2004 Acura TSX Problems

What owners report

Complaints on this model year cluster around three things: side curtain and seat airbags that deploy without a collision, a driver's seat that shifts under braking or cornering, and A/C compressors that fail and scatter debris through the system. A separate, very common theme is centre-stack radio and climate-control backlighting that goes dark, which owners often discover long after any extended coverage has expired.

1. 1
   Air bags

   Side curtain/seat airbags deploy with no impact

   • 15 complaints (11%)
   • median 58,250 mi at 6.4 yrs old (12 state mileage)
   • 7 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2004–2020

   Owners describe the passenger or driver side curtain and seat airbags firing with no collision — while parked, turning out of a lot at low speed, or driving at steady highway speed. Some reports involve a jolt such as a pothole, debris or a tyre blowout; others describe nothing more than a door closing. Complaints say dealers and the manufacturer typically declined to cover the repair, in some cases attributing the deployment to a sensor reacting to noise or impact. Separately, some owners report the airbag warning light staying on, traced to a seat belt buckle component. Reports span roughly 3,000 to 160,000 miles, with several at low mileage and others well past 100,000.

   2 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask whether the airbag inflator recalls were completed and whether the airbag light behaves normally at key-on. A scan tool check of stored SRS codes is worth doing before purchase.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “1) on 10/21/05, I was driving on the fwy at approx. 65 MPH and my side curtain & driver seat airbags deployed for no apparent reason. 2) I did not see any debris on the road or feel anything hit my car underneath the frame, however, according to Acura and american honda, a frequency sensor detected a loud noise that caused the airbags deploy. It is obvious there is a defect with either the airbag itself or the sensors. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10140861, filed 2005-10, 25,000 miles

   “Takata recall upon getting in the vehicle I simply sat in the driver seat, and closed the door. As soon as the door shut closed, the driver side curtain air bag deployed hitting me in the head neck and shoulder area. Triggering me to have muscle spasms in my back, severe head ache, and to be disoriented after being struck so abruptly and with out warning. The vehicle was still parked, I had not even had an opportunity to put the keys in the ignition. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10873365, filed 2016-06, 62,500 miles
2. 2
   Electrical system

   Centre-stack radio and climate lights go dark

   • 15 complaints (11%)
   • median 74,000 mi at 5.4 yrs old (13 state mileage)
   • filed 2008–2021

   Owners report the backlighting for the radio, climate controls and clock on the centre console stops working, sometimes partially and sometimes entirely. Several complaints mention being told the fix is a replacement circuit board or the whole centre stack, and that an extended warranty on the part existed but owners were not notified before it lapsed. Some also link the dark panel to difficulty reading controls at night. Mostly reported between about 70,000 and 125,000 miles, often on cars bought used after the extended coverage had run out.

   1 related service bulletin

   What to check: Sit in the car with the lights on and confirm every button on the centre stack and the clock still illuminates; ask whether the panel has ever been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I bought my 2004 Acura TSX car in jan 2008 a few months later after I bought it the interior lighting of my radio and A/C buttons were not turning on anymore my warranty was already over and ever since I have been trying to find a solution or a recall.”

   NHTSA complaint #10364052, filed 2010-11, 74,000 miles

   “The console lights (lights in the center) went out in 2009, which is a safety concern as you need to attempt to read the controls via the overhead light while driving, causing a huge distraction. We took it to the dealer and they wanted $150 just to diagnosis it. Recently we learned that Acura extended warranty some years back to fix it however we were never notified (we are the original owners). Now we have passed the extended warranty time (7 years). …”

   NHTSA complaint #10554202, filed 2013-11, 47,000 miles
3. 3
   Engine cooling

   A/C compressor fails and contaminates the system

   • 12 complaints (8%)
   • median 62,000 mi at 6.5 yrs old (11 state mileage)
   • owner-quoted repair $4,000 (median of 5 quotes)
   • filed 2008–2012

   Owners report the air conditioning suddenly stops blowing cold, often with a grinding or rattling noise that appears only when the A/C is switched on. Complaints say the compressor came apart internally and sent debris through the system, so the repair quoted covers the whole A/C system rather than the compressor alone. Some describe partial goodwill offers from the manufacturer that did not cover the full cost. Typically reported between about 38,000 and 143,000 miles, usually while driving with the A/C running.

