The 2009 Acura TSX has 6 recalls, all involving the front passenger airbag inflator, which can rupture or explode and send metal fragments into the cabin, posing a risk of serious injury or death.
The core issue is the well-known Takata airbag inflator defect, which affects a large range of Honda and Acura vehicles from this era. When the passenger airbag fires, the inflator can burst apart rather than inflate the bag normally, scattering sharp metal pieces toward anyone sitting in the front seat. Multiple recalls address this same underlying danger, reflecting successive repair campaigns over several years. There is a related concern for vehicles that already received a replacement inflator at a dealership: in some cases, that replacement may have been installed incorrectly, meaning the airbag could fail to deploy properly in a crash rather than deploying too forcefully. Prior repair attempts did not fully resolve the issue in all cases, which is why multiple campaigns exist for this single problem. All six recalls center on the same component, so owners who are unsure whether their vehicle has received a complete and correct repair should check their VIN against Honda's recall database.
At a glance
What can fail
The passenger front air bag inflator may explode due to propellant breakdown from long-term exposure to high humidity, heat, and temperature changes.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the passenger front air bag inflator at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
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At a glance
What can fail
The front passenger air bag inflator may have been installed incorrectly during a previous replacement, potentially affecting its ability to deploy properly.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect the inflator installation and replace the passenger front air bag module assembly if needed, at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The passenger frontal air bag inflator may explode due to propellant degradation from long-term exposure to high humidity, temperature, and temperature changes.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
Replacement passenger front air bag inflators may have been incorrectly installed at one dealership, potentially affecting proper deployment.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the passenger front air bag module assembly at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The front passenger air bag inflator may rupture during a crash due to propellant degradation from long-term exposure to humidity and temperature changes.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator at no cost when parts become available.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The passenger front air bag inflator may rupture during a crash due to propellant degradation from long-term exposure to humidity and temperature changes.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the air bag inflator at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
