2005 Acura TSX Owner Complaints

The contact's son owns a 2005 Acura TSX. The contact discovered that there was fluid leaking from the vehicle while parked. In addition, the contact stated that there was white steam coming from behind the engine. There was no warning light illuminated. Upon investigation, the contact discovered that the power steering fluid was leaking from the power steering hose, causing the power steering assist to fail to operate as needed. The contact later discovered NHTSA Campaign Number: 10V174000 (Steering) which was linked to the failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the vehicle was not covered under the recall. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 165,000.

NHTSA ID

11633833

Incident

Jun 1, 2024

Mileage

165,000 mi

UNKNOWN

NHTSA ID

11597246

Incident

Jun 27, 2024

Recall never fixed

NHTSA ID

11586144

Incident

Apr 23, 2024

The seat belt light on the dash remains lit when the vehicle is started. I contacted the local dealer. I was advised to bring it in to be evaluated and I would be charged a service charge to fix it unless it was covered by the warranty. I was under the impression the seat belt had a lifetime warranty. I have read this is a common problem but have not been notified of a recall regarding this issue.

NHTSA ID

11515539

Incident

Jan 1, 2018

Had just picked up my car from being repaired from an accident and was just driving along and I turned the seat heater on and I started seeing smoke coming from under me and was getting hot so I pulled over and found my seat was on fire ,I was 9 months pregnant at the time and feared for me and my soon to be child's life. I called the fire department where they put the fire out for me.I had it then sent to Acura to check it and they are telling me this is my fault and are charging me $319 for looking at it.I feel that this was a faulty part and is a danger to me, It is currently at the collision repair center which I took it back to and refuse to drive because I am very scared to drive it now. Seems to be a seat heater issue.

NHTSA ID

11489548

Incident

Oct 4, 2022

It is my understanding that the seatbelt on my vehicle is 100% covered under lifetime warranty. However, my airbag light is on and remains on due to a sensor failure in the driver's side seatbelt buckle and the tensioner. I went to the Acura dealer in Chantilly, VA to have repaired and was informed by the Service Manager (Kyle C.) that Acura was only going to pay 50%, which was unacceptable as it is a lifetime warranty part (seatbelt). As this is a significant safety issue, I was not able to pass a state safety inspection due to the issue and was informed by the inspector that it should be covered by the dealer. As the sensor failure causes the airbag system light and therefore the possibility that the system would NOT work if in an accident, this is a MAJOR safety issue and the response from ACURA/DEALER is unacceptable. This issue is a well documented problem among owners of this vehicle as well as the improper responses from Acura.

NHTSA ID

11446543

Incident

Dec 1, 2020

CAR BEGINS BRAKING WHILE ACCELERATING AND STARTS SLIDING WHEN BRAKING ON DRY PAVEMENT. THE OTHER MODEL FROM THIS YEAR SUCH AS THE MDX HAVE A RECALL FOR THE VSA SYSTEM HOWEVER THE TSX DOES NOT. THE MDX RECALL FROM 05 MATCHED THE SAME ISSUES THE 05 TSX HAS.

NHTSA ID

11362895

Incident

Aug 30, 2019

Mileage

175,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 ACURA TSX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AT START-UP, THE POWER STEERING FAILED TO OPERATE AS DESIGNED, WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT ADDED POWER STEERING FLUID TO THE POWER STEERING RESERVOIR HOWEVER, THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO BE INSPECTED OR DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT REFERENCED THE FAILURE TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 10V174000 (STEERING) HOWEVER, THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. AUTONATION ACURA GULF FREEWAY (1125 GULF FWY S, LEAGUE CITY, TX 77573) WAS CONTACTED AND INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.*DT*JB

NHTSA ID

11331138

Incident

Jun 6, 2017

I WAS ALMOST INVOLVED IN A COLLISION WHILE TRYING TO MAKE A LEFT TURN BECAUSE THE POWER STEERING FAILED OUT OF NO WHERE LOCKS UP TO THE POINT IT'S IMPOSSIBLE TO TURN THE WHEEL. I READ UP ONLINE THAT THE ACURA TSX HAVE RACK AND PINION ISSUES. ACURA SHOULD RELEASE A RECALL ESPECIALLY WITH THE HIGH VOLUME THIS PROBLEM OCCURS AND HOW DANGEROUS IT IS. I'M TERRIFIED TO EVEN DRIVE IT. BECAUSE THIS ISN'T THE FIRST TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED. SOMEBODY CAN GET SERIOUSLY HURT OR KILLED IF SOMETHING ISN'T DONE ABOUT THIS ISSUE POOR QUALITY FROM ACURA.

