Which Acura TSX years should you avoid?

2010 carry the highest severity-weighted complaint rates of any Acura TSX model year measured over an identical 60-month window.

What is the best year for the Acura TSX?

2012 is the best-scoring Acura TSX model year with a full 60 months on the road, at 68.1 out of 100. The score combines complaint rate, recall campaigns and open investigations.

How many recalls does the Acura TSX have?

7 distinct recall campaigns are on record across all scored Acura TSX model years. A recall is a matter of record: the manufacturer filed a defect report with NHTSA.

Which Acura TSX years to avoid

Across 2 scored model years, the 2010 model year carries the highest severity-weighted complaint rates.

Ownership label · Acura TSX Full report

Grade 2010–2012

2010 vs model median 1.3×

Model median3× median

Brakes 12

Airbags & Restraints 3

Tires & Wheels 2

Avoid

2010

Best

2010 · 2012

Year by year

Severity-weighted complaints filed in each model year’s first 60 months on the road, so every year is measured over an identical window.

Severity-weighted complaint volume and grade by model year for the Acura TSX
Year	Complaint volume	vs median	Reports	Grade
2010		1.32×	27	D
2012		0.68×	17	C

What owners report

The component groups most often named, with one representative report. These are unverified — allegations, not findings.

2010 D 27 reports · median 22,900 mi

Brakes 12

My 2009 acura tsx needs brakes at 25,000 miles when on average brakes should be changed at 50,000. This is a way for the automakers to make money from the pockets of the consumer. owner complaint filed with NHTSA
Airbags & Restraints 3

I bought a 2010 acura in april of 2010. Through out the summer, there would be times when I would enter the car, try to put my seatbelt on and it would not give it to me. owner complaint filed with NHTSA
Tires & Wheels 2

Michelin pilot hx mxm4 came installed on my 2010 acura tsx. At 220 miles tire developed a bubble, and at 280 miles went flat. Tire was replaced at a cost of $208, there was a tear in the sidewall. owner complaint filed with NHTSA

4 crash · 3 injuries

2012 C 17 reports · median 15,000 mi

Drivetrain 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. owner complaint filed with NHTSA
Engine 3

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. owner complaint filed with NHTSA
Brakes 2

I was told I need to replace my brakes. Has anyone else have this problem with 2012 tsx at 28k miles? owner complaint filed with NHTSA

1 crash

The best year for the TSX

Ranked by overall score among years with a full 60 months on the road.

2012 is the best-scoring TSX model year with a full 60 months on the road, at 68.1 out of 100 — a score that combines complaint rate, recall campaigns and open investigations.

Best-scoring model years
Year	vs median	Reports	Grade
2012	0.68×	17	C
2010	1.32×	27	D

Recalls

7 campaigns on record.

Recall campaigns, largest first
Campaign	Component	Model years	Units affected
16V346000	AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE	2010	2,719,386
18V661000	AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE	2010, 2012	1,355,406
17V030000	AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE	2010, 2012	977,708
18V042000	AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE	2010, 2012	691,726
19V378000	AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE	2010, 2012	19,138
19V502000	AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE	2010, 2012	9,555
17V545000	AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE	2010, 2012	3,257

How long do they last?

Complaint records show when problems get reported, not how long a car survives. Where owners gave an odometer reading, faults on the 2010 were reported at a median of 22,900 miles. Treat that as the point problems start being noticed, not a lifespan.

Common questions

Answered directly from this model’s record.

Which Acura TSX years should you avoid?: 2010 carry the highest severity-weighted complaint rates of any Acura TSX model year measured over an identical 60-month window.
What is the best year for the Acura TSX?: 2012 is the best-scoring Acura TSX model year with a full 60 months on the road, at 68.1 out of 100. The score combines complaint rate, recall campaigns and open investigations.
How many recalls does the Acura TSX have?: 7 distinct recall campaigns are on record across all scored Acura TSX model years. A recall is a matter of record: the manufacturer filed a defect report with NHTSA.

How this was calculated

Every model year is scored over an identical window: complaints filed with NHTSA during the first 60 months after that model year went on sale. Without this, older cars look worse purely because they have had longer to accumulate reports.

Limitations. Complaints are unverified reports submitted voluntarily by owners; they are allegations, not findings, and reporting rates vary between models. Model years with fewer than 60 months on the road are marked provisional and excluded from verdicts. Cross-model comparison is withheld pending production-volume data.

Full methodology · Sources · Data vintage August 9, 2026

Working 2010 TSX

Complaints in window: 27
Severity-weighted: 45
Model median (weighted): 34
vs model median: 1.32×
Recall campaigns (weighted): 7
Open investigations: 0

Score 51.9 D