2010 Acura TSX Problems, Recalls & Reliability
Verdict
AvoidComplaint Index
75/100
#2 most-complained of 5 TSX years
The 2010 Acura TSX ranks 2nd worst of 5 model years, with a Complaint Index of 75 and 63 NHTSA complaints, mostly Airbags (32%) and Brakes (27%). It carries 7 recalls, all airbag-related, making it a year to approach with caution compared to the 2013 and 2014 TSX.
- Complaints
- 63
- Recalls
- 7
- Crashes / fires
- 7 / 0
- Injuries / deaths
- 6 / 0
- NHTSA overall rating
- Not rated
- EPA combined MPG
- 23
- 20 city / 28 hwy
Top 2010 Acura TSX problems
NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
What owners report
- Passenger frontal airbags fail to deploy during low-to-moderate speed crashes, including rear-end collisions and pole strikes.
- Rear brake pads and rotors wear out well before front brakes, with owners reporting replacement needed around 21,650 to 28,000 miles.
- Steering can suddenly feel uncontrollable in wet conditions, leading to guardrail impacts at highway speed.
- Seat belts intermittently fail to extend properly when getting into the car, mostly reported in warm weather.
- Brake pedal becomes stiff and unresponsive in cold winter mornings before loosening up after several minutes of driving.
- Factory-installed tires developed sidewall bubbles and went flat within a few hundred miles of ownership.
2010 Acura TSX recalls
7 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.
- NHTSA 19V502000Jun 27, 2019Airbags9,555 vehicles
Air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator module
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, 2010-2014 Insight, and 2009-2015 Pilot vehicles. The vehicles are equipped with passenger frontal air bag inflators assembled as a recall remedy part or replacement service part, that may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: 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 F5F and Q5E.
- NHTSA 19V378000May 16, 2019Airbags19,138 vehicles
Air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator module
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 2009-2015 Pilot vehicles. The front passenger air bag inflator may have been installed incorrectly during replacement.
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.
Remedy: 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 at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are M4O, P4R, T4Q, and W4P.
- NHTSA 18V661000Sep 27, 2018Airbags1,355,406 vehicles
Air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator module
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, Mississippi, South Carolina, California, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan) and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Honda is also recalling certain 2011-2013 Acura TSX, TSX Wagon and ZDX, Honda Crosstour, Insight, Fit and Pilot vehicles, 2011-2012 Honda Accord and 2011 Honda Civic NGV, Civic, Civic Hybrid and CR-V vehicles in Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia. Lastly, Honda is recalling certain 2010-2013 Acura TSX and ZDX, Honda Crosstour, Fit, Insight and Pilot, 2011-2013 TSX Wagon, 2010-2012 Honda Accord and 2010-2011 Honda Civic NGV, Civic, Civic Hybrid and CR-V vehicles in Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin and Wyoming. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag air bag inflators assembled as part of the frontal air bag modules, and used as original equipment or replacement equipment (such as after a vehicle crash necessitating replacement of the original air bags), may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to higher absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: 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 M2J and S2K.
2010 Acura TSX fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 20 MPG
- Highway
- 28 MPG
- Combined
- 23 MPG
- Annual fuel cost (EPA)
- $3,450
- 15,000 mi/yr
- Fuel
- Premium
- Current regular gas
- $4.32/gal
- national avg.
EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.
2010 compared with other TSX years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2010 Acura TSX reliable?
- Based on NHTSA complaints and recalls, the 2010 TSX has a Complaint Index of 75 and ranks 2nd worst among 5 model years, with a verdict of Avoid relative to other TSX years.
- What problems does the 2010 Acura TSX have?
- NHTSA data shows the top problem areas are Airbags (32% of complaints, 20 total) and Brakes (27% of complaints, 17 total), followed by Electrical System issues at 13%.
- Does the 2010 Acura TSX have an airbag recall?
- Yes. NHTSA lists 7 recalls for the 2010 TSX, all related to airbags, primarily replacement of the passenger frontal air bag inflator or module.
- How many complaints does the 2010 Acura TSX have compared to other years?
- The 2010 TSX has 63 NHTSA complaints, fewer than the 2012 model's 133 complaints, but more than the 2011 (45), 2013 (33), and 2014 (7) model years.
- What is the median mileage for airbag failures on the 2010 TSX?
- NHTSA complaint data shows a median mileage of 80,000 miles for Airbag-related complaints on the 2010 Acura TSX.