KnownCarProblems2012 Acura Tsx Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 133 complaints with NHTSA about the 2012 Acura Tsx, most often about the steering (75% of complaints, typically around 74,000 miles). It is the 2nd most complained-about Tsx model year since 2000 and has 6 recalls.
Most common 2012 Acura Tsx problems
Steering
100 complaints · 75%Half of these problems showed up before 74,000 miles. Parts named most often: electric power assist system.
Last week driving my Acura Tsx 2012 car home from work, suddenly the electronic power steering failed. I was driving on a winding road and mid sharp turn the power steering failed and I almost lost control and came close to crashing into the tree line on the side of the road. I had stop since my heart was palpitating…
The contact owns a 2012 Acura Tsx. While driving approximately 55 MPH, the steering wheel seized and the vehicle stalled without warning. The vehicle restarted after one attempt. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the power steering module wiring needed to be replaced. The…
Electrical
16 complaints · 12%Half of these problems showed up before 75,000 miles. Parts named most often: wiring.
The contact owns a 2012 Acura Tsx. While driving approximately 55 MPH, the steering wheel seized and the vehicle stalled without warning. The vehicle restarted after one attempt. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the power steering module wiring needed to be replaced. The…
When car is parked and off, and trying to lock/unlock doors with key fob (from outside) or from power locks (on the interior), the locks don't lock or unlock. This is a safety risk as it makes it easier for car break-ins to occur. Per dealer service department, the actuators have gone bad.
Brakes
9 complaints · 7%Half of these problems showed up before 71,000 miles.
The contact owns a 2012 Acura Tsx. The contact stated the vehicle brake system failed. The contact stated that in cold climate, the vehicle brake failed to engage and the contact had to engage the brake with force to be able to bring the vehicle to a complete stop. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer or mechanic to…
In cold weather the brakes feel 'frozen' or 'wooden', and do not perform correctly. The car will not stop. After using them a few times in a row they seem to return to warm weather performance. It happens again every time the car is driven in cold weather' not extreme cold, but just near freezing. It seems to have…
Air bags
6 complaints · 5%The contact owns a 2012 Acura Tsx. The contact stated that an independent dealer sold the vehicle without disclosing that the air bag deployed in the past, which caused the SRS indicator to illuminate on and off. The vehicle was taken back to the seller who took the vehicle to a certified dealer. The technician…
The contact owns a 2012 Acura Tsx. The contact stated that the air bag warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and the contact was informed that the front driverâs side inflator had malfunctioned and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and…
Engine
6 complaints · 5%When the vehicle is started it makes a noise as if my car was already started and I was trying to start it again. Happens when car has sat for a few hours. If the vehicle is accelerated fast it smells as if something is burning.
On 7/3/2013, I took my car in to the dealer for service because it had demonstrated several episodes of engine hesitation. I have always used premium gas. The car was checked, but the symptoms were not observed and no cause could be determined. On 9/19/2013, I returned for an oil change (annual service) and also asked…
Transmission
5 complaints · 4%The contact owns a 2012 Acura Tsx. The contact stated that when the engine rpms increased between 3500 and 4200, the engine would exhibit a momentary delay before responding and continuing normal operation. The failure occurred when the contact was driving in both automatic and manual mode. In addition, the vehicle…
The contact owns a 2012 Acura Tsx. The contact stated that when the engine rpms increased between 4000 and 4200, the engine would exhibit a momentary delay before responding and continuing normal operation. The failure occurred when the contact was driving in both automatic and manual mode. In addition, when the car…
Body and structure
4 complaints · 3%Parts named most often: body.
I traveled 150 miles to purchase a 2012 Acura Tsx at calidad motors in concord ca. I was told my deal went through so that is why I drove that far. When I got there, checked out the car and stated the issues to the dealership, which were promised in the deal paper work that they would get fixed. I have contacted…
Other or unspecified
4 complaints · 3%The contact owns a 2012 Acura Tsx. The contact smelled a strong fuel odor in the vehicle and discovered that the fuel tank was leaking. The dealer was contacted (2175 s bradley rd, santa maria, ca 93455) and informed the contact that there was a recall on other vehicles with the same year. The dealer referred the…
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2012 Acura Tsx recalls
Air bags: inflator module
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: 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.
Full defect summary
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.
Air bags: inflator module
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.
