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Acura TSX VIN Check

NHTSA holds 580 owner complaints on the Acura TSX from 234 production runs; the worst run has 12, the typical one 2.5.

NHTSA complaint records · 580 complaints · 234 runs · 2004–2014 · Updated Nov 4, 2026
Quick answer

The most-reported TSX run is JH4CL96884C (2004 builds) with 12 complaints, 4.8× the typical run. Steering problems make up 34% of reports; 2009 is the worst model year at 4.3 complaints per run; NHTSA lists 13 recall campaigns for TSX model years 2004–2014.

Which build runs owners report most

A production run is the first 11 characters of the VIN: plant, model year, body and engine. The Acura TSX has 234 of them on record. The five runs at the top of this table hold 9% of every TSX complaint on file.

FIG.01·Acura TSX — complaints by production run
Production run (VIN 1–11)YearComplaintsInvolved a crashFire
JH4CL96884C••••••2004122—
JH4CL96814C••••••200411——
JH4CU26689C••••••2009101—
JH4CU266X9C••••••2009102—
JH4CU2F44CC••••••201291—
JH4CU26619C••••••200991—
JH4CL96874C••••••200491—
JH4CU2F47CC••••••20127——
JH4CU26649C••••••200971—
JH4CU26609C••••••20097——
JH4CL96864C••••••200471—
JH4CU26699C••••••20096——
ROWS 12·SOURCE NHTSA complaint records, grouped by VIN prefix

Each of the other 222 TSX runs has 6 complaints or fewer. ForCar has checked 43 TSX VINs so far, most often 2011, 2012, 2010 builds; 5 of them belong to one of the 12 runs above.

Which model years to check twice

Complaints per production run, so a year that simply sold more does not top the list. On the Acura TSX the gap between build years is 4.3×: a 2009 car draws 4.3 complaints per run, a 2014 one 1.

FIG.02·Acura TSX — complaint rate by model year
YearPer runComplaintsRunsCrashes
2014166—
20131.332252
20122.8122443
20112.641163
20102.556225
20094.381197
20081.727162
20071.318141
20061.844243
20052.345204
20043.2108345
ROWS 11·SOURCE NHTSA complaint records

Heaviest year here is 2009 at 4.3 complaints per run; lightest is 2014 at 1.

What to inspect on this car

One system accounts for 34% of everything Acura TSX owners report: Steering, 199 of 580 complaints. Start the pre-purchase inspection there.

FIG.03·Acura TSX — most-reported systems
SystemComplaintsInvolved a crashFire
Steering1997—
Air Bags10816—
Service Brakes737—
Electrical System7223
Engine40——
Power Train311—
Engine And Engine Cooling30—1
Hydraulic281—
ROWS 8·SOURCE NHTSA complaint records

Recalls to check against your VIN

NHTSA has 13 recall campaigns on the Acura TSX; the 6 below cover build years 2004 to 2014. These are for the model and year; whether one is still open on a given car, only that VIN can tell.

FIG.04·Acura TSX — recall campaigns
CampaignComponentModel years
19V502000Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module2009–2014
19V378000Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module2009–2014
18V661000Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module2010–2014
18V042000Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module2009–2013
19E068000Vehicle Speed Control:accelerator Pedal2004–2008
13V093000Engine And Engine Cooling2004–2008
ROWS 6·SOURCE NHTSA recall campaigns

19V502000 was opened in 2019 on cars built from 2009: 10 years on the road before the recall.

The TSX against its rivals

The TSX draws 2.5 complaints per production run; the Suzuki Kizashi 1.1. That is the highest rate of the 2.

FIG.05·Acura TSX VIN check vs rivals
ModelComplaintsRunsPer runInvolved a crash
Acura TSX5802342.56%
Suzuki Kizashi67591.14.5%
ROWS 2·SOURCE NHTSA complaint records

How serious were they

Of the 580 reports on the Acura TSX, 6% involved a crash against 5.8% across all vehicles, above the norm.

FIG.06·Acura TSX — complaint severity
OutcomeAcura TSXAll vehicles
Complaints filed5801,115,966
Involved a crash35 (6%)64,194 (5.8%)
Involved a fire4 (0.7%)26,974 (2.4%)
Injuries reported2558,013
Deaths reported12,728
ROWS 5·SOURCE NHTSA complaint records

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How this check works

The file behind this page holds 1,115,966 complaints filed with NHTSA between 1981 and 2026, across 298,921 production runs. The Acura TSX share of that is 580 complaints over 234 runs, 0.05% of everything on record.

Everything on the Acura TSX
Recalls51 campaignsFuel economy25 mpg bestReliability3.5/5Common problems671 complaintsDimensionsSize, weight, generationsCargo space31 cu ftUsed prices661 listingsWhat yours is worthValue by year & mileageInsurance costEstimated per yearWindow stickerOriginal Monroney labelDecode a VINWhat each character meansAbout this car2004–2014

Frequently asked questions

How do I check a Acura TSX VIN for free?

Enter the 17 characters above. ForCar matches the first eleven, the production run, against 580 NHTSA complaints from 234 TSX runs and 13 recall campaigns. No account, no card.

Which TSX production run has the most complaints?

JH4CL96884C, a 2004 build, with 12 complaints, 2 of them after a crash. The typical TSX run has 2.5.

Which TSX years have the most complaints?

Per production run, 2009 is heaviest at 4.3 complaints per run and 2014 lightest at 1.

Does the TSX get more complaints than the Suzuki Kizashi?

Yes: 2.5 complaints per production run for the TSX against 1.1 for the Suzuki Kizashi.

How many TSX complaints involve a crash?

6% of 580 reports, against 5.8% across all vehicles; 4 involved a fire.

Complaint and recall records from NHTSA, grouped by VIN production run (characters 1–11). Per-run rates computed by ForCar. Federal data covers safety only — title, odometer and insurance history are not included. Last updated Nov 2026. — ForCar Reviewed by , founder of ForCar.
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