2012 Acura TSX reliability

Is it reliable?

NHTSA's file on the 2012 Acura TSX holds 133 complaints after 15 years, a rate of 2 per year. That is the most complaints per year among the 3 TSX years on this site. NHTSA has 6 recalls on file, including Inflator.

Complaints

133

Per year

Recalls

Years on the road

What owners report

The complaints owners file most often name Steering (100 of 133), then Electrical system (16) and Service brakes (9). Those filings include 4 that report a crash, 1 that reports an injury, and 1 that reports a death.

Next to 2013

The 2013 TSX has 33 complaints, 1 per year. The 2012 has more complaints per year than the 2013.

The complaint rate is complaints filed in this year’s first 3 years on the road, divided by however many of those years have passed. Recalls are a separate count. The numbers are for the US-market 2012 Acura TSX. How we count. Data as of 2026-10-16.

Recalls (6)

Recall air bags, frontal, passenger side, inflator 2019-06-27 · NHTSA campaign 19V502000

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.

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.

Recall air bags, frontal, passenger side, inflator 2019-05-16 · NHTSA campaign 19V378000

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.

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.

Recall air bags, frontal, passenger side, inflator 2018-09-27 · NHTSA campaign 18V661000

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 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.

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.

Recall air bags, frontal, passenger side, inflator 2018-01-09 · NHTSA campaign 18V042000

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, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia or "Zone B." Unless included in Zones A or B above, Honda is recalling certain 2009 Acura TSX, Honda Accord, Civic, Civic NGV, Civic Hybrid, CR-V, Fit, and Pilot vehicles ever registered in the states of 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 or "Zone C." These vehicles are equipped with certain 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.

Remedy 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.

Recall air bags, frontal, passenger side, inflator 2017-08-31 · NHTSA campaign 17V545000

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.

Remedy 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.

Recall air bags, frontal, passenger side, inflator 2017-01-10 · NHTSA campaign 17V030000

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, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia, or "Zone B." Additionally, if not included in "Zone B" above, Honda is recalling certain 2008 Honda Accord, 2006-2008 Honda Civic, Civic Hybrid and Civic NGV and 2007-2008 Honda CR-V vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, 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 inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the front air bags, these inflators may rupture due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.

Remedy 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.

Complaints by component (133 total)

Steering

100

Electrical system

Service brakes

Air bags

Engine

Powertrain

Structure

Electronic stability control (ESC)

Fuel and propulsion system

Fuel system, gasoline

Seats

Speed control

Suspension

Wheels

Show 6 more Show less

Crash-flagged

Fire-flagged

Injury reports

Death reports

Complaints filed per year

Excerpts from recent NHTSA complaint filings

"Steering system failed-safety was a risk because wheel was very hard to turn-calling the dealer on Monday. Warning light came on right before the steering failed."
Steering · filed 2026-08-01
"Traction control didn’t work, and the large OEM seats did not hug my body as advertised, causing bodily injury when struck by another vehicle, “t-bone” on passenger side."
Air bags, Seats, Service brakes · filed 2026-01-16
"On two occasions my college aged daughter was driving this vehicle when the steering wheel became inoperative. There was an error message on the dash about checking the power steering system. There was also an icon…"
Steering · filed 2025-06-28
"2012 Acura TSX Sportwagon: Brought car to independent mechanic who diagnosed power steering failure as requiring replacement of "Power Steering Control Module". Acura has a "TSB" or "Technical Service Bulletin" #19-021…"
Steering · filed 2025-06-17
"A "Check Power Steering" light on the dashboard came on suddenly leaving me unable to steer the car at all. After re-starting the car several times, the light went off. The car manual indicated pumping the accelerator…"
Steering · filed 2025-05-28

NHTSA crash ratings

Version	Overall	Front	Side	Rollover
2012 Acura TSX 4 DR FWD	Not rated	Not rated	Not rated	5 stars
2012 Acura TSX TSX Sport Wagon SW FWD	Not rated	Not rated	Not rated	5 stars
2012 Acura TSX V6 4 DR FWD	Not rated	Not rated	Not rated	5 stars

Stars are how this vehicle did in NHTSA crash tests. They are a safety result, separate from the complaint record. Not rated means that test was not run for this version.

Fuel economy

Trim	Engine	Transmission	Drive	City	Hwy	Combined	Annual fuel cost
TSX	2.4L, 4-cyl	Automatic (5-speed)	Front-wheel drive	22	31	25 MPG	$3200
TSX	3.5L, 6-cyl	Automatic (5-speed)	Front-wheel drive	19	28	22 MPG	$3650
TSX	2.4L, 4-cyl	Manual 6-speed	Front-wheel drive	21	29	24 MPG	$3300
TSX Wagon	2.4L, 4-cyl	Automatic (5-speed)	Front-wheel drive	22	29	24 MPG	$3300

Specs and fitment

Second generation (CU2), 2012–2014

Body styles Sedan, Sport Wagon

Oil 0W-20 (about 4.2 qt with filter on 2.4L; about 4.5 qt on 3.5L V6)

Tire size 225/50R17 or 225/45R18 (4-cyl); 235/45R18 (V6)

Known issues for this generation

Multiple Takata passenger frontal air-bag inflator recalls cover certain 2009-2014 Acura TSX and 2011-2014 TSX Sport Wagon vehicles among other Honda/Acura models, including campaigns 17V-030, 17V-545, 18V-042, 18V-661, 19V-378, and 19V-502. Upon deployment, the inflator may rupture and spray metal fragments. These are multi-model populations; dealers replace the passenger inflator. Check NHTSA VIN lookup for which campaigns remain open on a specific vehicle.

Compare

Next year 2013 Acura TSX See every Acura TSX model year →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2012 Acura TSX reliable?

What are common problems with a 2012 Acura TSX?

Is the 2012 Acura TSX more reliable than the years next to it?

The 2013 TSX has 33 complaints, 1 per year. The 2012 has more complaints per year than the 2013.

Has the 2012 Acura TSX been recalled?

The 2012 Acura TSX has 6 recalls on file with NHTSA. See the recalls table on this page for dates, components, and remedies.

How many complaints have owners filed about the 2012 Acura TSX?

Owners have filed 133 complaints about the 2012 Acura TSX with NHTSA.

What mpg does a 2012 Acura TSX get?

EPA-rated combined fuel economy for the 2012 Acura TSX is 23.8 MPG. See the fuel economy table on this page for city and highway figures by engine and transmission.

What engine oil does an Acura TSX use?

Acura specifies 0W-20; capacity is about 4.2 qt with filter on the 2.4L and about 4.5 qt on the 3.5L V6.

What tire sizes does an Acura TSX use?

4-cylinder models commonly use 225/50R17 or 225/45R18; V6 models commonly use 235/45R18.

What air-bag recalls cover certain Acura TSX models?

Multiple Takata passenger frontal air-bag inflator recalls cover certain 2009-2014 TSX and 2011-2014 TSX Sport Wagon vehicles among other Honda/Acura models.