RoadVitals

2004 Acura TSX Airbags Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the airbag system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Airbags reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
29
Latest May 6, 2021
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
20%
of 142 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
7
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
6

What this page shows

Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2004 Acura TSX submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 29 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming airbag

The 25 most recent of 29, in the owner's own words

AirbagsSteeringSuspension
Filed May 6, 2021

I WAS DRIVING MY CAR AND ALL OF A SUDDEN IT WAS HARD TO STEER THE CAR

NHTSA ID
11415482
Incident
Mar 14, 2021
Mileage
174,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Jul 14, 2020
1 injury reported

2004 ACURA TSX: I SAT IN MY CAR IDLE FOR ABOUT 15 MINUTES TO EAT. WHEN I PUT MY CAR IN REVERSE TO BACK OUT OF A PARKING SPOT, THE PASSENGER SIDE CURTAIN AND SEAT AIRBAGS SUDDENLY DEPLOYED. WITHIN 5 SECONDS THE DRIVER SIDE DEPLOYED. THESE CREATED THE LOUDEST NOISE I HAVE EVER HEARD IN MY ENTIRE LIFE. I QUICKLY PUT THE CAR BACK IN PARK AND JUMPED OUT AS THE CAR WAS FILLED WITH A DUSTY CLOUD. THIS CAR HAS BEEN SERVICED AT AN ACURA DEALERSHIP EVERY 5,000 - 6,000 MILES SINCE I HAVE OWNED IT.

NHTSA ID
11339282
Incident
Jul 13, 2020
Mileage
318,500 mi
AirbagsBrakesSteering
Filed Apr 15, 2019

CAR LEAKING POWER STEERING FLUID AND SMOKING UNDERNEATH ENGINE, KEEP HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKING SYSTEM AND I SAW RECALLS ON 2004 -2008 MODELS AND AIR BAG ICON ALWAYS ON

NHTSA ID
11196431
Incident
Mar 1, 2019
Mileage
158,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Jul 27, 2018

MY SAFETY RESTRAINT LIGHT STAYS ON AT 155,000 MILES. FOR AIRBAGS

NHTSA ID
11114175
Incident
Jul 1, 2018
AirbagsSteering
Filed May 22, 2018

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 ACURA TSX. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED AND AN ABNORMAL NOISE WAS HEARD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED SPORADICALLY WHILE DRIVING, WHICH WAS A SAFETY CONCERN. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 10V174000 (STEERING), WHICH WAS STILL AN OPEN RECALL ON THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ID
11097249
Incident
Apr 17, 2018
Airbags
Filed Jan 30, 2018

PASSENGER AIRBAG DEPLOYED WHILE DRIVING AT A SPEED OF 35 MPH

NHTSA ID
11065879
Incident
Mar 15, 2015
Mileage
90,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Mar 1, 2017

DRIVING UP TO ORLANDO AT PROBABLY 80 MPG AND PASSENGER CURTAIN AND PASSENGER SEAT AIR BAG DEPLOYED BY ITSELF ......IT REALLY SCARED ME BUT THER WAS NO DAMAGE TO EXTERIOR BUT THE INSIDE ROOF AND LEATHER SEAT WHERE DAMAGED.....

NHTSA ID
10957846
Incident
Jan 18, 2017
Mileage
135,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Jun 16, 2016

TAKATA AIRBAG: THE 2004 TSX ACURA SIDE AIRBAG INFLATED WHILE THE CAR PARKED. AS SOON AS MY SON ENTERED THE CAR HE SAID IT SOUNDED LIKE SOMEONE THREW A BRICK AT THE WINDOW. AND THEN THE AIRBAG DEFLATED HITTING HIM ON THE SIDE OF HIS FACE. IT FRIGHTENED HIM. HE DROVE IT TO KAREN RADLEY ACURA DEALERS AND THEY TOLD HIM IT WAS NOT A DEFECT. I SPOKE TO THE GENTLEMAN AND SAID IT HAD TO BE A DEFECT BECAUSE NOTHING CAUSED IT TO DEFLATE. I HAVE PICTURES TO SHOW THERE WAS NO IMPACT. THE DEALERSHIP WANT TO CHARGE ME $3100 FOR THE REPAIR WORK.

