Most common 2004 Acura TSX problems
Share of the 142 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Acura TSX complaints by model year
Best TSX years: 2014, 2007, 2006. Years to avoid: 2012, 2004, 2009, 2010, 2011. Compare all years →
2004 Acura TSX recalls (3)
Electrical system
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,…
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.
Steering › Hydraulic power assist › Hose, piping, and connections
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.
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.
Exterior lighting › Tail lights
On certain passenger cars, the wire harness located in the trunk hinge area is not adequately protected and over time could be damaged when the trunk is opened and closed.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the harness and if any damage is found, the harness will be replaced. If no damage is found, dealers will install corrugated plastic tubing over the harness to prevent future damage.
What 2004 Acura TSX owners say
Air bags all 29 →
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. The car has not been in an accident, there was no damage to the vehicle, ir any reason for the airbag to deploy. I took the car to the dealership to have this manufacturer deffect fixed. At the dealer I was told that they will not cover it as a manufacturer deffect, and will cost me $3100.00 to fix. …
My 2004 Acura TSX and I were involved in a front collision (the front of my car hit the rear end of a car in front of me. The front left side of my TSX struck the right rear side of a late model Chevy impala. The impact set off my passenger side airbag, but not my driver side airbag. I was driving and struck my head on the steering wheel of my TSX. The seat belt did not catch me and airbag did not deploy. I sustained a concussion from the incident and feel that my airbag should deploy. Every auto expert, including my Acura dealer, said my airbag should have deployed or my seat belt should have caught me. Acura (the corporation) refuses to even investigate the matter, saying that the car performed as it should have. I don't believe this is true at all.
Electrical system all 29 →
The contact owns a 2004 Acura TSX. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the vehicle made an abnormal clicking sound that was coming from the instrument cluster. The contact stated that upon decelerating to come to a stop, the vehicle stalled. The contact stated that while the vehicle was rolling, the contact shifted to neutral(N), restarted the vehicle and continued driving. The contact stated that the failure had been a recurring failure. The contact became aware that the VIN was included in HTSA Campaign Number: 13V093000 (Engine and Engine Cooling, Electrical System), which the contact related to the failure. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where the recall repair was performed; however, the vehicle failed to start after the repair. The dealer informed the contact that he needed to pay a fee for diagnostic test and the repair out-of-pocket. …
My headlights always flicker and turn off everytime i drive within 5 minutes of driving. it gets really bad when i drive in cold/wet weather and i've replaced the bulbs a good 5 times. Something is wrong with my suspension i think? my VSC and warning light always automatically come and stay on and my car makes a noise everytime i turn/reverse. My car continues to start smoking when i drive, especifically on hot days and multiple mechanics have said i have a severe oil leak/power steering leak and i've gone to 3 within the last 6 months. So i'm not sure what to do and i seen the recalls on all of the things i listed above for my model of car just not specifically for my vin number. please help.
Engine & cooling all 24 →
The contact owns a 2004 Acura TSX. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the vehicle made an abnormal clicking sound that was coming from the instrument cluster. The contact stated that upon decelerating to come to a stop, the vehicle stalled. The contact stated that while the vehicle was rolling, the contact shifted to neutral(N), restarted the vehicle and continued driving. The contact stated that the failure had been a recurring failure. The contact became aware that the VIN was included in HTSA Campaign Number: 13V093000 (Engine and Engine Cooling, Electrical System), which the contact related to the failure. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where the recall repair was performed; however, the vehicle failed to start after the repair. The dealer informed the contact that he needed to pay a fee for diagnostic test and the repair out-of-pocket. …
This vehicle was taken in for a recall for a corrosive ECM. 1 hour prior to taking this vehicle in my assigned service writer gave me a call, your vehicle is ready for pick up. I was advised due to their visual inspection of the ECM( Electronic control module)(electrical computer) not having corrosion, they will not change the unit but they have decided to replace the cover on the unit. I've filed a concerning complaint to Acura headquarters due to my knowledge of cars to have it on file what was told to me before receiving the vehicle. Due to my knowledge a faulty ECM can trigger numerous faults within the vehicles performance.Prior to bringing the vehicle to the dealership, I've been experiencing heavy misfires, poor radio connection, no interior lights and triggered headlights. …
2004 Acura TSX engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.4L 4-cyl | 5-speed automatic | FWD | 20 / 29 / 23 |
| 2.4L 4-cyl | 6-speed manual | FWD | 19 / 27 / 22 |
EPA ratings. Class: Compact car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2004 Acura TSX a good car?
Based on 142 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2004 TSX rates avoid: 3.7× as many complaints as a typical year of the TSX at the same age. It is one of the TSX years we suggest avoiding. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2004 Acura TSX?
The air bags — 29 complaints, 20% of all complaints for this model year, most often about side/window. Next are the electrical system (29) and engine & cooling (24).
How many recalls does the 2004 Acura TSX have?
There are 3 recalls for the 2004 Acura TSX, the most recent from March 15, 2013 (electrical system). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Acura TSX?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2014, 2007 and 2006. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2012, 2004, 2009, 2010 and 2011. See the full Acura TSX years comparison.
At what mileage do 2004 Acura TSX problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 62,000 miles; 33% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.