2012 Acura TSX Steering Problems

Steering system failed-safety was a risk because wheel was very hard to turn-calling the dealer on Monday. Warning light came on right before the steering failed.

NHTSA ID

11754221

Incident

Aug 1, 2026

On two occasions my college aged daughter was driving this vehicle when the steering wheel became inoperative. There was an error message on the dash about checking the power steering system. There was also an icon displaying with a steering wheel. Luckily she was only in a parking lot when this happened and was able to stop. SHE WAS GETTING READY TO DRIVE ON THE INTERSTATE. Had she reached the interstate she would have been in a bad accident. Come to find out this is a known issue with the electric power steering system and Acura has extended the warranty. But this should be a recall!

NHTSA ID

11669981

Incident

Jun 28, 2025

2012 Acura TSX Sportwagon: Brought car to independent mechanic who diagnosed power steering failure as requiring replacement of "Power Steering Control Module". Acura has a "TSB" or "Technical Service Bulletin" #19-021 regarding this issue. The car is very difficult to steer and is dangerous to drive because the driver is unable to steer quickly. Also the turning radius is essentially reduced as well. An Acura dealer is scheduled to examine the vehicle on 6/20/2025. The failure first appeared around the beginning of June 2025. There is a persistent audible chime along with (3) blinking warning lights (Steering wheel with exclamation point, the letter "i" with a circle around it, and the message "Check Power Steering System" message). This car is available for inspection upon request.

NHTSA ID

11667466

Incident

Jun 1, 2025

A "Check Power Steering" light on the dashboard came on suddenly leaving me unable to steer the car at all. After re-starting the car several times, the light went off. The car manual indicated pumping the accelerator may cause this symptom, and--given the light had gone off--I drove the car home. However, after trying again to drive the car, the light is back on. Online Acura forums indicate there is a common issue with the EPS control unit but no recall has been issued even though American Honda Motor Co may have sent out letters to some owners indicating the possibility to receive reimbursement for the EPS control unit. (I did not receive this letter.)

NHTSA ID

11663322

Incident

May 22, 2025

Driving on the freeway. Going 65-70mph EPS (electric power steering) indicator light came on. A message was also sent in inbox of car stating code such as 32 and 61. Steering wheel became stiff and was difficult to steer when car not moving. Went to auto zone to check out if there was any code and there was none. I change to a new battery and check steering fuse everything seem fine with charging system. I did research and found out there was many vehicle like mine that have the same issue. Also, look at Acura forums and some said there was a recall with the EPS. Please help me figure out this issue. Thank you.

NHTSA ID

11611730

Incident

Aug 28, 2024

Check engine Transmission ABS VSA TPMS All lights went on suddenly. While I was driving suddenly all lights came on dashboard. I’ve used OBD scanner to find the root cause but the problem can’t be detected. I went to Acura dealer in NJ and paid $250. They inspected, and said it could be this Instrument cluster or that ECu. But they did not said anything concrete what could be faulty. Both are expensive to replace around $2000-$4000 each The lights comes and goes. These lights are not persistent. I’ve been driving with it. Sometimes when the lights are on AC DOESNT WORK, steering loses control for a second. When it loses control car swerves. It’s dangerous but I’ve been driving with caution ⚠️ In past, electric power steering was malfunction and I had it replaced for $1500. I will never purchase Acura or Honda for lifetime It should be recalled

NHTSA ID

11603279

Incident

May 1, 2024

Complete failure of the Electronic Power Steering System. Warning bulletin and chime activated when car restarted at rest stop. There was no advance warning of imminent failure. Steering was compromised and rendered undrivable. Car was towed to a repair shop, who confirmed the failure of the steering system. If this event were to have happened 5 minutes before or after the incident, we would have been on the highway traveling at 65 to 70 miles an hour in a remote rural area

NHTSA ID

11526014

Incident

May 29, 2023

The Electronic Power Steering Component failed in the vehicle. No previous warning lights or problems with steering. Had just parked car returned an hour later and warning light comes on. Fortunately, I was pulling out of a parking place when the steering locked up. Vehicle was towed to Acura dealer and the service advisor stated it would be covered under 15 year extended warranty then called parts to locate part to be replaced. I was called the next morning and told vehicle would be ready by end of day, but a few hours later surprisingly, I was informed the part (Power steering rack) was not covered and the cost would be $3,400. To add insult to injury was offered to have sales appraise my car so they could fix and resell!!! I only have 38,500 miles on my 2012 vehicle and now my vehicle is just sitting. This is a real issue there definitely should be a recall for this. I see numerous complaints regarding this, please investigate this safety issue.