Fix: 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.
Full defect summary
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.
Air bags: inflator module
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: 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.
Full defect summary
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 ce
Air bags: inflator module
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began february 16, 2018. Owners may contact honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are b0k and l0j.
Full defect summary
Honda (american honda motor co.) is recalling certain 2010-2013 acura tsx, zdx, honda accord crosstour, fit, insight and pilot vehicles, 2011-13 acura tsx sportswagon, 2010-2012 honda accord,, 2010-2011 honda civic, civic ngv, civic hybrid and cr-v vehicles and 2013 honda fcx clarity and fit EV vehicles ever registered in the states of alabama, california, florida, georgia, hawaii, louisiana, mississippi, south carolina, texas, puerto rico, american samoa, guam, the northern mariana islands (saipan), and the u.s. Virgin islands or "zone a." additionally, honda is recalling certain 2010-2012 acura tsx, honda accord, accord crosstour, fit and pilot, 2010-2011 honda civic, civic ngv, civic hybrid and cr-v, and 2010 acura zdx and honda insight vehicles ever registered in the states of arizona, arkansas, delaware, district of columbia, illinois, indiana, kansas, kentucky, maryland, missouri,
Air bags: inflator module
Risk: In the event of a crash, an incorrectly installed passenger frontal air bag inflator may deploy the air bag improperly, increasing the risk of injury.
Fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag module assembly, free of charge. The recall began october 30, 2017. Owners may contact honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are o07, y0a, n06, g05, m04, y01, and o09.
Full defect summary
Honda (american honda motor co.) is recalling certain 2008-2012 accord, 2010-2012 accord crosstour, 2006-2011 civic, 2007-2011 cr-v, 2009-2012 fit and pilot, 2010-2012 insight, and 2009-2012 acura tsx vehicles that received replacement passenger frontal air bag inflators. One dealership may have incorrectly installed the replacement air bag inflators.
Air bags: inflator module
Risk: An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger side air bag inflator, free of charge. The manufacturer has mailed an interim notification, and will send a second notification when parts are available. Owners may contact honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are ke1 and ke2.
Full defect summary
Honda (american honda motor co.) is recalling certain 2009-2012 acura tsx, 2011-2012 acura tsx wagon, 2010-2012 acura zdx, 2008-2012 honda accord, 2010-2012 honda accord crosstour and honda insight, 2009-2012 honda fit, 2009-2012 pilot, 2007-2011 honda cr-v, 2012 honda fcx clarity and 2006-2011 honda civic, civic hybrid, civic ngv vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in alabama, california, florida, georgia, hawaii, louisiana, mississippi, south carolina, texas, puerto rico, american samoa, guam, the northern mariana islands (saipan), and the u.s. Virgin islands, or "zone a." additionally, if not included in "zone a" above, honda is recalling certain 2009 acura tsx, honda fit and pilot, 2008-2009 honda accord, 2006-2009 civic, civic hybrid and civic ngv, and 2007-2009 honda cr-v vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in arizona, arkansas, delaware, district of columbia, i
Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which recalls are still open on your car.
NHTSA defect investigations
Electrical overstress
Summary
The office of defects investigation (odi) opened this investigation to determine if the failure of airbags to deploy during severe crashes, in certain vehicles, was the result of a safety related defect.â during the investigation a complex failure was studied that can result in non-deployment of subject vehicle air bags and other restraint system devices in severe crash events. The subject vehicles may be equipped with an airbag control unit (acu) for the supplemental restraint system (SRS) electronic control unit (ecu) manufactured by zf-trw. â the ecu receives signals from crash sensors mounted in the vehicle and deploys the vehicle air bags and seat belt pretensioners in accordance with m
Questions about the 2012 Acura Tsx
- What are the most common problems with the 2012 Acura Tsx?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: steering (100 complaints, typically around 74,000 miles); electrical (16 complaints, typically around 75,000 miles); brakes (9 complaints, typically around 71,000 miles).
- How many recalls does the 2012 Acura Tsx have?
- 6 recalls listed by NHTSA, the latest from June 27, 2019 (air bags). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
- Is the 2012 a bad year for the Acura Tsx?
- It is the 2nd most complained-about Tsx model year since 2000, with 133 complaints. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so popular years collect more of them, and the newest years have had less time to.