NHTSA ID
10874678
Incident
Jun 6, 2016
Airbags
Filed Jun 9, 2016
1 injury reported

TAKATA RECALL UPON GETTING IN THE VEHICLE I SIMPLY SAT IN THE DRIVER SEAT, AND CLOSED THE DOOR. AS SOON AS THE DOOR SHUT CLOSED, THE DRIVER SIDE CURTAIN AIR BAG DEPLOYED HITTING ME IN THE HEAD NECK AND SHOULDER AREA. TRIGGERING ME TO HAVE MUSCLE SPASMS IN MY BACK, SEVERE HEAD ACHE, AND TO BE DISORIENTED AFTER BEING STRUCK SO ABRUPTLY AND WITH OUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS STILL PARKED, I HAD NOT EVEN HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO PUT THE KEYS IN THE IGNITION. THE CAR HAS NOT BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT, THERE WAS NO DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE, IR ANY REASON FOR THE AIRBAG TO DEPLOY. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP TO HAVE THIS MANUFACTURER DEFFECT FIXED. AT THE DEALER I WAS TOLD THAT THEY WILL NOT COVER IT AS A MANUFACTURER DEFFECT, AND WILL COST ME $3100.00 TO FIX. THE DEALERS WORDS TO ME WERE, "AIR BAGS DO NOT JUST DEPLOY ON THEIR OWN." UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION OF MY OWN IVE FOUND AT LEAST 25 OTHER COMPLAINTS OF PEOPLE WITH THE SAME MAKE AND YEAR MODEL WITH SIMILAR AIR BAG ISSUES.

NHTSA ID
10873365
Incident
Jun 7, 2016
Mileage
62,500 mi
AirbagsSeat belts
Filed Apr 8, 2016

THE AIRBAG OR SRS LIGHT IS CONSTANTLY ON INDICATING THAT IT WILL NOT DEPLOY IN AN ACCIDENT. THIS HAPPENS AFTER STARTING THE ENGINE. THE REASON APPEARS TO BE A FAILED ELECTRICAL COMPONENT IN THE SEAT BELT BUCKLE. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE THAT IS AND HAS BEEN FACED BY A LOT OF TSX OWNERS. CONTACTED ACURA BUT THEY WILL NOT COVER ANYTHING, EITHER TO REPLACE THE COMPONENT OR EVEN TO DIAGNOSE THE EXACT ISSUE. THEIR POSITION IS: SEAT BELTS STILL WORK AND SO IT IS NOT A DEFECT. NOTE THAT THE AIRBAGS STILL WON'T DEPLOY WITH THIS PARTS DEFECT. THE DEALER CONCURS WITH ACURA. SINCE THIS IS A KNOWN AND WIDESPREAD REPORTED SAFETY ISSUE, ACURA SHOULD BE ASKED TO ISSUE A RECALL.

NHTSA ID
10854324
Incident
Mar 7, 2016
Mileage
59,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Jul 29, 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 ACURA TSX. WHILE AT A STOP LIGHT, THE PASSENGER SIDE CURTAIN AIR BAG DEPLOYED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000.

NHTSA ID
10744557
Incident
Jul 24, 2015
Mileage
140,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Jul 23, 2015

I WAS DRIVING DOWN A NORMAL STREET AT 5:00PM WITH THE FRONT WINDOWS DOWN. WITH NO PRIOR INDICATION OR WARNINGS THE SIDE IMPACT AIR BAG DEPLOYED WITH A DISORIENTING "POP", VIOLENTLY PUNCHING ME IN THE LEFT ARM. THIS CAUSED MY CAR TO SWERVE, BUT I WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL AND AVOIDED ANY ACCIDENTS. BY ALL ACCOUNTS, I WAS LUCKY; THIS COULD HAVE BEEN MUCH WORSE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10736077
Incident
Jul 14, 2015
Mileage
60,000 mi
Airbags
Filed May 13, 2014
Crash reported

SLID ON GRAVELS IN THE ROAD HIT A FENCE FRONT END DAMAGE REPLACE BUMPER HEADLIGHT HOOD AND DRIVER PANEL REPLACED UNDERNEATH PROTECTIONS IN FRONT END OF CAR AIRBAG LIGHT STAYS ON CONTINUALLY CALLED DEALER SHIP SAID WAS NOT A RECALL ON THIS SAFETY ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10588163
Incident
Feb 28, 2014
Mileage
130,000 mi
AirbagsSeat belts
Filed Apr 30, 2013

I WAS DRIVING AT 45MPH AND HIT A POT WHOLE, INSTANTLY MY DRIVERS SIDE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED IN MY SEAT AND SIDE WINDOW PANEL. *TR

NHTSA ID
10510140
Incident
Mar 22, 2013
Airbags
Filed Apr 28, 2012

AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT COMES ON INTERMITTENTLY INDICATING SIDE AIR BAG. DOES NOT INDICATE WHICH SIDE. HAPPENS WITH OR WITHOUT PASSENGER. INTERNET SEARCH REVEALED SEVERAL MENTIONS OF THE SAME. THERE ARE NO TSBS. *TR

