jul 2026Methodology

Acura TSX Reliability by YearBest & worst years, problems & recalls — NHTSA data

Average reliability signalOur verdict from 528 complaints and 47 recalls on NHTSA record

Comparing used Acura TSX options? We analyzed 10 model years (2005–2014) using real NHTSA complaint and recall data so you can spot stronger years, avoid riskier ones, and know what to inspect before buying.

528
Total Complaints
NHTSA filed
47
Safety Recalls
federal campaigns
36
Crash-Related
crash complaints
3
Fire-Related
fire complaints
24
Injuries Reported
across all years
10
Years Analyzed
2005–2014

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Found a Acura TSX? Check that exact car.

Model-year trends show patterns — they can't tell you whether this car was crashed, flooded, or rolled back. A VIN check can.

  • Accident & damage history
  • Odometer rollback records
  • Open recalls & title brands
NMVTIS official data Instant results No signup for the preview
Quick Answer

ACURA TSX (2005–2014) has 528 NHTSA complaints, with steering issues leading at 208 reports. The 2012 model year has the most complaints (132), while 2014 has the fewest (7). Source: NHTSA owner complaints and recall records.

Acura TSX — key reliability facts
Make
Acura
Model
TSX
Model years analyzed
2005–2014 (10 years)
Total NHTSA complaints
528
Safety recall campaigns
47
Crash-related complaints
36
Fire-related complaints
3
Worst model year (by complaints)
2012 (132 complaints)
Best model year (fewest complaints)
2014 (7 complaints)
Top reported issue area
STEERING
Reliability signal
Average
Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) · Data last refreshed Jul 26, 2026
This TSX has 47 open recall campaigns on record. Check whether yours is affected.Check my VIN free →

By model year

Acura TSX: which years to avoid & which to buy

Based on total NHTSA owner complaints per model year. Higher complaint counts indicate a riskier year to buy used — lower counts suggest a cleaner reliability record.

Years to avoid
2012132 complaints200991 complaints201063 complaints

These years have the most owner complaints. Inspect carefully and always run a VIN check.

Best years to buy
20147 complaints200722 complaints201333 complaints

These years have the fewest owner complaints on record — lower risk starting points.

Looking at a 2012 Acura TSX? It logged the most NHTSA complaints of any model year — averages won't tell you whether this exact car is affected.Check this VIN free →

Crash test ratings

NHTSA NCAP crash test ratings

New Car Assessment Program

NCAP crash tests measure how well a vehicle protects occupants in controlled frontal crash, side crash, and rollover scenarios. Stars are awarded per category (5 = safest). These laboratory results are independent of owner complaints and are performed by NHTSA engineers on new production vehicles.

How to read NCAP stars
5 stars — Excellent
4 stars — Good
3 stars — Average
2 stars — Below average
1 star — Poor

Source: nhtsa.gov/ratings

What the complaint data suggests

Average
Editorial interpretation of NHTSA public complaint data. Source: nhtsa.gov. Complaints are owner-submitted and do not confirm a defect. Methodology

Data engine & NHTSA methodology by Eduard Batog, Co-founder & Data Engineer. How we calculate this.

Based on NHTSA complaint data, the 2005–2014 Acura TSX shows a high volume of steering complaints (208), followed by air bags (93) and service brakes (78). The 2012 model year has the most complaints (132), while 2014 has the fewest (7). Source: NHTSA owner complaints and recall records.

Key findings
  • Steering accounts for 208 complaints, the most of any component.
  • Air bags have 93 complaints, the second-highest category.
  • The 2012 model year has 132 complaints, the highest of any year.
Top concerns
  • Steering system issues, including power steering failure.
  • Air bag non-deployment or inadvertent deployment.
  • Service brake problems, such as premature wear or failure.
Worst years

The 2012 model year has 132 complaints, driven largely by steering and air bag issues. 2009 and 2010 also have elevated complaint counts.

Best years

The 2014 model year has only 7 complaints, suggesting fewer reported issues. The 2007 and 2013 years also have relatively low complaint counts.

What to check before buying used
  • Inspect steering system for leaks, noise, or play.
  • Verify all open recalls at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
  • Request service records for air bag and brake repairs.
  • Have a mechanic inspect the vehicle before purchase.
Data note: NHTSA complaints are consumer-submitted and do not confirm a manufacturing defect. Complaint counts may not reflect actual failure rates due to reporting bias.

