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Acura TSXModel year report

2009 Acura TSX Problems

Compared with other Acura TSX years

More complaints than typical for this model

100/100 5.1× a typical year · 50 = typical

Nearby years with fewer complaints than typical and no open NHTSA investigation: 2008, 2011

Based only on NHTSA complaints, recalls and investigations. Not adjusted for how many vehicles were sold, and not a reliability rating. How this is calculated

Complaints
91filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
23,000miles, 59 complaints with mileage
Recalls
6campaigns on record
Trend
FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA crash rating
—overall rating starts with 2011 models
EPA fuel economy
25 mpgcombined, 2.4L 4-cyl FWD · 21 city / 30 hwy

Sources: NHTSA records for the 2009 Acura TSX (complaints, recalls, investigations), NHTSA crash tests, EPA fuel economy. Report an error

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often describe rear brake pads wearing out far earlier than expected, frequently under 25,000 miles and sometimes with the inner pad gone first. A second common theme is a pinging or knocking sound from the engine under light-to-moderate acceleration, and higher-mileage owners report the engine using noticeable amounts of oil between changes. Airbag inflator recalls and related notification problems also appear in the complaints.

  1. Brakes

    Rear brake pads wearing out early

    • 22 complaints (24%)
    • median 20,650 mi at 1.6 yrs old (22 state mileage)
    • filed 2010–2015

    Owners describe rear brake pads and rotors needing replacement at low mileage, often with squealing, grinding or a high-pitched noise from the rear. Several note the inner pads wear faster than the outer ones and that the front brakes still had most of their life left. According to the complaints, dealers commonly called the wear normal or attributed it to driving style, and some owners paid for the work themselves. Mostly reported between roughly 13,000 and 37,000 miles, often within the first two years of ownership.

    5 related service bulletins

    What to check: Ask for service records showing when the rear pads and rotors were last replaced and have a shop measure rear pad thickness, including the inner pads, before purchase.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “I have a 2009 Acura TSX. At about 34,000 miles I started noticing a high-pitched noise coming from the rear passenger side. Took the vehicle in, and they determined that it was my rear brake pads. Nearly all of my driving is highway, indicating that there may be an issue with the integrity of the rear braking system. Cost to replace was $250.”

    NHTSA complaint #10389825, filed 2011-03, 34,000 miles

    “I was hearing some noises from the back right side of my car on my 2009 Acura TSX and I took it into the dealer. It turned out that my rear brakes were done to the metal. My car only had 23,500 miles on it at 75% of my miles are freeway driving. It turns out that honda recently settled a lawsuit where they changed the design for the brakes.”

    NHTSA complaint #10349421, filed 2010-08, 23,500 miles
  2. Engine

    Engine pinging or knocking under acceleration

    • 10 complaints (11%)
    • median 850 mi at 0.5 yrs old (10 state mileage)
    • filed 2009–2015

    Owners report a metallic pinging or knocking sound from the engine during acceleration, most noticeable at light-to-moderate throttle and often around 2,000-2,700 rpm. Several say they used premium fuel as specified and still heard it, and that it became louder over time. According to the complaints, dealers often described the noise as a normal engine characteristic. Reported from very low mileage, sometimes a few hundred to a few thousand miles, and continuing as the car aged.

    What to check: Drive the car with the windows down and accelerate gently uphill to listen for pinging; ask whether any diagnostic work was done for the noise.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “Noise coming from 2009 Acura tax rearend driverside. Piping noise can be heard when stopping and accelerating. There is a frame flaw. I am told Acura has a design flaw. They have to fuse two metal pieces to get the noise to quit and the dealer had to order a special tool from torance ca. What else is wrong with this horrible honda product. Oh yeah and the engine pings a lot. What are we to do?”

    NHTSA complaint #10265021, filed 2009-04, 300 miles

    “The engine makes a pinging, knocking sound about 80% of the time when accelerating. I've complained many many times to Acura but they're refuses to do anything about; I don't know what the long term reliability issues are with the vehicle but it is known that engine pinging is damaging to the engine.”

    NHTSA complaint #10263185, filed 2009-03, 1,000 miles
  3. Engine

    High oil consumption (piston rings)

    • 14 complaints (15%)
    • median 107,900 mi at 7.7 yrs old (8 state mileage, few)
    • filed 2011–2020

    Owners describe the engine using a lot of oil between changes, in some cases a quart every 1,000-1,200 miles, with no visible leak. Complaints mention low-oil symptoms such as power loss or hesitation when merging and, in one case, a stretched timing chain. Some owners report the dealer said a warranty extension applied but that coverage was refused or the usage was called normal. Typically reported from around 75,000 miles upward, with several complaints in the 80,000-140,000 mile range.