NHTSA ID
10456767
Incident
Apr 3, 2012
Mileage
74,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Feb 1, 2011

2004 ACURA TSX PASSENGER SIDE CURTAIN AND SEAT AIRBAGS DEPLOYED WITH NO COLLISION OR CONTACT, BOTH ACURA DEALERSHIP, INDEPENDENT DEALER AND USAA INSURANCE VERIFIED YET NEITHER ACURA OR INSURANCE WILL PAY FOR REPAIRS. AIRBAGS DEPLOYED WHILE MAKING A RIGHT HAND TURN FROM A COMPLETE STOP. NO EVIDENCE OF IMPACT OR DAMAGE ANYWHERE ON VEHICLE TO INCLUDE UNDERCARRIAGE. SIMILAR COMPLAINTS ON NHTSA AND ON THE INTERNET FOR THIS YEAR, MAKE AND MODEL. *LN

NHTSA ID
10379874
Incident
Jan 17, 2011
Mileage
104,200 mi
AirbagsSeat belts
Filed Jan 10, 2011
Crash reported

I WAS INVOLVED IN A SIX VEHICLE ACCIDENT IN WHICH I REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE GOING AT A SPEED OF ABOUT 55 MPH, I HAD MAJOR FRONT END DAMAGE WHICH LED TO MY CAR BEING TOTALED. DURING THE ACCIDENT, MY PASSENGER SEAT AIRBAG DEPLOYED (WITH NO ONE SITTING IN THE SEAT) AND MY DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. THE SEAT BELT EXTENDED SO FAR THAT I HIT MY CHEST AGAINST THE STEERING, WHICH TELLS ME IT DID NOT LOCK. I NOTIFIED HONDA CONCERNING THIS ISSUE, THEY HAD AN INSPECTOR COME OUT, JUST TO TELL ME THAT MY CAR WAS "SMART, BUT STUPID" THAT IT IS NOT UP TO SAFETY CODE FOR TODAY, BUT IT WAS AT THE TIME IT WAS RELEASED IN 2004! THIS IS COMPLETELY ABSURD TO ME. I'VE OBTAIN OTHER OPINIONS IN THE MATTER AND THEY AGREE AS WELL. AFTER READING OTHER COMPLAINTS CONCERNING THIS PROBLEM, I BELIEVE THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN INVESTIGATED FURTHER. NOT SIMPLY SWEPT UNDER THE RUG OR THE STATEMENT MADE "THE CAR DID WHAT IT WAS SUPPOSE TO DO". OBVIOUSLY IT DID NOT. PEOPLE COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED. AND I WILL BE GOING FURTHER WITH MY COMPLAINT.

NHTSA ID
10376132
Incident
Sep 16, 2010
AirbagsSeat belts
Filed May 5, 2010

AT 5:00 PM, MAY 2, 2010, WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH ON INTERSTATE 5 FREEWAY (NORTH BOUND) IN LOS ANGLES AREA, THE DRIVER-SIDE SIDE-AIRBAG, CURTAIN-AIRBAG, AND SEATBELT PRE-TENSIONER WAS DEPLOYED WITH NO REASON. LIGHT TRAFFIC AND CLEAR WEATHER. THERE WAS NO INJURY OR ACCIDENT INVOLVED. THE CAR IS 2004 ACURA TSX MODEL AND MILEAGE IS ABOUT 108,000 MILES. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO GLENDALE ACURA AND CONTACTED ACURA CUSTOMER SERVICE. THE DEALERSHIP SENT PICTURES TO ACURA CUSTOMER SERVICE. ACURA CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE CLAIMS THAT THEIR ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT DETERMINED (BASED ON THE PICTURE THE DEALERSHIP PROVIDED) THAT IS ROAD DAMAGE (SCRATCHES AND DENTS) UNDERSIDE OF THE CAR AND THE SENSOR MAY REACTED DUE TO THE DAMAGE. THEREFORE ACURA WILL NOT FIX THE DAMAGE (REPLACE AIRBAG...) AND WILL NOT RELEASE THE PICTURE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10328981
Incident
May 2, 2010
Mileage
108,000 mi
AirbagsSeat belts
Filed Nov 8, 2009
Crash reported

I WAS ON A HEAD ON COLLISION IN MY 2004 ACURA TSX AND THE DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG DID NOT GO OFF. I (THE DRIVER) WAS THE ONLY PERSON IN THE CAR. SOMEHOW THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED BUT NOT THE DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG, THE REASON FOR CONCERN ARE TWO, FIRST WITH NOT ENOUGH WEIGHT ON THE PASSENGER SEAT, THE AIRBAG SHOULD NOT HAVE GONE OFF, (WHAT IF THERE WAS A SMALL CHILD SEATING THERE), AND ALSO THE DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG SHOULD HAVE GONE OFF. ALSO THE DRIVER SIDE SEATBELT DID NOT PROTECT ME AND IT FAILED TO PROVIDE ANY RESTRAINT AND NOW IS BROKEN. *TR