NHTSA ID

11512211

Incident

Feb 27, 2023

EPS, electronic power steering module failure. "Check power steering system"

NHTSA ID

11478437

Incident

Jul 2, 2022

The power steering alert light suddenly when I drive my friend on the road. Turning the steering wheel becomes very difficult. I rushed over to the lawn by the side of the road and luckily there was no one and no trees. Fortunately, no accident happened, and no one was hurt, but I am very worried and scared about driving this car again!!!!!! Recall this car !!

NHTSA ID

11467219

Incident

Jun 1, 2022

I was driving my car home on 2/4/22 and the indicator light (check power steering system!) starting flashing and my steering was extremely hard to turn. I had to pullover in a parking lot and turned off the engine for a few minutes and the indicator light turned off and I was able to drive home. On 2/11, I was trying to pullout of my driveway and the indicator light went on again and I was unable to move the steering wheel. I turned off the engine and I tried again the next day and this time, the light remained on. I will need to tow the car to the dealership or mechanic to have it diagnosed.

NHTSA ID

11451677

Incident

Feb 4, 2022

The contact owns a 2012 Acura TSX. The contact stated that after restarting the vehicle, the "power steering failure" message was displayed, and the steering wheel was very difficult to turn in either direction. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The local dealer was notified of the failure and an appointment was scheduled. The manufacturer was not yet notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 101,273.

NHTSA ID

11439386

Incident

Nov 1, 2021

Mileage

101,273 mi

WARNING LIGHT TO "CHECK POWER STEERING "UNEXPECTEDLY APPEARS. LOSS OF TURNING POWER SUDDENLY OCCURS. NO PRIOR WARNINGS EXHIBITED. DANGEROUS SITUATION COULD LEAD TO FATAL RESULTS.

NHTSA ID

11384924

Incident

Dec 24, 2020

Mileage

66,000 mi

EPS FAILURE WARNING SHOWS UP ON THE CLUSTER PANEL... THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED ALMOST MAKING ME CRASH MY VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE IS NOT DRIVABLE RIGHT NOW. THIS INCIDENT IT'S BEEN REPORTED FOR MANY ACURA TSX OWNERS BEFORE. ARE THE MANUFACTURERS WAITING FOR A FATAL ACCIDENT TO HAPPENED?!?

NHTSA ID

11360065

Incident

Sep 19, 2020

Mileage

98,500 mi

WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, A WARNING MESSAGE TO "CHECK POWER STEERING!" APPEARED AND THE POWER STEERING DEACTIVATED COMPLETELY. THIS LEFT ME SUDDENLY IN A VERY HEAVY AND DIFFICULT TO TURN VEHICLE. I HAD TO PUSH/PULL THE WHEEL VERY HARD TO THE RIGHT TO SLOWLY GET IT OFF THE HIGHWAY WHILE BARELY MISSING OTHER CARS. THIS WAS A VERY UNSETTLING/HIGHLY DANGEROUS SITUATION. I HAVE RESEARCHED THE ISSUE AND FOUND THAT THIS YEAR/MODEL CAR SPECIFICALLY HAS A WELL KNOWN ISSUE WITH THE POWER STEERING FAILING. THIS IS ABSOLUTELY A SAFETY ISSUE AND NEEDS TO BE RECALLED. ACURA HAS QUOTED $3800 TO FIX THE PROBLEM! TOLD ME IT IS THE ENTIRE POWER STEERING GEARBOX/ASSEMBLY WHICH IMPLIES IT'S SOMETHING LIKE A WORN OUT MOTOR , HOWEVER THE ISSUE IS INTERMITTENT AND USUALLY DISAPPEARS ONCE THE CAR HAS FULLY COOLED DOWN, AT LEAST UNTIL IT HAS HEATED UP AGAIN AT WHICH POINT IT WILL SUDDENLY HAPPEN AGAIN AT ANY TIME (TYPICALLY AFTER AN HOUR OR TWO AT MOST). THE FACT IT IS AN INTERMITTENT ISSUE WOULD SUGGEST IT IS A COMPUTER RELATED PROBLEM/WIRING PROBLEM - AKA ; DEFECTIVE PART . CAR HAS ONLY 105K MILES AND HAS NEVER BEEN MISTREATED NOT HAD ANY DAMAGE SUSTAINED NOR HAVE ANY SERIOUS POTHOLES BEEN HIT. APPARENTLY ACURA IS REPAIRING PROBLEMS WITH THE EPS UNIT UNDER A LIFETIME WARRANTY FOR THAT SPECIFIC PART, BUT NOT THE STEERING GEARBOX. SO THEY CLEARLY RECOGNIZE THE DEFECTIVE NATURE OF THE POWER STEERING IN THIS MODEL/YEAR CAR BUT WANT TO MINIMIZE THE COST TO FIX THE PROBLEM BY ONLY WARRANTING THE CHEAPER OF THE POSSIBLE POWER STEERING ISSUES TO FIX WHILE LEAVING ANY OTHER ISSUES UP TO THE OWNER TO PAY OUT TO FIX. I CANNOT AFFORD THIS SO I EFFECTIVELY NO LONGER HAVE A VEHICLE.. SPENT 25K FOR THIS CAR AND GOT 105K OUT.OF IT ONLY.. THANKS HONDA! I WILL NEVER PURCHASE ANOTHER HONDA ANYTHING AND WILL BE SURE TO SHARE THIS WITH ANYONE WHO WILL LISTEN. UNBELIEVABLE.

NHTSA ID

11355035

Incident

Aug 8, 2020

Mileage

105,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING ON LOCAL ROAD APPROACHING AN INTERSECTION THAT LEADS TO AN ONRAMP IN OAKLAND CA, THE STEERING BECAME EXTREMELY RIGID, IT WAS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO CONTROL THE CAR BY TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL. A WARNING LIGHT FLASHED RAPIDLY ON THE DISPLAY PANEL "STEERING SYSTEM FAILURE". LUCKILY I WAS DRIVING AT 5 TO 10 MPH AND ABLE TO PULL OVER. AFTER ABOUT 30 SECONDS, THE WARNING LIGHT STOPPED AND THE CAR'S STEERING THEN PERFORMED NORMALLY. THE PROBLEM OCCURRED AGAIN WITHIN MINUTES AND DRIVING LESS THAN 2 MILES. THE MILEAGE ON THE CAR IS 66,100, THE CAR AUTO OIL CHANGE / B1 REMINDER WAS SHOWING 5% REMAINING FOR THE B1 SERVICE. I CONTACTED ACURA THEY WOULD NOT ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR REPAIRING THE CAR EVEN THOUGH THIS SEEMS LIKE A MANUFACTURE'S PROBLEM,

NHTSA ID

11342945

Incident

Aug 1, 2020

Mileage

66,100 mi

MY EPS (ELECTRIC POWER STEERING) MODULE FAILED WHILE I WAS MERGING TO MY RIGHT ON TO THE HIGHWAY ON RAMP. I WAS UNABLE TO STOP DUE TO THE CARS BEHIND ME AND UNABLE TO PULL OVER AS THE LAND SLOPED DOWN INTO A RETENTION POND. NOW I'M A YOUNG MEN AND WAS ABLE TO STEER THE CAR ON THE HIGHWAY AND PULL OFF TO THE SHOULDER. I TOOK MY CAR TO THE MECHANIC AND ALSO DID SOME RESEARCH AND FOUND THAT THE 2012-2014 TSX HAVE A RECURRING FAILURE ON THE EPS MODULE HAPPENING AROUND 75K MILES ( I HAVE ABOUT 100K). THIS RECALL WOULDN'T BENEFIT ME AS I HAVE ALREADY HAD THE ISSUE FIXED, THIS IS ARE THE OLDER WOMEN OR MAN NOT STRONG ENOUGH TO STEER A CAR WITHOUT POWERING STEERING AND COULD POTENTIALLY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT ENDING IN A CATASTROPHIC EVENT. I FEEL THAT THERE IS ENOUGH HISTORY WITH THIS PROBLEM TO AT LEAST BE INVESTIGATED FOR THE SAFETY OF DRIVES. *TR