NHTSA ID

11290301

Incident

Dec 19, 2019

I WAS DRIVING NORTH BOUND HWY 6 TOWARDS COLLEGE STATION TEXAS FROM HOUSTON, AND THE VEHICLE STARTED TO NOT ENGAGE WHILE SHIFTING AND THEN THE VEHICLE GAVE NO POWER TO THE WHEELS ,BUT ALL SOLENIODS SEEM TO BE IN WORKING ORDER. AFTER HAVING THE VEHICLE TOWED FROM HEMPSTEAD WHERE IT WAS DISABLED ,AND AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH THERE SEEMS TO BE AN ISSUE WITH THE SAME GENERATION OF HONDA'S WITH THE SAME AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, BUT THERE IS NOT A RECALL FOR THEIR ACURA COUNTERPARTS. THE RECALL ID# 11V395000.

NHTSA ID

11277696

Incident

Oct 25, 2019

Mileage

155,000 mi

SOMETIME THE AIRBAG LIGHT GOES OFF AND STAY OFF AFTER THE START WHICH IS NORMAL BUT SOMETIME IT STAYS ON NEVER GO OFF AFTER YOU START IT.

NHTSA ID

11206893

Incident

May 9, 2019

I WAS DRIVING ALONE ON A ICY CITY STREET AND WAS UNABLE TO STOP COMPLETELY WHEN ANOTHER VEHICLE WAS TURNING LEFT. MY VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 12-15 MILES PER HOUR WHEN IT IMPACTED THE OTHER VEHICLE. ON THE OTHER VEHICLE THERE WAS NO DAMAGE AT ALL AND ON MY 2005 ACURA TSX THERE WAS A MINOR INDENTATION IN THE FRONT BUMPER CAUSED BY THE OTHER CARS LICENSE PLATE AND MY PASSENGER AIRBAG HAD DEPLOYED. AFTER DOING MY RESEARCH AND TALKING TO TWO MECHANICS, I WAS INFORMED THAT IT ISN'T STANDARD OPERATING PRACTICE FOR AN AIRBAG TO DEPLOY UNLESS IT IS ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY FOR SAFETY PURPOSES. BASED ON THE SPECIFICS OF THIS MINOR FENDER-BENDER, THE PASSENGER AIRBAG SHOULDN'T HAVE DEPLOYED BECAUSE NOBODY WAS SITTING ON THE PASSENGER SIDE AND DUE THE SPEED AT IMPACT. IN MY OPINION, THIS SEEMED LIKE A DEFECTIVE AIRBAG THAT ACURA SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR AND NOT MY INSURANCE COMPANY. I CONTACTED ACURA CUSTOMER RELATIONS FOR ASSISTANCE AND BASICALLY GIVEN THE RUN-AROUND FOR 4 WEEKS ONLY TO BE TOLD THAT I NEEDED TO REPORT THE ACCIDENT TO MY INSURANCE AND THEY WOULD PURSUE A CLAIM AGAINST ACURA IF THEY CHOSE TO. ALTHOUGH THESE PARTICULAR AIRBAGS AREN'T ON THE RECALL LIST, I DO BELIEVE THAT THERE ARE ISSUES WITH THE 2005 ACURA TSX AIRBAGS BASED ON THE AMOUNT COMPLAINTS I'VE READ ONLINE. I HAVE BEEN AN ACURA/HONDA CUSTOMER FOR OVER 15 YEARS AND WAS QUITE DISAPPOINTED IN THEIR RESPONSE AND HOW THEY HANDLED MY REQUEST.

NHTSA ID

11184994

Incident

Dec 26, 2018

Mileage

138,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEED, BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. THERE WAS NO IMPACT BETWEEN MY VEHICLE AND ANY OTHER VEHICLE OR OBJECT. THE ROOT CAUSE FOR THE DEPLOYMENT IS UNKNOWN AT THIS TIME (INSURANCE INSPECTOR HAS NOT PROVIDED AN UPDATE AT THIS TIME).