Problems by model year (best vs. worst)

2005
51
2006
50
2007
22
2008
34
2009
91
2010
63
2011
45
2012
132
2013
33
2014
7

Source: NHTSA public complaints database. Updated: Jul 2026

Safety recalls

NHTSA safety recalls

47 recalls found

Safety recalls are mandatory repair campaigns ordered by NHTSA when a vehicle defect poses an unreasonable risk to safety. Manufacturers are required to fix recalled vehicles free of charge. Always verify open recalls before buying a used car.

Safety recall

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL

#19E068000VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDALOctober 10, 2019
Safety recall

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL

#19E068000VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDALOctober 10, 2019
Safety recall

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE

#18V042000AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULESeptember 1, 2018
Safety recall

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE

#18V042000AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULESeptember 1, 2018
Safety recall

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE

#17V030000AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULEOctober 1, 2017
Safety recall

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE

#18V661000AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
Safety recall

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE

#19V502000AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
Safety recall

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE

#19V378000AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
Safety recall

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

#13V093000ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
Safety recall

STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:HOSE, PIPING, AND CONNECTIONS

#10V174000STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:HOSE, PIPING, AND CONNECTIONS
Safety recall

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE

#18V661000AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
Safety recall

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE

#19V502000AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
Safety recall

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE

#19V378000AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
Safety recall

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE

#17V545000AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
Safety recall

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE

#16V346000AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
Safety recall

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

#13V093000ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
Safety recall

STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:HOSE, PIPING, AND CONNECTIONS

#10V174000STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:HOSE, PIPING, AND CONNECTIONS
Safety recall

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE

#18V661000AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
Safety recall

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE

#19V378000AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
Safety recall

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE

#19V502000AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE

Source: NHTSA Recalls Database. Data covers model years 2005–2014. Always run a VIN-specific check below for the most up-to-date open recall status.

Common problems

What goes wrong most often

The vehicle systems owners complain about most, ranked from all 528 NHTSA complaints — these are the areas to inspect first on a used car.

01
STEERING208 complaints
02
AIR BAGS93 complaints
03
SERVICE BRAKES78 complaints
04
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM55 complaints
05
ENGINE36 complaints
06
HYDRAULIC30 complaints
07
STRUCTURE25 complaints
08
POWER TRAIN23 complaints

Owner complaints

NHTSA complaint reports

528 total

These are consumer-submitted safety complaints filed directly with NHTSA. Each complaint describes a real owner's experience. Complaints flagged as crash-related or fire-related are highlighted.

ENGINEDec 2023

A GRAINDING NOISE FROM THE INTER ROD BEARING

SERVICE BRAKESApr 2020

FROZEN BRAKES WHEN STARING THE CAR, THE FIRST PUMP ON THE BRAKE WORKS AS EXPECTED. THEN THE NEXT 3-5 PUMPS, THE PEDDLE DOES NOT GO DOWN AND HAS THUS THE CAR DOES NOT STOP. THIS USUALLY HAPPENS WHEN I GO TO WORK IN THE MORNING. BUT, IT HAS HAPPENED DURING THE AFTERNOON. BUT MOST MORNING, I CAN GUARANTEE IT WILL HAPPEN. IT'S USUALLY ON COLD MORNINGS (TEENS AND BELOW) BUT I'M SEEING IT NOW IN 30DEGREE WEATHER. I TOOK IT TO THE ACURA DEALERSHIP (ACURA OF TROY, MI) AND THE SERVICE MANAGER [XXX] DIDN'T LOOK INTO IT AT ALL. HE SAID THEY PERFORMED THE STANDARD 'ACURA CHECK' AND THERE WERE NO ISSUES. I PROVIDE GREG WITH DETAILS ON THE ISSUES AS WELL AS PRINTOUTS FROM OTHERS WHO HAVE REPORTED THE SAME ISSUE. ALL HE DID WAS SMILE AND SAID THEY DID THE ACURA SAFEFTY CHECK AND IT PASSED. I'LL BE SENDING THIS INFO TOO; THE OWNER AND GM OF ACURA OF TROY AND TO ACURA CORP.(HONDA). HERE IS JUST 1 THREAD ON THE ISSUES: HTTPS://ACURAZINE.COM/FORUMS/SECOND-GENERATION-TSX-DISCUSSION-2009-2014-143/FROZEN-BRAKE-PEDAL-901219/ FOR YOUR SELECTION ON THE DATE OF WHEN THIS HAPPENED, I'M ADDING THE SERVICE DATE. BUT THIS IS ON ONGOING PROBLEM. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