   What to check: Run the A/C on maximum for several minutes and listen for rattles or grinding, and confirm the vent air gets properly cold; ask whether the compressor or system has been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “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. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10356721, filed 2010-09, 61,100 miles

   “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?”

   NHTSA complaint #10352191, filed 2010-08, 105,000 miles
4. 4
   Seats

   Driver's seat shifts under braking and cornering

   • 18 complaints (13%)
   • median 5,050 mi at 0.5 yrs old (12 state mileage)
   • filed 2003–2009

   The driver's seat slides fore and aft under hard braking or downshifting and moves side to side in turns, sometimes with a springy feel. Owners describe repeated dealer visits where the movement was called normal for the car, and in one case the seat assembly was swapped before the problem returned. A related report describes a broken plastic panel in the seat base. Almost all reports come in the first few thousand miles, from delivery up to about 17,000 miles.

   What to check: With the car parked, push the seat base firmly forward and sideways and rock it; any noticeable clunk or slide is worth raising before purchase.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Driver's seat moves forward and backward during acceleration and braking. Also, moves from side to side while cornering. Dealer noted the following test drove vehicle. Duplicated concern. As of this moment, Acura is still working on solution to concern. No corrections made at this time .”

   NHTSA complaint #10106071, filed 2005-01, 6,250 miles

   “Acura TSX 2004 driver seat slides back to front during heavy breaking or down shifting. Seat shift is about 1-2 inches and has a spring like effect. Also driver seat shifts slightly side to side during turns. Dealer states movement is normal factory specifications. To my knowledge from reading online forums, there are hundreds if not thousands of TSX cars that have this problem. No TSB created to this date. Car is being taken in for fourth time to attempt to address problem. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10119407, filed 2005-05, 16,870 miles
5. 5
   Steering

   Power steering hose leak and stiff steering

   • 10 complaints (7%)
   • median 93,000 mi at 11.0 yrs old (5 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2009–2023

   Owners describe power steering fluid leaking, a burning oil smell and smoke where fluid reaches hot exhaust parts, and steering that becomes heavy or loses assist. Some complaints mention the hose being replaced under a recall, followed later by pump or steering rack leaks, and one describes a loud popping from the rack around 100,000 miles. Dealer responses ranged from replacing the hose to quoting a rack replacement. Mostly reported between about 50,000 and 110,000 miles, with some cars seeing leaks again after an earlier hose repair.

   Recall 10V1740001 related service bulletin

   What to check: Check the power steering fluid level and look for oily residue or a burning smell near the exhaust, and ask whether the feed hose recall was performed.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The power steering hose has a leak. The power steering fluid is dripping all over the place. I can smell burning oil everytime I stop. Last time I saw smoke. The smoke was from the power steering fluid dripping onto the exhaust manifold.”

   NHTSA complaint #10291411, filed 2009-11, 68,237 miles

   “While driving I notice that the power steering started to get stiff. While driving further there was no power steering at all. Turning was extremely hard. The hose was just replaced due to a recall, 3 months later power steering pump was sealed due to a leak, a month later power steering went out. This was least expected especially when having those services done which poses a safety issue. I took it to the Acura dealership and told me that steering rack is leaking from seals and need to be replaced. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10370204, filed 2010-12, 59,000 miles

Buying note. These complaints point to a car where the basics hold up but specific repairs can be costly, so a pre-purchase inspection covering the airbag system, A/C operation and power steering plumbing is worthwhile. Ask for records showing completed recalls and any centre-stack or seat work, and treat missing backlighting or a persistent airbag light as a negotiating point rather than a dealbreaker.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.