NHTSA ID

11120111

Incident

Aug 10, 2018

Mileage

106,930 mi

MY VIN IS NOT INCLUDED IN ACURA R35 RECALL CAMPAIGN OF 167,000 2094-2008 4-CYL TSX RE: POWER STEERING, BUT THE VEHICLE (2005 4-CYL TSX) IS EXPERIENCING THE ISSUE, AS VERIFIED BY THE ACURA DEALERSHIP THIS WEEK. FROM SERVICE RECCOMENDATION - RED: REQUIRES IMMEDIATE ATTENTION - 'LEAKING SYSTEM WAS LOW AND NOISY. JUST STARTING TO LEAK AT RACK ENDS VERY MINOR, PUMP IS BAD'

NHTSA ID

11111477

Incident

Jul 9, 2018

Mileage

111,000 mi

THE TRANSMISSION'S FINAL DRIVEN GEAR HAS GONE OUT ON ME TWICE IN THE LAST YEAR. AS THE ATTACHED IMAGE OF ANOTHER PERSON'S GEAR SHOWS, TWO TEETH SOMEHOW SHEER OFF, AND WREAK HAVOC ON THE TRANSMISSION BEARINGS AND TRANSMISSION CASING IF NOT RECOGNIZED AND TURNED OFF IMMEDIATELY. BEING A MANUAL TRANSMISSION, I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN CONFIDENT THAT THE TRANSMISSION'S LIFE WOULD BE MUCH LONGER SINCE THE CLUTCH TAKES MOST OF THE WEAR-AND-TEAR OF SHIFTING GEARS. WITH MULTIPLE DISCUSSION FORUMS FROM OTHER CONSUMERS OUTLINING THE ISSUE AT HAND (INCLUDING THIS ONE: (HTTP://WWW.TSXCLUB.COM/FORUMS/1ST-GEN-PROBLEMS-FIXES/105177-KNOCKING-NOISE-ONLY-WHEN-POWER-WHEELS.HTML ), THE FACT THAT THE PART NUMBER HAS CHANGED SINCE THE CAR WAS MANUFACTURED, AND KNOWING THAT THE NUMBER OF VEHICLES EFFECTED RELATIVELY LOW LEAD ME TO BELIEVE THAT THIS IS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT THAT ACURA DECIDED TO IGNORE RATHER THAN RECALL. THE FIRST TIME I WASN'T ABLE TO REBUILD THE TRANSMISSION, WHICH ENDED UP COSTING ME OVER $3,000 IN ORDER TO BUY A USED TRANSMISSION AND INSTALL IT, AND THIS SECOND TIME, IT HAS COST ME $1,850 TO REBUILD IT. I NOTICED THE PROBLEM WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY BOTH TIMES IT BROKE DOWN ON ME. THE ISSUE IS EASILY RECOGNIZED AS A TICKING SOUND THAT OCCURS EVERY TIME THE WHEEL/AXLE MAKES A FULL TURN. IT WILL GET PROGRESSIVELY LOUDER OVER THE SUBSEQUENT 30 MINUTES OR MORE UNTIL THE CAR IS BASICALLY CLUNKING DOWN THE HIGHWAY. MY CAR HAD APPROXIMATELY 116,000 MILES ON IT THE FIRST TIME, AND THE SECOND TRANSMISSION HAD ABOUT 135,000 WHEN IT BROKE DOWN. THOUGH THE MILEAGE CAN BE POINTED AS BEING 'TOO HIGH', IT IS WELL-KNOWN THAT ACURA AND HONDA ARE LONG-LIVING VEHICLES, INCLUDING THE TRANSMISSION, AND SHOULD NOT HAVE SUCH AN ISSUE AS THIS UNLESS THE CAR WAS BEING RACED AND ABUSED. IN SUM, THIS IS CERTAINLY A SAFETY ISSUE FOR ANYONE TRAVELING LONG DISTANCES AND SHOULD BE RECALLED.

NHTSA ID

11002800

Incident

Jun 20, 2017

Mileage

120,000 mi

AT 230,000 MILES THE PASSENGER AIRBAG LIGHT STARTED FLASHING WHEN THE SEAT WAS UNOCCUPIED. AT 236,000 THE LIGHT IS NOW ON CONSTANTLY. I HAVE SEEN OTHERS COMPLAIN ABOUT THIS SAME PROBLEM AND HAVE TO AGREE THAT I DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHY THIS YEARS MODEL IS NOT COVERED IN THE TAKATA RECALL. THIS IS CLEARLY A SAFETY ISSUE.

