2006 Acura TSX Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2006 Acura TSX, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Steering2436.4%
- Electrical812.1%
- Brakes69.1%
- Interior & seats69.1%
- Engine57.6%
- Airbags46.1%
- Fuel system23.0%
- Driver assistance23.0%
- Exterior lighting23.0%
- Powertrain (other)23.0%
- Seat belts23.0%
- Body & structure11.5%
- Suspension11.5%
- Visibility11.5%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Steering
Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage.
From owner reports, verbatim
The power steering is leaking constantly as soon as u pour it in the car drive it 2 miles all leaks out and have to refill in order for the power steering to work correctly and there is a recall for it on this vehicle.
Power steering rack & pinion always leaks on these vehicles. It is possible to lose all pressure in system and for vehicle to lose control while on the road. Acura is aware of the issue on 04-08 TSX models but refuses to issue a recall. On my personal vehicle, the driver's side seal is leaking.
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
Every day I. The morning, the car would not start even though the battery is new and the car is driven everyday and mechanics can not find the problem and it passes all tests when checked for problems.
ACURA TSX 2006 6SPEED OCCASIONALLYCAR AT LOW SPEEDOR WAIT TRAFFIC LIGHTPROMPT LOW VOLTAGECAR POWER OFF AND RESTARTAT BEFORE CAR POWER FAILURE 5 MINUTESYOU CAN HEAR IN THE AUDIO SPEAKER OUTGOING ELECTRIC CURRENT SOUNDTHEN VEHICLE SHUTDOWN 1 SECONDINSTANT RETURN TO NORMALHOW TO SOLVE HELP PLEASE THANK YOU
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHEN APPLYING FIRM PRESSURE TO THE BRAKES, IT RESPONDS WITH A SERIES OF RAPID VIBRATIONS AND CONCOMITANT CLICKING NOISE. I NEVER FEEL A SOLID AND RESPONSIVE BREAKING SYSTEM. THIS OCCURRED WHEN I WAS ATTEMPTING TO SLOW IN ICE ON A SIDE STREET IN 06 AT WHICH TIME I CALLED ACURA TO COMPLAIN. A FEW DAYS AGO, I ATTEMPTED TO AVOID HITTING THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME WHILE I WAS ROLLING AFTER RELEASING MY BREAK FROM A FULL STOP, SO NOT EVEN ANY MPG'S. THIS WAS ON A SIDE STREET, AND I DON'T REMEMBER THE EXACT DATE. IT WAS PROBABLY IN SEPTEMBER 2019. LUCKILY THERE WAS NO DAMAGE, BUT I WORRY THAT MY BRAKES WILL NEVER BE THERE WHEN I NEED THEM.
RE 2006 ACURA - LETTER FROM CONSTITUENT REQUESTING ASSISTANCE IN FILING A CRIMINAL COMPLAINT AGAINST THE PARTIES INVOLVED IN THE MATTER. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS FRAUDULENTLY SOLD. THE VEHICLE APPEARED TO HAVE BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT THAT WAS REPORTED, THE BRAKES WOULD SQUEAK, AND THE CODES WERE CLEARED BEFORE BEING SOLD. *JS
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Interior & seats
Reports naming seats, latches, locks, linkages and interior fittings.
From owner reports, verbatim
ACTUATOR MALFUNCTION - PASSENGER FRONT DOOR. CANNOT BE UNLOCKED OR LOCKED ELECTRONICALLY. PASSENGER DOOR IS RARELY USED AND CAR HAS UNDER 50,000 MILES. *TR
THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR LOCKING MECHANISM HAS FAILED AND THE REMOTE AND THE KEY BOTH WON'T WORK. I COULDN'T GET INTO THE CAR. THE REMOTE KEY FAILED A FEW MONTHS AGO. APPARENTLY THE MECHANISM IN THE DOOR IS THE ISSUE AND I HAVE SCHEDULED TO GET THE DOOR REPAIRED THIS WEEK. THE TOTAL WILL BE ABOUT $150. I CAN'T LOCK THE DOOR ANYMORE BECAUSE I AM WORRIED THAT THE DOOR WON'T OPEN BACK UP AND I WON'T BE ABLE TO GET BACK INTO THE CAR. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
Every day I. The morning, the car would not start even though the battery is new and the car is driven everyday and mechanics can not find the problem and it passes all tests when checked for problems.
