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2004 Acura Tsx

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

More warning signs than most Tsx years

Owner complaints for the 2004 Acura Tsx are substantially higher than the model-year median of 50.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

104 reports with mileage · 38 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Air Bags. Review the 29 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 29 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Seats. Review the 22 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

9 crash reports2 fire reports7 injury reports

Engine And Engine Cooling complaints

19 reports
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335,000 miles · Apr 18, 2025
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine Cooling

The contact owns a 2004 Acura TSX. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the vehicle made an abnormal clicking sound that was coming from the instrument cluster. The contact stated that upon decelerating to come to a stop, the vehicle stalled. The contact stated that while the vehicle was rolling, the contact shift…

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The contact owns a 2004 Acura TSX. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the vehicle made an abnormal clicking sound that was coming from the instrument cluster. The contact stated that upon decelerating to come to a stop, the vehicle stalled. The contact stated that while the vehicle was rolling, the contact shifted to neutral(N), restarted the vehicle and continued driving. The contact stated that the failure had been a recurring failure. The contact became aware that the VIN was included in HTSA Campaign Number: 13V093000 (Engine and Engine Cooling, Electrical System), which the contact related to the failure. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where the recall repair was performed; however, the vehicle failed to start after the repair. The dealer informed the contact that he needed to pay a fee for diagnostic test and the repair out-of-pocket. The vehicle was not yet diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 335,000.

NHTSA ODI #11655508

125,000 miles · Sep 28, 2011
Engine And Engine Cooling

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 ACURA TSX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE VSA LAMP, CHECK ENGINE LAMP AND AN ERROR MESSAGE DISPLAYED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE CAM SHAFT AND TIMING CHAIN WERE DEFECTIVE. THE CONTACT WAS ADVISE…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 ACURA TSX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE VSA LAMP, CHECK ENGINE LAMP AND AN ERROR MESSAGE DISPLAYED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE CAM SHAFT AND TIMING CHAIN WERE DEFECTIVE. THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED TO CONTACT AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE, BUT STATED THAT THE TIMING CHAIN MAY HAVE BEEN STRETCHED. THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED TO REPLACE THE ENGINE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 125,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI #10427747

134,000 miles · Sep 5, 2011
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingFire

FIRE UNDER THE HOOD WHILE DRIVING AROUND 40 MPH ABOUT 5 MILES FROM HOME. HEARD A SQUEAKY SOUND AROUND THE STEARING WHEEL MINUTES EARLIER. I DO NOT KNOW WHAT COMPONENET FAILED BUT HAD A RECALL SOMETIME AGO THAT WAS REPAIRED. HAD OIL CHANGE EXACTLY A WEEK EARLIER. NO BODY INJURED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10423784

61,100 miles · Sep 21, 2010
Engine And Engine Cooling

2004 ACURA TSX 61K MILES, COOLING SYSTEM FAILED COMPLETELY. I WAS JUST DRIVING LOCALLY WHEN I NOTICED A RATTLING NOISE. ON SOME INVESTIGATION I FOUND OUT THAT THE NOISE COMES ONLY WHEN THE A/C IS TURNED ON. TOOK IT TO A DEALER (POHANKA ACURA, CHANTILLY VA) AND THEY SAID SOME PART WITHIN A/C COMPRESSOR HAS EXPLODED AND THERE ARE …

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2004 ACURA TSX 61K MILES, COOLING SYSTEM FAILED COMPLETELY. I WAS JUST DRIVING LOCALLY WHEN I NOTICED A RATTLING NOISE. ON SOME INVESTIGATION I FOUND OUT THAT THE NOISE COMES ONLY WHEN THE A/C IS TURNED ON. TOOK IT TO A DEALER (POHANKA ACURA, CHANTILLY VA) AND THEY SAID SOME PART WITHIN A/C COMPRESSOR HAS EXPLODED AND THERE ARE METAL PIECES ALL OVER THE A/C SYSTEM AND THAT THE ENTIRE A/C SYSTEM NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $4500. THERE HAVE BEEN SIMILAR COMPLAINTS ALL OVER THE INTERNET FOR THE 2004 ACURA TSX'S. I PUT ON VERY LESS MILES ON THE CAR PER YEAR AND MAINTAINED IT PERFECTLY (PERIODIC MAINTENANCE, REGULAR OIL CHANGES). HOW CAN ACURA NOT ISSUE A RECALL OR ASSIST OWNERS WITH THIS PROBLEM? THE DEALER SAID THAT THEY COULDN'T DO ANYTHING TO ASSIST WITH THE REPAIR, NOR WOULD THEY TALK TO ACURA TO EXPLAIN MY SITUATION. I JUST SPENT ABOUT $750 TO REPLACE A FAILER SENSOR TO MAKE THE AIR BAG CHECK LIGHT GO AWAY. I DID NOT EXPECT THIS FROM ACURA! I'M GOING TO MAKE SURE ALL MY FRIENDS ARE WARNED ABOUT THE POOR QUALITY OF ACURA ENGINEERING AND CUSTOMER SERVICE. THE TRICK PART OF IT IS THAT EVERYTHING FALLS APART RIGHT AFTER THE WARRANTY PERIOD (50K) IS OVER. WELL, ACURA HAS GOT BRIGHT ENGINEERING MINDS TO MAKE THE PARTS LAST FOR 50K MILES. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10356721

105,000 miles · Aug 26, 2010
Engine And Engine Cooling

2004 ACURA TSX A/C STOPPED BLOWING COLD AIR. BROUGHT IT INTO ACURA AND THEY SAID THE AC COMPRESSOR SEIZED/ FROZE AND SHATTERED AND CONTAMINATED THE WHOLE AC SYSTEM COST OF REPAIR $3600.00 ESTIMATE. HUNDREDS OF FORUMS AND OTHER 04 TSX WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. SOME PEOPLE SAYS ACURA IS PAYING FOR PARTS IF THE CUSTOMER PAYS FOR LABOR…

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2004 ACURA TSX A/C STOPPED BLOWING COLD AIR. BROUGHT IT INTO ACURA AND THEY SAID THE AC COMPRESSOR SEIZED/ FROZE AND SHATTERED AND CONTAMINATED THE WHOLE AC SYSTEM COST OF REPAIR $3600.00 ESTIMATE. HUNDREDS OF FORUMS AND OTHER 04 TSX WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. SOME PEOPLE SAYS ACURA IS PAYING FOR PARTS IF THE CUSTOMER PAYS FOR LABOR. BUT NOT EVERYBODY GETTING THAT SAME OFFER? *TR

NHTSA ODI #10352191

90,000 miles · Jul 28, 2010
Engine And Engine Cooling

THERE IS A KNOWN DEFECT WITH ACURA 2004 TSX A/C COMPRESSOR GRENADING AND CONTAMINATING THE COMPLETE A/C SYSTEM. THERE ARE NO REAL EVENTS THAT LEAD UP TO THE FAILURE, YOU WILL SUDDENLY HEAR A GRINDING SOUND COMING FROM THE A/C THEN IT GOES OUT WITHOUT WARNING. INSTEAD OF ACURA ADDRESSING THE PROBLEM THAT HAS AFFECTED THOU…

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THERE IS A KNOWN DEFECT WITH ACURA 2004 TSX A/C COMPRESSOR GRENADING AND CONTAMINATING THE COMPLETE A/C SYSTEM. THERE ARE NO REAL EVENTS THAT LEAD UP TO THE FAILURE, YOU WILL SUDDENLY HEAR A GRINDING SOUND COMING FROM THE A/C THEN IT GOES OUT WITHOUT WARNING. INSTEAD OF ACURA ADDRESSING THE PROBLEM THAT HAS AFFECTED THOUSANDS ACROSS THE COUNTRY, THEY PURSUE GOODWILL DISCOUNTS ON BEHALF OF THE CUSTOMER WHICH NEVER COVER THE FULL COST OF THE ISSUE WHICH IS USUALLY AROUND $4000 TO FIX. YOU ARE BASICALLY AT THE MERCY AT THE COMPANY ON WHETHER THEY WILL COVER ANY PORTION OF THE COST WHICH IS AT NO FAULT TO THE CONSUMER. THE FACT THAT A RECALL HAS NOT BEEN ISSUED FOR THIS IS ASTOUNDING CONSIDERING IF ONE DOES A SIMPLE GOOGLE SEARCH TO SEE HOW COMMON A PROBLEM THIS IS, YOU WILL FIND THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE THAT HAVE HAD THE SAME ISSUE. THIS ISSUE IS A TICKING TIME BOMB THAT WILL EVENTUALLY HAPPEN TO ANYONE WITH THIS MAKE AND MODEL. ITS NOT A MATTER OF IF IT WILL HAPPEN BUT WHEN WILL IT HAPPEN. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10345827