NHTSA ID

10969357

Incident

Dec 15, 2016

Mileage

230,000 mi

CONDENSATION IN THE HEADLIGHT HOUSING CAUSING HID BULB TO GO OUT UNABLE TO REPLACE, SAFETY HAZARD

NHTSA ID

10907328

Incident

Jul 19, 2016

Mileage

125,500 mi

AROUND 11:15PM ON 9/16/16 MAKING A LEFT TURN AT APPROXIMATELY 15MPH ALL THE CENTER CONSOLE LIGHTS/CONTROLS WENT OUT, VEHICLE LOST ACCELERATION AS IF IT WERE IN NEUTRAL, SHIFTED TO MANUAL AND PRESSED THE ACCELERATOR AS WELL, STILL NO ACCELERATION, ONLY MOTOR REVVING, TURNED HEADLIGHTS OFF THEN IT ACCELERATED, ALL DASH WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED, ALL GAUGES FAILED, VEHICLE STALLED, TRIED TO CRANK AND WOULD NOT TURN OVER, PUT A CHARGE TO THE BATTERY, VEHICLE STARTED BUT ALL ISSUES REMAINED. UNSAFE TO DRIVE.

NHTSA ID

10907327

Incident

Sep 16, 2016

Mileage

127,000 mi

AIRBAG MIL HAS BEEN REGISTERING ON VEHICLES INSTRUMENT PANEL. LIGHT STARTED GLOWING SPORADICALLY FOR SOME TIME, EVEN BEFORE THE MILEAGE AND DATE LISTED ABOVE. IT WOULD TURN ON OFF ERRATICALLY, WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE. PROBLEM HAS ESCALATED OVER TIME AND NOW IN CONSTANTLY GLOWING ON. "ACCORDING TO ACURA TSX MANUAL THIS INDICATES AN AIRBAG RELATED SAFETY ISSUE". HAVE BEEN ABLE TO PHTOTOGRAPH THE AIRBAG MIL LIGHT AT DIFFERENT MILEAGE. PHOTOGRAPHIC PROOF AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST TO INDICATE PROBLEM ESCALITING OVER TIME.

NHTSA ID

10713797

Incident

Aug 31, 2014

Mileage

156,892 mi

THE SRS (AIR BAG) INDICATOR BEGAN TO ILLUMINATE INTERMITTENTLY. WHEN THE SRS LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED, THE AIR BAG SYSTEM WOULD BECOME DISABLED. DUE TO THIS SAFETY HAZARD, MY VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO PASS MASSACHUSETTS STATE INSPECTION. AN ACURA DEAL PULLED TO CODES AND DISCOVERED A REPORT OF CODE 81-1- INDICATING A FAILURE OF THE CAR SEAT BUCKLE AND REQUIRED REPLACEMENT OF THE DRIVER'S SIDE CAR SEAT BUCKLE AT A COST OF NEARLY $400. THE PART NUMBER IS 04816SECA12ZD. THE ACURA DEAL IS UNABLE TO COVER THIS REPAIR UNDER THE LIFETIME CAR SEAT BELT WARRANTY. ACURA CLAIMS THIS IS AN ELECTRICAL FAILURE, NOT A MECHANICAL FAILURE. THIS "ELECTRICAL" FAILURE DISABLES THE SRS SYSTEM - WHICH IS VERY MUCH A MECHANICAL FAILURE IN THE EVENT OF A COLLISION. *TR

NHTSA ID

10703701

Incident

Apr 3, 2015

Mileage

93,000 mi

CAR WILL NOT START WHEN IT DOES YOU HAVE TO PRESS ON PEDAL TO KEEP AUTO ON POSSIBLE FUEL. *TR

NHTSA ID

10701110

Incident

Mar 21, 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 ACURA TSX. THE CONTACT WAS INVOLVED IN A CRASH AND THE AIR BAGS PARTIALLY DEPLOYED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO INFLATE AND THE SPECIFICS OF THE CRASH WERE NOT AVAILABLE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND NO INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 210,000.

