This page covers 6 recalls, 132 owner complaints and EPA fuel economy for the 2012 Acura TSX.
22–25 mpg combined
9.4–10.7 L/100km
Compact Cars
Fuel economy data from fueleconomy.gov (EPA / U.S. Dept. of Energy). Annual cost based on 15,000 mi/yr at 55% city driving and current fuel prices. MPG is U.S. gallons; L/100km converted. Ranges reflect the 4 tested variants for this model year.
Steering dominates the complaint picture for the 2012 Acura TSX, accounting for the large majority of what owners report. The central issue is electric power steering failure, owners frequently describe a "Check Power Steering" warning appearing on the dash, followed by the steering becoming extremely heavy or completely unresponsive. This happens both at low speeds and on the highway, and some owners report the system temporarily recovers after restarting the engine, only for the warning and loss of assist to return. Several complaints point to the power steering control module as the diagnosed culprit. Service brake complaints are present but much less frequent, and airbag-related reports are a small handful. A recurring detail in the steering complaints is that the failure can come on suddenly without prior warning sounds or gradual degradation.
132
Total Complaints
4
Crash-Related
1
With Injuries
By System
The 2012 Acura TSX has 6 recalls, all involving the passenger-side frontal airbag inflator, which can explode and send metal fragments into the cabin, causing serious injury or death.
All six recalls center on the same Takata airbag inflator issue. The core defect is that the passenger airbag inflator can rupture during deployment, scattering sharp metal fragments toward the driver and passengers. Prior repair attempts did not fully resolve the problem in all cases: two of the recalls address vehicles where replacement inflators were incorrectly installed, meaning the airbag may not deploy properly in a crash rather than rupturing. If your vehicle has not been repaired, or if it received a replacement inflator at a dealership, it may still be affected.
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.
We may earn a commission for purchases made through these links.
Complaints are owner-reported and reflect individual experiences, not confirmed defects. They are distinct from recalls. Data sourced from the national vehicle safety complaint database. See trending complaints →
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
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 front air bag inflator may explode due to propellant breakdown from long-term exposure to humidity, heat, and temperature changes.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the passenger front air bag inflator at no charge.
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.