The contact owns a 2006 Acura TSX. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the vehicle loss motive power and stalled without warning. The vehicle was not taken to a local dealer nor an independent mechanic to be diagnosed. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact was relating the failure to NHTSA campaign number: 13V093000 (Engine and Engine Cooling, Electrical system). The manufacturer had been informed of the failure and confirmed that the Vin was not under recall. The failure mileage was approximately 128,241.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Airbags
Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights.
From owner reports, verbatim
MY POWER STEERING HOSES HAVE BEEN LEAKING AND NOW THERE'S FLUID DOWN UNDER THE MOTOR AND UNDER THE CAR.. THE CAR WILL NOT HOLD POWER STEERING FLUID BUT FOR ONE DAY AND MY CAR IS NOW BECOME UNDRIVABLE. I SEE THERE WAS A RECALL BUT I DID NOT RECEIVE THE RECALL NOTICE AND STARTED LOOKING ONLINE AND SAW THAT ACTUALLY I HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM BUT NOW IT'S GOTTEN TO THE POINT WHERE IT'S WORSE THAN JUST THE HOSES. I'VE TRIED TO GET IT FIXED AND THEY SAY NO YOU'RE NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL I HAVE ALL THE PROBLEMS THAT WERE STATED AND NOW IT'S BECOME EXACERBATED. I NEED HELP IMMEDIATELY. *TR
POWER STEERING HAS BEEN AFFECTED DUE TO DEFECTIVE RACK AND PINION. CAR PULLS TO THE RIGHT AND POSES A SAFETY ISSUE ON HIGHWAY. STEERING HAS ALSO LOCKED UP DUE TO THE POWER STEERING LEAK WHILE DRIVING. A VERY FRIGHTENING SITUATION WHEN GOING FAXT SPEEDS. ALSO, THE FRONT PASSENGER AIRBAG STARTED CRACKING A FEW YEARS AGO AND AM QUESTIONING WEATHER IT WOULD DEPLOY IN A COLLISION.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Fuel system
Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.
From owner reports, verbatim
ACURA TSX 2006 6SPEED OCCASIONALLYCAR AT LOW SPEEDOR WAIT TRAFFIC LIGHTPROMPT LOW VOLTAGECAR POWER OFF AND RESTARTAT BEFORE CAR POWER FAILURE 5 MINUTESYOU CAN HEAR IN THE AUDIO SPEAKER OUTGOING ELECTRIC CURRENT SOUNDTHEN VEHICLE SHUTDOWN 1 SECONDINSTANT RETURN TO NORMALHOW TO SOLVE HELP PLEASE THANK YOU
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 ACURA TSX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING FLUID WAS LEAKING. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED. THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 10V174000 (STEERING) HOWEVER THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THREE SEPARATE INDEPENDENT MECHANICS WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THE STEERING HOSE, WATER PUMP HOSE, AND SERPENTINE BOLT HAD ALL MALFUNCTIONED DUE TO THE HEAT AND LEAKING OF THE STEERING HOSE REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 126,169.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Driver assistance
Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.
From owner reports, verbatim
THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BINDS, THE ENGINE DOESN'T NOT QUICKLY RETURN TO IDLE AFTER THE PEDAL IS NO LONGER PRESSED, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH. THE VEHICLE FAILS TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD (FMVSS) NUMBER 124, ACCELERATOR CONTROL SYSTEM. *TR
ACURA TSX 2006 6SPEED OCCASIONALLYCAR AT LOW SPEEDOR WAIT TRAFFIC LIGHTPROMPT LOW VOLTAGECAR POWER OFF AND RESTARTAT BEFORE CAR POWER FAILURE 5 MINUTESYOU CAN HEAR IN THE AUDIO SPEAKER OUTGOING ELECTRIC CURRENT SOUNDTHEN VEHICLE SHUTDOWN 1 SECONDINSTANT RETURN TO NORMALHOW TO SOLVE HELP PLEASE THANK YOU
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Exterior lighting
Reports naming headlights, tail lights, turn signals and other exterior lighting.
