NHTSA lists 6 safety recalls and 91 owner complaints for the 2009 Acura TSX. Most complaints involve air bags (27) and service brakes, hydraulic (17). The EPA rates it 23–25 mpg combined.
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2009-2014 Acura TSX, 2011-2014 TSX Sport Wagon, 2010-2013 ZDX, 2008-2012 Honda Accord, 2010-2011 Accord Crosstour, 2006-2011 Civic and Civic Hybrid, 2008-2010 Civic GX NGV, 2012-2015 Crosstour, 2007-2011 CR-V, 2009-2013 Fit, 2014 Fit EV, 2010-2014 Insight, and 2009-2015 Pilot vehicles.
The vehicles are equipped with passenger frontal air bag inflators assembled as a recall remedy part or replacement service part, that may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2009-2014 Acura TSX, 2011-2013 TSX Sport Wagon, and 2010-2012 ZDX and 2008-2012 Honda Accord, 2010-2011 Accord Crosstour, 2006-2011 Civic, Civic Hybrid and Civic NGV, 2012-2014 Crosstour, 2007-2011 CR-V, 2009-2013 Fit, 2010-2013 Insight, and 2009-2015 Pilot vehicles. The front passenger air bag inflator may have been installed incorrectly during replacement.
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2010-2013 Acura TSX, ZDX, Honda Accord Crosstour, Fit, Insight and Pilot vehicles, 2011-13 Acura TSX Sportswagon, 2010-2012 Honda Accord,, 2010-2011 Honda Civic, Civic NGV, Civic Hybrid and CR-V vehicles and 2013 Honda FCX Clarity and Fit EV vehicles ever registered in the states of Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands or "Zone A."
Additionally, Honda is recalling certain 2010-2012 Acura TSX, Honda Accord, Accord Crosstour, Fit and Pilot, 2010-2011 Honda Civic, Civic NGV, Civic Hybrid and CR-V, and 2010 Acura ZDX and Honda Insight vehicles ever registered in the states of Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia or "Zone B."
Unless included in Zones A or B above, Honda is recalling certain 2009 Acura TSX, Honda Accord, Civic, Civic NGV, Civic Hybrid, CR-V, Fit, and Pilot vehicles ever registered in the states of Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming or "Zone C."
These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the frontal air bag modules, and used as original equipment or replacement equipment (such as after a vehicle crash necessitating replacement of the original air bags), may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to higher absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.
Verbatim excerpts from NHTSA complaints, by component
Air bags
27 reports5 crashes
“I RECEIVED A TAKATA RECALL AND WENT TO ROSENTHAL ACURA TO GET IT REPLACED. THAT WAS COMPLETED BY ROSENTHAL. I THINK THAT WAS AROUND A YEAR AGO. ON 04/23/2018 I REAR-ENDED ANOTHER CAR. MY CAR WAS TOTALED. MY SPEED AT IMPACT PROBABLY WAS ABOUT 30-25 MPH. THE CAR I HIT WAS STATIONARY. MY AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. WHY NOT?”
Owner complaint to NHTSA·Filed May 1, 2018·Air bagsCrash reportedODI 11091194
Service brakes, hydraulic
17 reports
“WHEN I TOOK MY CAR IN FOR MAINTENANCE LAST YEAR (9/11) THEY MENTIONED THAT AT MY NEXT SERVICE VISIT I MAY NEED BRAKES. I WAS ASTOUNDED GIVEN THE LOW MILEAGE AND THE FACT THAT ALL MY PAST CARS NEVER NEEDED BRAKES THIS SOON. THE CAR WAS ONLY TWO YEARS OLD. I RECENTLY TOOK MY TSX IN FOR B12 SERVICE (5/12) WHICH COST OVER $400. I COULD NOT BELIEVE THAT I WOULD NEED REPLACEMENT BRAKES SO DID NOT AUTHORIZE IT. I ONLY HAVE 25,000 MILES. THE SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE CLAIMED IT WAS MY DRIVING STYLE. EVERYONE SAID IT WAS JUST THE DEALERSHIP ADVISING UNNECESSARY WORK. THE NEXT DAY AFTER SERVICE MY LEFT REAR WHEEL STARTED TO SQUEAL. WHEN THEY REMOVED THE TIRES FOR THE B12 SERVICE THEY EVIDENTLY PUT THE DEFECTIVE PAD BACK ON INCORRECTLY. THAT DAY, I MENTIONED MY BRAKE ISSUE TO A FRIEND AND THEY INFORMED ABOUT THE DEFECT AND THE CLASS ACTION SUITE. OF COURSE THE SERVICE REPS KNEW ALL ALONG AND NEVER TOOK RESPONSIBILITY. THEY COULD HAVE OFFERED ME A DISCOUNT ON THE BRAKES AND EXPLAINED THE ISSUE THEY WERE HAVING WITH THE 2009 TSX BRAKES. THIS COULD BE A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. ADDITIONALLY, I NOTICED A RUST SPOT ON MY PASSENGER SIDE BELOW THE DOOR THEIR YEAR (4/12). I HAVE HAD NO…”
Owner complaint to NHTSA·Filed Jun 6, 2012·Service brakes, hydraulic, StructureODI 10461522
Engine and engine cooling
12 reports
“PURCHASED VEHICLE NEW. AFTER APPROXIMATELY 3 MONTHS OF OWNERSHIP COMPLAINED THAT ODOMETER WAS NOT CORRECT. FURTHER ISSUES INCLUDED REPLACEMENT OF WHEEL BEARINGS TWICE AND EXTREME OIL CONSUMPTION. EACH TIME IS WAS BROUGHT TO THE DEALER THE PROBLEMS WERE IGNORED, DETERMINED TO UNDUPLICATIBLE OR I WAS TOLD NOTHING WAS WRONG. CURRENTLY I SEE THAT THERE ARE TSBS RELATING TO THE STEERING/BEARING ISSUE AND THE OIL CONSUMPTION ISSUE. I REPEATEDLY TRIED TO NO AVAIL TO HAVE THESE PROBLEMS FIXED WITH THE DEALERSHIP AND FILED TWO COMPLAINTS WITH ACURA CORPORATE CUSTOMER RELATIONS AND RECEIVED NO ASSISTANCE. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSA·Filed Oct 21, 2011·Steering, Engine and engine cooling, Fuel system, gasoline, Electrical system, WheelsODI 10432390
6 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 2009 Acura TSX problems?
Owners filed 91 complaints with NHTSA. The most-cited components are air bags (27), service brakes, hydraulic (17), engine and engine cooling (12). Complaints are unverified owner reports and aren't adjusted for how many cars were sold.
What MPG does the 2009 Acura TSX get?
The EPA rates the 2009 Acura TSX at 23–25 mpg combined, depending on engine and drivetrain (2 versions rated).