ENGINEFeb 2020

THE VTC ACTUATOR PART NUMBER 14310-R40-A01 HAS GONE BAD. THE VERY SAME PART NUMBER IS USED ON MULTIPLE HONDAS AND ACURAS. WHEN USED ON THE HONDA VARIANT (ACCORD) THE PART HAS BEEN DEEMED TO BE DEFECTIVE BY HONDA OF AMERICA PER TSB 09-010. YET WHEN THE VERY SAME PART IS USED IN THE SAME ENGINE ON AN ACURA, HONDA OF AMERICA REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE AND/OR REPLACE THE PART. THE ISSUE OCCURS ON COLD STARTS AND PRODUCES A LOUD GRINDING NOISE FOR ABOUT 2 SECONDS.

SERVICE BRAKESFeb 2019

WHEN THE CAR SITS OVER NIGHT OR WHEN IT COLD THE BRAKE PEDAL WILL NOT GO DOWN, BRAKE NO WORKING FOR SEVERAL MINUTES. CALLED CUSTOMER SERVICE THEY SAID IS NORMAL, AT THREE YEARS AGO.IN 1/31/2019,THE DAY VERY COLD IN NEW YORK CITY, I WENT ON THE PARKWAY AND THE CAR COULD NOT BRAKE, BECAUSE THE PEDAL WOULD NOT GO DOWN. I WENT TO DEALER AT 2/2/2019, THEY SAID THEY KNOW SOME VEHICLE HAVE SAME PROBLEM.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,UNKNOWN OR OTHERJan 2019

I BOUGHT A BRAND NEW 2014 ACURA TSX MAY 27 2014 FROM CONCORD ACURA DEALERSHIP. SINCE 2014-2019 MY CAR HAS BEEN STALLING TO START. I'VE BROUGHT IT IN MULTIPLE TIMES FOR THE SAME ISSUE, THEY WOULD SEND ME HOME AND SAID NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH MY CAR. ON JAN 2017, AFTER BRINGING MY CAR IN FOR THE 8TH TIME, THEY FINALLY TOLD ME THAT MY CAR WAS PURCHASED WITH A BAD BATTERY FROM THE MANUFACTURER WAREHOUSE, THAT WAS WHY MY CAR WOULDN'T START FOR 2 YEARS. SO THEY REPLACED THE BATTERY. JAN 2019 EXACTLY 2 YEARS LATER, MY CAR STALLS AGAIN! I IMMEDIATELY CALLED AAA TO REPLACE MY BATTERY 01/15/19. MY CAR STILL FAILED TO START AS THE AAA TECHNICIAN ASKED ME TO START MY CAR. SO I DROPPED IT OFF AT ACURA OF CONCORD AGAIN ON 01/17/19. THE DEALERSHIP SERVICE AGENT CALLED ME LATER THAT DAY JAN 17TH AND SAID MY CAR WAS DIAGNOSED WITH NO ISSUES. SHE CALLED ME AGAIN JAN 18TH AND SAID MY CAR PASSED ALL INSPECTIONS AND I CAN PICK IT UP NEXT DAY. JAN 19TH MORNING, SHE CALLS ME AND SAYS, "YOU HAVE A BAD BATTERY". BUT I JUST REPLACED MY BATTERY ON JAN 15TH AND IT NEEDS REPLACING JAN 19TH?CAN SOMEONE PLEASE EXPLAIN TO ME WHY IN 4 YEARS I NEED 4 NEW BATTERIES? TODAY JAN 28TH, I GOT A CALL FROM ACURA CORPORATE THAT THEY CAN NOT FIGURE OUT WHAT IS DRAINING MY CAR BATTERY AND WHY I'M HAVING BATTERY ISSUES. THEY WILL NOT TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR A DEFECTIVE CAR! SOMETHING IS KILLING MY BATTERY!!!! I WORK AT A HOSPITAL AND I TAKE ER CALLS FOR TRAUMA PATIENTS. IF MY CAR IS UNRELIABLE AND NOT STARTING, IT IS PUTTING MY PATIENTS LIFE AT HIGH RISK AND AFFECTING MY WORK ETHICS. WHY DOESN'T MY CAR START? WHY DOES MY CAR STALL WHEN TRYING TO START FOR 4 YEARS? WHY DO I NEED 4 NEW BATTERIES IN 4 YEARS? I HAVE VIDEOS OF MY CAR HARD START/ STALLING ISSUE WHICH I CANNOT ATTACH ON HERE. IF MY CAR DOES NOT START IN AN EMERGENCY CASE, IT IS ENDANGERING MY LIFE AND THE PEOPLE RELYING ON ME AS WELL.