From owner reports, verbatim
THIS 06 ACURA TSX CAR HAS A PROBLEM WITH THE INTERIOR LIGHTING ABOVE THE REAR VIEW MIRROR, NOT WORKING PROPERLY. LIGHTS WILL NOT WORK MOST OF THE TIME BUT WILL COME ON, ON THEIR OWN UNCOMMANEDED AND DRAIN YOUR CAR BATTERY.THIS PUSH FOR ON LIGHTS CANNOT BE DETERMINED IF THEY ARE COMMANDED ON OR OFF. I KNOW TWO MORE CARS YEARS 04 TO 06 WITH THIS SAME PROBLEM. *TR
ACURA TSX DRIVERS SIDE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY DEFECT IN SEAL CAUING CONDENSATION AND PARTS TO SHORT NOT WORK. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Powertrain (other)
Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.
From owner reports, verbatim
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 ACURA TSX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR AN OIL CHANGE. THE MECHANIC BECAME AWARE OF A FLUID LEAK UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS RETURNED TO THE CONTACT AND WHILE DRIVING, THE STEERING WAS DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING RESERVOIR WAS EMPTY. THE RESERVOIR WAS REFILLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO ANOTHER INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE RACK AND PINION WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT WAS ALSO INFORMED THAT THE POWER STEERING HOSES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. MCDANIELS ACURA OF CHARLESTON (2283 SAVANNAH HWY, CHARLESTON, SC 29414, 843-766-1299, WAS CONTACTED AND INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 98,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 ACURA TSX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING FLUID WAS LEAKING. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED. THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 10V174000 (STEERING) HOWEVER THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THREE SEPARATE INDEPENDENT MECHANICS WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THE STEERING HOSE, WATER PUMP HOSE, AND SERPENTINE BOLT HAD ALL MALFUNCTIONED DUE TO THE HEAT AND LEAKING OF THE STEERING HOSE REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 126,169.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Seat belts
Reports naming seat belts, buckles, retractors and pretensioners.
From owner reports, verbatim
1ST INCIDENT: THE FRONT BRAKES WENT OUT. I HAD THEM CHECKED TWICE BEFORE THE DEALER REPLACED THEM. THEY REPORTED THEY WERE LOW BUT BLAMED IT ON ME. I COMPLAINED IN THE BEGINNING WHEN I COULDN'T STOP, AND SKID INTO INTERSECTIONS AT RED LIGHTS SOME TIMES BARELY MISSING THE CARS IN FRONT OF ME. THE DEALERS ALL SAID IT WAS THE WAY I WAS DRIVING THE CAR. I HAVEN'T DRIVEN THIS CAR ANY DIFFERENT FROM MY PREVIOUS CARS THAT DIDN'T HAVE ABS. I'VE OWNED SEVERAL NEW CARS SO I THINK I KNOW HOW TO DRIVE A CAR PROPERLY BY NOW. I'VE NEVER WORN DOWN ANY BRAKES IN MY CAR INSIDE OF A FEW MONTHS OF OWNERSHIP. I HAVE REPLACED FRONT BRAKES ON MANY OF MY CARS ONCE A YEAR WHICH IS NORMAL. THIS ONE SHOULDN'T HAVE BEEN ANY DIFFERENT. THERE WAS CLEARLY A PROBLEM WITH THEM IN THE BEGINNING. 