NHTSA ID

10659461

Incident

Nov 13, 2014

Mileage

210,000 mi

ON NOVEMBER 4 2014 I FILE A COMPLAINT WITH THIS CAR BECAUSE THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WHEN THE CAR WAS PARKING MY HUSBAND AND MY LITTLE BOY WHERE ON THE CAR . ( IWAS ON THE DENTIST OFFICE ) MY HUSBAND DECIDE TO GO INTO THE CAR AND GIVE HIM SOME SNACK THEN AFTER ABOUT 20 MIN THAT MY HUSBAND TURN ON THE CAR TO USE THE AC THE AIR BAGS PASSENGER AND DRIVER SIDE DEPLOYED ,THE PASSENGER SIDE BAG HURT MY SON, 22 MONTHS OLD IN HIS EAR AND HEAD ( BABY AND FATHER WAS IN THE FRONT SEAT OF THE PARKED CAR) THE BABY WAS TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL FOR CRYING SO MUCH. BURNS AND EAR PAIN WERE THE RESULT.AT THE PREVIOUS COMPLAINT DOES NOT MENTION THE DAMAGE THE BABY RECEIVED BECAUSE IT WAS NOT FATAL BUT AFTER REVIEWING OTHER COMPLAINTS BY OTHER OWNERS I DECIDED TO MAKE A NEW COMPLAINT THIS CAR SUPPOSEDLY HAD AN ACCIDENT IN 2009 FOR WHICH THE COMPANY CARFAX HAS RECORD DECLARED IT A TOTAL LOSS ON THIS CAR BUT I HAVE IN MY POSSESSION A CLEAN DMV TITLE AND CARFAX WHERE THE RECUR CLARIFIES THAT WERE NEVER THE AIRBAGS BE DEPLOYED AND ALSO NEVER HAD STRUCTURAL DAMAGE IAND I ALSO WANT TO CLARIFY THAT WAS NEVER LOST IN THIS CAR I HAVE DISCOVERED AN ERROR IN CARFAX SO THIS CAR NEVER WHERE A TOTAL LOSS SO NO ACCEPTABLE EXCUSES, THE AIRBAGS FOR THIS ACURA TSX 2005 DEPLOYED FOR NO REASON IF YOU CHECKED MY CAR'S COMPUTER WILL KNOW THAT NOTHING CAUSE THE FAILURE EVENT ONLY THE FABRICATION DEFECT I HAVE DOCUMENTS SUPPORTING THIS. I DO NOT KNOW WHERE ELSE TO TURN OR WHAT ELSE SHOULD I DO TO GET ACURA ANSWER FOR EMOTIONAL DAMAGE BECAUSE IT WAS A TERRIBLE SHOCK TO SEE MY BABY BURNED HIS EAR BECAUSE OF A MANUFACTURING DEFECT. I ALSO TAKE THE CAR TO THE DEALER THAT DAY CLAIMING THE INCIDENT THEY REFUSED TO REVISE THE CAR ,AGAIN THIS CAR WAS NEVER INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT THAT COULD CAUSE A DEFECT IN AIRBAGS. THANKS I KEEP WAITING FOR YOUR EARLY ACTION ON THIS DANGEROUS DEFECT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10653739

Incident

Oct 22, 2014

Mileage

145,909 mi

ACURA TSX 2005 THE VEHICLE WAS PARKING ON 10/22/14 ON ALTA ARDEN SACRAMENTO CA. THE AIRBAGS SPONTANEOUSLY DEPLOYED FOR NO REASON. THE CAR WAS PARKING WITH A/C RUNNING. I BUY THIS CAR ON FEBRUARY 2013 I'M THE SECOND OWNER THE CARFAX SHOW AN ACCIDENT ON 10/2009 FROM THE FIRST OWNER THIS MAKE THE CAR A SALVAGE CAR BUT WITH NO BIGGER DAMAGE SO I CAN'T BELIEVE THE AIR BAGS JUST COME OUT PUTTING MY FAMILY ON DAMAGE JUST FOR NOTHING. PLEASE HELP US BECAUSE IT MAY BE A RISK FOR OTHERS AND NOW I LOS EVERYTHING I PAY FOR THIS CAR AND IM SO SCARED TO CONTINUING DRIVING. IF YOU NEED ANY DOCUMENT JUST ET ME KNOW THIS CAR HAS A CLEAN TITLE NO A SALVAGE THIS MAKE MY FAMILY SCARED PLEASE TAKE ACTION ON MY PROBLEM [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ID

10652763

Incident

Oct 22, 2014

Mileage

145,915 mi

INTERMITTENTLY THE AIR BAG LIGHT GOES ON WHEN STARTING THE CAR AND STAYS ON WHILE DRIVING. SINCE THERE HASN'T BEEN A RECALL ON THIS YET, IT WOULD BE VERY EXPENSIVE TO CHECK THIS OUT AND SINCE IT HAPPENS SOMETIMES AND NOT OTHERS, I WAS TOLD IT WOULD BE EVEN MORE EXPENSIVE TO DETERMINE THE REASON AND FIX IT. IF THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE, ACURA SHOULD ADDRESS IT BEFORE IT CAUSES ACCIDENTS AND INJURIES. *TR

NHTSA ID

10650074

Incident

Oct 1, 2014

Mileage

99,000 mi