    6 related service bulletins

    What to check: Check the oil level and look for a fuel or burnt smell, ask for oil-change receipts that show how much oil was added between services, and ask whether the piston ring warranty extension work was ever performed.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “Vehicle burns excessive amounts of oil, 1 quart every 1200 miles. Acura will not fix the issue and says this is acceptable. I have already incurred additional repair costs due to this problem including replacing the severely stretched timing chain and am also constantly adding oil to the car every week. I realize this is not a safety complaint but Acura should be held accountable in some way for this.”

    NHTSA complaint #10818631, filed 2016-01, 122,000 miles

    “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. …”

    NHTSA complaint #10432390, filed 2011-10, 10,000 miles
  4. Air bags

    Passenger airbag inflator recall and repair issues

    • 26 complaints (29%)
    • median 55,969 mi at 4.9 yrs old (8 state mileage, few)
    • 6 mention a crash, fire or injury
    • filed 2009–2021

    Owners describe trouble getting the passenger airbag inflator recall completed, including parts not arriving and long waits, and some report the airbag warning light returning after a recall repair. A few complaints describe airbags deploying without an impact or one side not deploying in a crash. Service bulletins describe a warranty extension and an inspection for vehicles that already had the inflator replaced. Reported across a wide mileage range, from under 1,000 miles to over 100,000 miles, and mostly after the recalls were announced.

    Recall 19V502000Recall 19V378000Recall 18V042000Recall 17V545000Recall 17V030000Recall 16V3460009 related service bulletins

    What to check: Ask for documentation that the passenger frontal airbag inflator recalls were completed and confirm no airbag warning light is on at startup.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “I live in naples, italy. I have not been able to get my car fixed for the takata recall. In april, 2017, I took the car to the local honda dealer. They ordered the part, but it never arrived. I called honda of america, and they reported that the parts distributor for all of europe has run out of the part I need. It has been six months. How do I get my car fixed?”

    NHTSA complaint #11030727, filed 2017-10, 136,000 miles

    “Nhtsa campaign number: 16v346000 no remedy has been offered and it has been eight months. Not allowing a passenger is not a practical solution for this long.”

    NHTSA complaint #10949293, filed 2017-02, 117,600 miles
  5. Brakes

    Soft or hard brake pedal, reduced braking

    • 10 complaints (11%)
    • median 36,711 mi at 3.9 yrs old (9 state mileage, few)
    • filed 2010–2019

    Owners describe the brake pedal feeling hard or unusually firm, or soft and spongy, with reduced stopping in the first few presses after a cold start. Others report the pedal going nearly to the floor while driving, and one complaint describes brakes fading on a long descent. Service bulletins state that Honda was looking into reports of a soft or spongy pedal on these models. Usually described in cold weather or after the car has sat overnight, at mileages from about 40,000 to 80,000.

    5 related service bulletins

    What to check: Test the brakes from a cold start before driving off and ask whether the pedal has ever felt hard or low, and whether any brake hydraulic work was done.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “Bought car new may 2008, manual 6 speed. Have had many repairs:brakes x4, antenna, driver's seat molding, air bags, roof molding, front window molding. I still love driving car despite the car gulping quarts of oil and no source of oil loss has been determined. Began having difficulty shifting gears 09/2013. Took to troy Acura told clutch ok. Clutch failed completely about 3 weeks later on I-75, could not get out of 2nd gear. Replaced with Acura parts $1761 repair costs on 10/30/2013. …”

    NHTSA complaint #10650893, filed 2014-10, 136,000 miles

    “Upon leaving home on a cold march morning, I drove through my complex to the main road. As I approached the first main intersection, the traffic light turned red. When I applied my brake, the pedal would not go down - it was hard to the touch. As my car continued toward - and then into - the intersection, I tried multiple times to apply the brake, until eventually the pedal responded, the brakes engaged, and my car came to a stop. It is now a year later, and my car has done this 3 times. …”

    NHTSA complaint #10701881, filed 2015-03, 58,873 miles

Buying note. Check the rear brakes and brake pedal feel closely, confirm the passenger airbag recalls were completed with paperwork, and ask about oil use between changes on higher-mileage examples. A pre-purchase inspection that measures pad thickness and checks for the engine ping under load is worth the cost on this model year.

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.

NHTSA recorded 91 consumer complaints for the 2009 Acura TSX. 59 of the complaints include a mileage, and 66% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 23,000 miles. Of all complaints, 7 involved a crash, 7 an injury, 1 a death, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 6 recall campaigns and 49 technical service bulletins for this model year. Compared with the other 5 Acura TSX model years that have at least 25 complaints and are old enough to compare, this one scores 100 out of 100, where 50 is a typical year for the model (more complaints than typical for this model). The comparison allows for the era and for how long each year has had to collect complaints, but not for how many vehicles were sold.

Which parts are reported most

Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.

Also reported: Vehicle speed control (3), Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors) (3), Equipment (2), Electronic stability control (1), Exterior lighting (1), Seat belts (1), Tires (1), Wheels (1).