2ND INCIDENT: THE ENGINE LIGHT WAS COMING ON FOR NO REASON AT 20,000 MILES. THE CAR DIDN'T NEED TO BE SERVICED BUT THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE WHY IT WAS COMING ON. 3RD INCIDENT: THE BATTERY FAILED TWICE IN ONE YEAR. I OWNED A MAZDA THAT THE BATTERY FAILED ON AND IT ONLY HAPPENED ONCE. I OWNED THAT CAR 5 YEARS AND NEVER HAD ANOTHER PROBLEM WITH IT AFTER THAT. I FIND THIS ODD THAT THE BATTERY FAILED TWICE. 4TH INCIDENT: SOME TIMES THE CAR DIDN'T START, THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE ALTERNATOR OR STARTER. I ASSUMED IT WAS THE BATTERY AGAIN. WHEN IT WAS RUNNING IT WOULD HESITATE TO MOVE OR WOULD JERK WHILE IN MOTION. 5TH INCIDENT: THE DRIVER SEAT BELT WOULD CONSTANTLY JAM PREVENTING ME FROM PUTTING IT ON OR ADJUSTING IT WHILE ON. WHILE I WAS DRIVING IT WOULD GET SO TIGHT THAT I COULDN'T RELEASE IT NO MATTER WHAT I DID. I HAD TO PULL OVER AND TAKE IT OFF IN ORDER TO RELEASE THE TAUGHT PULL ACROSS MY CHEST. I HAD TO STRUGGLE WITH IT FOR SEVERAL MINUTES TO GET IT ON EVERY DAY. THIS WAS FROM INCEPTION OF OWNERSHIP UNTIL I FINALLY HAD IT REPAIRED NOT REALIZING IT WAS FAULTY. EVERY OTHER PROBLEM I HAVE HAD OVER THE YEARS WAS NOT SAFETY RELATED THAT I'M AWARE OF, AND I'VE HAD MANY OTHERS SINCE. *TR UPDATED 06/07/10*JB
ON APPROXIMATELY 03.01.06 THE FOLLOWING PROBLEMS AROSE: RATTLING FROM THE PASSENGER SEAT, NEAR THE ARMREST CRACKING/POPPING/BUZZING FROM THE FRONT DRIVERS DOOR SPEAKER/WINDOW SWITCH AREA (ACURA SERVICE BULLETIN 04-024) AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, RATTLING FROM BOTH DOOR MOUNTED SEAT BELT ADJUSTERS SQUEAKY BRAKES MILDEW SMELL FROM CLIMATE CONTROL WITH A/C OFF FELT TAPE BECAME EXPOSED ON DASH AN APPOINTMENT WAS MADE FOR 05.15.06 AT RON TONKIN ACURA. UPON PICKING UP THE VEHICLE ON 05.19.06, ALL THE ISSUES HAD NOT BEEN FIXED, AS WELL AS THE FOLLOWING ADDITIONAL PROBLEMS: 3 INCH SCRATCH ON DRIVERS SEAT LARGE GREASE STAINS ON HEADLINER NEW SQUEAK COMING FROM DRIVERS SEAT WHEN TURNING LEFT OR RIGHT A SECOND APPOINTMENT IS SETUP FOR 05.25.06. UPON PICKING UP THE CAR THE DEALER HAS FIXED THE DRIVERS AND PASSENGERS SQUEAKS AS WELL AS REMOVED THE GREASE STAINS AND EXPOSED FELT TAPE AND SILENCED THE RATTLES FROM THE SEAT BELT ADJUSTERS BY REPLACING THEM. ALL OTHER PROBLEMS REMAIN. A THIRD APPOINTMENT IS SETUP FOR 06.12.06. BETWEEN APPOINTMENTS (06.05.06) THE SEAT BELT ADJUSTERS BEGIN RATTLING AGAIN. AFTER PICKING UP THE CAR FOR THE THIRD TIME, THE DEALER FINALLY FIXES THE SCRATCH ON THE SEAT AND RE-REPLACES THE SEAT BELT ADJUSTERS. AGAIN, ALL OTHER PROBLEMS REMAIN. ON APPROXIMATELY 07.15.06, THE DRIVERS AND PASSENGERS SEATS BEGAN SQUEAKING AGAIN, AND NOW I MUST TAKE THE CAR TO THE DEALER A FOURTH TIME. *JB
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Body & structure
Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.
