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Acura TSXModel year report

2010 Acura TSX Problems

Compared with other Acura TSX years

More complaints than typical for this model

89/100 2.4× a typical year · 50 = typical

Nearby years with fewer complaints than typical and no open NHTSA investigation: 2008, 2011, 2013

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
63filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
28,076miles, 41 complaints with mileage
Recalls
7campaigns on record
Trend
RisingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% higher than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA crash rating
—overall rating starts with 2011 models
EPA fuel economy
23 mpgcombined, 2.4L 4-cyl FWD · 20 city / 28 hwy

Sources: NHTSA records for the 2010 Acura TSX (complaints, recalls, investigations), NHTSA crash tests, EPA fuel economy. Report an error

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often write about two clusters: the passenger airbag inflator recalls, where many reports are about waiting months for parts, and rear brakes that wear out far sooner than owners expect. A smaller but consistent set of reports covers door lock actuators, a stiff or spongy brake pedal in cold weather, and airbag warning lights.

  1. Air bags

    Passenger airbag inflator recall, parts unavailable

    • 16 complaints (25%)
    • median 80,000 mi at 6.8 yrs old (3 state mileage, few)
    • filed 2016–2024

    Owners describe receiving recall notices for the front passenger airbag inflator and then being told the replacement part is not available, with waits described in months. Several mention being advised not to use the front passenger seat in the meantime and asking for a loaner vehicle. A few reports describe the airbag warning light coming on, or airbags that did not deploy in a collision. Mostly reported in 2016-2020 notices, with mileage varying widely from new to over 80,000 miles.

    Recall 19V502000Recall 19V378000Recall 18V042000Recall 17V030000Recall 16V3460004 related service bulletins

    What to check: Ask for proof that the passenger inflator recall was completed, and check whether any open recall remains by VIN. A service bulletin describes a warranty extension covering replacement inflators.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “Takata recall - I recieved notification on july 17th, 2016 about a recall for my 2010 Acura TSX. I immediately called the dealer for an appointment, I was put on a waiting list for parts and was told it would take 90-120 days for parts. I then requested a different vehicle to drive which was denied. I carpool in my car every day, yet the Acura recall notice instructs me not to use the passenger seat. This is not practical and parts should be made available sooner or a different car provided.”

    NHTSA complaint #10892345, filed 2016-08, 94,000 miles

    “On december 11 , 2017, I turned my car on start and it started showing me three warning lights. I turned it off and turned it on again and the lights disappear. I turned on my car the next day and the lights are still showing. Its asking to fix the air bag system. My car is detecting or has a problem with the air bag system. Please help me fix this problem.”

    NHTSA complaint #11062496, filed 2018-01
  2. Brakes

    Rear brakes worn out prematurely

    • 10 complaints (16%)
    • median 25,000 mi at 2.8 yrs old (9 state mileage, few)
    • filed 2010–2015

    Many owners report rear pads worn down to a few millimeters or to metal well before the fronts, sometimes by 20,000-30,000 miles. Several say the dealer called it normal wear and quoted a few hundred dollars for pads and rotors, and some note uneven wear between inner and outer pads. Others describe a class-action settlement process that their vehicle was not included in. Commonly reported between roughly 10,000 and 40,000 miles, on cars used for ordinary commuting.

    What to check: Have the rear pads and rotors measured before purchase rather than relying on the service history. Ask whether the rear calipers were checked for binding, which owners' shops have cited.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “Acura TSX 2010 rear brakes are prematurely wearing. Rear brakes down to 75% use left after only 40,000 miles. Class action lawsuit existed but has expired. My car was not in the list of approved vins for the lawsuit, but my car is experiencing the same known issue. Local non-Acura repair shop says it is a known issue and is due to the calipers binding up. Acura needs to replace the calipers and brakes at no cost.”

    NHTSA complaint #10485285, filed 2012-11, 40,100 miles

    “Acura TSX 2010 rear brakes are prematurely wearing. Rear brakes down to 15% use left after only 25,000 miles. Class action lawsuit existed but has expired. My car was not in the list of approved vins for the lawsuit, but my car is experiencing the same known issue. Local non-Acura repair shop says it is a known issue and is due to the calipers binding up. Acura needs to replace the calipers and brakes at no cost.”

    NHTSA complaint #10470562, filed 2012-08, 25,000 miles
  3. Brakes

    Stiff or spongy brake pedal in cold weather

    • 9 complaints (14%)
    • median 39,500 mi at 4.3 yrs old (6 state mileage, few)
    • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
    • filed 2011–2024

    Owners describe the brake pedal going hard or sinking close to the floor shortly after a cold start, then returning to normal after a few minutes or several pumps. Some had to use the parking brake or shift into park to stop. According to the complaints, dealers often said the behavior was normal or could not reproduce it. Almost always described on cold mornings, sometimes near or below freezing, from about 40,000 to 113,000 miles.

