Acura TSX Reliability — Best and Worst Years by the Data

Quick answer

The 2004 draws 3.18 complaints per run and the 2013 1.28, a 2.5-fold gap within the same model. Half of all complaints arrive by 6 years of age, so 73.9% land after the 4-year basic warranty ends. The system owners report most is Steering, with 199 complaints, typically at 7.5 years.

Acura TSX years to avoid — and the best ones

FIG.01·Acura TSX — complaint rate by model year
Model year	Per run	Complaints	Runs	Enough history?
2014	1	6	6	yes
2013	1.28	32	25	yes
2012	2.77	122	44	yes
2011	2.56	41	16	yes
2010	2.55	56	22	yes
2009	4.26	81	19	yes
2008	1.69	27	16	yes
2007	1.29	18	14	yes
2006	1.83	44	24	yes
2005	2.25	45	20	yes
2004	3.18	108	34	yes

ROWS 11·SOURCE NHTSA complaints, grouped by VIN production run

Does the market discount it? In our listings a 2004 TSX asks a median $4,400, against $4,400 for a 2005, the next model year: about the same, so the price shows no discount for its complaint record.

Among the 6 Acura TSX years with enough history, the three to walk away from are 2004, 2012, 2010; the three worth hunting are 2013, 2006, 2005.

When it starts to break

FIG.02·Acura TSX — age at failure
Age at failure	Complaints	Running total	Warranty
0 years	52	9.5%	covered
1 year	46	17.9%	covered
2 years	23	22.1%	covered
3 years	22	26.1%	covered
4 years	24	30.5%	you pay
5 years	51	39.9%	you pay
6 years	85	55.4%	you pay
7 years	65	67.3%	you pay
8 years	47	75.9%	you pay
9 years	27	80.8%	you pay
10 years	26	85.6%	you pay
11 years	17	88.7%	you pay
12 years	21	92.5%	you pay
13 years	19	96%	you pay
14 years	13	98.4%	you pay
15 years	9	100%	you pay

ROWS 16·SOURCE NHTSA complaints with incident dates

Basic warranty on this car is 4 years / 50,000 miles. Only 26.1% of reported failures happen inside it — the remaining 73.9% come out of the owner's pocket. Powertrain cover (6 years / 70,000 miles) reaches further, but it only covers the engine and transmission, which account for about 17% of the complaints here.

What actually fails — and at what age

On the Acura TSX, the early trouble is Engine And Engine Cooling and Hydraulic — reported at around 3.3 years, so a car still under warranty is the one to check for it. What waits further out is Steering at 7.5 years — past every basic warranty, and the bill lands on whoever owns the car then.

FIG.03·Acura TSX — what fails and when
System	Complaints	Typical age	Crash	Fire
Steering	199	7.5 yrs	7	—
Air Bags	108	7.1 yrs	16	—
Service Brakes	73	4.7 yrs	7	—
Electrical System	72	6.7 yrs	2	3
Engine	40	7.9 yrs	—	—
Power Train	31	5.2 yrs	1	—
Engine And Engine Cooling	30	3.3 yrs	—	1
Hydraulic	28	1.2 yrs	1	—

ROWS 8·SOURCE NHTSA complaints

What else in this class

6 models share the TSX's vehicle class. Per production run, the Toyota Corolla draws 5.16, the Lexus IS 1.31 and the BMW M3 1.49, against 2.48 for the TSX.

FIG.05·Acura TSX — rivals in the same class
Same class as the TSX	Complaints on record	Recall campaigns	Years built
Toyota Corolla	12,389	219	1981–2026
Lexus IS	47	118	2001–2026
BMW M3	565	78	1988–2026
Acura TLX	893	41	2015–2026
Ford Focus	22,576	138	2000–2026
Subaru WRX	290	17	2015–2026

ROWS 6·SOURCE NHTSA complaints and recall campaigns

The table shows totals on record; the rates per production run are in the sentence above.

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Everything on the Acura TSX

Recalls51 campaigns Fuel economy25 mpg best Common problems671 complaints Check a VINAgainst this exact build DimensionsSize, weight, generations Cargo space31 cu ft Used prices664 listings What yours is worthValue by year & mileage Insurance costEstimated per year Window stickerOriginal Monroney label Decode a VINWhat each character means About this car2004–2014

Frequently asked questions

Is the Acura TSX reliable?

By complaints per production run it is better than typical: 2.48 against 3.73 for the average car, and in the middle of its class rivals.

Which TSX years should you avoid?

By complaints per production run, 2004, 2012, 2010. The cleanest years old enough to judge are 2013, 2006, 2005. Years newer than 6 are left out: complaints keep arriving for years after a car is sold.

When do TSX problems usually start?

Half of all complaints arrive by 6 years of age. The most reported system is Steering, typically at 7.5 years, followed by Air Bags.

Will the warranty cover TSX problems?

Mostly not: basic cover is 4 years / 50,000 miles, and only 26.1% of reported failures fall inside it. Powertrain cover lasts longer, but engine and transmission make up about 17% of the complaints here.

Is the TSX more reliable than the Toyota Corolla?

Yes: 2.48 complaints per production run for the TSX against 5.16 for the Toyota Corolla.

Complaint records from NHTSA, grouped by VIN production run (characters 1–11). Rates, age-at-failure and warranty coverage computed by ForCar. Model years newer than 6 years are excluded from rankings — complaints accumulate for a decade (how we measure). Last updated Nov 2026. — ForCar Reviewed by Denis Kataev, founder of ForCar.

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