Which Acura TSX years should I avoid?

NHTSA data points to 2009, 2010, and 2012 as the years to avoid, with complaint indexes of 100, 78, and 89 respectively, the three highest among all TSX model years.

What is the best Acura TSX year to buy?

The 2013 and 2014 TSX rank best, with complaint indexes of 22 and 0 and far fewer total complaints (33 and 7) than the avoid years.

What is the most common problem with the Acura TSX?

Steering is the top complaint area across all TSX years, making up 40% of the 529 total complaints, followed by airbags at 18% and brakes at 16%.

Does the Acura TSX have airbag recalls?

Yes. Multiple recall campaigns, including 19V502000, 19V378000, and 18V661000, cover Takata-related passenger frontal airbag inflator replacements on 2009-2014 TSX models.

Is the 2012 Acura TSX reliable?

The 2012 TSX has a complaint index of 89 and the highest complaint count of any year at 133, with steering problems making up 75% of those complaints, so it ranks among the years to avoid relative to other TSX years.

Acura TSX Best and Worst Years (2005–2014)

Avoid the 2009, 2010, and 2012 Acura TSX, which rank worst with complaint indexes of 100, 78, and 89 out of 10 model years. The 2013 and 2014 model years rank best, with indexes of 22 and 0, making them the safest bets among the 529 total complaints and 11 recall campaigns filed for this model.

Based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls per model-year, ranked within this model — not a reliability rating. Methodology.

Avoid 2009 Avoid 2010 Avoid 2012 Best 2013 Best 2014

Model years: 10; 2005–2014
NHTSA complaints: 529
Recall campaigns: 11
Crashes reported: 36
Fires reported: 3
Top problem area: Steering

TSX Complaint Index by year

Higher = more complaints, crashes, fires, injuries, deaths and Do-Not-Drive recalls per year on the road, relative to other years of this model.

Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best

Acura TSX problems and recalls by year

Year	Verdict	Index	Complaints	Crashes	Fires	Recalls	Top issue	MPG	NCAP
2005	Caution	56	51	5	1	3	Airbags	22.5	—
2006	Good	33	50	4	0	3	Steering	22.5	—
2007	Good	11	22	1	0	2	Steering	22.5	—
2008	Good	44	34	3	1	2	Steering	22.5	—
2009	Avoid	100	91	7	0	6	Airbags	24	—
2010	Avoid	78	63	7	0	7	Airbags	23	—
2011	Caution	67	45	3	1	7	Steering	24	—
2012	Avoid	89	133	4	0	6	Steering	24	—
2013	Best	22	33	2	0	4	Steering	24	—
2014	Best	0	7	0	0	3	Brakes	24	—

TSX years to avoid: what went wrong

2009 Acura TSX Index 100 · 91 complaints · 6 recalls

The 2009 TSX has the highest complaint index of any year, 100, from 91 complaints and six recall campaigns. Airbags lead the problem list at 27 complaints, followed closely by brakes and engine issues. Owners describe airbags failing to deploy in crashes and a persistent engine rattle that dealers reportedly called normal. Airbag-related failures showed a median failure mileage of 60,000, while brake and engine complaints surfaced far earlier, with median mileages near 22,150 and 6,250. One crash tied to this year involved a reported death.

2009 airbags problems →2009 brakes problems →2009 engine problems →

2012 Acura TSX Index 89 · 133 complaints · 6 recalls

The 2012 TSX has a complaint index of 89 from 133 complaints, the highest complaint count of any TSX year, plus six recall campaigns. Steering dominates the complaints, accounting for 100 of the 133, with a median failure mileage of 74,000. Owners describe steering locking up mid-turn and electrical faults that disabled steering after minor accidents, sometimes requiring towing. Airbag non-deployment was also reported. This year recorded a death and four crashes among its complaints.

2012 steering problems →2012 electrical system problems →

2010 Acura TSX Index 78 · 63 complaints · 7 recalls

The 2010 TSX carries a complaint index of 78 across 63 complaints and seven recall campaigns. Airbags are the top problem area with 20 complaints, followed by brakes and electrical system issues. Owners reported seatbelts that would not extend properly, steering loss during wet-weather driving, and brakes that stiffened in cold weather. Median mileage at airbag-related failure was 80,000, while brake issues appeared earlier, around 28,000 miles. Seven crashes and six injuries were reported for this year.

2010 airbags problems →2010 brakes problems →

Most common Acura TSX problems (all years)

Share of NHTSA complaints by component group across all model years.

Steering209 (40%)
Airbags93 (18%)
Brakes87 (16%)
Electrical System60 (11%)
Engine60 (11%)
Structure & Body34 (6%)
Other26 (5%)
Transmission & Powertrain23 (4%)
Suspension, Wheels & Tires21 (4%)
Fuel System13 (2%)

A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.

Frequently asked questions

Which Acura TSX years should I avoid?: NHTSA data points to 2009, 2010, and 2012 as the years to avoid, with complaint indexes of 100, 78, and 89 respectively, the three highest among all TSX model years.
What is the best Acura TSX year to buy?: The 2013 and 2014 TSX rank best, with complaint indexes of 22 and 0 and far fewer total complaints (33 and 7) than the avoid years.
What is the most common problem with the Acura TSX?: Steering is the top complaint area across all TSX years, making up 40% of the 529 total complaints, followed by airbags at 18% and brakes at 16%.
Does the Acura TSX have airbag recalls?: Yes. Multiple recall campaigns, including 19V502000, 19V378000, and 18V661000, cover Takata-related passenger frontal airbag inflator replacements on 2009-2014 TSX models.
Is the 2012 Acura TSX reliable?: The 2012 TSX has a complaint index of 89 and the highest complaint count of any year at 133, with steering problems making up 75% of those complaints, so it ranks among the years to avoid relative to other TSX years.