SERVICE BRAKESJan 2018

WHEN CAR IS STARTED IN COLD WEATHER, BRAKES DO NOT WORK FOR SEVERAL MINUTES. DEALER SAYS THERE IS NO ISSUE, AND CUSTOMER SERVICE HAS REFERRED ME TO DEALER.

Read 14 more owner reports
AIR BAGSAug 2016

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 ACURA TSX. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V346000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,ELECTRICAL SYSTEMApr 2024

The contact owns a 2007 Acura TSX. The contact stated that while attempting to start the vehicle, the vehicle failed to start. Several unknown warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, who diagnosed a failure with the ECU, and determined that corrosion had caused the component to fail. The vehicle was repaired. After investigating the failure, the contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 13V093000 (Engine and Engine Cooling, Electrical System) however, the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, and a case was opened. The failure mileage was 170,000.

STEERINGSep 2023

The contact owns a 2007 Acura TSX. The contact stated while driving from a complete stop, the vehicle lost power steering functionality. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact stated that the failure had been recurring while driving. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed that the power steering fluid hose was leaking. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 10V174000 (Steering) however, the VIN was not included. The dealer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that a fee would be charged for a diagnostic test. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 126,250.

STEERINGMay 2022

Power steering rack and pinion leaked and was replaced with an Acura remanufactured part. A few years later it is leaking again.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINEJul 2021

The contact owns a 2007 Acura TSX. The contact stated that the emission warning light was illuminated on the instrument panel. The contact had taken the vehicle to an independent mechanic who diagnosed the vehicle with a defective ECM/PCM due to salt corrosion. The dealer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the vehicle was not included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 13V093000 (Engine and Engine Cooling, Electrical System). The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 70,000.

STEERINGJun 2021

Power steering makes an extreme screeching sound and Honda Dealership in Eau Claire, WI, says they cannot perform the recalls, and that I have to go to Acura, which is 2 hours away from me and cannot get there. I feel that Honda in eau claire should be able to do it.

STEERINGMar 2021

BOOT FOR RACK AND PINION STARTED LEAKING FLUID IN THE DRIVEWAY AND HAD TO REPLACE THE RACK AND PINION ASSEMBLY

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEMDec 2020

IMMOBILIZER GREEN KEY LIGHT WILL NOT GO OFF. I HAVE BEEN TROUBLESHOOTING AND FOUND CORROSION IN THE PCM/ECM CONTROL UNIT THAT IS UNDER THE CENTER COUNSEL. SALT-WATER SOAKED THE CARPETING AND THAT CORRODED THE FRAME OF THE UNIT AND GOT INSIDE AND ONTO THE CIRCUIT BOARD. I CHECKED FOR A RECALL AND THERE IS ONE FOR THIS MODEL AND YEAR. IT ASKED FOR THE VIN # AND IT CAME BACK TELLING ME IT WAS INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. MY QUESTION IS WHY OTHER VIN# IS COVERED FOR THIS PROBLEM BUT MINE IS NOT. CORROSION IS CORROSION AND THE CAUSE IS A SALTWATER SOAKED CARPETING NEXT TO THE DRIVERS GAS PEDAL. CAR WAS STATIONARY, PRIVATE DRIVE AND CITY STREET PLEASE EXPLAIN.