From owner reports, verbatim
Paint has pealed away, exposing the metal on the body which is starting to rust. The major areas are on top of hood, roof and top of trunk.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Suspension
Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware.
From owner reports, verbatim
BOUGHT A USED 2006 ACURA TSX AT AN AUTO AUCTION IN DECEMBER, 2008. I NOTICED THE TIRES WERE WORN UNEVENLY SO I TOOK IT TO MY MECHANIC FOR AN ALIGNMENT. HE IMMEDIATELY NOTICED THAT THE REAR WHEELS HAD A FAIRLY NOTICEABLE NEGATIVE CAMBER, MORE SO ON THE RIGHT REAR THAN THE LEFT REAR, OF ABOUT 2 DEGREES, THEN WHEN HE PUT THE CAR ON THE RACK, HE FOUND THE FRONT TIRES HAD A SMALL TOE IN PROBLEM THAT COULD BE ADJUSTED BUT THE REAR SUSPENSION HAD NO PROVISION FOR ADJUSTMENT OF THE CAMBER. I DID SOME INVESTIGATIONS ON THE INTERNET TO SEE HOW OTHERS WERE DEALING ABOUT THIS PROBLEM, AND FOUND THAT A LOT OF OTHER TSX OWNERS WERE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND THAT THERE WERE SEVERAL AFTERMARKET MANUFACTURERS MAKING REAR SUSPENSION ADJUSTMENT KITS. I THEN STOPPED IN TO MY REGULAR ACURA DEALER REPAIR DEPARTMENT AND TALKED WITH THE SERVICE MANAGER TO SEE WHAT COULD BE DONE. HE SAID THAT IF I HAD BROUGHT THE CAR IN DURING THE WARRANTY PERIOD, I WOULD HAVE BEEN COVERED, BUT SINCE THE CAR WAS OVER THE 50,000 MILE WARRANTY PERIOD, I WAS OUT OF LUCK. I ASKED HIM WHAT THE FACTORY SPECIFICATIONS WERE FOR THE REAR CAMBER, AND HE TOLD ME THAT IT WAS A MINUS 1 DEGREE, PLUS OR MINUS 30 MINUTES. I PRESSED HIM FURTHER, POINTING OUT THAT THIS DEFECT WAS BUILT INTO THE CAR AND THAT THE MILEAGE ON THE CAR HAD NO BEARING ON THE AMOUNT OF CAMBER, AND THAT IF I HAD BROUGHT THE CAR IN TO THEIR SHOP TO GET THE REAR CAMBER BROUGHT INTO FACTORY SPECS, THE SHOP WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN ABLE TO DO THAT WITHOUT A NEW REAR LINKAGE KIT. I HAVE NOTICED THE REAR CAMBER PROBLEM ON MOST TSX'S IN THIS GENERATION OF THE CAR WHEN I'M OUT AND ABOUT. THE SERVICE MANAGER DID TELL ME THAT EVERYONE KNOWS THAT YOU ONLY GET 25-30K MILES OUT OF A SET OF TIRES ON A TSX, AND I AGREED BUT POINTED OUT THAT WAS ONLY BECAUSE THE REAR CAMBER DESIGN DEFECT CAUSES GREATLY INCREASED WEAR ON THE INNER PART OF THE TIRE. MY MECHANIC USUALLY SETS THE REAR CAMBER AT A -1/4 TO 1/2 DEGREE, AND WE CAN'T FIGURE OUT WHY THE ACURA DESIGN TEAM DID THIS. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Visibility
Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors.
From owner reports, verbatim
FAULTY WINDSHIELD WIPER THAT CHATTERS AND MAKES LOUD NOISE. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
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.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .