2004 Acura TSX recalls and problems

The 2004 Acura TSX has 3 recalls and 142 owner complaints on file with NHTSA; the most reported problem area is air bags.

How the 2004 compares

Highest

Fewest complaintsMost complaints

Highest complaint count among 11 TSX model years — the most of any year.

3recalls

142complaints

9crashes

2fires

7injuries

62,000median miles

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, not verified and not adjusted for sales. Ranking compares this model's own years only.

Does your car have an open recall?
Recalls apply to specific vehicles. Only a VIN lookup on NHTSA's official site shows whether yours is affected and still unrepaired.

Check your VIN →

3 recalls

Electrical System

Mar 15, 2013 · NHTSA campaign 13V093000 · 76,253 vehicles

Problem: Honda is recalling certain model year 2004-2008 Acura TSX vehicles originally sold in, or currently registered in, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin and the District of Columbia. In states that use corrosive materials for deicing, driver's footwear may bring in materials that saturate the vehicle's carpeting, which is in contact with the vehicle's engine Electronic Control Unit (ECU). As a result, the ECU case may experience rust or corrosion. This damage may potentially cause the engine to stall.

Risk: A vehicle stall increases the risk of a crash.

Remedy & notes

Honda will notify owners and Acura dealers will inspect the vehicle and replace any damaged ECU, free of charge. All vehicles will have a waterproof cover installed onto the ECU, free of charge. The recall began during April 2013. Owners may contact Acura Client Relations at 1-800-382-2238 and select option 4 or go to www.recalls.acura.com.

Honda's recall campaign numbers are S86.Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

Steering

Apr 29, 2010 · NHTSA campaign 10V174000 · 167,255 vehicles

Problem: Honda is recalling certain model year 2004 through 2008 Acura tsx passenger vehicles manufactured between September 25, 2002 and February 13, 2008. Prolonged high under hood temperatures May cause the power steering hose to deteriorate prematurely and May cause the hose to crack and leak power steering oil.

Original NHTSA wording

HONDA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2004 THROUGH 2008 ACURA TSX PASSENGER VEHICLES MANUFACTURED BETWEEN SEPTEMBER 25, 2002 AND FEBRUARY 13, 2008. PROLONGED HIGH UNDER HOOD TEMPERATURES MAY CAUSE THE POWER STEERING HOSE TO DETERIORATE PREMATURELY AND MAY CAUSE THE HOSE TO CRACK AND LEAK POWER STEERING OIL.

Risk: Oil leaking onto a hot exhaust pipe will generate smoke and a burning smell, and could potentially result in an under hood fire.

Original NHTSA wording

OIL LEAKING ONTO A HOT EXHAUST PIPE WILL GENERATE SMOKE AND A BURNING SMELL, AND COULD POTENTIALLY RESULT IN AN UNDER HOOD FIRE.

Remedy & notes

Honda will notify owners and dealers will repair the vehicles free of charge. The safety recall began May 28, 2010. Owners May contact Acura client services at 1-800-382-2238.

Honda's recall campaign number is R35.owners May also contact the national highway traffic safety administration's vehicle safety hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (tty 1-800-424-9153), or go to <a href=http://www.safercar.gov>http://www.safercar.gov</a> .

Exterior Lighting

Sep 3, 2004 · NHTSA campaign 04V429000 · 40,060 vehicles

Problem: On certain passenger cars, the wire harness located in the trunk hinge area is not adequately protected and over time could be damaged when the trunk is opened and closed.

Original NHTSA wording

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER CARS, THE WIRE HARNESS LOCATED IN THE TRUNK HINGE AREA IS NOT ADEQUATELY PROTECTED AND OVER TIME COULD BE DAMAGED WHEN THE TRUNK IS OPENED AND CLOSED.

Risk: A damaged harness can cause a blown fuse, a short circuit and it can result in a loss of license plate lights, back-up lights and tail light function. Loss of a tail light could reduce visibility and increase the risk of a vehicle crash.

Original NHTSA wording

A DAMAGED HARNESS CAN CAUSE A BLOWN FUSE, A SHORT CIRCUIT AND IT CAN RESULT IN A LOSS OF LICENSE PLATE LIGHTS, BACK-UP LIGHTS AND TAIL LIGHT FUNCTION. LOSS OF A TAIL LIGHT COULD REDUCE VISIBILITY AND INCREASE THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy & notes

Dealers will inspect the harness and if any damage is found, the harness will be replaced. If no damage is found, dealers will install corrugated plastic tubing over the harness to prevent future damage. The recall began on September 15, 2004. Owners should contact Honda at 1-800-999-1009.

Honda recall no. P45. Customers can also contact the national highway traffic safety administration's auto safety hotline at 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236).

Recall text as published by NHTSA and the manufacturer.

What owners complain about

Air Bags29

Electrical System29

Engine24

Seats22

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA; one complaint can name several areas. Not verified by NHTSA.

Complaints by year filed

2004 vs. other Acura TSX years

Owner complaints by model year; the darker bar is the 2004. Click a bar to switch year.

Questions

Does the 2004 Acura TSX have recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns covering the 2004 Acura TSX, the latest from Mar 15, 2013 (electrical system). A recall applies to specific vehicles: enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether yours is affected and still open.

What are the most common problems with the 2004 Acura TSX?

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA most often mention air bags (29), electrical system (29), engine (24). Complaints are consumer reports and are not verified by NHTSA.