Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (service brakes, ABS, rotors and pads, parking brake).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2009 Acura TSX owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
I have a 2009 Acura TSX and when the temperature drops into the single digits ( f) or we have a very cold overnight weather (I'm in western ny) I am experiencing brake issues. I'll start my car, it will run for a few minutes to warm up and I will leave my parking space. Driving about 5-15mph when I first press the brake pedal there is very, very, limited travel, then the pedal just stops (kind of feels like a brick underneath the pedal). I can tell the brakes are not doing anything to stop the car. So naturally my car will slow down to a stop. I press down on the brake pedal again and it's still stuck with very little travel. I'll pump the brakes as best I can a few times and eventually you can feel the pedal soften. I keep doing this as it progressively gets softer and eventually returns to a normal state. As I drive off its fine for usually the rest of the day. …
When I took my car in for maintenance last year (9/11) they mentioned that at my next service visit I May need brakes. I was astounded given the low mileage and the fact that all my past cars never needed brakes this soon. The car was only two years old. I recently took my TSX in for b12 service (5/12) which cost over $400. I could not believe that I would need replacement brakes so did not authorize it. I only have 25,000 miles. The service representative claimed it was my driving style. Everyone said it was just the dealership advising unnecessary work. The next day after service my left rear wheel started to squeal. When they removed the tires for the b12 service they evidently put the defective pad back on incorrectly. That day, I mentioned my brake issue to a friend and they informed about the defect and the class action suite. …
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. On the day of the first incident, my brakes were inspected and no problems were found. My dealership claimed to have never heard of this issue, and tried to convince me that it could have been my anti-lock brakes engaging. A year passed before the second incident. After consulting with the company tech line, my brake booster was replaced. Two weeks later, it happened a third time. …
Abnormal brake wear: I bought this certified, one-year-old dealer demo in January with approx. 10,000 miles on it. Between then and a service appointment in late April, I put another 8,500 mostly highway miles on the car. At the service appointment I was told that I needed to replace the rear brakes as they were on the verge of failure. I was also told such excessive wear was common in this model as well as the Honda accord. I have never had to replace breaks at 18,500 miles, much less after 8,500. I was shrugged off by the service department and basically instructed that my best option was to purchase a lifetime warranty on the pads to help off-set the costs of constantly replacing them (this way I'm only out time and labor) due to a braking system that the dealership admitted had a design flaw but that they somehow couldn't fix. …
Whenever the weather drops below freezing, my brakes stop working. The care May work fine for the first block, but fail two or three blocks into a drive. When I try to step on the brake, and it feels frozen -- stuck almost. The only way to stop the vehicle is by using the emergency brake. After a few minutes, of idling the manual brake returns to normal activity. This is extremely alarming -- especially on city roads with numerous pedestrians, students, and other vehicles in close proximity. It is not a normal issue; I never experienced this with another car, and from internet research, it seems that a number of other drivers expressed concern to dealers, the manufacturer, and NHTSA with no outcome. Will it take a casualty or hopefully not a fatality for an investigation/ action?
Normal driving, rear brakes worn out prematurely. Oe brakes worn out at 13600 miles, replacement brakes are currently being replaced at 35300 miles (I am currently at the dealer). Rear brakes are wearing out on the inside pads. Possible caliper issue. Front brakes are wearing normally. Recall has been issued for canadian models of this car, us models are yet to be recalled for this same issue. Honda accords have similar premature wear issue. Honda is yet to acknowledge the issue formally even though a complaint has been made. So far I have spent $250 (first time) and $200(second time) to get rear brakes replaced under 35000 miles. History of car: bought TSX in October 2008 (2009 model), first set of pads replaced in April 2009. Second set in March 2010.
Brakes on Acura 2009 TSX wearing more frequently that they should. My Acura began to make noise 2 days ago. It seemed like it was coming from the drivers side wheel, but I couldn't tell if it was front or back. I dropped it off at the dealership at 7:00 am this morning and told them to call me after they identified the problem and before they made any repairs. They said they recommend brake pads being changed every 15,000 miles. I have never had to do that for any vehicle I've owned (I am on my 3rd Acura and never had this issue with the 2 tls I had). They said they would cover the front, but I needed to pay for the back. Approx. $350 for the work and materials.
I bought an Acura 2009 TSX (tech pkg) in August 2008. Within the first month I had the brakes squealing,terrible noise. Took it to the dealer, who said it is normal with front brakes. I have suffered with the problem everyday for 1.5 years. When I went back to the dealer few days ago, they said there is excessive wear on the front pads. The car has 14,000 miles as of March 2010. They replaced the brakes per the new service bulletin related to squeaking brakes. Windshield molding came loose for no apparent reason, dealer fixed it as warranty service. There is excessive glare on the navigation system, makes it dangerous while driving. Not sure if there is a fix for this.
I purchased my Acura TSX 2009 in June 2009. I currently have 25,000 miles, almost all of which are highway miles. Just before 20,000 miles the rear brakes began to squeak. I brought the car to the dealer and sure enough the front brakes are totally fine and the rear breaks need to be replaced immediately, for $241. (as a side note: I contacted Honda of America who claims to know nothing about the lawsuit Honda has agreed to settle over exactly this problem, "unreasonable wear due to defective design that caused excessive force to be applied to the vehicle's rear wheels."
Tl* the contact owns a 2009 Acura TSX. He states that while braking he heard screeching and grinding noises.this has been occurring for 2 weeks now. The dealer was contacted and they stated that it was a premature wear. The contact is concerned about the safety risk. The brake pads were replaced at the owners expense at $232.94 dollars.the contact states that this is a premature brake issue.the failure mileage was 13535 and current mileage was 13600. Updated 2/22/10 updated 06/01/10.
Brake complaints in other TSX years
Frequently asked questions
How common are brake problems on the 2009 Acura TSX?
NHTSA has 24 complaints about the brakes of the 2009 Acura TSX, 26% of the model year's 91 complaints. The component named most often is foundation components › disc › pads (1 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2009 Acura TSX brake problems?
No. NHTSA lists no brakes recall for the 2009 Acura TSX, though it has 6 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2009 Acura TSX brake problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 21,000 miles, and 65% before 25,000 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.