    5 related service bulletins

    What to check: On a cold start, before driving, check that the pedal feels firm and consistent. Service messages describe a dealer search for the cause of a soft or spongy pedal on these vehicles; ask whether any related repair was performed.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “Brake pedal is freezing. Why is this not a recall!? It was a cold morning (3 degrees f). I warmed up the car, left my road and, as I approached the light at the main road, I went to apply the brakes and the brake pedal was like a rock. It wouldn't move. I'd already applied the brakes several times before getting to that point. I looked down at the pedal to see if anything was in the way. …”

    NHTSA complaint #10576565, filed 2014-04, 113,000 miles

    “This is the second time this has occurred. The first time was about 3 weeks ago and since it had never occurred before, I believed it to be an anomaly. Second time...no longer an anomaly, this car has a breaking problem that is being ignored by Acura. On two occasions now my breaks have failed within the first few minutes of vehicle operation causing me to have to use my emergency break in order to avoid being t-boned by oncoming traffic. …”

    NHTSA complaint #10683257, filed 2015-02, 68,400 miles

Buying note. Check that the passenger inflator recalls were completed and that no recall is still open, then have the rear brakes and the cold-start pedal feel inspected. Door lock function and any airbag or seat belt warnings are quick checks worth doing before you commit.

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 63 consumer complaints for the 2010 Acura TSX. 41 of the complaints include a mileage, and 76% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 28,076 miles. Of all complaints, 7 involved a crash, 6 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 7 recall campaigns and 57 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 89 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: Wheels (3), Fuel system (2), Transmission and drivetrain (2), Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors) (2), Electronic stability control (1), Engine cooling (1), Equipment (1), Exterior lighting (1), Seats (1), Vehicle speed control (1).

Example complaints

Air bags: “On the afternoon of june 19th I arrived at my destination, put the vehicle in park and was sitting in my car with the engine running when the dash indicator read check airbag system . I continued to gather my things, when suddenly the airbags deployed, hitting my left arm and momentarily deafening my hearing. The car had not been impacted or jarred in any way that may have caused the airbags to deploy. The next morning I drove the car to Acura and they initially said they would repair it. …”

NHTSA complaint #10467894, filed 2012-07, 37,605 miles

Brakes: “I was very surprised to hear that my rear brakes needed replacement after only 24,800 miles. I had only taken my car in for the normal oil changing and tire rotation. My normal daily commute is to and from work totaling 50 miles, with the occasional short stop at a grocery store. When my husband questioned Acura if there were any complaints or recalls about the premature wearing of 2010 TSX brakes, they stated they hadn't heard anything. …”

NHTSA complaint #10486182, filed 2012-11, 24,801 miles

Electrical system: “The car door locks, or door lock actuators, have failed multiple times ( each door at least twice) in five years. The car is now eight years old and all the actuators have failed again. The safety issue arises when the door should automatically lock after reaching 10mph, but they do not due to actuators failing to lock door. This could cause the doors to open if involved in crash. I am concerned with this safety issue as it could also allow unwanted people from entering my vehicle at any given time. …”

NHTSA complaint #11162270, filed 2018-12, 45,000 miles

Other or unknown: “When driving randomly sign shows up for check engine oil . Sign's shows up with pressing brake, making turns, going over speed-bumps. Sign will disappear but will come on, after anyone of the above has occurred. This happens on local roads, highways, inner city, and speed bumps.”

NHTSA complaint #11354075, filed 2020-09, 121,468 miles

Mileage when problems were reported

76% of the 41 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 20,923 and 46,900 miles.

20%0–1017%10–2539%25–5010%50–757%75–1007%100–1500%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (41 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 28,076 miles.

Complaints by year filed

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

’10’12’14’1613’18’21’25
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 2010 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 2010 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
TSX FWD3.5L 6-cyl5-speed automatic182721$3,900

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

See all 7 recalls for the 2010 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. 57 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 57 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 2010 Acura TSX?

Owners of this model year most often write about two clusters: the passenger airbag inflator recalls, where many reports are about waiting months for parts, and rear brakes that wear out far sooner than owners expect. The issues reported most often: Passenger airbag inflator recall, parts unavailable; Rear brakes worn out prematurely; Stiff or spongy brake pedal in cold weather.

How many NHTSA complaints does the 2010 Acura TSX have?

NHTSA recorded 63 consumer complaints for the 2010 Acura TSX as of Oct 30, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 2010 Acura TSX is reported most often?

Air bags is named most often, in 20 complaints (32% of the total), followed by brakes with 16.

Has the 2010 Acura TSX been recalled?

NHTSA lists 7 recall campaigns for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What gas mileage does the 2010 Acura TSX get?

The EPA rates the 2010 Acura TSX (TSX, 2.4L 4-cyl) at 23 mpg combined, 20 city and 28 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $3,550 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.

At what mileage are problems with the 2010 Acura TSX reported?

Among the 41 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 28,076 miles and the middle half falls between 20,923 and 46,900 miles; 76% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 30, 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.