NHTSA ID
10291372
Incident
Nov 6, 2009
Mileage
54,000 mi
AirbagsElectricalEngine+2 more
Filed Jan 7, 2008

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 ACURA TSX. WHILE ACCELERATING BETWEEN 35-75 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WOULD RESTART WITHIN 1-10 MINUTES. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE OR REPAIR THE FAILURE. THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THE 2005 ACURA TSX; NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 07V097000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 76,400 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 77,000. UPDATED 01/29/08 *BF THE DEALER REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP RELAY AND CAM SHAFT SENSOR. THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED OCCASIONALLY, THE BATTERY WAS REPLACED. THE SEAT BELT BUCKLE WAS REPLACED. UPDATED

NHTSA ID
10214016
Incident
Dec 19, 2007
Mileage
76,400 mi
Airbags
Filed Dec 14, 2007
Crash reported

IN A LIGHT FRONTAL COLLISION THE FRONT PASSENGER AIRBAG DEPLOYED BUT THE DRIVER'S SIDE BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. *TR

NHTSA ID
10211913
Incident
Dec 4, 2007
Mileage
45,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Jun 3, 2006

MY WIFE WAS DRIVING ALONG AND HIT A PIECE OF METAL ON THE HIGHWAY AND HAD A BLOW OUT BUT MAINTAINED CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND THE PASSENGER SIDE CURTAIN AIR BAG AND PASSENGER SEAT AIR BAG BOTH DEPLOYED. *NM

NHTSA ID
10158893
Incident
Dec 12, 2005
Mileage
34,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Oct 26, 2005

1) ON 10/21/05, I WAS DRIVING ON THE FWY AT APPROX. 65 MPH AND MY SIDE CURTAIN & DRIVER SEAT AIRBAGS DEPLOYED FOR NO APPARENT REASON. 2) I DID NOT SEE ANY DEBRIS ON THE ROAD OR FEEL ANYTHING HIT MY CAR UNDERNEATH THE FRAME, HOWEVER, ACCORDING TO ACURA AND AMERICAN HONDA, A FREQUENCY SENSOR DETECTED A LOUD NOISE THAT CAUSED THE AIRBAGS DEPLOY. IT IS OBVIOUS THERE IS A DEFECT WITH EITHER THE AIRBAG ITSELF OR THE SENSORS. 3) TUSTIN ACURA (IN TUSTIN, CA) REFUSED TO COVER MY AIRBAGS UNDER MY WARRANTY AND MADE ME GO THROUGH MY INSURANCE TO GET IT FIXED. IT IS NOW BEING CONSIDERED AN AT FAULT "COLLISION" WHEN I DIDN'T SEE WHAT THEY SAY I MUST HAVE HIT AND I DID NOT FEEL OR HEAR ANY IMPACT. THE SENSOR IS OBVIOUSLY TOO SENSITIVE AND THEREFORE IT SEEMS TO BE A DEFECT, BUT STILL AMERICAN HONDA REFUSES TO COVER IT. *NM

NHTSA ID
10140861
Incident
Oct 21, 2005
Mileage
25,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Oct 25, 2005

AIR BAGS DEPLOY BECAUSE A PIECE OF WOOD HIT UNDER THE CAR, OIL LEAK

NHTSA ID
10140803
Incident
Oct 7, 2005
Mileage
12,950 mi
Airbags
Filed Jan 7, 2005
Crash reported1 injury reported

REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE AT 25 MPH AND MY PASSENGER AIRBAG DEPLOYED WITHOUT ANYONE BEING IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. MY AIRBAG DIDN'T DEPLOY. I SUFFERED A WHIPLASH AS A RESULT. THE COLLISION WAS HEAD ON AND I FEEL MY AIRBAG SHOULD HAVE DEPLOYED. ACURA SAYS THE CAR BEHAVED THE WAY IT SHOULD HAVE, BUT I FEEL THAT EXPLANATION IS INSUFFICIENT. I HAVE SPOKEN TO EXPERTS IN THE AREA AS WELL AND THEY FEEL LIKE ME THAT THE AIRBAG SHOULD HAVE DEPLOYED. IT IS MY FIRM BELIEF THAT THIS VEHICLE IS DEFECTIVE.*AK

NHTSA ID
10105958
Incident
Nov 19, 2004
Mileage
2,200 mi

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

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Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .