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Research · Compact Cars

2005 Acura TSXRecalls, problems, MPG & safety

NHTSA lists 4 safety recalls and 51 owner complaints for the 2005 Acura TSX. Most complaints involve air bags (16) and steering (7). The EPA rates it 22–23 mpg combined.

Check a VINAdd to my garage
Combined MPG
22–23mpg
EPA · 2 versions
NHTSA overall
—
Not rated by NCAP
Safety recalls
4campaigns
Latest Oct 2019
Owner complaints
51
Top: air bags
Fuel cost / yr
$3,350est.
EPA estimate, best version
01 —Recalls

Safety recalls

4 NHTSA campaigns · applies to some vehicles, check your VIN

Vehicle speed control: accelerator pedal

Free remedy

Dorman Products, Inc. (Dorman) is recalling certain Accelerator Pedal Assemblies part numbers 699-114 and 825-5029-1, sold as replacement parts for 2003-2006 Acura MDX, 2004-2008 Acura TL and TSX, 2003-2007 Honda Accord, 2005-2006 Honda CR-V, 2007-2011 Honda Element, 2005-2008 Honda Pilot and 2006-2014 Honda Ridgeline vehicles. The rotating portion of the accelerator pedal assembly may bind. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 124, "Accelerator Control Systems."

Vehicle speed controlReported Oct 10, 2019NHTSA 19E068000

Engine and engine cooling

Free remedy

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.

Engine and engine coolingReported Mar 15, 2013NHTSA 13V093000

Steering: hose, piping, and connections

Free remedy

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.

SteeringReported Apr 29, 2010NHTSA 10V174000
See all 4 recalls with remedies
Data from NHTSA Recalls API · synced Nov 11, 2026 · All recall detailsNHTSA vehicle page
02 —Complaints

Owner complaints by component

51 complaints filed with NHTSA · Jul 2005 – Jan 2025
  1. Air bags16
  2. Steering7
  3. Power train6
  4. Electrical system5
  5. Engine and engine cooling4
  6. Seat belts3
  7. Structure3
  8. Tires3
  9. Exterior lighting2

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.

By model year

Complaints for each TSX model year we’ve synced.

View as table
Model yearNHTSA complaints
2004142
200551
200650
200722
200834
200991
201063
201147
2012145
201333
20147
Crashes reported
5
Fires reported
1
Injuries reported
3
Deaths reported
0
Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 11, 2026 · Full problem breakdownNHTSA vehicle page
03 —Common problems

What owners report most

Verbatim excerpts from NHTSA complaints, by component

Air bags

16 reports5 crashes
“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…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 8, 2019Air bagsCrash reportedODI 11184994

Steering

7 reports
“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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 3, 2025SteeringODI 11633833

Power train

6 reports
“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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 2, 2019Power train, Unknown or otherODI 11277696
All 2005 TSX problemsSend a problem to a mechanic on findmechanic.ai
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 11, 2026
04 —Key specs

Engines, transmissions & drive

2 versions rated by the EPA
EPA class
Compact Cars
Engines
2.4L 4-cyl
Transmissions
Automatic (S5) · Manual 6-spd
Drive
Front-Wheel Drive
Fuel
Premium Gasoline

Towing, payload and dimensions aren’t in the EPA or NHTSA data, so we don’t list them.

Data from EPA fueleconomy.gov · synced Nov 11, 2026EPA listing
05 —Fuel economy

EPA fuel economy by version

City / highway / combined, annual fuel cost and CO₂
EPA
VersionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yrCO₂ g/mi
TSX
Auto (S5), 4 cyl, 2.4 L · Front-Wheel Drive
202823$3,350386
TSX
Man 6-spd, 4 cyl, 2.4 L · Front-Wheel Drive
192722$3,500404
  • TSX
    Auto (S5), 4 cyl, 2.4 L
    20 city · 28 hwy · $3,350/yr
    23
    mpg comb.
  • TSX
    Man 6-spd, 4 cyl, 2.4 L
    19 city · 27 hwy · $3,500/yr
    22
    mpg comb.
Estimate your fuel costCost of ownership
Data from EPA fueleconomy.gov · synced Nov 11, 2026 · Fuel cost is EPA’s annual estimate (15,000 mi, 55% city)
06 —Safety

NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings

1 tested variant
NHTSA has not published 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 2005 Acura TSX as of Nov 11, 2026.
Data from NHTSA NCAP Safety Ratings API · synced Nov 11, 2026Vehicle 1493
07 —Maintenance

Maintenance basics

General guidance, not the OEM schedule. Check your owner’s manual.
General guidance
ItemMilesTimeNote
Engine oil & filter5,000–10,000 mi6–12 monthsFollow the oil-life monitor if fitted
Tire rotation5,000–7,500 miEvery oil changeCheck pressure monthly
Engine air filter15,000–30,000 mi1–2 yearsSooner in dusty areas
Cabin air filter15,000–25,000 mi1–2 years
Brake fluid—2–3 yearsAbsorbs moisture over time
Coolant60,000–100,000 mi5–10 yearsLong-life coolants last longer
Spark plugs60,000–100,000 mi—Iridium/platinum plugs at the long end
12V battery—3–5 yearsHeat shortens battery life
  • Engine oil & filter5,000–10,000 mi
    6–12 months
  • Tire rotation5,000–7,500 mi
    Every oil change
  • Engine air filter15,000–30,000 mi
    1–2 years
  • Cabin air filter15,000–25,000 mi
    1–2 years
  • Brake fluid—
    2–3 years
  • Coolant60,000–100,000 mi
    5–10 years
  • Spark plugs60,000–100,000 mi
    —
  • 12V battery—
    3–5 years
Typical intervals for modern cars. Severe service (towing, short trips, extreme heat or cold) shortens them.
09 —FAQ

2005 TSX questions

How many recalls does the 2005 Acura TSX have?

4 safety recalls as of Nov 11, 2026, according to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at a dealer. Check your VIN to see whether your car is included and whether the repair was done.

What are the most common 2005 Acura TSX problems?

Owners filed 51 complaints with NHTSA. The most-cited components are air bags (16), steering (7), power train (6). Complaints are unverified owner reports and aren't adjusted for how many cars were sold.

What MPG does the 2005 Acura TSX get?

The EPA rates the 2005 Acura TSX at 22–23 mpg combined, depending on engine and drivetrain (2 versions rated).

Data from NHTSA & EPA · synced Nov 11, 2026