35,000 miles · Jun 14, 2010
Engine And Engine Cooling

WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY WITH THE AIR CONDITIONER ON, A LOUD NOISE CAME FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND THE AIR FROM THE AIR CONDITIONER WAS NO LONGER COOLED. I TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC WHO INSPECTED IT AND TOLD ME THAT THE AIR CONDITIONER CONDENSER EXPLODED, SENDING OUT SHARDS OF METAL. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10336301

62,000 miles · Jun 4, 2010
Engine And Engine Cooling

THERE IS A DEFECT WITH A/C COMPRESSORS ON 2004 ACURA TSXS. A PIECE OF THE COMPRESSOR, WHICH HOLDS THE COMPRESSOR CLUTCH, IS BREAKING OFF, RESULTING IN DEBRIS BEING SHOT THROUGH THE A/C SYSTEM, OR FALLING OFF COMPLETELY. THE RESULT IS THAT THE A/C DOESN'T WORK, AND MOST OF THE ENTIRE A/C SYSTEM HAS TO BE REPLACED, COSTING DRIVE…

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THERE IS A DEFECT WITH A/C COMPRESSORS ON 2004 ACURA TSXS. A PIECE OF THE COMPRESSOR, WHICH HOLDS THE COMPRESSOR CLUTCH, IS BREAKING OFF, RESULTING IN DEBRIS BEING SHOT THROUGH THE A/C SYSTEM, OR FALLING OFF COMPLETELY. THE RESULT IS THAT THE A/C DOESN'T WORK, AND MOST OF THE ENTIRE A/C SYSTEM HAS TO BE REPLACED, COSTING DRIVERS ANYWHERE FROM $1800 TO $4000, DEPENDING ON THE EXTENT OF THE PROBLEM. THIS IS NOT AN ISOLATED INCIDENT. THERE ARE MANY HAVING THIS SAME PROBLEM. IT IS RELEGATED TO 04 MODEL YEAR ACURA TSXS. ACURA CUSTOMER SERVICE CLAIMS THAT THERE ARE NO DOCUMENTED CASES. HOWEVER, MY LOCAL ACURA DEALERSHIP SAYS THAT THIS HAS DEFINITELY OCCURRED BEFORE ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS. I CAN PROVIDE IMAGES AND COPIES OF WORK ORDERS TO PROVE THAT THIS IS NOT AN ISOLATED INCIDENT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10334570

135,000 miles · May 11, 2010
Engine And Engine Cooling

WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND MY AIR CONDITIONER JUST STOPPED BLOWING OUT COLD AIR. TOOK IT TO THE ACURA DEALER WAS TOLD THAT THE AIR CONDITIONING COMPRESSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10329858

84,000 miles · Apr 6, 2010
Engine And Engine Cooling

2004 ACURA TSX AIR CONDITIONER COMPRESSOR FAILURE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10323983

Official recalls

3

13V093000 · Electrical System; Engine And Engine Cooling

Mar 15, 2013

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.

Consequence & remedy

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

Remedy: 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.

Additional source detail variants (2)

Electrical System

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.

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

Remedy: 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.

Engine And Engine Cooling

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.

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

Remedy: 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.

10V174000 · Steering:hydraulic Power Assist:hose, Piping, And Connections

Apr 29, 2010

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.

Consequence & remedy

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

Remedy: 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.

04V429000 · Exterior Lighting:tail Lights

Sep 3, 2004

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.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: 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: 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.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.