2008 Acura TSX: complaints, problems and recalls

VEHICLE SHUT DOWN IN THE MIDDLE OF A 6-LANE DIVIDED ROADWAY. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS LIT AND THE CAR WOULD NOT RESTART. THE DEALERSHIP INDICATES THAT THE COMPUTER OR "PCM" FAILED. THE PART WAS BACKORDERED NATIONALLY. THEY TRIED REMOVING A COMPUTER FROM ANOTHER TSX ON THE LOT, BUT IT FAILED DUE TO COMPATIBILITY ISSUES. APPARENTLY, THIS PART IS UNIQUE TO EACH VEHICLE. AFTER ANOTHER WEEK, THE CUSTOM-BUILT COMPUTER STILL HAS NOT ARRIVED AND I'M AT THE POINT WHERE THE CAR WILL HAVE SOON SPENT MORE TIME IN THE SHOP THAN IN MY DRIVEWAY. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 1,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10208640 at NHTSA ↗

BAD BRAKES. I HAD A 2006 ACURA TL AND I TRADED IT IN FOR A 2008 ACURA TL. THE BRAKES ARE VERY POOR ON THIS 2008. I FEEL LIKE THEY DOWNGRADED THE SAFETY OF THEIR CONSUMERS TO CUT COST. I ALMOST CRASHED 3X IN 2 DAYS OF HAVING CAR BECAUSE THE CAR DOES NOT STOP AND I HAVE TO THE PRESS THE BRAKES ALL THE WAY DOWN. I FEEL LIKE THIS CAR IS DANGEROUS BECAUSE IT DOES NOT HAVE GOOD PERFORMANCE BRAKES LIKE THE 2006 ACURA TL DID. AT 41K MILES MY 06 TL HAD BETTER BRAKING THEN THIS 2008. SHAME ON ACURA FOR RISKING OUR LIVES FOR MONEY. HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10223315 at NHTSA ↗

BRAND NEW ACURA TL 2008 MODEL. THE REAR LEFT TIRE WENT FLAT WITHOUT CAUSE. I CALLED THE MANUFACTURER THEY TOLD ME TO GO TO MAVIS AND HAVE THEM LOOK AT IT. I AM ON A DONUT AND THEY EXPECT ME TO GO DRIVE AROUND. RATHER THEN SHIPPING A NEW TIRE TO MY DEALER SO HE CAN PUT IT ON THEY TOLD ME TO GO HAVE IT LOOKED AT IT. THIS MEANS I HAVE TO RISK MY LIFE DRIVING TO A DEALER WHO IS GOING TO TRY TO CHARGE ME MORE MONEY. I HAVE 1,300 MILES ON MY BRAND NEW CAR. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 1,350 miles reported. Look up ODI 10226774 at NHTSA ↗

TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN I AM AN OWNER OF A 1999 MODEL ACURA TL ' I BOUGHT IT BRAND NEW IN NOVEMBER OF 1998 AND HAVE BEEN DRIVING THIS CAR EVER SINCE ' ALMOST 194,000 MILES. ON SATURDAY, APRIL 26, 2008 I TEST DROVE A BRAND NEW 2009 MODEL ACURA TSX AT SUNNYSIDE ACURA IN NASHUA NH. IT WAS AROUND NOON TIME AND THE WEATHER WAS CLEAR AND SUNNY. SUNNYSIDE'S ACURA SALES CONSULTANT (KRISTINE MILLER) INTRODUCED ME TO THE CAR, ITS ELECTRONICS (THIS WAS A MODEL WITH OPTIONAL NAVIGATION SYSTEM) PRIOR TO DRIVING OFF. THE TEST DRIVE ITSELF WAS UNEVENTFUL UN…

Owner-reported narrative. 500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10227831 at NHTSA ↗

RATTLING SOUND AT THE STEERING WHEEL COLUMN/DASHBOARD AREA. I HAD MY CAR FOR ABOUT 5 MONTHS NOW AND I HAD TO BRING MY CAR BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR SERVICE 4 TIMES. THE FIRST SERVICE THEY'VE SAID THAT IT WAS THE SUSPENSION, SO THEY RETIGHTENED ALL THE BOLTS IN THE SUSPENSION. THE SECOND THROUGH THE FOURTH SERVICE THEY'VE TIGHTENED THE BOLTS OF THE CENTER CONSOLE AND THE GLOVE COMPARTMENT. DURING THE FORTH SERVICE TIME THE SERVICE TECH SAID THAT THEY COULDN'T PINPOINT WHERE THE RATTLING SOUND WAS COMING FROM. AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH I'VE…

Owner-reported narrative. 5,600 miles reported. Look up ODI 10262562 at NHTSA ↗

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 ACURA TSX. WHENEVER THE CONTACT ENGAGES THE BRAKES, THE VEHICLE PULLS TO THE RIGHT. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES, BUT THEY INSISTED THAT THERE WERE NO FAILURES. THE ISSUE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY ON SIX OCCASIONS, BUT COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. THE CONTACT BELIEVES THAT THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD BECAUSE A CRASH COULD OCCUR. HE BELIEVES THAT THE FAILURE IS DUE TO A MANUFACTURER DEFECT AND A RECALL SHOULD BE ISSUED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 1,100.

Owner-reported narrative. 200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10272877 at NHTSA ↗

2008 ACURA TSX--THERE IS NO COVERAGE IN THE LOWER CONSOLE AREA FROM THE LEADING EDGE OF PEDAL TO THE END OF THE FLOOR DASH AREA. ADJACENT TO THE PEDAL IS AN OPEN EXPOSED AREA WHERE A COVERED PLASTIC AREA HEATS UP. I WAS TOLD THAT THIS AREA IS WHERE THE EXHAUST PIPE AND CATALYTIC CONVERTER TRAVELS. THIS IS PROBLEMATIC BECAUSE HEAT IS GENERATED CONSTANTLY ON MY FEET, RIGHT FOOT IN PARTICULAR. I HAVE LOOKED AT OTHER MODELS AND THIS OPENING DOES NOT EXIST IN ANY OTHER ACURA MODELS BOTH NEW AND OLD. I WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER AND ACURA MANUFACT…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10294294 at NHTSA ↗

VEHICLE SUSPENSION BUSHING IN FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARM AND FRONT SWAY BAR WEAR QUICKLY AND CREATE METAL TO METAL CONTACT. NOISE CAN BE HEARD GOING OVER BUMPS AND UN EVEN SURFACES. THE PART WAS REPLACES BY THE DEALER UNDER WARRANTY REPAIR AND IT RE APPEARED AFTER 300 MILES OF OPERATION. THIS FAILURE CAUSES THE VEHICLE TO SAY ON TO ONE SIDE SLIGHTLY. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 30,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10313749 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2010-04-29 (April 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: 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.

Reported: 2013-03-15 (March 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: 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.