STEERINGJun 2020

AFTER GETTING OFF WORK MY CAR SITTING FOR ABOUT 8 HOURS, ON MY COMMUTE HOME WHICH IS APPROXIMATELY 6-8 MINUTES (CITY STREETS) MY STEERING BECAME VERY HEAVY AND DIFFICULT. THE CAR STARTED TO MAKE FUNNY SOUNDS UNDER THE HOOD. ONCE I ARRIVED HOME I NOTICE A TRAIL OF FLUID LEAKAGE SO I CHECKED THE POWER STEERING RESERVOIR AND IT WAS TAPPED DRY, ABSOLUTELY NO FLUID. I HAD TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE RACK AND PINION BECAUSE THE PASSENGER SIDE BOOT HAD A LEAK DUE TO THE SEAL. THIS WAS NOT AN INEXPENSIVE REPAIR. *TR

STEERINGJan 2020

TOOK THE CAR FOR A TEST DRIVE BEFORE I PURCHASED IT, NO LEAKS AND EVERYTHING WORKED FINE. THE NEXT MORNING I NOTICED A WET SPOT UNDER THE CAR, TOOK IT TO THE NEAREST SHOP AND FOUND OUT THE POWER STEERING RACK WAS LEAKING.

1 InjuryAIR BAGSMar 2018

I WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT THAT WASN'T SIGNIFICANT ENOUGH TO WARRANT AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT HOWEVER SINCE THEN THERE HAS BEEN A 'CHECK AIRBAG SYSTEM' ICON ON MY DISPLAY EVER SINCE! I CAN'T RENEW MY LYFT DRIVERS ACCOUNT UNTIL THIS PROBLEM IS ADDRESSED WHICH IS CAUSING AN UNDUE FINANCIAL HARDSHIP. PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF THIS IS PART OF A SECOND WAVE OF RECALLS TO COME REGARDING AIRBAGS. FURTHERMORE, LATELY I'VE BEEN CONTEMPLATING WHAT AN OFFICER AT THE SCENE TOLD ME, WHICH WAS I PUKE BE DEAD AFTER RUNNING DIRECTLY INTO THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME AT A RELATIVELY HIGH RATE OF SPEED. I'M HAPPY TO BE ALIVE BUT AM CURIOUS AS TO HOW AN ACCIDENT OF THIS MAGNITUDE; AN ACCIDENT THAT NEARLY DEMOLISHED MY ACURA AS IS ILLUSTRATED IN THE ATTACHED PHOTO, DIDN'T PROMPT DEPLOYMENT OF MY AIRBAGS? NOW I'M LEFT WITH THIS RIDICULOUS 'CHECK AIRBAG SYSTEM' MESSAGE WHICH SERVES AS A CONSTANT REMINDER OF THEIR FAILURE AND AS DESCRIBED ABOVE IS COSTING ME. *DSY

STEERINGDec 2017

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. I TOOK THE CAR TO A LOCAL SHOP AND HAD THE PART REPLACED WITH AN AFTERMARKET RACK FOR $1200. THE RACK FAILED WITHIN A WEEK. I TOOK IT BACK TO THE LOCAL SHOP AND THEY REPLACED IT UNDER WARRANTY. THIS WAS JUNE 2017. TODAY I TOOK IT TO THE SHOP AGAIN AND NOW THE RIGHT BOOT IS LEAKING. I HAVE NOT HAD TO PAY FOR THE WARRANTY REPLACEMENTS, BUT THE FACT THE ORIGINAL PART WAS DEFECTIVE IS TROUBLING. I HAVE FOUND THAT MANY PEOPLE WITH ACURA TSXS HAVE THE SAME ISSUE. I BELIEVE IT SHOULD BE A MANUFACTURER REPLACEMENT FREE OF CHARGE TO THE OWNER.

STEERING,SUSPENSION,POWER TRAINDec 2016

THE CAR HAD NOT GIVEN ME ANY WARNING OR NOTHING. DRIVING FINE DOWN THE HIGHWAY ONE DAY GOING ABOUT 45 MPH, I GO TO MAKE A TURN AND ITS HARD AS HELL. MY CAR STARTS SOUNDING ALL CRAZY AND IM STRUGGLING TO TURN THE WHEEL. I PULL OVER AND ALL MY POWER STEERING FLUID IS GONE, LEAKED OUT! NOW I HAVE READ REPORT AFTER REPORT OF THIS HAPPENING. OVER AND OVER FOR THIS SAME YEAR AND TYPE OF CAR. WHY IS THERE NO RECALL?????!!!!! THE BOOT JUST BUSTED. AND ITS GONNA COST ME WAY MORE THAN I CAN AFFORD TO REPLACE THE RACK AND PINION! *TR

STEERINGDec 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 ACURA TSX. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE POWER STEERING SEIZED WITHOUT WARNING. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE RACK AND PINION FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 120,000.

