Acura TSX Reliability by YearBest & worst years, problems & recalls — NHTSA data
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.
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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
Based on NHTSA complaint data, the Acura TSX has 528 owner complaints and 47 safety recalls across model years 2005–2014. The most reported issue area is STEERING. 2012 drew the most complaints; 2014 drew the fewest.
- 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
- Poor
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.
These years have the most owner complaints. Inspect carefully and always run a VIN check.
These years have the fewest owner complaints on record — lower risk starting points.
Crash test ratings
NHTSA NCAP crash test ratings
New Car Assessment ProgramNCAP 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.
Source: nhtsa.gov/ratings
What the complaint data suggests
PoorThe ACURA TSX has 528 NHTSA complaints and 47 recalls on record. 36 complaints involve crash-related incidents. This data reflects owner-reported issues submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
- 528 total complaints filed with NHTSA
- 47 federal recall campaigns
- 36 crash-related complaints on record
- Review NHTSA complaint history for the most-reported components
- Check recall completion status at nhtsa.gov/recalls
- Verify service records for frequently complained components
Consult the by-year breakdown to identify model years with elevated complaint rates.
Consult the by-year breakdown to identify model years with fewer reported issues.
- Run a VIN check on the specific vehicle you are considering
- Verify all open recalls are completed at nhtsa.gov/recalls
- Request service records for the most-reported complaint components
- Have a certified mechanic inspect the vehicle before purchase
Problems by model year (best vs. worst)
Source: NHTSA public complaints database. Updated: Jul 2026
Safety recalls
NHTSA safety recalls
47 recalls foundSafety 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.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:HOSE, PIPING, AND CONNECTIONS
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:HOSE, PIPING, AND CONNECTIONS
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
AIR 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.
Owner complaints
NHTSA complaint reports
528 totalThese 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.
A GRAINDING NOISE FROM THE INTER ROD BEARING
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
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
ABS / VSA module failed at 90k miles causing spongy brakes. Acura quoted me $3500 for a new module which is more than the value of the car.
The airbags did not deploy when I got in the front end accident
Power steering electronic module went out and can’t find any replacements. Other models as the same as mine have been recalled.
I first reported this on July 7, 2023 under NHTSA ID#11530893. My wife was driving when the Continental tire size 225/50/R17 suddenly blew out at approximately 70 MPH. Immediately pulled to shoulder of highway. This was a very tense moment at speed running on the rim to get immediately off the road. Fortunately there was no vehicles in neighboring lanes as we swerved and got out of harms way. Continental Tire dealer was contacted and shown the 2 pieces of separated tire. We were informed there is an open recall for tread separating from side wall of Continental Tires. Also informed that my DOT Tire identifier was not listed under the recall. No recourse was taken/offered by Continental dealer.
The contact owns a 2013 Acura TSX equipped with Continental Tires, Tire Line: Pure Contact, Tire Size: 225/50/R17, DOT Number: VY40WD4A2320. The contact stated that while his wife was driving at an undisclosed speed, the front driver's side tire exploded. The vehicle was taken to the dealer; however, the dealer was unable to determine the cause of the failure. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The tires were replacement tires. The failure mileage was approximately 126,500.
I purchased my 2013 Acura TSX new. Since the date of purchase I have had the battery replaced 4 times including yesterday. On each occasion, the battery was drained due to the Bluetooth Module being defective. The dealer has confirmed the problem. This poses a substantial safety risk
After the harness is clipped in place and tightened as directed, you can pull the straps forward (including my 3yo child was able to do this) and loosen the straps of the harness without pressing on the release button. The harness pulls loose and will not stay locked in place. I also tried to simulate impact with a sudden and strong pull on the harness to see if it would lock in that situation and it does not. If we had been in an accident using this car seat, my child could have been seriously injured because the harness would have failed to lock. We purchased this in Sept 2019 and just noticed this occurring now but unclear if we just didn't realize it before or if the harness just failed now.
On Friday, September 24, 2021 when I went around a curve my car felt like the vehicle stability assist was trying to kick on. However, no warning light came on and I was not going to fast for the weather or road conditions. I did not hit any pot holes or anything else to cause the part to fail. When I went to apply my brakes the brakes felt soft and spongy and I was concern with the car not stopping. Safety issues for me and others were if my car didn't stop and me hitting another vehicle and injuring/killing them or myself due to the component failure. I was able to get my car to Acura Sterling McCall in Houston and they were able to duplicate the issue and I was advised the VSA needed to be replaced. That this was causing the soft brakes.
The contact owns a 2013 Acura TSX. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, the passenger’s side air bag sensor warning light remained illuminated. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The local dealer and manufacturer were notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 54,000.
POWER STEERING LIGHT STARTED FLASHING WHEN I TURN ON THE CAR THIS MORNING, STEERING WHEEL HARD TO TURN
DRIVING STRAIGHT ROAD IN TOWN GOING MAYBE 40 MPH, ALERT CAME ON SAYING CHECK POWER STEERING. WHEEL EXTREMELY HARD TO MANUEVER, BARELY TURNED INTO CLOSEST PARKING LOT. THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AND NEEDS TO BE RECALLED. MY CAR IS CURRENTLY SITTING AT A SHOP WAITING TO BE FIXED, WHATEVER THAT MEANS.... $$$$$$$
CANNOT TURN WHEEL, IT'S VERY DIFFICULT
STEERING LOCKED UP AND POWER STEERING LIGHT CAME ON DASHBOARD. TURNED OFF THE ENGINE, RESTARTED, IT WAS OK. IT HAPPENED AGAIN AND EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO TURN THE STEERING. REAL SAFETY HAZARD.
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.
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.
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.
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.
How Is the Reliability Verdict Calculated?
The reliability verdict (Poor) 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.
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.
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.
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.
Research more
Keep researching before you buy
Compare brands and categories, then check the exact car's history by VIN.
Acura TSX reliability — frequently asked questions
Is the Acura TSX reliable?
Poor. 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.