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 centered on the passenger-side frontal airbag inflator, which can rupture or explode and send sharp metal fragments into the cabin, posing a serious risk of injury or death.
Prior repair attempts did not fully resolve the issue for all affected vehicles. Some inflators that were replaced at dealerships may have been installed incorrectly, meaning the passenger airbag can fail to deploy properly in a crash or deploy in a way that raises the risk of injury rather than reducing it. Owners who have already had inflator work done under a prior recall should confirm the repair was completed correctly, as at least one dealership is known to have installed replacement units improperly.
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.
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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.