Example complaints

Air bags: “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?”

NHTSA complaint #11091194, filed 2018-05

Brakes: “2009 Acura TSX. Brakes and rotors had to be replaced at 23,000 miles. No warning from dealer of potential class action or its results when calling to make an appointment. Price Acura, dover de. Gave me a three week window so I went to meineke, replaced for $412. Dealer refuses to reimburse. Acura refuses to admit a defect. There are two other 2009, 2010 Acura TSX's in our family and they weren't notified either.”

NHTSA complaint #10335785, filed 2010-06, 23,800 miles

Engine cooling: “In september 2008, I purchased a new 2009 Acura TSX from an authorized Acura dealer in pennsylvania. After a few weeks of driving, I started to notice a knocking noise coming from the engine. The noise occurs consistently while accelerating (particularly when accelerating between 2000-3000 rpms while going uphill). Per the dealers instructions, I have used only premium fuel in the vehicle since the purchase date. …”

NHTSA complaint #10266644, filed 2009-04, 500 miles

Engine: “I bought this car a few months ago. The last oil change was done at the dealership I bought from. And since I have owned it I have had to put 6 quarts of oil in my engine. My car is only at about 87,000 miles and is currently ready for the next oil change. I called the dealership to ask what I could do about it and all they told me was to try a fuel treatment which is irrelevant. Im at a loss, and I dont think I will ever buy and Acura ever again.”

NHTSA complaint #11265510, filed 2019-10, 86,150 miles

Mileage when problems were reported

66% of the 59 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 13,353 and 75,000 miles.

22%0–1034%10–2510%25–507%50–7514%75–10012%100–1502%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (59 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 23,000 miles.

Complaints by year filed

Trend: falling. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.

’0923’11’13’15’17’19’21’24
Complaints by year the complaint was filed with NHTSA. Red bars: the last 3 full calendar years used for the trend. The current year (2026) is partial.

Crash test ratings

NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 2009 Acura TSX. Frontal results are shown driver / passenger; rollover shows the star rating and NHTSA's estimated risk of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.

VersionOverallFrontalSideSide poleRollover
TSX · sedan FWDnot rated5 / 5———

Ratings before the 2011 model year come from an older, less demanding test and are not comparable with ratings for 2011 and later.

Source: NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (5-Star Safety Ratings), nhtsa.gov/ratings.

Fuel economy and running cost

EPA ratings for each 2009 Acura TSX version. Annual fuel cost is the EPA's estimate at its current fuel prices for 15,000 miles a year (55% city driving).

VersionEngineTransmissionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yr
TSX FWD2.4L 4-cyl5-speed automatic213025$3,300
TSX FWD2.4L 4-cyl6-speed manual202823$3,550

Source: U.S. EPA and Department of Energy, fueleconomy.gov. Ratings are for comparing vehicles; real-world mileage varies with driving and conditions.

Recalls and investigations

Recall details for the 2009 Acura TSX → · Check a VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls

Technical service bulletins

TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 49 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 49 bulletins →

Other model years of the Acura TSX

YearComplaintsMedian miRecallsCrash ★MPGScore (50 = typical)Trend
2014750,2863—24—Not enough data
20133369,7354—245 · FewerFalling
201213372,2766—2467 · MoreFalling
20114579,0007—2413 · FewerFalling
20106328,0767—2389 · MoreRising
20099123,0006—25100 · MoreFalling
20083463,0002—2322 · FewerRising
200722110,3002—23—Falling
20065089,0453—23Not compared (before 2008)Falling
200551102,9653—23Not compared (before 2008)Stable
200414262,0003—23Not compared (before 2008)Falling

All Acura TSX model years · Best and worst years by complaints

Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems with the 2009 Acura TSX?

Owners of this model year most often describe rear brake pads wearing out far earlier than expected, frequently under 25,000 miles and sometimes with the inner pad gone first. The issues reported most often: Rear brake pads wearing out early; Engine pinging or knocking under acceleration; High oil consumption (piston rings).

How many NHTSA complaints does the 2009 Acura TSX have?

NHTSA recorded 91 consumer complaints for the 2009 Acura TSX as of Oct 29, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 2009 Acura TSX is reported most often?

Air bags is named most often, in 27 complaints (30% of the total), followed by brakes with 24.

Has the 2009 Acura TSX been recalled?

NHTSA lists 6 recall campaigns for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What gas mileage does the 2009 Acura TSX get?

The EPA rates the 2009 Acura TSX (TSX, 2.4L 4-cyl) at 25 mpg combined, 21 city and 30 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $3,300 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.

At what mileage are problems with the 2009 Acura TSX reported?

Among the 59 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 23,000 miles and the middle half falls between 13,353 and 75,000 miles; 66% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 29, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Crash ratings are from NHTSA’s New Car Assessment Program. Fuel economy is from the EPA and DOE (fueleconomy.gov).

Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.