Showing 20 of 528 total NHTSA complaints. Source: NHTSA Complaints Database

Check the exact car

Before you buy, check the exact Acura TSX

These pages show model-year patterns across 10 years. Enter a VIN to verify the exact vehicle's accident history, title brands, odometer records, and open recall status before purchase.

The basics

How to read this data

Complaints, recalls, investigations — here’s what each number actually tells you about a used Acura TSX, in plain English.

01

What is an NHTSA Complaint?

An NHTSA safety complaint is a report filed directly by a vehicle owner or driver describing a safety-related issue. Anyone can submit a complaint at NHTSA.gov. The number of complaints is a signal of how common a problem is — but complaints per model-year matter more than raw totals, since popular vehicles naturally receive more reports. The Acura TSX has 528 complaints on record across 10 model years.

02

What is a Safety Recall?

A safety recall is a mandatory campaign issued by NHTSA when a vehicle component poses an unreasonable risk to safety or does not comply with federal motor vehicle safety standards. Unlike complaints (which are owner-reported), recalls are formally investigated and confirmed by regulators. Manufacturers must fix recalled vehicles free of charge. The Acura TSX has 47 recall campaigns in the NHTSA database.

03

What Are Crash Complaints?

Crash complaints are NHTSA filings where the owner indicates a crash occurred as part of the incident. 36 of the Acura TSX's 528 complaints involved a crash. This metric is particularly important because it indicates how often defects resulted in actual collisions — a key safety signal beyond general reliability.

04

How Is the Reliability Verdict Calculated?

The reliability verdict (Average) is generated by analyzing the vehicle's total complaints, recall history, crash complaint ratio, fire complaint ratio, and top component failures relative to class averages. This verdict gives buyers a quick interpretation before they review year-level details and VIN-level history. It should be treated as one decision input, not a substitute for a VIN-specific report.

05

Why Do Newer Years Have Fewer Complaints?

Newer model years appear to have fewer complaints because there has been less time for owners to file them. Complaints accumulate over years of ownership. A 2020 model year vehicle will typically show fewer complaints than a 2015 model year even if it is less reliable — simply because fewer owners have had time to report issues. Focus on complaints per year of market presence when comparing across model years.

06

Fleet Data vs. Individual VIN

Everything on this page reflects aggregated data across all Acura TSX vehicles on the road — not any specific car. Two Acura TSX vehicles of the same year can have very different histories: one may have been in three accidents and have an open recall; another may be clean. A VIN check gives you the individual car's history: accidents, title brands, odometer records, service history, and real-time recall status.

07

What Are NHTSA Investigations?

When NHTSA receives a pattern of related safety complaints, it opens a formal investigation. A Preliminary Evaluation (PE) is the first stage — NHTSA determines if a safety defect may exist. If evidence is strong, it escalates to an Engineering Analysis (EA), which can result in a mandatory recall. The Acura TSX has 0 investigations on record (0 active). Investigations listed above may have already led to the recalls shown on this page.

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By state

Check a Acura TSX by state

Title-branding rules, flood-damage exposure, and salvage laws vary by state. Run a free VIN check or explore state-specific vehicle history guidance before buying a used Acura TSX.

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Research more

Keep researching before you buy

Compare brands and categories, then check the exact car's history by VIN.

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Acura TSX reliability — frequently asked questions

Is the Acura TSX reliable?

Average. The Acura TSX has 528 NHTSA owner complaints and 47 recall campaigns across model years. A commonly reported issue area is STEERING. Use year-level data as a pattern guide, then verify the exact car with a VIN check before purchase.

Which Acura TSX years to avoid?

Years with the most NHTSA complaints: 2012 (132 complaints), 2009 (91 complaints), 2010 (63 complaints). Use these years as a shortlist for deeper inspection, and always run a VIN check on the exact vehicle before purchase.

What are the most common Acura TSX problems?

Top reported issues: STEERING (208 complaints); AIR BAGS (93 complaints); SERVICE BRAKES (78 complaints).

Does the Acura TSX have recalls?

Yes — 47 NHTSA recall campaigns have been issued for the Acura TSX. Check nhtsa.gov/recalls or run a VIN check to see if your specific vehicle has open recalls.

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