NHTSA ID

11330034

Incident

Jun 11, 2020

Mileage

3 mi

AFTER TURNING RIGHT FROM AN INCOMPLETE YET SLOW STOP, I SPED UP TO ABOUT 40 MPH. THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT AND THE LIGHT ADVISING SO CAME ON THE DASHBOARD. *TR

NHTSA ID

11325703

Incident

May 22, 2020

Mileage

72,000 mi

WHILE I WAS DRIVING, THE POWER STEERING MALFUNCTIONED AND I ALMOST GOT INTO A CAR ACCIDENT AS I COULD NOT TURN MY CAR. I WAS LUCKY BUT MY LIFE COULD HAVE BEEN IN SERIOUS DANGER BECAUSE OF ACURA. THIS IS NOT A VERY OLD CAR AND DOES NOT HAVE A LOT OF MILEAGE. THE CAR HAD TO BE TOWED TO A MECHANIC AND SAID IT WOULD COST $1850 TO FIX. RIDICULOUS.

NHTSA ID

11322496

Incident

Apr 27, 2020

Mileage

135,000 mi

I WAS DRIVING ALL OF SUDDEN POWER STEERING SYSTEM LIGHT COMES ON AND CANT STEER THE CAR HAVE TO GET IT TOWED HOME.VERRY DANGEROUS FOR WHOEVER MAKES THIS STEERING WHEEL LIKE THIS.FOR THIS CAR.WITH ONLY 100K MILES.

NHTSA ID

11281774

Incident

Nov 15, 2019

Mileage

5 mi

CAR WITH 94K MIKES. POWER STEERING STOPPED WORKING WHILE DRIVING. ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO TURN WHEELS. "CHECK POWER STEERING" LIGHT ON. FUSE FOR EPS IS WORKING, WHICH INDICATES THAT EPS UNIT HAS FAILED. WITH THE NUMBER OF THE SAME COMPLAINTS OVER LAST FEW YEARS ACURA SHOULD ISSUE SAFETY RECALL, AS LACK OF STEERING COULD LEAD TO FATAL INCIDENTS.

NHTSA ID

11266191

Incident

Oct 3, 2019

Mileage

94,000 mi

I GOT CHECK POWER STEERING SYSTEM INDICATOR ON AND POWER STEERING JAMMED , CANNOT TURN. THIS HAPPENED ALL OF SUDDEN, FORTUNATELY IT HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING BACK HOME ON DRIVEWAY. CAR HAS 75K MILES, NEVER HEARD FOR SUCH THING, BAD QUALITY FROM ACURA.

NHTSA ID

11255198

Incident

Sep 12, 2019

CAR STARTED AND RIGHT AWAY POWER STEERING LIGHT FLASHES REPEATEDLY AND STEERING WHEEL IS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO TURN

NHTSA ID

11246267

Incident

Aug 19, 2019

Mileage

140,276 mi

WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY 65+ MPH THE EPS ALERT CAME ON AND THE STEERING WHEEL WAS EXTREMELY HARD TO TURN. LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO GET THE CAR HOME SAFELY. I SEE MANY MANY COMPLAINTS FOR THE SAME ISSUE, THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE AND VERY DANGEROUS. MY CAR HAS JUST OVER 90K MILES.

NHTSA ID

11235106

Incident

Jul 22, 2019

Mileage

90,000 mi

STEERING WENT OUT DURING DRIVING. DASH IS DISPLAYING 'CHECK POWER STEERING SYSTEM!' AND ACURA SAYS THE PART IS $1200. THIS IS RIDICULOUS! I COULD HAVE BEEN INJURED BY THIS. IT'S APPARENTLY A KNOWN ISSUE IN THESE CARS.

NHTSA ID

11228521

Incident

Mar 1, 2019